She lengthened her stride as she followed the road.
Wait.
Her steps slowed.They wouldn’t leave Damien behind.Perhaps they would pick them up on the northern beaches like she’d suggested.
Relief filled her.Either way she wouldn’t be stuck here alone.
She closed her eyes and took a moment to be grateful to these men.
She was going home.
The morning was still as if it wasn’t sure whether the destruction of the night was over.No wind rustled through the trees and even the birds had stopped their chirping.The only sound was her constant steps on the bitumen road which sounded far too loud.
Mila glanced behind her, but the road was empty.The rainforest trees towered above her, shading the road and blocking her view of the ocean and Batara below.
It was maybe fifteen minutes later when the rumble of an engine reached her.She twisted to figure out it was coming from above her.The mountain to her left dropped away, and to her right it was an almost vertical incline.Crap.
If it wasn’t Damien returning, she’d be seen.
She ran forward to the bend in the road where the drop off wasn’t as steep and ducked behind a tree, clinging on to it as a black four-wheel drive reversed down the road.
Damien.
She stepped out, waving him down and he stopped, and got out.
“Did you reverse this whole way?”
He nodded.“No way to turn around.You need to drive.”
“Why?”She got into the driver’s side and adjusted the seat.
“Because you’re right.No one can see me with you.Before we get to the village, we’ll hide the car and hike the rest of the way.I’ll wait in the jungle and watch what’s going on.You stay out in the open, do not go inside.Does this village have a square as well?”
She nodded.
“Then stay there.Tell them you’re too scared to go inside in case another aftershock hits.”
She could do that.“Do we need some sort of bat signal?”
His low chuckle warmed her.“You mean an emergency signal?”
Heat flooded her cheeks.“Yeah.Some kind of shit’s just gone south and we need to run, kind of signal.”
He sobered.“I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
So did she.“So after I ask them to call Agus to check on Vance, I’ll ask Agus to bring him to me, say I need to see him, but I’m too scared to go near the ocean.He won’t admit Vance isn’t with him.Then I can sneak out of town, and we can go to the extraction point.”
He touched her arm.“Yeah, but here’s the thing.Plans go sideways all the time.If something happens, stay calm.Do not risk your life.Just know I’ll be coming for you.”
The declaration hit her in the heart and stole her words.She nodded.
They drove in silence until a moped appeared on the road in front of them.Damien ducked.
“We’re close,” Mila said.“That was Fajar’s father.”She glanced in the rear-view mirror to make sure he hadn’t turned around.“They must have been given the all-clear to return.”
“Stop here.”He checked his watch and frowned.
“What is it?”She pulled off to the side before the sign which announced the village.
