Page 9 of SEAL of Fate

How long had she been trudging through the forest? Her breathing was labored, more from anxiety than exertion. The trees and brush grew thick; the ravines and hillsides fell away steep and rugged. With each step, Jordan’s fear intensified. Her lungs felt as though they would give out any second, and the beating of her heart thundered in her ears. The toe of her boot tangled in the underbrush, and she fell, headlong, on the uneven ground. Her hands and knees suffered the impact of her landing, and she cried out as pain shot through her right wrist. Rolling to her side, she cradled her arm next to her chest, debating whether to swear or scream.Neither would help, but maybe I’ll take a raincheck on the screaming for later when I’ve given up all hope.

Who was she kidding? She was lost.Despite her efforts to retrace her steps, she’d only managed to make it worse. She couldn’t even venture a guess as to which way would take her to civilization.Again, no one to blame but me.After a few minutes of rest restored her composure, Jordan pushed herself up until she sat cross-legged with her eyes closed. The frosty mountain air cooled her sweat-drenched skin, and she shivered.

Fear was a killer. She had to keep it together, and she needed a plan. Rushing blindly through the dark, across dangerous terrain, wasn’t the answer. She was lucky the only injury she’d received was a possibly sprained wrist. Maybe she should stay put until first light. Once she got her bearings, surely she’d be able to walk to safety. She could start a fire for warmth and to keep the animals away. Plenty of dry wood lay scattered on the ground, and she had matches and paper. Spending the night in the open wasn’t appealing, but it made more sense than wandering farther.

Okay, that’s a plan.Jordan opened her eyes and rose to gather twigs and small pieces of wood, sweeping a rocky area free of other fuels before arranging her kindling. Getting lost had at least taken her mind off the embarrassingincidentwith Travis last weekend. “Yeah, right.” She snorted a laugh. Calling it anincidentsounded less humiliating than what it had been—a gigantic, bumbling, drunk-on-her-ass screw-up. He’d been right to reject her clumsy attempt at seducing him, but if this turned out to be her last night on earth, she would regret not having hot and sweaty sex with that man.

A sound teased her ears, and she sat up straight. Not daring to breathe, her senses set on high alert, Jordan listened to hear it again. A minute ticked by, and then another while she waited, unmoving. Crushed by disappointment, she threw up her hands and cursed her imagination. And then the faint sound drifted to her on the breeze again. Something that could have been laughter joined rhythmic strains of music. She gasped and jumped to her feet. Lights flickered through the trees below to her left. She couldn’t believe her eyes until she blinked hard several times, and the lights still beckoned through the forest.

It was a vehicle, and it was coming closer. Frantically, Jordan searched the darkness at the base of the hillside, and the moon reflected off the ribbon of bare ground almost hidden by overhanging branches.There’s a road down there. And a vehicle. And people.

Caution forgotten, Jordan bounded down the hill, sliding on loose rock and clambering over fallen trees. She was going to be okay.

Chapter Four

Jordan probably shouldhave considered the possibility it wasn’t Alex before she dove off the ridge. Unfortunately, she hadn’t thought it through. Waiting beside the road, watching the headlights approach—headlights too small and close together to be the four-wheel-drive pickup Alex drove—her heart sank. She had no idea who was in the vehicle, and it would be foolish to admit she was lost and alone. Asking strangers for a ride? What had she been thinking?

She eyed the slope and the trees that hugged the shadows above her for a few seconds. Should she slip back into the darkness before they saw her? Apprehension and the memory of the last several hours tugged her in two directions. The cold. The fear. The bottom line was that she could die out here if she didn’t find help, and to get it, she’d have to trust someone.

The radio blared from the Jeep rolling toward her. Drums and heavy metal guitars vibrated the still air. Men’s voices raised over the engine noise, punctuated with coarse laughter. Jordan swallowed hard, dug deep for what remained of her courage, and stepped into the oncoming vehicle's lights.

“What the hell?” The surprised male voice and the squeal of worn-out brakes preceded the Jeep’s sliding stop twenty feet from where she stood. The music abruptly cut off. The passenger door flew open, and a man’s wiry form emerged and sauntered toward her. She couldn’t make out his features in the glare of headlights.

He stopped a few feet away. “Well, lookie who it is! What the hell are you doing out here? You’re in the middle of nowhere. Are you lost?” He flung his arms wide as though Jordan couldn’t see that the dark, empty mountains surrounded her.

He moved a few steps closer and peered at her. “What’s the matter with you? Cougar got your tongue?” He hooted a laugh, apparently amused by his wordplay.

Jordan recognized the voice, and she had to force herself to stand still and not run.Kyle!The creep who’d tried to manhandle her in the bar. The one Travis had escorted outside.Shoot! Of all the people I could have run into, it had to be him?

His thin face and close-set eyes verified his identity as he stepped closer. Except now, he looked like a homeless vagrant, dirty with uncombed hair and a rough growth of whiskers that made him appear older than the twenty-something she’d previously estimated. His unsteady movements, the slight slur of his words, and the half-empty whiskey bottle clutched in one hand said it all. She’d be better off taking her chances alone than with him.

No way would she get in his vehicle. It figured that when she needed an explanation for being here that he’d buy, nothing came to mind. “I’m waiting for my ride. My friends should be here any minute.” She blurted out the lie, even though it sounded crazy.

Kyle’s eyebrows shot up, and a smirk twisted his lips. Jordan backed away, but not quickly enough. He followed step for step. When she turned to run, he lunged and grabbed her injured wrist. “Whoa. Not so fast. You’re meeting someone on this road tonight?” He threw back his head and laughed. “Not likely, sweet thing.”

“Let go of me.” Jordan tried to pry open his fingers with her other hand, but his grip tightened, and he pulled her to within an inch of him.

“You owe me a dance, sweet thing.”

She bit back a cry as pain radiated through her wrist. His sour whiskey breath sickened her as he leered in her face.

“Let me go. You’re hurting me.” Jordan met his gaze, determined not to show fear.

“Let go of the lady, Kyle. You’re scaring her.” A new voice spoke from behind Kyle, and Jordan jumped, so focused on the danger Kyle presented, she’d momentarily forgotten he wasn’t alone. The cold authority in the command froze her tormentor, and his smile evaporated. Taking his time, he released her and stepped aside, tipping the bottle to his lips.

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