Page 92 of Fear No Evil

“Keep it. You may need it. Listen, our goal is to get to the summit as soon as possible.” He jerked a chin toward the escarpment looming over them. “My Team is flying in on ahelicópteroto get us out of here.”

The men stood for a stunned moment, no doubt wondering if they were dreaming. Fernando was the first to recover, shooting a speculative glance at the steep climb ahead. “Bueno.Let’s do this.”

Cutting a look at the captives’ feet, Jake was relieved to see they all still wore their boots. Their uniforms were made for this environment, helping them to survive as long as they had. They could make it just a few hours longer. “Is there anything you need before we start hiking? David knows the way.”

“No, we’re ready.Vamos ahora.”

Patting down his vest, Jake located his two penlights‍—one his own and the other left to him by Bambino. “Here, you take this. Let’s grab the flashlight off the dead guy and his weapon, too.”

Fernando went to relay the order, but his subordinates were already heading toward the dead guard. “Wait one second,”Fernando called over his shoulder. Striding toward the guards’ shelter, he gestured for his companion to follow him.

Jake focused back on Lena, who had lifted her head from his shoulder and stood wiping her face behind the fall of her long, tangled black hair.

Catching her lightly by the chin, Jake lifted her face so he could see her expression. “Can you walk, Beautiful?”

She sniffed. “Yes.”

Her brave response made his heart swell with admiration.

“Hey, Jake?”

Even in the darkness, he could tell the words she was about to say were important. The hope that she’d realized they were meant for each other jacked up his heart rate. “Yes, Lena?”

A voice interrupted whatever she was going to tell him as it shouted from the guards’ hovel. “We found a cache of weapons!” The commandos emerged with their arms full.

Jake looked back at Lena.

“I’ll tell you later.” Her teeth chattered. “We need to get moving. Igor warned the others. They’ll be here soon enough.”

Igor? The name briefly distracted him, calling to mindYoung Frankenstein. But the sight of the commandos carrying two AK-47s apiece, extra clips, a couple of pistols, and a handheld radio caught his attention. They all froze as Gallo’s voice came out of it, sounding gruff and disoriented.

“Repite,Oscar.¿Qué pasa?”

They all froze. Fernando reacted first, snatching the radio out of Jorge’s hand and responding in what Jake hoped was a good impersonation of the guard.“Falsa alarma. Todo bien aquí.”

Gallo’s silence on the other end bespoke of his suspicion. “Tell me the passphrase, then.”

Fernando looked to Jake for the answer. When Jake shrugged, Fernando answered belligerently,“Tu madre.”

Oh, boy. The insult was sure to have consequences. Now Gallo knew the jig was up. At first light, he would head toArribato investigate, bringing a bunch of Venezuelans with him, just in case. Their tracks in the snow would make it apparent where the fugitives went. Even so, by the time Gallo got to the summit, Jake’s party would be long gone, provided their escape-and-evasion plan worked.

“How far to thecumbre, David?”

“Er.” David assessed the escarpment and scratched his chin. “As much as an hour.”

Perfect, it would take Jake’s teammates at least two hours to arrive by helicopter once Jake called for extraction. He would do that en route. “Okay, David. Lead the way.”

Keeping Lena pinned against his side, Jake ushered her uphill, fighting to keep pace with David’s nimble stride. As the commandos fell in behind them, the radio in Fernando’s hand gave off a steady hiss of static, suggesting Gallo had wisely switched to another channel. Needing all his concentration to walk, the commando didn’t bother searching for the new channel. The wind assaulted them, whipping snow into their eyes. Even so, the JUNGLA kept up without falling behind.

Jake had hoped to stop and place his call, but his hands weren’t free. Adrenaline must have kept Lena upright earlier. Now she could scarcely walk, forcing Jake to put his arms around her and half-drag, half-carry her along with him. His own soles burned with the abuse he’d put them through these past few days.

Lena gasped for breath and shuddered with cold, but she never once complained. Casting worried glances at her, Jake was struck by her pallor. What had she been about to say before the JUNGLA cut her off? Might she finally be willing‍—after all they’d been through‍—to share a future with him? Or was Jake just setting himself up for disappointment?

First things first. They had to get off El Castillo. And then Lena had to heal, both physically and mentally, from what she’d been through. Guilt pricked him anew for not protecting her better. None of that was going to be easy. But surely, after everything they’d overcome, she could see they were meant to be together.

CHAPTER 19

She never could have done this on her own. Even with Jake’s arms around her, lifting her and guiding her up the steep grade of snow-slick gravel, climbing to the alpine crest was more than Maggie could do. She could tell by Jake’s sidelong glances he was worried she wouldn’t make it. She could also tell he was dying to know what she’d been about to tell him. But Jake, being Jake, didn’t press her.

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