Free Surrender at Dawn by Laura Griffin

 
Chapter One

    Phuket, Thailand
    2200 hours

    Jack’s senses went on alert, and it only took a glimpse at the mirror behind the bar for him to know why. The woman making her way through the scattered rattan tables and chairs was American, clueless, and on a mission, and the combination tripped an alarm in Jack’s brain.
    He eyed her from beneath the brim of his Dodgers cap as she approached the counter. She claimed the empty stool three down from his and tucked one of those yellow corkscrew curls behind her ear. Then she flashed the bartender a smile.
    “I’m looking for John Brenner, of Brenner Aviation.”
    Kai responded with a blank look, and she leaned closer to him.
    “Do you speak English?”
    Kai nodded.
    “I’m looking for John Brenner,” she repeated, and Jack caught the Southern drawl in her voice. “He’s a pilot. American. I was told he hangs out here?”
    Jack savored one last swill of beer. He plunked the bottle on the bar, and the noise caught her attention. She cast a glance in his direction, did a double-take, then slowly turned to face him.
    “Mr. Brenner?” She slid off the barstool and walked over.
    “Who’s asking?”
    She held out a hand, and he glanced down at the French manicure. It went well with her loose-fitting white shirt and snug designer jeans. Heeled sandals, too. Jack would bet his Cessna she’d stepped off a plane from the States just this afternoon.
    When it became clear he wasn’t going to shake her hand, she rested it on her hip. “I’m Charlotte Whiteside. I need your services.”
    He looked her up and down, hoping she’d read the intention behind his gaze.
    She cleared her throat. “You fly seaplanes, is that right?”
    “I fly lots of things.”
    “I need you to fly me to an island not far from here.”
    “Whereabouts?”
    “Ko Aroon.”
    Kai’s hand stilled on the tap. Every pair of shoulders at the bar tensed.
    “I’m sure you’ve heard of it,” she went on. “It’s supposed to be one of the best dive spots in Thailand.”
    Jack slid his empty Singha across the counter and stood up. “It’s not on my route,” he said.
    “I’d like you to put it on your route.”
    He gazed down at her, and she didn’t act the least bit intimidated by his size, although he knew she was. Despite the ballsy attitude, he could tell Charlotte Whiteside wasn’t comfortable in this seedy watering hole surrounded by leering men.
    “Sorry, sweetheart. No can do.”
    “I’m prepared to pay you well.”
    Jack traded looks with Kai as he took out his wallet and left some baht on the bar.
    He put a hand on her shoulder and felt her muscles stiffen. He leaned close, but kept his voice just loud enough for the barflies on either side of them to hear.
    “How ‘bout we go back to your place,” he said, “and I’ll show you exactly where I can take you?”
    Confusion filled her brown eyes. He squeezed her shoulder--much too hard--and understanding seemed to dawn.
    “All right.” She smiled up at him, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Lead the way.”

    John Brenner was tall and muscular, and looked exactly like Charlotte had expected, except for the meanness. She hadn’t expected a decorated veteran and a former Navy SEAL to have that meanness about him. And despite his warm hand at the small of her back, she knew as he steered her out of the bar that he couldn’t stand her.
    Three paces onto the busy sidewalk, he turned to face her.
    “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a shithole like that?”
    She gazed up at him as taxis and motorcycles and rickshaws rushed by. She hadn’t imagined it. He really, truly disliked her, and they’d only just met.
    This was going to be much tougher than she’d thought.
    “Listen, Mr. Brenner--”
    “It’s Jack,” he snapped. “And if you have a brain in that pretty head of yours, you’ll get your butt back to the Two Palms, where you belong.”
    She glanced up and down the street. Bars, strip clubs, and massage parlors, as