Page 80 of Her Mercenary

Closer to the airport.

Closer to the ending of us.

“There’s a small township six miles east of here called Tenedores. This is where Bear was supposed to meet us.”

Where Roman was supposed to “drop me,” he meant.

“Once we’re in town, I’ll make some calls. I’ll arrange a ride to the airport and another flight to get you home.”

Something that resembled anger sparked in me. The Roman I got to know fishing and lying together under the stars was no more, and the hard, callous, emotionless Ardri was back. Again, he was treating me like an object.

I was no longer his sole focus. Getting to Conor was—once again. In my dream, I’d hoped Roman would board the plane with me, come home with me.

I guess not.

“I can handle it, Roman,” I said. “I can get to the airport on my own once we get to town.”

His head snapped in my direction. “I’ll see you to the airport, where one of my men will be waiting to see you the rest of the way.”

“Who?”

“Someone who’s not dead.”

He slipped past me, and using thick vines for support, began climbing down the side of the cliff. I followed suit, the sharp descent sending my pulse rate skyrocketing.

Finally, we reached another, much narrower ledge just below the cliff. Underneath the overhanging rock was a small cave, the entrance so small, an adult would have to enter on their hands and knees. It looked like a mouth gaping open.

The treetops blocked the view of the cave by anyone who might be searching below. It was a perfect hiding spot.

“How do you know where all the caves in this area are?”

“I studied a geological map before I came. We’ll camp here tonight and set out first thing tomorrow morning.” He slipped out of his pack. “You’ll be at the airport before noon, home with your mother before nightfall. Stay here.”

Roman ducked under the overhang, clicked on his light, and crawled into the dark cave opening. His light bounced around on the inside, and finally, he beckoned for me to follow.

I lowered onto my hands and knees and crawled through the opening, careful to avoid the sharp silt that blanketed the rock.

The cave opened up to a small space, barely enough room for Roman to stand, and no more than five feet wide. The air was delightfully cool, the rocks dry under my feet. I imagined it would be the perfect spot for a bear to hibernate.

We readied the campsite in silence, the tension thick between us. Not a single word was spoken, not a single touch. Not a single glance.

Roman left me for the first time that night. With a loaded gun on my lap and a knife at my side, he gathered his fishing rod and hiked alone to a nearby river to catch dinner.

And for the first time since Roman had saved me, I curled into a ball and cried myself to sleep.

36

ROMAN

I tramped through the jungle, not bothering to maneuver around the dense thickets.

Anger swirled inside me as I plowed through the brush, the thorns snagging and tearing my pants. Twigs and branches popped and split as I surged through, leaving a path of destruction in my wake.

I had to get the hell out of there, away from Sam.

I was losing control. Control of everything—the mission, myself, my anger, my fucking racing thoughts.

I needed to breathe. Think. Plan and reassess. I needed to be the fuck alone, away from a woman who, with nothing but a single glance, completely derailed me.