Chapter 37
There’s never a good time to point a gun in my face, but right now, this fucker’s messed with the wrong man.
“Drop your weapon!” Rage crackles through me, flooding my muscles with energy.
He shuffles between his feet.
Recognition hits.
While I was standing guard over Camile and her team, the guy was slinking around Santa Rosa talking to one of the rebels.
Two beady eyes are trained on me. He motions with the pistol’s muzzle. In very bad English, he seals his fate. “Get on the ground.”
“Like fuck, I will.”
“Stupid man, get on the ground.”
I’ve always appreciated the training I had in the Navy, but never more than right now with all those people—including Camile— depending on me to save their lives.
Before he has time to make any other move, I take control of the situation.
His face goes slack with shock a split-second before my foot connects with his arm. The weapon thuds onto the ground.
My second kick comes fast on the heels of a punch to his face.
He crumbles.
I launch on him and flip him face down. It’s all over in less than five seconds.
“Owwww!”
“Did you say you wanted to get on the ground?” I twist his arm harder.
The man squeals. But not loud enough to cover up the eerie sound the bus makes as it shifts.
Dirt and pebbles scatter down the hillside below it.
Shrill screams echo around the mountainside.
My blood is a dangerous mix of ice and fire as I pat him down, remove a knife from his belt and throw it under my truck.
Once I know he’s unarmed, I loop an arm around the idiot’s neck and drag him to his feet. With him in a chokehold, I drag out the winch cable, cursing the whole time. “Fuckface. What did you think you were going to do? Cut my truck loose and steal it? Well, guess what. I’m going to leave your fate up to those fine people when they get off that bus.”
He’s wheezing, clawing at my arm. But he’s much too small to have an effect on me.
When I reach the bus, I shove him to the ground. “Stay! If you move, I’m serious as shit, I’m throwing you off the cliff.”
He glares at me but doesn’t move. Not so brave without his gun, huh?
As soon as the cable is rigged, I order him to his feet. Behind me, I can hear the pleads of the people on the bus.
Goddamnit.
I need to see Camile. To know she’s alright.
I shove him along in front of me until I get to the truck.
“On your stomach, hands on your head.”
He hesitates, and I lose my patience.
“Your choice.” I kick his legs out from under him. This time, when he hits the ground, he scrambles into position with his hands behind his head.
“That’s what I thought.”
It takes an agonizingly long time for the winch cable to tighten. Then it starts to pull on the bus.
Please move, baby. Come on.
The longest five minutes of my life follow. It’s plenty of time for me to tie up the guy and go through every horrible scenario imaginable.
But it works.
The ice in my veins warms with every inch the thing moves. As it finally reaches a safe position, a strange light feeling spreads behind my sternum.
By the time I run to the side of the bus, the door is opening.
The sound of a helicopter landing behind me on the road adds another layer to my relief. Evan will be on-site within minutes.
A pale-rattled man vigorously shakes my hand. “Gracias.”
Another grabs me in a hug. He speaks in English. “Thank you.”
I help a small woman leading a goat down the steps. She wraps her arms around my waist and hugs me so hard she squeezes the air out of me. She speaks to me in Spanish. “You saved our lives.”
One by one the bus empties, with every passenger, my nerves amplify. My heart rate gets more unsteady.
When the driver climbs out, his face is covered in a sheen of sweat. He shakes my hand, but he’s too choked up to speak.
I’m a fucking wreck, too.
My stomach has taken up residence in my boots.
“Did you see a woman with red hair?” I hold up my hand. “She’s this tall.”
“Si, she was on the bus. But she got out.”
“When?”
He shrugs. “I’m not certain. Miles ago. By the roadside.”
Evan skids to a stop next to me. His panicked expression matches mine.
“What do you mean on the roadside?”
“She had to get out. I couldn’t wait. The rebels were coming…”
Oh, fuck. “The truck…”
Both Evan and I take off sprinting for the helicopter that’s currently blocking the entire road.