Page 43 of Silk Shadow

Crap. That didn't sound human.

She jumped as something snorted behind her and gripped Viper's thigh. It was rock solid but she dug her fingertips in anyway, her heart hammering.

Another snort and some snuffling noises and a wild boar shuffled past, nose to the ground. Thankfully, it kept going, showing no interest in the humans hunkering down only a few meters away.

"Oh, God." She let go of his thigh and collapsed onto the ground. Not only did they have to worry about their pursuers, but also wild animals. The jungle was alive with the sounds of the night. Crickets chirping, a soft cooing sound that she couldn't place, and the occasional chatter of unfamiliar night animals.

"I'm really not an outdoorsy type of girl," she admitted, which made him chuckle.

"You're doing fine. Come on, let's move on."

Phoenix chose that moment to reappear, and she realized Viper had known exactly where he was, while she hadn't heard him approach at all.

"They've just landed," he informed them. "There are six of them. My guess is that they'll spread out and try to find us. They're all armed. AKs, by the looks of things."

Izzy felt weak.

They were here.

"Come on." Viper helped her to her feet. "Let's keep going."

Now that the threat was approaching from behind, they shifted positions. Phoenix waited for her to follow Viper and then brought up the rear. Both men had their weapons drawn.

Izzy suddenly felt very afraid.

CHAPTER 19

Viper pushed on, thankful he was wearing gloves. The branches were sharp and scratched at his hands. Behind him, he could hear Izzy's breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She was tiring. The rain didn't help. It wasn't heavy, but it was persistent, and every now and then they'd feel it seeping into their clothing or down their necks.

He couldn't blame her for being grumpy. She'd been through hell in the last twenty-four hours. They needed to find somewhere to rest without being spotted by the kidnappers who were no doubt gaining on them. They were pros and they didn't have Izzy slowing them down. There were more of them too, so they could spread out and cover more ground. It was only a matter of time before they were sighted.

He came to a ditch covered in vegetation. If they could burrow beneath the foliage, they might be able to hide Izzy. She couldn't go on much further. Even now, their pace had slowed considerably.

"Let's lay up here," he said to Phoenix, who was rotating in a hundred and eighty degrees behind them.

Phoenix turned to look and nodded. "It's as good a place as any."

Viper lifted some of the denser branches and burrowed in. Using his knife, he sliced away any sharp branches until the hollow was comfortable enough for Izzy to crawl into.

"You want me to lie in there?" she stared at him incredulously as he re-emerged. "What if there are bugs and spiders?"

"At least they aren't armed with AK-47s," Viper said dryly.

She bit her lip. "Are you coming with me?"

He glanced at Phoenix. "Nope, we're going to keep watch."

"But what if they find you?" There was a hint of panic in her voice.

"They won't, don't worry."

"We know how to take care of ourselves," Phoenix added, with an encouraging smile.

She glanced worriedly at them, then ducked her head and slithered into the burrow. "Just be careful," came her muffled response as they layered on even more vegetation.

"Don't come out, no matter what," Viper told her. "Wait until we come for you."

He thought he heard a muffled sob before he turned away. She'd be okay there for now. At least until they'd neutralized the threat.

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