Page 5 of Impossible Crusade

She drew in a breath, fear poking at the wall of protection his arms gave her. “Who exactly is Jorge?”

“An internationally acclaimed drug dealer and murderer.”

Cold chills pricked at her skin. She’d known the man was evil and she’d suspected he was a drug lord. To hear it validated was horrifying.

“My friend Jenn ...” Worry filled her. How had she selfishly run away and left Jenn in danger’s path? She hadn’t even thought about her friend until this moment, when she was safe in Aiden’s strong arms. “She’s still at the resort. If Jorge noticed me, he’d know we were together. What if he goes after her?”

“Is she alone?”

She shook her head. “She hooked up with some American businessman this week.”

“She’s probably all right for the moment, but I don’t want her going back to your room alone. We’ll need to extract her. Do you have your phone, and will she listen to you?”

“She won’t like it, but she’ll listen.” Chalisa pulled her phone out of the pocket of her sundress. Her phone and some lip balm were all she had.

“Text her to get in a cab, alone, and have the driver take her to the Mall of America in Tulum. Tell her not to return to the room and to go immediately. I’ll have one of my associates pick her up and bring her to the airport to meet us. Do you have a picture of your friend?”

“Yes.” She shakily typed out and sent the text to Jenn, telling her she’d explain later but they were in danger and to do exactly what Chalisa asked. She added the code words ‘snake tattoo.’ Kingston had insisted they use a code to communicate if they were in deep trouble. Then she pulled up a picture of her friend and angled it toward Aiden.

Aiden released his hold on her but stayed close. He snapped a picture of Jenn’s picture with his phone.

“If he says, ‘Chalisa sent me,’ will that be enough for Jenn to know he’s safe to trust?”

“Tell him to say, ‘snake tattoo.’ It’s our code word.”

“Interesting.” He typed out a text, then looked up again. “Were you and Jenn staying together?”

“Yes.”

“Room number?”

“2809.”

“I’ll have a contact at the hotel pack up your bags, get them to the airport, and wipe your information from the hotel’s computers. With any luck. it’ll be as if you were never there and Jorge won’t be able to track you.”

Chalisa prayed for luck. She couldn’t imagine the horror of being in Jorge’s grasp ever again.

“What is the code to the safe in your room?” he asked, typing into his phone. “They will need to retrieve your money and passports.”

“0425.” She was trusting Aiden with an awful lot, but the alternative wasn’t even worth considering. If Jorge had enough influence at the sprawling resort for the confident and tough Aiden to feel he needed to rush her out of there to be safe … she never wanted to go back.

“Is April twenty-fifth your birthday?” he asked.

“Yes,” she admitted.

He smiled, typed a bit more, and then pocketed his phone.

“Will Jorge try to pursue me to America?” She put a hand to her throat.

He shrugged. “I imagine he’ll just move on to the next beautiful tourist, but as far as my research shows, no one has escaped him. He might feel you’re a challenge and a loose end and pursue you.”

Chalisa’s stomach churned, and she leaned into him again. He wrapped her up tight and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She instantly felt safe and loved.

Loved? She didn’t even know Aiden, but she appreciated his strength, protection, and reassurance.

“I’ll get you out of the country, and then I’ll make sure Jorge never comes after you. Sadly, I’ll never see you again.”

“You’ll never see me again?” she whispered, glancing up into his blue gaze. She’d suspected as much, but to hear him admit it was a slap in the face.

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