And since we’ll have to fight when we get there, we don’t want to kill ourselves on the way. Getting back will be a problem to solve once we are there. If we can take a vehicle for some of the trip back, that will help. It also depends on what state Reed and Ashely are in.
I don’t really want to dwell on that.
Most of the time, I can find the good in any situation. But as soon as I step out on a mission, all I’m left with is dark thoughts. For some reason, when I make it back alive, it’s easy to look back and see all the things that went right and be glad that I’m sucking in air for another day.
I knew it would be me saving Reed’s ass at some point. He’s that kind of guy. How he served and got medals and I got kicked out; I have no idea. If I didn’t like him so much, it would be easy to hate him. But he makes me laugh, and I value that in a partner.
Priest moves forward. We aren’t being careful, just trying to cover ground. Already the rest of the world has disappeared. We could be the only people left alive.
Priest, Hargrave, and me.
We left two guys with the four-wheel drive to make sure it’s still there when we’re done. We took it as far as prudent, which was two clicks before the accident, that wasn’t an accident.
Wet leaves slap against my arms as we move through the jungle, following the road. If our directions were correct, we should hit a track that leads to the camp. If.
As much as I want to hurry, rushing won’t help.
I’m trying not to dwell on the fact that this might be the wrong site. That the intel might be bad. There are a hundred little mines dotted around the area. And several on company land.
Several that could be being worked illegally and we wouldn’t know as we aren't guarding every hole in the ground.
Reed and Ashely could be anywhere.
But locals wouldn’t kidnap a foreigner to locate emeralds. They’d kidnap her for ransom. Reed, he’s an inconvenience at best. He’d better not be dead.
Time ceases to exist as we move through the wet night. The rain blocks out all noise. I can’t hear the others walking and if I don’t pay attention, I’ll lose them. It wouldn’t take much. Three trees and they’d be gone.
But like me, they are constantly checking we are all together and that the road is still within a few yards. Sometimes we have to detour around an impromptu river. With the water all flowing downhill, at least we have that constant.
I have no idea how long we’ve been walking, only that I have composed three different speeches for Reed, ranging from fury to relief.
And another three to Ashley.
Not going to lie, I’ve jerked off to the idea of sharing her with Reed more than once. I admitted I liked her ass once and for the next week he kept pointing it out. He was the one that started talking about putting her between us. I was never bold enough to agree that I liked the idea. In part because I was worried he’d open his big mouth and ask her, and there is no way I’d be able to look her in the eye after that.
Priest stops and lifts his hand.
Someone or something is crashing through the trees and shrubs toward us.
CHAPTER16
Ashley
It’s soeasy to get turned around in the dark and the rain. There are no stars or moon, and if I wait until morning to use the sun—assuming it breaks through the clouds—then I will have wasted the time Reed gave me.
I didn’t want to accidentally loop back to camp, so I’ve kept the high side to my left, knowing that eventually I’ll walk around the mountain. Reed would tell me that I’m too close to the track. But no one is out tonight. I’ll go deeper into the jungle, come daylight.
I’ve stopped crying, but my eyes ache and my throat is sore. I pause with my mouth open for a drink of the rain. At least I’m in no danger of dehydrating.
Things rustle nearby. Are they hiding from the rain or do the sense an easy meal?
I hold the crowbar in one hand and the knife in the other, and snarl. Hoping to scare away any predator. Then I run. Maybe I invaded their territory. My legs are tired, and I keep slipping in the mud.
With every heartbeat, I fear for Reed. I know staying wouldn’t have helped him, but me being lost won’t either. Even if I’m going in the right direction, I won’t reach our camp until late tomorrow at best. What if they kill him?
He’d make peace with that. But I haven’t. Not when I still have the ache between my thighs. I slash at the leaves and branches that want to grip my pants. My bare arms are stinging from a hundred different cuts.
I let the anger and fear push me on, knowing that at some point I will collapse.
