But I have to goI cant stay here
Im bigger than you, Melina, and trust me, Im meaner than you are. We go nowhere until you spill your guts.
She closed her eyes in frustration. And everything had been going so well, marching along exactly according to plan-to Huayars plan. Maybe John had a point. Maybe taking a modicum of control of this process wouldnt be a bad thing for her. If nothing else, it might alleviate a little of her sense of being a lamb toddling along docilely to her own slaughter.
Fine, she huffed. Im not going to meet my family exactly. Its a work related thing. Im going to meet some peopletoexchange some information.
In the remotest region of Peru? What the hell kind of information requires that sort of meeting place?
She folded her arms stubbornly. Im not saying any more. Ive already said too much.
He studied her speculatively for long enough that she developed a nearly uncontrollable urge to squirm. Finally, he commented, I can think of about two innocent reasons for you to be heading deep into the Andes and about ninety-five reasons that are anything but innocent. Which is it?
Theyd made love until the wee hours of the morning last night, had bared their bodies and their souls to one another. Hed looked into the face of her desperation and naked despair and he hadnt flinched. And he didnt strike her as the judgmental type. He gave off a vibe of having done enough things he wouldnt want others to judge, so he wouldnt be the first one to cast stones. Still, she couldnt tell him the truth. And yet, she couldnt bring herself to lie to him, either. That would be too easy, the cowards way out. She pressed her lips firmly together.
He sighed. Give me the phone number. Ill make the call.
I already said you cant.
And I already said youre not doing it. That leaves only me to make the call. End of discussion.
She glared up at him. Has anyone ever told you that youre a stubborn, unreasonable man?
They usually say Im pigheaded and arrogant, too. But Ill give you a few days to get there. In the meantime, please hand over the phone number nicely, or I may have to take it by force.
You wouldnt! she gasped, aghast.
He raised a sardonic eyebrow and merely stared at her. His expression gave away absolutely nothing. Did she believe him, or should she call his bluff? She studied him for a moment more. Nope. He wasnt bluffing. Calm readiness radiated from him. He was fully prepared to mug her for the phone number. Man. She could see where the pigheaded and arrogant accusations came from. Disgruntled, she passed over the slip of paper.
Thank you, he said with quiet dignity.
Damn him. He would have to go and be a gracious winner, too. That made it harder to stay mad at him. She sat back in her chair with a huff.
He dialed the number quickly.
His end of the conversation was painfully brief and in brisk Spanish. He jotted down something on the pad of paper beside the phone, and then, without asking any questions, got off the phone.
What did they say? she cried. Where are we going? When do we have to be there? Iseverythingokay?
Whoa, there, Mel. Slow down.
She reeled back, stunned. Her father was the only person whod ever called her Mel. Her sweet, absentminded father, whose life hung in the balance. Tears stung her eyelids and she blinked them away rapidly. All of a sudden, John was there, his strong arms wrapping around her and pulling her close. His hand pushed her head down gently onto his shoulder. She drew a sobbing breath. Another. And then she pulled herself together by main force. As much as she wanted to let it all go, she didnt have the luxury. Not yet. Precious lives rode on her keeping her act together. Just a little longer, and then she could lose it.
He leaned away from her, studying her without turning her loose.
What? she mumbled.
Youre a strong woman, Ill grant you that. But youre not strong enough to do this alone. You need someone. Let me help you.
I am letting you help-whether I want to or not, she replied a little peevishly. You stole the phone number and talked to my contacts, and now you know where to go and I dont.
He nodded slowly. Good point. And I think Im going to keep it that way, too. Im sorry, honey, but I dont entirely trust you not to dump me once we get up in the mountains. I dont know what youre tangled up in, but I damned well know youre in way over your head.
She stared at him, her jaw hanging open. He wasnt going to tell her where they were going? But it was her trip. He was just along to act as a guide and travel companion!
When do you want to leave? he asked casually.
Oh, now youre asking for my opinion? she retorted with light sarcasm.
He smiled serenely at her. No need to get bitchy. This arrangement is for the best and you know it. Youre grown-up enough to admit it.
She stared at him, her jaw hanging open. He wasnt going to tell her where they were going? But it was her trip. He was just along to act as a guide and travel companion!
When do you want to leave? he asked casually.
Oh, now youre asking for my opinion? she retorted with light sarcasm.
He smiled serenely at her. No need to get bitchy. This arrangement is for the best and you know it. Youre grown-up enough to admit it.
His bland comment stopped her in her tracks. He was exactly right. She was an adult. She wasnt going to lose her cool. Shed traveled thousands of miles and was only days from making a deal with one of the deadliest snakes on the planet. She had bigger fish to fry. As much as shed enjoy drinking more cognac and hiding from reality with him for a few more days, duty-and her family-called.
She sighed. I want to leave right away.
He nodded. Okay, then. Lets dump that ridiculous stuff you packed and then hit the road. We can drive the first part of the trip, but as you suggested, the last part of its going to have to happen on foot.
She lifted her eyebrows. Which part of my clothing last night did you find ridiculous? The slinky black dress you couldnt take your eyes off of all the way through supper, or the sexy shoes that made you think naughty thoughts while you were sipping your cognac, or maybe my purple lace bra? Oh, I know. It was that thong you couldnt wait to peel off of me.
He threw up his hands in surrender. Uncle, uncle! You can take your sexy clothes with you. Lets have a look at what else youve got in your bags and well see what we can lose to lighten the load.
As it turned out, most of her non-clothing items-things shed thought would be vital on a mountain trek-John deemed worthless. It was depressing that she was so unprepared for what lay ahead. But by the same token, he seemed to know precisely what he was doing. Gratitude for his competent presence flooded her yet againeven if he was a bully.
It took them nearly an hour to sort through her luggage and box up the stuff she wouldnt need. John carried it down to the concierge, who promised to mail it to her home in Mexico City. She didnt have the heart to tell John that she wouldnt be needing any of it again. Ever. What he didnt know truly wouldnt hurt him.
She waited impatiently in their room until he secured a vehicle-a banged up Land Rover that might once have been white, but was now permanently stained a dusty beige. She was startled when he hustled her out to a loading dock behind the hotel where hed parked the vehicle, but she had faith he had a reason for his caution.
She said nothing as he efficiently guided the Land Rover through the squalor and urban sprawl of Limas suburbs. Eventually, he turned the vehicle onto a two-lane, potholed road that apparently passed for a highway in this part of the world. Lima fell behind, and verdant farmland stretched out around them, terraced up the hillsides.
What did the guy on the phone say? she finally broke down and asked John.
Not much. Just that you were to proceed to a set of coordinates and await further instructions.
Thats all? Noother messages?
What sort of message? he asked smoothly.
Never mind.
They drove on in silence for a while.
Out of the blue, John said, He said everyones fine, so far.
She sagged in her seat, so relieved she felt like crying. The only thought that went through her head, over and over and over was, Thank God my familys safe. For now.
And then John asked grimly, So, tell me. Why would some guy feel compelled to let you know someone is fine? This someone wouldnt be fine why?
She winced. That was the question of the hour, wasnt it? Bucking up her courage, she looked him in the eye and shook her head regretfully. His eyelids flickered in reluctant acknowledgement. It wasnt a surrender, but it was a declaration of a momentary truce. Shed take it.
She would notcould notanswer his questions. She hadnt the slightest doubt that to do so would spell a death sentence for her parents and her brother. Even if refusing to answer Johns questions spelled the end between the two of them, she wouldnt sacrifice her familys safety for her own personal gratification. Ever.
But in the meantime, she had a very curious and increasingly insistent problem on her hands. And it was named John Hollister.
Chapter 5
The drive-a bone-jarring affair that all but rattled Melinas teeth loose-took most of the afternoon. John finally pulled into a gas station in a tiny, impoverished village as the sun began to go down. The hamlet, tucked into a valley lined with green pastures and herds of cattle and alpacas, looked like an old Western movie set with its dusty streets, rust-stained stucco cantina, and a few decrepit vintage cars parked along raised wooden sidewalks.
John opened the door and climbed out. He peeled a few bills out of his wallet and passed them to a wizened, dark-haired man who came outside to pump their gas.
Stay in the car, John murmured through the window in English.
She sighed. Her legs felt like prickly rubber. She was really ready to get out and stretch. But thered been a certain tone in Johns voice, a warning that he didnt like something about this place. She studied the one-street village out the window, trying to spot what was bothering him. Nothing moved. All was quiet-as in completely deserted. The locals were probably at home by now settling down to supper with their families.