Page 49 of Extracted

“Let’s get closer,” Eli urged. “A quarter mile is still too far. We might miss the vehicle if we have to run.”

Dallas nodded. “I agree. We’ll get close enough that we can hear anyone traveling and reach the road in time.”

“How long until your brother’s friend gets here?” she asked.

Dallas frowned down at his watch. “I spoke to him at 8:00 a.m. He said he’d leave Ecuador within the hour, and it’s about a seven-hour drive for them.” He paused. “So shit. Not much longer at all. Probably an hour or two.”

Gemma let out a loose laugh and threw her arms around Dallas’s waist. “Let’s go.” She charged around him, new energy catapulting through her veins. He caught her arms before she could run off.

“One minute,” Eli said, holding up his finger. “Let me do some business and I’ll be back in a sec.” He disappeared, and Gemma fought the urge to gnaw her fingertips.

“We need to hurry. What if they left earlier? Oh my god. We could have missed them . . .”

He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, forcing her breath to slow. She lifted her gaze to his calm hazel eyes, which never ceased to touch her soul. “We’re okay. They’re getting paid ten grand on our delivery. They won’t leave without us. Plus, we’re not even ten minutes from the road.”

“But it’s not like we have a meeting point.” Annoyance made her voice thin. “They’ll just keep driving.”

“Yeah, and if we don’t run into them in a couple of hours, I’ll make a call.”

She nodded. The prospect of staying in the jungle a minute longer than they had to made her skin itch. She tsked and glanced over her shoulder. “Where the hell is he?”

“Yo, Eli!” Dallas boomed. “We need to get on the move.”

Bushes rustled and Eli jumped out, more enthusiasm in his limbs than she’d had in days. “I’m here. Sorry. When you gotta go, you gotta go.”

Gemma forced a smile. She’d rather get a bladder infection than risk missing their ride. She shoved lightly at Dallas’s midsection. “Let’s go.”

Dallas caught her hand, and they fell back into line. Their march was quicker now, the smack of each thick leaf less irritating than the one before. Even the mosquitos didn’t piss her off anymore.

In a matter of hours, they’d be comfortable in a motel. She didn’t even care if the damn place was a no star—as long as she could wash the sweat and dirt off her body, lie in a bed, and have a meal.

A few minutes later, the trees became thinner. It took all her willpower not to swerve around Dallas and run. As her boots touched the smooth dirt road, she let out a little sob. “Holy crap.” She dragged her hand through the end of her ponytail. If she weren’t so damn tired, she’d jump up and down.

Dallas’s stride loosened. “Fuck, this is so much better to walk on.”

“Exactly why we should keep on the road.” She glanced behind her. “If we hear anyone coming from that direction, heading toward Ecuador, we’ll know it’s not our ride.”

“I agree,” Eli said. “My legs are killing me from walking over those tree roots and shit.”

Dallas nodded. “Fine. Just for a bit though, and then we need to get back to cover.”

Gemma walked beside Dallas. His body seemed tenser now. His arms swung in sync with his footsteps. He continued gripping the stick and kept a watchful gaze on the road. He had every right to be wary. While it was unlikely that the people who’d shot down the plane were still looking for them now, more than a day later, it didn’t mean they were out of the woods. If the men had seen them jump with parachutes, they might be motivated enough to venture into the jungle to ensure she and Dallas didn’t make it out.

Eli stayed a bit behind, but the scuff of his boots on the dirt assured her he wasn’t far. She wiggled her fingers into the crook of Dallas’s elbow. He glanced down at her, his eyes hooded, his jaw so tense the muscle appeared ready to snap.

She gulped down the internal warning that made the spot between her shoulder blades shudder. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head, squinted, and looked up to the sky. “Nothing. Just anxious. I’ve felt off all day. Not sure if it’s because we’re so close to getting out of here that it’s too good to be true—or if someone’s waiting on the other side.”

Her stomach seized. The idea that the men who’d tried to kill them could have flown right over their heads and waited at the other end of the road hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Here she was, fantasizing about a hot shower and a bed when in reality, there was no guarantee they’d make it out alive. The dangers of the jungle were low in comparison to that of the men who’d tried to kill her—twice.

Dallas gave her arm a shake. Some of the angst had left his face, and his eyes seemed a little less strained. “Hey, we’re all right. I know my brother wouldn’t send someone he didn’t trust. We’ll just need to be careful when we get close to town.”

She nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense. I’ll be glad when all this is—”

The roar of a motor echoed through the jungle. Fear poked her spine. The vehicle was coming from behind them—from Colombia. Not the ride they were waiting for.

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