Ten minutes later, Ben guided the pickup back up the street toward where the Range Rover was parked. As they slowly rounded the curve, they saw Javier escorting Dave out from the tunnel where the chamber had been located, while the two gigantic Russians who had been over by the caged boulders before were nearly back to their vehicle with their gun and laptop bag.
Ben just hoped that his massive brown cowboy hat and the stupid sunglasses would hide his face from Javier, not that the man could recognize him. After all, it had been a decade since they had seen each other.
Walking casually toward the group, Javier’s men were completely unaware of any possible threat.
From a distance, Catherine held down her sentiments as she saw Dave accompanied by Javi
"Looks like a camera and a laptop bag," he mumbled, lunging down and picking up the small raven case, which corroborated his feelings. "Hmm. It had likely been dropped during all the violence." Hurling the camera case over, Shawn assessed it more closely, then opened the zipper and removed the digital device. "Fuck… it! Dave must have taken pictures of the chambers." "Why would he do that?" Catherine asked from his side. Meanwhile, Ben had finished up with the tire and was loading up the meager equipment in the huge metal crate in the front of the vehicle bed. "Did you guys find something?" He cried out across the lot. "Yeah," Shawn retorted his question first.
Shawn felt terrible for Ben's condition; he was getting weaker and had been in a shootout that nearly killed him, but the man was overjoyed to be back in his so-called adventurous life. Their rental vehicle, on the other hand, had been severely damaged beyond recognition. The car had been essentially destroyed in the two firefights it had been involved in thus far. Shawn couldn't figure out how the engine had kept running. "Aw, Shawn, I really appreciate it. But don't worry, you can easily afford hundreds of them, and the owner won't mind. I knew him back in the day; he was a darling." Ben had responded to Shawn's apology with a wide grin and a hand pass. The gang exited the truck and climbed the short set of stairs inside the old-looking brick building. The computer business center appeared to be in line with the
"Oh yes, it's a fucking ring," Shawn grumbled with a smile. "So what the hell does it mean?" Ben responded, "Well, this is, I believe, the key. And yeah, but that’s only half of the puzzle. None of it makes sense unless we know where all of these Asians lived and where they were in Thailand. We identified it as Thailand. We have the ring. We have the tablet. And now... where to go?" The mood that had, for a moment, been upbeat turned sour again. Again, silence took over the group as they stared at the screen, understanding part of what they were looking at, but not enough to know where to go next. Catherine broke the hush after a few minutes of thought. Her arm extended out as she pointed at something on the screen. "What does that symbol mean?"
Warning Rated PG+18 Thirty minutes later, the group had found a lodging place near the town’s park. It was a bed and breakfast inn that had a small main hall, and simple but clean rooms, for which the couple was grateful. While they waited for Eddie and his men to arrive, Ben found a small cafe nearby and ordered something for them. Inside the cafe bar, they noticed how gloomy and chilled the place was, with soft lounge music and a more ambient atmosphere. The overall view has a solid, incandescent, out-of-the-way polish style and a small, well-stocked wine cellar in the middle. After a simple dinner, they went out of the cafe and Shawn took their things out of the car while Ben went to relieve himself. Shawn leaned in again on Catherine and planted a quick kiss on her lips before closing the car door. On the way out of the parking lot, he told her about what he intended to do with her in their room. Her cheeks flushed. "Seriously? Do you still think about that? Aren't we supposed t
Warning Rated PG+18 Shawn turned himself around, and now Catherine was on her back. "Shawn, I'm not even done yet." She bit her lips as he kissed his way over to her breast and gently suckled on it, as well as using his free hand to play with the breast just left. "Later, wife, for now, it's my turn to make you scream." "Shawn, I already came earlier, let me..um-" She moaned her words as he slowly kissed his way down the beautiful length of her body until he reached her glorious shaved love nest. Shawn thought how she smells like roses in the sunlight to him, just a wonderful, delicious scent that fills his nostrils and has him wanting to dive right in. But, alas, he held back, and gently nestled his face into her warm, hot haven, flicking his tongue back and forth across her sweet clit, feeling it begin to get hard under
It had only taken the dark Range Rover five hours to make the drive through the rolling highlands and roadside ranches to the nearest airport, but they were unable to take off because of the incoming storm that would take a day to cease, so they looked for a nearby town that wasn't too crowded with tourists. The next morning, the gang was able to fly through Thailand, and after fourteen hours of flight, they arrived at Bangkok international airport. Then they rented a car for their first stop, the ancient city of Muang Boran. It was located 30 km outside the center of Bangkok, in the Samut Prakan district. Their open-air museum offers more than 120 replicas of monuments on larger or smaller scales, but often at the actual size of the most remarkable buildings in Thailand or neighboring countries. Inside the rented car, Dave was amazed by the be
Dave squatted down to get a closer look at the painting. It looked more like it had come from an ancient Middle Eastern society than a Thai one. On the frame, fluid snakelike carvings adorned the side in shapes that crisscrossed like a complicated puzzle. As he scooted around to the back of the display stand, he beheld an image of two Buddhas, almost identical to the ones in the four chambers in Poland he had discovered. "This is it," he whispered. "I think this is the next clue." Javier appeared unimpressed. "That? What on earth are we looking for anyway? What does it mean?" Dave had grown tired of these under enlightened men. Nothing annoyed him more than naive treasure hunters who only scanned because of the prestige and wealth antiquities might bring. Yes, before meeting Anthony, he was one of them, naive and uninterested in a world of uniqueness, but everything changed when the old man began to see glimpses of the real adventure and history that treasure hunting might bring. W
"But the painting remained here." In a moment of reflection, Dave slipped the question in."Yes.""How about the real ring?""No, I have no idea about it, no one does," Arthit's reply was vacant as the man shook his head, knowing that this British guy knew something more and that the massive guards were after the ring of the keeper. "The ring does exist, but it has been missing since God knows when.""Maybe take it to a safe place?" Javier asked.The Thai grumbled something they didn't understand and nodded his head."Yes. The Buddha’s keepers kept their secret," he said, motioning at the wooden representation of the old Thai ancient chief. "They knew that the
Another rising moan. Chelsea chanted his name. Soft. A whimper. She threw her head back again, her soft hair sliding over his arms, her face flushed with arousal. Dave loved her like that. That perfect moment before her body clamped down like a vise on his, drawing out his hot release. Her unknowing song, her heat. The look on her face. It all combined to give him a fierce, primitive satisfaction and added to the wicked pleasure swamping his own body. The first wave hit her hard, consuming her. He drove deep, his shaft stretching her tight channel. A ripple went through her, from her womb to her belly and up to her breasts. He actually felt it. Another loud moan and her entire body locked around him, a vise that clamped down so hard for a moment that he couldn’t separate pain from pleasure. She shuddered again as another wave built. He felt the contraction move through her, through him, swelling like the tide, a shock wave jolting outward from her feminine sheath, surrounding him, vib
Over the next few weeks, I take Jane and Catherine’s advice and try to turn off my brain. Dave and I started going out together as a couple. Nothing explicit is said. We don’t wear little badges, but our interactions make it obvious. Jane and I were planning to finish the design of her gown, and I started going out with them. While Dave had started his own business, Christie and her son occupied our old apartment while I went to Dave's apartment in the city.When we’re out, Dave always touches me, but not in a way that makes me feel like he’s trying to mark his territory or show off. He’s just super physical. If I’m near him, his hand is somewhere on my body. Usually his palm is glued to the top of my ass, but sometimes he brushes my hair back or dangles his fingers over my shoulder. He kisses my temples and cheeks. Not once do I feel like he’s holding me back.The most important thing is that we’re happy—way happier than I’ve felt in a long time. Which is fucking mind-boggling. If so
40The trailer is damp and dark. Two solemn-looking officers sat on a table piled high with walkie-talkies, badges, and cold cups of coffee, facing a giant monitor. The fan in the corner does little to cool things down, and the whole place is wired shut like a prison cell, with no windows and thus no connection to the outside world. It's much smaller than I expected from the outside, and I find myself frozen in place for a few moments after entering."Chelsea," Christie says behind me, placing an arm around my shoulders. "Everything will be okay, sweetheart. The orphanage will not suffer, and Dave will be alright." She appears nervous but still manages to calm me down. That is my sister, brave as ever."They’re in!" shouts one of the agents. Christie and I shuffled our way around the table. We stare earnestly at the big screen, focusing on each movement while holding our breath. Inside the building, the two actors pretending to be investors are dressed to look the part perfectly. Thei
Dave encourages me not to worry on the way back to the flat, but it is difficult. No matter how many times he assures me that we will stop Sebastian, I have my doubts. I knew Sebastian was a horrible person, but I never dreamed he was capable of such atrocities, especially after Dave showed him the photographs of the community and the orphans. What will become of my darling children?! I push back the tears that threaten to spill from my eyes. As we carefully ascend the stairs to the apartment, my fingers begin to tremble.Dave walks quietly beside me and grips my hand tightly, silently reassuring me that everything will be okay."Chelsea," he whispers as we stand face-to-face at my door. "Chelsea, look at me..." He slips a finger under my chin and lifts my head to gaze into his eyes. I finally let the tears flow, the gravity of the situation too strong to overcome.Chelsea, we're going to fight this. Trust me..." I sniffle and gaze into his piercing blue eyes that offer some comfort.
"Yes but not tonight, maybe tomorrow," Dave said, shifting in his heels.The thought of him leaving without any intimate contact is driving Chelsea crazy. And I may just find myself running after him. I wait with bated breath for him to continue."Actually. I booked a room for a few days at a nearby hotel. I'd really like to see you tomorrow, Chelsea. Is that’s okay? I want to talk more about us." I stare at him like a young child opening presents on Christmas morning."Sure, I would like that," I say, releasing the smile I can no longer contain. "There's a great place just down the street where we can go for lunch." He grins. "Sounds great. I'll pick you up around 11? ""Sounds good.""Okay, well, have a good night's sleep, Chelsea.""Goodnight, Dave." I closed the door behind him and leaned back against it. My heart is giddy and my hands are shaky. He wants to talk about us? As in our relationship? Now that I am face-to-face with the reality of how much I want and miss him, it scar
Christie welcomes us to the living room. As we sit on the sofa, Dave takes another long breath before speaking. "I feel like we left a lot of things unanswered the last time we saw each other. I don't think anything was cleared up in the midst of all the yelling and screaming. But first and foremost, Christie, I need to apologise for Sebastian's harsh tone toward you. I can't claim to know what he was thinking at the time, but he had no right to speak to you in that manner.""He is an asshole, Dave, and the way he treated Christie is the same way he will treat those workers in Kenya." The animosity in my voice is clear. "Listen, Chelsea, I know you’re angry." He turns away from Christie and looks back at me. "But I need you to understand that I still care about you deeply and that everything we had was real. The truth is I know all about my partner’s activities in Kenya. But I'm not as involved in it as you think. I take care of the paperwork. But it doesn’t have much to do with me.
The space is considerably more apparent now that I am alone. Christie and I don't have any furniture, food, or money. And neither of us is employed. It will take months to restore this property to its previous glitzy splendour. I have no idea how to get us back on our feet, and I am quite frightened about starting the process. Christie, I'm sure, is as well. In that case, where are they?I get up from the floor mattress and walk to the bathroom. I let the water run over my fair skin and blond hair.Despite the heat, I find the water really calming.As it rushes over my body, the water represents my freedom. It envelops me, drop by drop, freeing my confined senses and conflicting emotions. It reminds me that I have returned home and am no longer burdened by the dreadful life I had at the mansion.I hurriedly exit the shower and grab my towel. I walk on tiptoe across the white tiles, around the empty flat, to my bag in the corner. I pull on a pair of jeans, a plain white t-shirt, and my
"Chelsea, don’t do this. You don’t know what you’re saying." I feel Dave’s strong hands around my right arm tighten. I glare up into his blue eyes. Our eyes interlock, and for a brief second, I am contained by lust. But the moment ends swiftly, and I pull my hand away, pushing him violently against the wall."Don’t you touch me!" I hurl at him. I take a large step away from him and turn back to Christie. "Come on, sister. Let’s get out of here!""I can’t, Chelsea, Sebastian is my fiancée.""So you’re choosing a man over your own sister?" I stared at her in shock."Chelsea, please don’t do this," Christie cries, her tears running wild down her face.Now is the time for me to make a quick exit. My suitcases thud on each step as I hurl them down the stairs. My sister trails behind me, upset as ever."Chelsea, wait! Please do not leave! "Just as I reach the large white double doors, I drop my suitcases and turn to face her again."Why don’t you just ask Sebastian Christie? Ask him if he’
I do not recognise my voice. It is thick with animosity. My hands are shaky and tears are threatening to spill from my eyes. Appearing to realise the seriousness of the situation, Dave turns to his colleagues. "Gentleman, please excuse me for a moment?"He gets up and strides over to me, gripping my forearm as he gently pulls me out of the room. We walk down a short corridor and into an empty office. Dave shuts the door and glares at me, anger fueling his eyes. "What the hell was that, Chelsea?!" he states, his tone biting."Explain this to me!" I half-shout, flinging the documents into his hands. "You lied about what the company is doing in Kenya. You have plans to use children? and exploit the people in an area that is too damn close to the orphanage I volunteered at. And you plan to pay the workers practically nothing!"He begins to scan the papers, his eyes darting back and forth hastily."How did you get this?!" he asks, puzzled yet still furious."What does it matter? It’s out i