Page 97 of Her Mercenary

She gasped, tears filling her sweet, innocent eyes. “You are?”

“Yes.”

And I would. I realized in that moment that I would, or I would die trying.

“Soon,” I said. “I promise. I’ll get you both out of here.”

“How?” Her fingers poked out of the cage and curled around the wire, her body trembling with hope.

“I have a friend. He’s going to help us. Today, he’ll get us out.”

Tears streamed down her face. She began sobbing.

“Don’t cry.” I forced a smile, stretching my fingers through the cage. “Everything is going to be okay. I promise. What’s your name?”

“Maisie.”

“That’s a beautiful name.”

She smiled, then said, “My brother’s name is Marcus. We’re twins.”

I laughed. “I guessed that.”

“My parents ...” She teared up. “They must be so worried. I—”

“We’ll get you home, Maisie.” My voice cracked with emotion. “I promise.”

An echo of voices pulled our attention to the door.

“Soon.” I pulled my fingers from the cage door and backed into the shadows. “Soon, Maisie.”

“Thank you,” she whispered before retreating to the back of her cage.

Keeping my head down, I listened to the single pair of footsteps cross the floor. One man, walking quickly.

My heart skipped a beat as a smile tugged at my lips. Roman was here to save me.

I peeked under my lashes, then frowned, blinking in surprise.

The visitor wasn’t Roman, it was Lucas Ruiz.

I hadn’t seen him since he’d visited us in the jungle, delivering a pack of supplies and a warning to leave. The same day I’d tried to attack him like a madwoman, not realizing he was undercover, just like Roman.

A new eye patch covered his eye. This one was dark gray like the storm clouds outside.

I glanced at Maisie before returning my gaze to Lucas. I wasn’t sure which role he was in at that moment. Undercover as Capitán, or the secret agent with Mexican intelligence? The good guy or the bad guy?

Lucas’s gaze locked on mine.

Roman’s promise echoed inside my head. “Tomorrow.”

Lucas hurried to my cage, glanced over his shoulder at the door, then began working the lock. “Come. Quickly.”

The chain was unlatched and the door opened.

“What’s going on?” I whispered, quietly stepping out of my cage.

Lucas took my hand. “I’m taking you to Roman, a few miles out.”