“Agree to disagree,” he said, then eyed the guys. “Okay, new plan, but first—we have to make this look good.”
“Come again?” Luther knelt far enough back to be out of sight but close enough to the opening to provide protective cover.
“They”—Owen bobbed his head toward the fighters—“need to believe you were attacking us, trying to kidnap us.”
Dante grinned. “For ransom.”
“Yeah, right,” Owen said, glad his thoughts were actually making sense this time. “That we weren’t trying to escape. Because if we go back and they don’t believe that…” He gave a cockeyed nod. “Won’t matter if we die here in the streets or in a tent—dead is dead.”
“If we do this,” Leighton said, eyeing the Omen team, “can you two get away safely?”
“Incoming!”
Before Owen could move, he felt more than saw the bullet that seared past. It hit a metal downpipe. Ricocheted.
Leighton yelped, jerking aside and clapping a hand to her cheek.
Pulse jammed, Owen pushed to her. “Leighton!”
“I’m okay,” she said, her voice tremoring as she lifted her hand. A trail of red streaked her cheek. She managed a smile. “Will this make it look good?”
He wanted to curse, but a shaky laugh was all he managed. “Yeah.” He flinched to the guys. “Go! Go! We’ll slow them down, hopefully enough to stop them from coming after you.” He took Leighton’s hand and started back toward the street. Prayed the swimming vision would clear.
“I’m scared this won’t work,” she murmured as they ducked behind a cart to avoid being shot.
“Same.” One thing after another had gone wrong, and Owen feared he was failing her already. “My mom always said prayers are better than fear, so—God? We could use a miracle.” He ducked around the cart and glanced back, hoping the guys were getting clear of this mess. Two able-bodied and healthy operators had a better chance without an impaired operator and a girl with no training. His balance shifted. He stumbled into Leighton, then tripped over her feet. He went down, and since their hands were clasped, he again pulled her down with him. Heard her yelp in his ear.
Thuds behind him warned the enemy was close. “Scramble with me,” he whispered. And they did, as if fleeing for their lives. When he turned, he found two armed men staring down rifles at them.
“Help!” Leighton hadn’t missed a beat. She was on all fours, pleading for help from the gunmen sent by the royals. “The men…” She looked back down the alley. “They tried to take us.”
Impressed with the little actress, Owen did the same. Relief chugged through him that there was no sign of Dante or Luther. But when he looked back up, he found the curled lip of Ghalib and Nasir. “Never thought I’d say this,” he said, trying not to laugh at the great irony, “but I’m glad to see you two.”
14
Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
“Get up,” Nasir snarled as he caught Leighton’s arm and hauled her upright.
She staggered, reaching for Owen, who groaned when Ghalib and another man grabbed him and jerked him to his feet. “Easy, easy,” Leighton pleaded, but her words fell on deaf ears that were hauling Owen to a vehicle.
Stumbling along behind him, she felt every twitch and jerk they levied against him in the pit of her stomach. For a half second, she considered telling them the doctor hadn’t finished his ministrations, but she wasn’t entirely sure Abeni could be trusted to not betray that the men who’d taken them were actually allies.
Thrust toward the same Cruiser, she climbed in, noticing two more vehicles loaded up and poised to follow. Owen angled into the SUV beside her, wincing as he lowered himself onto a seat with a long moan. When the engine revved and lurched away from the bustling town—earning another groan from Owen—Leighton realized Mugo was their driver. Oh mercy—would he betray them?
No…not unless he wanted her to betray that he’d taken a bribe.
Owen leaned his head back and closed his eyes, hand to his right pectoral that the lion had swiped.
“It was very foolish to try to escape,” Ghalib growled from the front passenger seat.
“Escape?” she balked around a racing heart. “Those men tried to kidnap us!”
“They knew,” Owen grunted and braced as the vehicle bounced down the road. “Knew she was a princess. Said a lot of money would be paid for her.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Ghalib snapped.
“Up to you, man,” Owen said with a moan. “But if you really think I’d try to escape in this condition…” He chuckled, then grimaced.
