Leighton frowned at him. “What? No?—”
“It’s the drugs. Causes disorientation and confusion,” Dante muttered.
It was? Owen shifted his gaze to the ground. Tried to recall how they’d gotten here.
“I was trying to say Jeddah may be too late for a rescue after this,” Leighton said. “We go back to camp, and since you’re wounded, we tell the royals you can’t go out on safari.”
“That’s dumb—they don’t care about me. They’ll still make you go.”
“Maybe, but we can play on the king’s order for you to protect me. And I can claim exhaustion and weariness after the lion attack. Then you need to insist on me staying behind. You’ll demand they comply with the king’s orders.”
Owen stared at her. “Who made you the boss?” And why hadn’t he thought of that?
“Shut up, man,” Dante said. “You’re not thinking straight.”
Crack! Pop!
Dante ducked, then faced the threat, both he and Luther firing back. “We have to move. We’re too open.”
“The alley,” Luther barked. “Go!”
When Leighton reached to help him stand, Owen shoved her off. Nearly faceplanted. Felt the world shifting and dived for the alley. But relentless little princess was right there, manhandling him. “Get off?—”
“Owen, I’m just trying to help.”
“Why should I listen? You won’t listen and let me get you out of here,” he huffed as he slumped against the plastered wall. He tightened his jaw. Knew he was being a jerk. “Sorry.” He scratched a hand over his skull. “The drugs…”
“I know.” Leighton’s expression was taut with offense but she let out a shuddering breath. “Seeing you nearly die made me realize what’s at stake. The risks are too high.” She palmed Dante’s spine as he backed into the alley, firing.
Shots pinged off a metal pole. Another cracked a wall nearby, sending them deeper into the alley. “Maybe you should leave and check out the Serengeti—get there early.”
“Jeddah is more familiar, easier to recon,” Luther said.
“If we survive that long.”
“Yo,” Dante said with a huff. “That is not cool.”
“Let’s bake a plan,” Owen insisted.
“Not happening. Not discussing this without the chief,” Luther said.
“Yeah, don’t change any plans. Stick to the itinerary already in play,” Dante said. “Just be ready.”
“When?” Leighton asked.
“All the time.”
Owen knew that’d be the answer but he didn’t like it. Couldn’t plan accordingly. A constant state of readiness was quickly exhausting. And he was already exhausted. Hated that his legs wouldn’t cooperate better. He felt drunk and had nothing left after the lion attack and blood loss.
“What do we do?” Leighton asked as they huddled up in the alley.
Dante rubbed his jaw. “Hike out?—”
“He cannot do that,” Leighton countered. Then she flinched. “I’m sorry. I mean?—”
“No, it’s good.” Owen hated it, but it was the truth, and he needed to face that. Figure out a path to safety and success for Leighton. For both of them. Well, not really him—he wasn’t the point here. “She’s right—I’m in no shape. If there’s no car, I’m just a liability.”
“You’re not a liability,” Leighton objected.
