Chapter 13
Dallas swung the sharp end of the stick through the foliage, stomping over the ground and ignoring the pests that skittered away. They’d been on their trek for a good two hours, and the mosaic of trees, vines, and greenery was hypnotizing. He glanced over his shoulder for the third time in the last ten minutes.
Gemma was holding up. Her pace was stronger than it’d been yesterday, and her cheeks less pale. He hadn’t gotten to re-dress her wound before they left, so he had to be mindful to take more breaks than he would’ve otherwise.
She must have sensed his questioning look because she shot him a reassuring smile.
“We’ll break in about fifteen,” he said.
“I’m okay. It’s starting to get warm, but we’re making good time.”
He hadn’t told her that if, by some twist of fate, they missed Cole’s men, they’d be fucked. Their chances of reaching town before dark were slim. They couldn’t stop for more than ten minutes at a time. Which would be pushing it.
Minutes later, Dallas stopped and sat on a fallen tree. Gemma dropped beside him and pulled a water bottle from her bag. Eli lowered to a rock and did the same.
Dallas took a sip and nodded at Eli’s arm, still strung up in a sling. “Do you think it’s broken?”
He shrugged. “Hurts like a motherfucker, but the pain’s in my shoulder. Hard to say.”
Gemma glanced around. “How far do you think we are from the road?”
Dallas held out the GPS. “About twelve miles. I think we should stay off the road, though—close enough to hear someone coming but not close enough to be seen unless we want to.”
Eli chomped off a bite of beef jerky. “Think that’s wise? I mean, odds are if someone’s passing through, they’ll give us a lift.”
Dallas tucked away his water. Lorenzo had been kind enough to hook up Dallas with his pilot, but how much Eli knew about Dallas’s situation was yet unknown. In all likelihood, Lorenzo had been careful about what he’d divulged to Eli, even if he was a good friend. Their job was far too important, and the fact that Dallas had fled after Silas was murdered looked really fucking bad. Dallas didn’t want word getting out.
But by the same token, they were far enough from Venezuela. It was likely that no one from Ecuador would know a damn thing about Silas or the guns getting passed off to the militia. “I’m not so sure I want a lift from anyone we aren’t expecting,” Dallas said finally.
He zipped up his bag and stood, holding a hand out to Gemma. “Ready?”
She groaned and dropped her head back but slapped her fingers in his palm. “We shouldn’t have stopped.”
“You’re right. We’ll take fewer breaks going forward.” He hauled her to her feet and jerked his head at Eli, motioning for him to stand.
He passed the GPS to Gemma. “Keep an eye on our path and let me know when we’re about a quarter mile from the road.”
They got back on their trail, and his stick cut through the brush. Eli might not have anyone to hide from, but he and Gemma sure as hell did.
***
Three hours later,they stopped for lunch. Gemma’s feet pounded. Mark her words, she’d never again suggest they shouldn’t take a break. But if pushing extra hard allowed them to stop for a decent amount of time—no more than twenty minutes, according to Dallas—then it was almost worth it.
She sat cross-legged on a stump. Its girth told her the tree had lived to be several hundred years old before its demise. She’d taken off her shoes too, so she could massage her toes.
Dallas had a tiny fire going. Water boiled over it in a camping pot. The packets of freeze-dried food promised something close to a real meal. She watched as he added the hot water to her broccoli soup and passed it to her.
“Well, this is surprising,” she said, inhaling the yummy flavors of cheese and veggies.
He mixed Eli’s and handed it to him then glanced back at Gemma. “Freeze-dried food is great for survival. Light to carry and very little water to make.”
Eli nodded as he took a bite. “This one’s my favorite.”
Gemma blew on the yellowish mixture and slurped a sip. The tangy taste of cheddar hit her tongue, and she spooned out another. “Nice.”
After they’d finished eating and washed their dishes, Dallas stood. “I’m going to the washroom. Gimme a few,” he said, and disappeared into the jungle.
Gemma swung her gaze to Eli. He stood, and something tumbled out of his pocket.
She pointed. “Eli, you dropped—” The familiar bulky device registered in her brain. “Oh. You have a satellite phone too?”
Eli bent and picked it up. “Yeah, mine’s dead though.” He stuffed it in his pocket and reached for a protein bar. “Want one?”
She accepted the chocolate treat and put it in the slim pocket of her yoga pants for later. “Thanks. That’s too bad your phone’s dead. You didn’t get a chance to use it after we jumped?”
He cleaned his dishes with leaves then tossed them in his backpack. “Nope. I mean, I tried of course. Really kicked myself for that one.”
She nodded. “Thankfully Dallas has his.”
A moment later Dallas returned, and they quickly got back on track.
Gemma had finallystopped counting the hours. All that mattered was putting one foot in front of the other. The sun was high and beating down, the bugs were out in full swing, and the trees shook around them—it was enough for her to sweat off ten pounds. So far they’d been lucky not to encounter any wild animals. She needed their luck to continue.
She glanced down at the GPS and stopped with a gasp. Eli skittered to a stop behind her and Dallas turned, sweat pouring off his face. She held up the device. “We’re close to the road. Quarter mile.” The words sounded hollow.
Were they really almost out of this nightmare? The road itself wasn’t much of an accomplishment, but just knowing they could walk on smooth ground if they needed, that their ride would arrive at some point over the next few hours, made her knees quake.
Dallas must have felt the same jubilation because his mouth lifted. “Yeah?”
“Ha, ha! Yeah!” Eli shouted toward the trees.
The poor birds screamed and something hissed, but Gemma laughed.
“Let’s get closer,” Eli urged. “A quarter mile is still too far. We might miss the vehicle if we have to run.”
Dallas nodded. “I agree. We’ll get close enough that we can hear anyone traveling and reach the road in time.”
“How long until your brother’s friend gets here?” she asked.
Dallas frowned down at his watch. “I spoke to him at 8:00a.m. He said he’d leave Ecuador within the hour, and it’s about a seven-hour drive for them.” He paused. “So shit. Not much longer at all. Probably an hour or two.”
Gemma let out a loose laugh and threw her arms around Dallas’s waist. “Let’s go.” She charged around him, new energy catapulting through her veins. He caught her arms before she could run off.
“One minute,” Eli said, holding up his finger. “Let me do some business and I’ll be back in a sec.” He disappeared, and Gemma fought the urge to gnaw her fingertips.
“We need to hurry. What if they left earlier? Oh my god. We could have missed them...”
He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, forcing her breath to slow. She lifted her gaze to his calm hazel eyes, which never ceased to touch her soul. “We’re okay. They’re getting paid ten grand on our delivery. They won’t leave without us. Plus, we’re not even ten minutes from the road.”
“But it’s not like we have a meeting point.” Annoyance made her voice thin. “They’ll just keep driving.”
“Yeah, and if we don’t run into them in a couple of hours, I’ll make a call.”
She nodded. The prospect of staying in the jungle a minute longer than they had to made her skin itch. She tsked and glanced over her shoulder. “Where the hell is he?”
“Yo, Eli!” Dallas boomed. “We need to get on the move.”
Bushes rustled and Eli jumped out, more enthusiasm in his limbs than she’d had in days. “I’m here. Sorry. When you gotta go, you gotta go.”
Gemma forced a smile. She’d rather get a bladder infection than risk missing their ride. She shoved lightly at Dallas’s midsection. “Let’s go.”
Dallas caught her hand, and they fell back into line. Their march was quicker now, the smack of each thick leaf less irritating than the one before. Even the mosquitos didn’t piss her off anymore.
In a matter of hours, they’d be comfortable in a motel. She didn’t even care if the damn place was a no star—as long as she could wash the sweat and dirt off her body, lie in a bed, and have a meal.
A few minutes later, the trees became thinner. It took all her willpower not to swerve around Dallas and run. As her boots touched the smooth dirt road, she let out a little sob. “Holy crap.” She dragged her hand through the end of her ponytail. If she weren’t so damn tired, she’d jump up and down.
Dallas’s stride loosened. “Fuck, this is so much better to walk on.”
“Exactly why we should keep on the road.” She glanced behind her. “If we hear anyone coming from that direction, heading toward Ecuador, we’ll know it’s not our ride.”
“I agree,” Eli said. “My legs are killing me from walking over those tree roots and shit.”
Dallas nodded. “Fine. Just for a bit though, and then we need to get back to cover.”
Gemma walked beside Dallas. His body seemed tenser now. His arms swung in sync with his footsteps. He continued gripping the stick and kept a watchful gaze on the road. He had every right to be wary. While it was unlikely that the people who’d shot down the plane were still looking for them now, more than a day later, it didn’t mean they were out of the woods. If the men had seen them jump with parachutes, they might be motivated enough to venture into the jungle to ensure she and Dallas didn’t make it out.
Eli stayed a bit behind, but the scuff of his boots on the dirt assured her he wasn’t far. She wiggled her fingers into the crook of Dallas’s elbow. He glanced down at her, his eyes hooded, his jaw so tense the muscle appeared ready to snap.
She gulped down the internal warning that made the spot between her shoulder blades shudder. “What’s wrong?”
He shook his head, squinted, and looked up to the sky. “Nothing. Just anxious. I’ve felt off all day. Not sure if it’s because we’re so close to getting out of here that it’s too good to be true—or if someone’s waiting on the other side.”
Her stomach seized. The idea that the men who’d tried to kill them could have flown right over their heads and waited at the other end of the road hadn’t even crossed her mind.
Here she was, fantasizing about a hot shower and a bed when in reality, there was no guarantee they’d make it out alive. The dangers of the jungle were low in comparison to that of the men who’d tried to kill her—twice.
Dallas gave her arm a shake. Some of the angst had left his face, and his eyes seemed a little less strained. “Hey, we’re all right. I know my brother wouldn’t send someone he didn’t trust. We’ll just need to be careful when we get close to town.”
She nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense. I’ll be glad when all this is—”
The roar of a motor echoed through the jungle. Fear poked her spine. The vehicle was coming from behind them—from Colombia. Not the ride they were waiting for.
“In the trees,” Dallas said, jerking her off the road.
The sound grew closer, and animals erupted in a cacophony of shrieks. Dallas’s bicep stiffened as he moved a handful of vines aside. This part of the jungle was thicker than where they’d exited.
“Here, let me go first.” Eli leaped in front of Gemma then held out his hand.
She placed her palm in his, and he guided her over the rocks and tree roots jutting up from the ground. He towed her into the cover of the foliage, and Gemma glanced behind her just as Dallas jumped inside, slicing branches out of his way.
Eli’s grip tightened and he spun her around, slamming her back against his chest. Her heart rate jumped. Panic skittered along her nerve endings. Something hard pressed against her side. “Don’t move,” Eli hissed.
Dallas stopped in his tracks. His apprehension became downright fury as he took in the situation. “What the fuck are you doing, Eli?” His cheeks were red and his chest was puffed. His free fist opened and closed at his side, and the other clutched the stick. He looked ready to impale Eli.
Gemma’s mouth went dry. There was no safe way out of the situation. Dallas stood a good eight feet from her. Any move he made to intercept Eli would result in a bullet ripping through her organs.
The vehicle thundered closer.
Eli’s chest was hot and sweaty against her shoulders. Every part of her ached to escape. Her senses evaluated Eli’s hold. The arm in front of her chest clung awkwardly to her—his injured arm. He’d taken it out of the sling.
“Go back to the road,” Eli said, his voice strong. “The vehicle’s for us.”
“The phone,” she hissed. Damn she’d been stupid. Who took a dead satellite phone on a flight over the jungle? He’d planned this from the moment he found them in the plane—or sooner.
“Shut up,” he barked at her. “I mean it.” He gestured at Dallas. “Back up to the road.”
Dallas’s body vibrated on the spot. “And if I don’t?”
“Then I’ll fucking kill her.”
“That’s exactly what your friends are going to do anyway,” Dallas spat. He took a step closer. “I don’t think you have the balls to hurt her. I’ll gut you like a fucking fish.”
Gemma squeezed her eyes tight. She had to do something. Had to think. If they didn’t get away from Eli before whoever he’d called arrived, they were screwed. They’d be too outnumbered to even fight.
She opened her eyes and looked at Dallas, and a wave of calm settled over her skin. His mouth was hooked in a sardonic grin. Satisfaction lit his eyes. He’d enjoy every minute of gutting Eli for daring to hurt her.
Eli’s hand trembled at her waist. “S-Stay back!”
A muscle jumped along the thick column of Dallas’s neck. “Not a fucking chance.”
Eli pivoted the gun away from her waist and aimed it at Dallas. It hovered in front of Gemma now.
“Back the fuck up!” Eli’s voice jumped. Dallas didn’t stop his steady advance.
She had to act now, while the gun wasn’t pointed at her. She threw her weight forward, bearing down on Eli’s injured arm.
“Argh!” he hollered, his body coiling with pain.
In a flash, Dallas snaked his hand around her arm and tugged her behind him. Then he grabbed Eli’s head and slammed him in the face with his knee once, twice.
Blood splattered the ground, and the gun fell from Eli’s fingers.
She dove for the weapon and snatched up the heavy metal while Dallas delivered one savage punch after another to Eli’s limp form.
“We have to go,” she cried. Grabbing his elbow, she pulled.
The loud vehicle’s engine cut out. The sudden relative silence made the insides of her throat swell with panic.
Dallas froze, and her eyes widened on him. If they moved, they could draw the newcomers right to them. Standing here, they were sitting ducks.
Footsteps crunched on the dirt road. Dallas’s fingers found her wrist and curled protectively around her skin.