Free Around the World in 80 Men Boxed Set 31-35 by Rebecca Ratliff Page A

the fear of the world had began to consume her.

    *****

    “ Hola!”
Rudy ran as fast as his legs could carry him, across the long yard as
a white car pulled into the driveway. They weren't expecting company,
at least none that he knew about. “Hola!” He shouted
again as Tanner climbed out of the vehicle.
    “ Uh,
hey.” Certainly that wasn't Anthony, but Tanner was sure the
old man knew where he was. “I'm Tanner. I'm a... friend... of
Finlay. Is Anthony here?” That should do it.
    The
short man narrowed his eyes at the Australian, trying to process
everything. After a few moments, Rudy nodded and ran to the front of
the house, yelling for Anthony as he climbed the stairs.
    “ There
is a man here. He wants to go tanning? There is a beach right there
and I saw he just...” Anthony didn't listen to the rest of the
sentence as Rudy pointed to the direction of the shore. He opened the
front door, and saw Tanner leaned against the rental car, obviously
waiting for him.
    “ Can
I help you?” Anthony took the steps and waited until he was at
ground level to ask the question.
    “ He's
escaped.”

Chapter
Nine

Morgan
and Alrik spent the entire morning in the bar. Most of it was Morgan
listening to her friend tell her everything he'd been doing since she
was there. She asked about the staff, the weather, his social life,
and even more about Felix and Julianne. For the hours that they'd
spent talking, and listening, Morgan hardly thought of Carlos at all.
    Movements
would bring pain, to the point of Alrik asking twice if she needed
more medication, but even then, Morgan's mind remained free of it
all. It was as if a gift had been handed to her that morning, a gift
of friendship that only Alrik could have given her. No strings, no
deep rooted feelings, and no worries. They were simply two friends
having a wonderful morning. It was, as Morgan would agree, what she
needed and with perfect timing.
    “How
long are you planning to ignore my fine ass?” Angel joined them
after two o'clock. He couldn't wait any longer, and if he had to
watch Julianne straighten the cushions improperly one more time, he
was going to start flipping furniture. Large cushions are
straight, small pillows at an angle. Those were the words
that he mentally recited a dozen times before he finally had to leave
the room. His lips would only stay shut for so long, and he was
already past the point of trusting himself alone with her lack of
skills in cushion-placement. “And where the fuck are your
shoes?” Angel's eyes moved quickly between Morgan and her feet,
which made Morgan laugh as her toes squirmed under his glare. Hearing
her laughter pulled at his heart, and he needed more. “I'm
going to go get shoes to cover those things, and stop that shit, it's
gross.”
    Morgan's
feet were far from gross , but it made her laugh again. “Want
me to order you a drink?” He turned to see her brows dance
above twinkling eyes, and it was all he could do to stop from
bringing her into his arms with happiness. He reached up and twirled
one curl with one finger as he answered.
    “Bitch...
that is one question that you don't ever need to ask. The
mothafuckin' answer is always going to be the same.” He turned
then, and his deliberate hip sway made all of them laugh as he rocked
his best runway all the way to the elevator.
    “God,
I love him.” Morgan and Alrik were still laughing when they
ordered a bottle of wine. They were still laughing when Angel
returned to clarify which shoes Morgan wanted. They were still
laughing when Finlay walked unnoticed through the front of the
hotel, and to the stairs.
    “Aye,
go oon then. I'll let ye know when I'm back.” Finlay was on the
phone as he slowly climbed the stairs. It was a long way up, but he
needed to think and he needed to move. Sean had been calling him
several times a day, and finally, Finlay returned the call. His best
friend was worried, as it wasn't like Finlay to leave like that,
especially when Sean