Get You Back : Part Two: Reunion Read online

  A struggle.

  For the first time, I allowed myself to think that maybe something worse had occurred. Maybe he'd gotten mugged. With so many new people around, most of them looking for excitement, he could have run into someone looking for trouble. Or maybe …

  Could Bliss have gone after him? Had she lured him into a boat the way she had me? Then … then what? Stolen him away and put him on a plane to Chicago?

  My stomach clenched as I raced down the path. Surrounded by strangers, by wanderers and seekers and travelers, I felt utterly alone. Because the only person on this island I truly knew, and who truly knew me, was Rye. And wherever I looked, he wasn't there. The world was empty of Rye, and that thought was absolutely terrifying.

  A world without Rye? Could I live in such a world?

  I raced onto the Oasis beach. The resort squatted at the far end, a sprawling, organic structure of hand-molded plaster. All the lounge chairs out front were occupied with sickly-looking guests. Several people were swaying to the listless beat of one forlorn bongo drum.

  The interior of the Oasis was even more crowded than the beach outside. The scent of clove cigarettes and body sweat nearly made me gag. I pushed through the crowd to the juice counter. Sally was juggling two oranges and a banana for the enjoyment of the crowd.

  "Sally," I called sharply, causing her to drop the orange. She caught the banana in her mouth and crossed her eyes. God, I didn't have time for her goofy clown act right now. "Have you seen Rye, my … uh … friend from the States?"

  She plucked the banana from her mouth and peeled it. "Don't think so."

  Good grief, why did I have to be conducting a search on an island where everyone was either high or naturally spacey?

  "What about Gunther? I mean Mango?"

  "Haven't seen him, luv. He wasn't even here when I showed up." She popped the now-naked banana into a blender. "I guess he's on island time."

  "Gunther's never on island time. He doesn't understand the concept." We all loved to tease Gunther about his promptness. As much as he tried to be late, he couldn't stand it. He usually arrived a good fifteen minutes before his shift.

  "Well, someone put up the island-time sign, and I haven't seen him so I think it was him. Oh, you know what? Maybe he hooked up with that Swedish girl. They're probably off making little blond baby Nazis."

  Something wasn't right here. My instincts were screaming a warning at me.

  "Mind if I look in the back?"

  "Be my guest. Well, not my guest." She giggled, then pulled a pair of swimming goggles over her eyes. "Smoothie-time! I always wondered what would happen if I left the lid off the blender. Time to find out! Woohoo!"

  I rolled my eyes and hurried away. I didn't have time for her antics.

  In the doorway of the office, I stopped short. It looked as if a vandal had gotten in. The table was on its side, a lamp was knocked over. A red smear across the floor looked like blood.

  The computer. Swiftly I checked the desk, but the computer hadn't been touched.

  What the hell had happened here? A Full Moon robbery? Where was Gunther?

  And then the worst thought: Did this have something to do with Rye?

  I forced myself to take in a long breath. Think logically. Rye came here to get his phone back. The phone would have been in the lost and found, which was … I hurried to the computer desk and opened the drawer, which I found slightly ajar. No phone.

  Had Rye retrieved it? Then what? And what about Gunther?

  A chill passed through me. Gunther. Was goofy "Mango" the man someone had hired to watch me?

  I remembered the time we'd made out on the beach. He'd been very chatty that night. Asking me so many questions that I finally kissed him just to shut him up.

  He was looking for information. Trying to get to know his target.

  God, I was so blind.

  But if Gunther was watching me, why in the world would he go after Rye? And most importantly, where were they now? Was Rye being interrogated, tortured, kidnapped, killed? Why?

  I sank to the floor, which was made of cool terracotta tile. Shudders racked me from head to toe. I had no idea what to do. Go to the local police? There were none. The closest police station was located in the town where the longboats were moored. The beach businesses had a few security guards. But what help would they be? They had their hands full and they weren't even officers of the law. They were paid to protect the food shacks and other local businesses.

  They wouldn't care about a missing person—

  Oh God. A sob rattled me. Was Rye a missing person now? Was this really happening? Or would he walk through that garden door as restless and silver-eyed sexy as ever?

  I couldn't just wait there. I had to do something. As I prepared to drag myself upright, I noticed something under the edge of one of the pillows scattered around the busted table. I crawled toward it.

  Rye's phone.

  It was a good thing I was already on the floor. This was real. Rye had been here, he'd struggled, there was blood on the floor.

  He was gone.

  I held his phone to my chest. It felt like my only link to him. It felt reassuringly solid, but also lifeless. It couldn't speak to me, couldn't tell me where he was. Or could it?

  I turned it on, hoping it had enough battery to provide me with information. Something, anything. When the screen lit up, I went to his text messages. The most recent message came from someone identified as Doug B.

  Call asap. Found info on MC Grp. Need secure line.

  Scrolling back, I saw that Rye had asked this Doug person to investigate the McAllister Group and his father's will.

  I blinked the tears from my eyes as I tapped out a message to this mysterious Doug. He was an investigator, obviously. I might as well call on him.

  This is Rye's friend Lauren. He's missing and I'm afraid something terrible has happened. Do you have any idea where he could be?

  After a long, torturous moment, his answering text came in. Not sure. Ask Bliss.

  I dropped the phone as if it had scalded me. This Doug person knew Bliss. He knew who I was, too. He must have investigated us.

  Well, of course he had. Rye had been trying to find me. That was no secret, even though it felt creepy. Let it go, Lauren. That's not important right now.

  I dialed Bliss's number, but the call didn't go through. Damn the service out here. I texted instead.

  This is Lauren. I need your help.

  I stared out the French doors as I waited for her answer. The doorjamb had a smear of blood on it too. I hoped it wasn't Rye's. I hoped he'd fought like a lion. I knew he had.

  Hope rose inside me like a bird taking flight. Rye was tough. He'd been through so much in his life. He was a survivor. Most likely, he was alive. If he was alive, I'd find him.

  What's wrong, darling? Bliss answered.

  Rye's been taken. Was it you?

  I should have expected Bliss's answer. But after all these years, she still managed to surprise me. No, but I know who did. I'd be happy to share the information. What are you offering?

  Bliss Bakewell—always selfish, always looking for an angle. Had I thought I could be free of her? I was wrong. So wrong.

  Whatever you want.

  I didn't know what Bliss would demand or what a deal with her would cost me. My freedom, my heart, my future, my hopes and dreams, my blood-sweat-and-tears, my body and soul. The only thing that mattered anymore was Rye. While he was in danger, I had no room in my heart for anything else.

  I'd give everything else up—without a second thought—to get Rye back.

  Also by Juniper Bell

  Get You Back ~ Part One: Revenge

  Get You Back ~ Part Three: Redemption

  Wild Nights of Alaska Series

  Go Wild ~ Book 1

  Go Deep ~ Book 2

  The Receptionist Series

  Training the Receptionist

  Restraining the Receptionist

  Unleashing the Receptionist />
  Doll

  Beautiful Obsession

  The Extremist

  Regency Erotic Romance

  My Three Lords

  My Three Masters

  About the Author

  Juniper Bell is a multi-published, bestselling author of erotic romance. She lives with her husband and stepdaughters in a cabin in Alaska. She wound up in the frozen north after leaving her career as a stressed-out Los Angeles TV writer. Luckily, her love for writing survived the move. When she’s not writing, she’s shoveling snow and dreaming about the day she moves to Hawaii.

  Juniper Bell is the pen name of Jennifer Bernard, USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. To be notified of new Juniper Bell releases, sign up here. For news and updates about all JB books (Jennifer and Juniper), please join Jennifer’s mailing list.

  You can find Jennifer/Juniper online at

  @Jen_Bernard

  JenniferBernardBooks

  JuniperBell.com

  [email protected]