Page 98 of Smoky Lake

“We’re not saying a fucking thing until we have lawyers,” Ani heard one of them growl as she limped across the field.

“The number’s in my pocket,” said the other. “Best legal rep money can buy.”

“You’re going to need it.” Sergeant Thomson gazed down at the two of them, her hands on her hips. “If you think the people in charge of this thing won’t toss you to the wolves, you’re even stupider than I thought.”

Ani shaded her eyes to gaze through the mist. Was that a group of people emerging from the trees about two hundred yards away? It was! Young people…they must be the Wilderness Alive group…alive and well!

As they came closer, she recognized Nyx, Lachlan, and Sam all helping shepherd the kids along.

But no Gil.

She ran as fast as she could toward them, though her hip was aching from being cramped in the helicopter for so long. “Where’s Gil?”

“He’s still inside the cave. He’s probably trying to find the virus canister,” said Nyx. “Corporal Walters is there too. Oh wait. He’s here.” He gestured toward the soldier now standing guard over the four mercenaries. “I guess it’s just Gil down there.”

Ani met Lachlan’s gaze. He was slimmer than Gil, with a lean build and shaggy brown hair, but there was no mistaking his resemblance to his brother. He looked just as worried as she felt. “I’ll go back and find him,” he said.

“I’m coming with you.”

“No, he’d want you to stay safe.” Lachlan’s green eyes were so much like Gil’s that her heart flipped over. “Even if he wasn’t in love with you, he’d want that.”

In love. The words ricocheted through her heart like a bell chiming. In love. I’m in love. We’re in love.

“He might be hurt. I’m coming with you,” she said firmly. “Just lead the way.”

Sergeant Thomson jogged over to them. “Sam, can you take some kids back to town in your plane? We don’t have enough space in the helicopter. More are on the way, but I’d like to get this airlift going asap.”

“Of course,” said Sam. He met Ani’s gaze. “You let me know if you need anything.”

She nodded and was about to follow after Lachlan when Thomson stopped her. “Can you do a quickie checkup on these kids before we load them up?”

Gil. Gil. Gil. The need to see him, to make sure he was okay, drummed through her blood. But how could she turn her back on teenagers who’d just been through an ordeal?

She met Lachlan’s gaze in a silent plea. “I’ll find him,” he assured her. “You take care of these kids.” He loped off toward the grove of trees from where they’d all emerged.

Ani loved Gil, but right now she was pretty damn fond of Lachlan too.

It wasn’t until she’d given each of the kids a quick but thorough checkup that she realized that Victor Canseco was still nowhere to be seen. And then her heart stopped, as Lachlan came running from the forest. Alone.

When Gil opened his eyes, the best sight in the world greeted him. Ani’s tender smile and radiant dark eyes. “Ani…”

“I’m here. I’m not leaving you.” She was crouched next to him on the cold floor of the cave. He looked around and saw no one else. The guards must have been taken into custody.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. Lachlan found you like this, and came and got me. I sent him back to get a gurney.”

“You…” He swallowed through the tightness of his throat. “You’re okay?”

“I’m okay. Just worried about you.”

“The mercenaries?”

“Under arrest, at least the ones that are here. Nyx says they’re working for a consortium called New Frontiers, but none of them are talking.”

“The kids?”

“They’re safe. Thomson is coordinating an airlift to get them all out. Smart of you to bring Sam along.”

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