Page 78 of The Wanted One

“Well, if the missing women all look like you,” Lucy began, her tone tentative, “that means they also all look like—”

“Mom,” Charley mouthed in shock. “He’s obsessed with our mother.” Her arm banded across her abdomen. “That son of a bitch took those women because they remind him of her.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JACK

Mya flung open the door, all eyes instantly focused on her. “Camila’s going to have her team grab Shannon the second she tries to leave the lodge. She’ll bring her to Peru and meet us there.”

“She have any idea on a timeframe?” I asked her.

“The Feds are holding everyone there overnight. Questioning contestants. Going through video footage. And they have agents in the jungle looking for us.”

I focused on Gray. “At least you weren’t there and on camera. Your father would flip if the FBI found footage of you at a reality show.”

“But the Feds are going to see you,” Gray reminded me. “It won’t take them long to put two and two together. My father will have to intervene either way and do damage control to remove our connection to any of this.”

“At least we have that option,” Carter said, his tone firm. But I sensed some gratitude there as well, which was confirmed when he offered Gray a nod of thanks.

Gray wasted no time grabbing his radio, issuing orders for Jesse and Oliver to return so we could leave the area before anyone else showed up looking for us.

“So, does that mean we’re sticking to the plan and using the smuggling routes to Peru?” Gwen asked, closing the laptop.

“It’s our only option.” Carter pointed to the house. “Any security cameras here that need to be erased before we leave? I don’t need them having any more proof I’m alive, let alone this team exists.”

“No cameras on the property,” I let him know.

“Their lack of security out here is a major red flag,” Gray said, eyes on me. “Means they more than likely have a bigger compound somewhere else, and this is just an in-between spot for them.”

“Like their own personal motel and refuel station on the smuggling route?” Lucy asked, brows shooting up.

“Basically,” I answered flatly, that bad feeling in my gut mirroring Gray’s. “We need to go.” I patted Charley’s back, signaling her to start for the garage, then slung the weapons bag over my shoulder.

“I downloaded the map from the laptop and air-dropped it to Gray’s and Jesse’s phones,” Gwen said, walking at my other side. “Three vehicles. Three maps now.”

“Thank you,” I answered her as we entered the garage with three blacked-out SUVs: a Bronco, Jeep, and Tahoe. “Okay, spread out and see if we can find the keys.” A few minutes later, Oliver and Jesse walked through the door.

“Mya, you get to ride with Oliver and Mason,” Gray ordered, grabbing keys Mya had found.

“Of course, because that makes perfect sense for us to be together,” Mya blurted, a touch of sarcasm in her tone as she tossed keys to Carter.

Gray shrugged off her words and added, “I’ll ride with Jack, Charley, and Lucy.”

I gave Mya an apologetic look before opening the back door to the Bronco for Charley and Lucy, then tossed the bag of weapons on the seat between them. With my hand on the top of the SUV, I leaned in and peered at Charley. “I’m getting you out of here safely, I promise.” I nearly kissed her forehead, those bold green-blue eyes held so much trust and vulnerability, but I resisted and slammed the door shut. “Let’s roll out.” Sliding behind the wheel, I followed the Jeep and Tahoe to the semi-hidden gate on the property.

A few minutes later, we made it to a narrow dirt road, just wide enough for our SUVs, and Gray opened his phone to the map Gwen had provided in case we fell behind.

“We’re about ten klicks from the cross point,” Gray shared. “Looks like we’ll be heading to the other side of the Amazon so we can cross the border.”

“It’ll take us thirty minutes at this pace, though,” I pointed out as we hit a bump, jostling us around. Pretty soon it felt like we were riding over moguls on a ski slope, but without as much grace.

I shifted the rearview mirror to catch sight of Charley. She was squeezing Lucy’s hand on top of the duffle bag. With the truth out of the way, I was sure they appreciated the comfort of being next to each other.

I turned my attention back to the route ahead, and had just issued the warning, “seat belts,” when the next hard bump sent me rocking forward, my knee hitting hard into the column of the steering wheel.

How the hell did the cartel manage this path on the regular? And seat belts? When did I become such a dad?

At about twenty-five minutes into the drive, Gray piped up, “We should be crossing the border into Peru any minute now.”

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