Page 60 of Honor Code

Two shots. A lethal double-tap.

The blond crumpled to the ground, dead before he hit the earth.

Although he was pretty sure these guys had come alone, just to be safe, Phoenix pulled the body into the jungle and hid it along with the other one. He scooped up the second rifle, checked the magazine, then slung it over his shoulder.

"Ellie!" He strode into the clearing. “You can come out.”

Her ashen face emerged from the foliage, the lightening sky giving her an ethereal glow.

“It’s okay,” he told her. “We’re safe now.”

"Thank God!" She ran to him, only to skid to a halt, gaping at the bullet-ridden cabin. "Holy shit... they did do that?"

“Yeah.”

She hugged herself to stop the tremors. “If we’d stayed in there—” She couldn’t finish.

“Which is why we didn’t.” He moved toward her.

"Where... where are they?" She glanced around fearfully.

"Dealt with."

Ellie met his gaze, voice trembling. "They're dead, aren't they?"

At his nod, she swallowed hard, clearly struggling with the implications.

"I had no choice," Phoenix said, needing her to understand. He was no cold-blooded killer. "It was us or them."

"I know." She managed a weak smile. "I know you did what you had to. To protect us."

He exhaled and pulled her tight against his chest, savoring her warmth and softness. If only they could go back to how they were last night, entwined, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. The thought of danger far from their minds.

She clung to him, her heart hammering against his chest. The urge to protect her overrode his desire to hold her and comfort her any longer. They needed to move out.

“These guys must have a boat moored somewhere,” he murmured. “I suggest we head down to the beach, locate the boat, and get the hell out of here.”

When she looked up at him, her eyes were wet with tears. “That sounds like a great plan.”

They salvaged what supplies they could from the ruined cabin—bottled water, some snacks, the first aid kit—then struck out downhill. This trail was wider and more worn than yesterday’s, but he hoped it would lead them to the shore.

Ellie stuck close as they proceeded through the forest. It was hot and humid, and soon they were both perspiring. After a grueling hour’s hike, they emerged onto a sandy beach not unlike the one they’d first arrived on.

“There!” Phoenix pointed toward a rocky spit that curved out into the glittering turquoise water. At the end, a sleek speedboat bobbed against the rocks.

“Oh, thank God.” Ellie grasped his hand. “Come on!”

“Easy,” he warned, squeezing her hand, then releasing it. He needed both hands free in case he had to discharge his weapon. "Stay behind me and let me check it out first."

With a nod, she fell in behind him and they picked their way cautiously over the sand.

The boat looked nearly identical to the one that had fired on them yesterday after the oil rig explosion. It was obvious that whoever was behind this had serious resources. And more hired guns on tap, if those two thugs at the cabin were any indication.

"So far so good," he assured Ellie, as they clambered over the rocks toward the moored speedboat for a closer look. "I think we're in the clear—" The distant thwup-thwup of helicopter blades made the words to die in his throat. His head snapped up, eyes narrowing at the growing black speck in the sky.

“Is that the Coast Guard?” Ellie said, hopefully. “Billy must have informed them we’re still missing.”

Could be. They’d have worked out this was the nearest island and were doing a fly-by to check it out.

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