Stand By Your Hitman by Leslie Langtry Read Free Book Online Page B

going and six cleaned fish lined up beside me on a large palm leaf. I was able to throw the spear to dislodge three coconuts, so we had coconut milk for breakfast. I even managed to split the shells into bowls for roasting the fish.
    “What the hell?” Sami joined me by the fire. “Did you do all this?” She was fidgeting with her fingers, and I realized she was a smoker. Wow. She was quitting cold turkey here. I had a sneaking suspicion that her language was going to get saltier as time wore on.
    “Yup. Want some? I marinated it with coconut. There’s some milk too.” Actually, I was pretty proud of myself. I was the Martha Stewart of Survival .
    The others slowly joined us and pretty soon we were all eating breakfast. Silas was particularly interested in the spear I’d made. I couldn’t tell if he was suspicious or impressed. Somehow, I knew this was going to be an ongoing problem.
    “You’re funny, resourceful and you can cook? You’re too good to be true,” Lex teased. I fought the urge to flirt back. After all, I was here to do a job and there was no way I could admit Mom was maybe a little bit right about me.
    “You should see me change the oil on a car sometime.” Okay, I guess I just couldn’t help it.
    He smiled. “I’d like to see that.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I can’t figure out if you’re our savior or planted here to catch us off guard.”
    “Are you serious? Who in their right mind would be here when they could be over there?” I pointed at the Blanco Tigre.
    Lex’s eyes glimmered. “That’s a good point. But then, why didn’t we just book vacations instead of signing up for this sad excuse for a show?”
    “I don’t know. Apparently we were coerced and then brainwashed to think it was our idea all along.”
    “You’re probably right,” he said, as he helped Sami and Cricket to another serving of fish.
    I watched how Lex took care of the others without them realizing that was what he was doing. He cared about the team. He didn’t have to. That’s not the way the game is usually played, but he did. There was no condescension in his actions. No one suspected Lex was coddling us because he wasn’t. It’s hard to describe, but he made us feel safe without making us think we needed him to do it.
    It reminded me of my late husband. Lex had a quiet dignity that I adored. And then there was the fact that he’d picked me to befriend—obviously the man had good taste.
    “Where’s Cricket?” I asked. How did I not see her slip away during breakfast?
    “Fuck if I know,” Sami answered. “The bitch is always missing.”
    “I noticed that too,” Isaac said. “Silas went off to look for clams.”
    I sighed. “I suppose we should get something collected for dinner later.”
    Lex and Sami started working on the fire as Isaac and I went for coconuts. It felt strange to be alone with a possible Vic. No, not strange, awkward. The idea that I was friendly with someone I might have to kill very soon seemed like a breach of common courtesy. I hoped there wouldn’t be any conversation.
    I was wrong.
    “I can’t tell you how great it is that the four of us have an alliance.” Isaac smiled in utter sincerity. Damn.
    “Yeah. I think so too.” I hoped he would get the hint.
    He didn’t. “What’s up with the other team? Did you get a load of them?”
    “Um, not really.” Take the hint. Take the hint!
    “First there’s the Dr. Phil clone. And then the woman who smells like a crystal shop. That Moe guy seems okay, but I don’t know about the others.” He grinned, punching me lightly in the arm. “Hell, I think we might be the only normal people on the show!”
    I tried very hard to hate him. I imagined him poisoning kittens, eating dolphins, causing global warming…anything to avoid liking him. Isaac was in my alliance for one reason only—so I could keep him around until I had to kill him.
    “So what’s your story?” he asked as he picked up another