“Or boots.”
“You have to leave. They’ll kill you.”
He draws in a breath. “The walk will kill me.”
I stare at him, my vision blurring with tears. “But we just…”
He seemed fine. Or was that an act?
“We did, and I’ll do it again in a heartbeat if I have the chance. But the bullet wound is leaking, and I’ll slow you down.”
“You won’t.”
His fingers brush my cheek. “Shhh. Don’t cry. It’s okay. It will be fine. They were going to kill me anyway. I’m leverage. Nothing more. If you stay, they’ll kill you too.” His lips brush mine.
I squeeze my eyes closed to stop the flow of tears.
“I’m going to create a distraction, and you’re going to run. Get back to site. Tell them all what’s going on.”
I shake my head. “You need to run too. Even if you don’t go far. You can’t sit here waiting to die.”
“Babe…you have the best chance, and I’m going to increase your odds.”
I shake my head. “I won’t go without you.”
He loops his hands over my head to hold me close and kisses my temple. “You have to. The storm will slow them. And you. But it will make it harder for them to find you.”
“Us.”
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“No.”
“If I see a chance to leave, I will. How’s that? I don’t have a death wish. I’m not a noble soldier, willing to die for a cause. I was never that guy. It’s always been a paycheck. One I’d like to cash.”
I worry my teeth over my lower lip. “Do you want to tell me your plan?”
“Over dinner. Since I’ve already had dessert…”
That’s when I remember the bucket of food waiting for us.
CHAPTER12
Hargrave
When the woman approaches me,I sense something is up. She is one of the women who works at the conveyor, picking through rocks to find the emeralds. No one had anything to tell me, aside from no. But their eyes suggested they knew something but were choosing to forget. This woman also told me nothing, but she has packed up slowly and lingered as the others left. I’m not sure if she’s been gathering her courage, or if it’s because she didn’t want anyone to see her talking to me for longer than it takes to say no.
She glances at the other two guards. I’m familiar with both of them. This is my area because I speak Spanish. If they know anything, they are hiding it better than the others. She’s worried about being seen talking to me, but it’s already too late for her. The others will suspect.
I step outside, into the dusk, but remain under shelter. The rain has settled in, and everything that wasn’t already wet is now. Muddy rivers spill over the side of the mountain and it’s miserable. I’d rather sun and heat than this soggy air that makes every breath feel like hard work.
Another few hours and this rain is going to crank up to something close to dangerous. I hate it, but I’ve worked in the tropics before. Fucking bugs and rain and things that want to eat my skin.
I don’t look at her, because she’s acting skittish, instead I keep walking until we’re away from the door and around the side where workers come to sit outside on their breaks. There are crates to sit on and cigarette butts crushed into the mud. Everything is mud.
There’s a staff room, but most workers like to step outside for lunch. I don’t blame them. I do the same as I’m not a big fan of sitting in an office. I’m more than happy for Priest to be running the show.
“You want to talk?” I ask in Spanish. Priest is hoping that I’ll learn something and if this woman tells me nothing, I’ll be going home empty handed, which won’t help Reed and Ashley.
