Page 8 of Impossible Treasure

“And we have six days to find the money?” Cash acted nonchalant, but he was getting a bad feeling about this. He kept a confident smile in place. Twenty-five flags and they had to dig and scour around each one to make sure they didn’t miss the treasure? The island wasn’t huge, but just looking at it he could imagine they wouldn’t get anywhere fast. He’d have to hack trails except around the perimeter. But he squeezed Brylee’s hand. “Easy for us, right?”

Brylee lifted her brows, looking queasy. “Easy?”

Uh-oh. Was she doubting herself or him?

“Is the million dollars for Brylee’s charity on this island?” Cash felt he had to clarify. He didn’t think it was common knowledge about the results of the treasure hunt for the first show in Axel Dexter’s reality television series. There had been no treasure buried, and Captain Brittan Grady and his female counterpart had searched all week. Their clues were supposed to lead them to realize that their treasure was each other. A lot cheesy and very frustrating in Cash’s mind.

“Yes, it is.” Mercedes held his gaze. Making certain he trusted her?

Cash had instinctively trusted her because of Grayson, and that had solidified when she had admitted she was dying. He’d worked hard the past few weeks to hand-pick and then convince six other former special ops soldiers, each with a different ‘wound’ of some sort, either physical, mental, social, or emotional, to take part in the show as well. Then he’d come on her show. Didn’t that shout trust?

“I promise you the million dollars is on this island and just waiting for you two beautiful people to find it.”

Cash nodded.

“Your challenge is simple. Find that money. I hope you don’t find it too fast.” She rocked on her spike heels and clasped her delicate hands together.

Simple? Too fast? He doubted it would be either.

Brylee was clinging to his hand hard enough he was losing circulation in his fingers.

“You okay?” he whispered to her.

“Is this a bad time to tell you I’m afraid of heights?” She glanced at the waterfall, then at him, her blue eyes uncertain.

Mercedes watched them, her smile growing a little concerned. Cash felt a lot concerned. What if the treasure was buried up high? The waterfall flag was the only one they could see, and he personally wanted to conquer it because it would be such a great spot to hide the money with the difficulty of getting to it. It would also give them a bird's-eye view of the island and hopefully reveal some other flags.

“Bad enough that you freeze when you get up high? Or you simply don’t enjoy standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon?”

“Bad enough I stay away from windows in tall buildings and avoid roller coasters like the plague. I don’t know if I freeze or not. I’ve never let myself get close enough to an edge to find out.”

Cash’s stomach took a tumble. A tough obstacle like climbing to the top of this waterfall just became near impossible.There’d be another path, a gradual one. They just had to find it. He glanced at the thick growth surrounding them. Banyan trees, palm trees, mango trees, thick flowering bushes, lush green everywhere. He’d seen similar landscapes in Vietnam, North Korea, the Philippines, Syria, and Oahu. The island was beautiful, untouched, and would be a mess to navigate. He’d need a machete to chop his way through.

Cash nodded, trying to seem confident. “It’s all right. Miss Belle will have all kinds of equipment for us at the campsite. She’ll want us to be safe for the show’s sake. I can help you up the falls or wherever else we need to go.”

He gave Mercedes a challenging stare. She’d better back up his words. That waterfall with the right equipment might be doable. Without it, certain suicide. Unless he could find another route. Should they try for another flag first? Circumvent the island and see if there were any natural paths like a stream?

“I hope so.” Mercedes’ blue eyes said she really did. “My people have promised to keep you safe, but they told me it had to be challenging.” She grimaced and then gestured to the tent and campsite set up downriver. “Hopefully there’s something helpful in the pile of supplies the show’s organizers left.”

Her tone didn’t sound promising. Cash assumed she wanted the equipment to be there, but she obviously hadn’t organized their equipment herself and the producers would want things dangerous and angsty.

“There are cameras set up with automatic sensors to record you when you’re in camp,” she continued. “Shawn will come trade out batteries and check on you midweek. He’ll bring fresh food supplies, clothes, and check if you need any … first aid or anything like that.” She gave a tinkling laugh as if that was silly, but her eyes looked concerned.

Brylee’s grip on Cash’s hand became viselike again. He couldn’t care less if he were mortally wounded. It’d be a mucheasier way to go than being eaten away by multiple tumors. He would not let Brylee get hurt and Shawn doctor her.

“There are backpacks ready with snacks, water, dry clothing, emergency and first aid supplies, and extra batteries for the cameras. The cameras are waiting in your other supplies as well as loads of food, water, extra clothing, shoes, and more. You will be expected to ensure the GoPros that are mounted on the fronts and backs of your backpacks are live and charged, unless you’re sleeping. Of course you need to record your adventure. There is a generator and charging station in camp and extra batteries in your backpacks.” She drew in a breath. “I think I got through everything.” She grinned and looked at Shawn. “What do you think,myhunk of a military stud? Did I forget anything?”

Shawn gave her a possessive smile. “You did well.” His pale blue eyes turned to Brylee. “Were you able to keep up with the instructions, Miss Auburn? Being from the backwoods and all.”

“Shawn,” Mercedes admonished, frowning at him.

Cash growled low in his throat and took a step forward. He really did not like the guy, and unless Mercedes was acting, that line had not been in the script.

Brylee tugged on Cash’s hand, drawing his attention easily back to her. She blinked her dark lashes up at Cash and said in a tone that was eerily similar to Mercedes’ chipper voice, “Shawn is making me all confused. I don’t know if I can remember all those big words and confusing instructions. What do you think, you hunk of a military stud, you? Can you bring me up to speed and protect me on this terrifying adventure?”

“Easily.” Cash grinned. Her scared of heights comment had worried him, but with her ability to tease, he thought they’d be okay.

Brylee leaned against his shoulder again and he felt taller than six-three. She made him feel like a ‘hunk of a military stud.’That phrase from her mouth was enticing, not off-putting like when he’d heard it from other women.

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