Part 4 (1/2)
It took her a moment to realize that meant she was wearing his spare socks. ”Thank you.”
He gave her a slow smile that zinged to her heart. ”No problem.”
Giving her s.p.a.ce, he stepped back and let her hobble her way to the table. She stopped just before and looked around hopefully. ”I don't suppose you found a lovely bathroom with a proper toilet anywhere close by?”
”Not a one. No bubble baths or bottles of wine either.”
”d.a.m.n. Must remember to send a complaint to the manager,” she said cheerfully. ”So I have to go to the bathroom, outside?”
Mason stepped up. ”Outside around the back of the cabin. And I'll be standing watch.”
”Of course you will.” She groaned comically. ”Show me where, please.”
She followed him around the small bushes at the back of the cabin. ”Yep, definitely need to write the establishment,” she said.
”Glad you're finding something to laugh about.” Mason gave her a small nudge. ”Go on. I'll keep my back turned.”
”Great. Well, let's see if I can do this quickly.”
It was awkward and uncomfortable given the sore legs and puffy feet. When done, she stood up, rearranged her clothing and called out, ”I'm done.”
”Good. Inside. You get a few minutes then we need to leave.”
Of course they did. Would this never end? Inside she washed, then scarfed the few rations the men had shared and drank a half bottle of water. Resolute, she turned to face them, all waiting and standing in various relaxed positions that completely belied their inner guard that was always on.
”Okay,” she said. ”What's next?”
”There's a small town a couple of miles away. Hawk has gone to check it out. We'll round up a vehicle and arrange for you to be picked up.”
”Sounds good.” In fact, only a couple of miles away sounded lovely. She could do that. She hoped.
In silence, they filed out in a single line, with Tesla in the middle. She breathed in the fresh air now that she had a moment to look around. There was a boggy spot on the left hand side. She heard ducks flying overhead and song birds chirping in the tree. The sun was just breaking over the crest.
”Are we still in Mexico?” she asked in wonder. The trees offered a mix of smells that lifted and changed with the breeze.
It was surprisingly beautiful.
In any other circ.u.mstances, she'd love to spend some time here.
Then again, she'd loved to spend time in lots of places. She worked long and hard yet spent little on herself. She needed time off. Relax a little. These last few days, she'd come close to losing everything. She didn't think anything the group that kidnapped her offered was going to be anything she'd like to accept. Death was not just a possibility, but rather a probability. And she still didn't know which group it was. Not that it mattered. They were all bad news.
And these men had saved her from that.
There was a loud disturbance from a cl.u.s.ter of brush on the right. Instinctively she dropped to the ground. When no one rea.s.sured her it was all right to stand up again, she realized her instincts were correct.
”Yes,” Mason said. ”According to the GPS, we're almost at the border. Let's move.”
Crowded beside her, Mason kept a hand on her shoulder. She watched as he searched the area visually. He checked his watch if that was a watch given that it held more dials and switches than a watch could possibly hold. Catching her glance, he smiled rea.s.suringly at her.
”We're just checking.”
There were a couple of short bursts of pops. She frowned. ”Was that”
”We've got this.”
She believed him.
”s.h.i.+t,” he murmured. ”Stay down.” And he flattened onto the ground beside her, placed a finger to her lips.
Wordlessly she asked if they were no longer alone.
But his narrowed gaze never changed.
She closed her eyes. Please let this be over.
”Well, well. What do we have here?” A rough chuckle yelled in her ears. ”Must be my lucky day.”
Oh c.r.a.p. Her gaze flew open to see a white male dressed in camouflage gear staring down at them. A rifle pointed at the two of them. A rifle. Interesting choice. Her mind rushed in circles looking at options.
”Get up...slowly.”
”h.e.l.lo?” she scrambled to her feet. ”My goodness. Have I done something wrong?” she asked in what she hoped was an innocent voice.
”Easy, Tesla,” Mason said in a hard voice. ”He knows exactly who we are.”
”Of course I do.” The gunman smiled. ”And you have something that belongs to me.”
”Belongs to you?” Tesla said in confusion.
”Don't be stupid,” he snarled. ”Walk over here beside me.”
She glanced at Mason but he wasn't helping. Instead, he looked to be more bored and irritated than worried. As if trying to decide which course of action to take. She'd do what she could to give him that time. She shrugged and said, ”No.”
The enemy's eyebrows shot up. ”What did you say, b.i.t.c.h?”
”I said, no. I'm not going to walk over to you,” she said defiantly and waited for his next move. They needed her alive at least she was gambling on that point.
”Do you think I give a s.h.i.+t what you do? I'd as soon as shoot you where you stand.”
She raised her eyebrows. ”I hardly think that's what your bosses have in mind.”
The rifle was raised in her direction. She swallowed hard, then straightened her back. ”Then shoot me if I have no value to you. What's the point of forcing me to walk anymore?”
”Shut up. You're coming with me. He, on the other hand, is a dead man.”
The rifle swept toward Mason.
”No, stop,” she cried out, stepping in front of Mason. He'd already saved her life several times. She couldn't stand by and have him make the ultimate sacrifice.