Page 42 of Final Approach

“Absolutely.” Nikki flashed his teeth in an attempt at a grin. To anyone else, he looked like the cheery charming Englishman, but I could see the strain in his cheeks when he forced his mouth wider.

We were both very good at hiding behind our masks. I could only hope we’d keep ours from cracking before our rescue came.

Detective Diaz’s dark eyes latched onto mine from the other side of the fire, his stare unrelenting and uncomfortable. What was his deal?

Was he as evil as I’d made him out to be in my head? Did I know for sure the injections were heroin, or was it an approved sedative used on violent prisoners during transport?

Had he really been peeing last night, or had he been following us?

I didn’t know.

The detective nodded slowly, as if agreeing to the plan was beneath him, but he’d allow it. I didn’t like him, that much I knew, but I couldn’t be certain he was dangerous. I shook my head, breaking the unsettling eye contact. I wouldn’t let the clutches of paranoia take me over when I’d been doing so well.

I didn’t love the thought of pairing Nikki with him, but I had a feeling Madman would slit his throat if they were alone for any period of time.

At least Nikki still had the gun. We didn’t need any more dead bodies today.

“We already slathered ourselves in sunscreen.” Tessa tittered nervously, pointing at her and Vanessa’s very light skin. “We have more if anyone needs any?” She held up the colorful tube, and Brooks took it, squirting some into their hand before passing it on.

Tessa was wide-eyed and eager to help. I caught her concerned glances toward her friend and understood the need to be useful when everything around me felt helpless.

“Tessa, can you and Vanessa organize our rations by person?” I moved to stand near the pile, glancing over the contents. “We’ll need equal portions for nine people. Try to plan for the next three days. I noticed a few avocado trees just a few feet into the jungle around the river bend. I’ll collect some of these, and some more firewood, while everyone is gathering supplies.”

Stepping back, I scoped out the group, considering all angles. It was daylight, but I was no jungle predator expert. Did panthers hunt in the daytime? There were plenty of snakes in the Amazon. We were noisy and possibly scary to a few of them, but we were also … food.

Those left at our outpost had the fire for protection. Nikki had the gun and a hatchet, Madman and Brooks had … nothing.

Picking up a pocketknife from the pile, I walked over to Madman and placed it in his palm. “Promise me you won’t stab anyone with this.” He wrapped large tattooed fingers around the hot metal and raised a bushy eyebrow. The quirk of his lips—was he laughing at me?

“I mean it, Madman. Self-protection from predators only.” I lowered my voice to a hiss. “That does not include the detective.”

The dark grin he flashed in response showed once again Maddox Torres was his own kind of predator. Of course he was. I’d witnessed him attack a jaguar last night with his bare hands.

On second thought, the pocketknife was probably as useful to him as a spork.

He was dangerous, but I trusted him. He’d chosen to keep us safe even when he could have taken off for his own freedom. I trusted him to keep Brooks safe, too.

I turned my attention back to the group. “Be on alert. Listen to your surroundings, holler if you need help and we’ll come.” I gestured to me and Nikki, and he dipped his head in agreement. “Any questions or objections?”

“I’m not going to wait around for leaf delivery.” Ambrose used a jagged rock by his mat as leverage to pull himself to his knees. “I’m hurt, but not useless.”

I winced on Danny’s behalf, but the man didn’t even blink at the callous comparison. “And everyone else is working in pairs,” he pointed out, breathing forcefully as he pressed up from his knees to standing. “I’ll go with you.”

My brows furrowed. “That’s not a good idea, Ambrose. You need rest and—”

“It’s a good idea.” Madman nodded approvingly and folded his arms across his chest. “We will feel better if you’re not alone.”

We? Who was this “we”?

Waving my hands toward the river bend fifty feet away, I couldn’t stifle my protests. “You’ll see me from here. If I need a rescue, I can yell.”

Ambrose had slowly ambled toward me in the time I spent defending myself. “Let’s go.” He defiantly jutted his chin. “You can lead the way.”

Gritting my teeth, I breathed through my nose and held it. I had no control over these people. If Ambrose wanted to rip open his wounds to prove a point, I couldn’t stop him, certainly not if the madman of our group agreed.

“Fine.” I blew out the breath and let the quick retort hang in the air. “But I’m not nursing you back to health tomorrow if you bleed out.”

I would.