Page 48 of Sins of Leo

“How my name you know?” The broken-phrased statement had Leo scrambling to explain without scaring him off. Telling Santos that Leo’s dead daughter mentioned hiring him as a guide might not go over well.

“I was told you worked with Dr. Warmstone many years ago.”

The old fellow’s lips clamped tight. “No Inglés.” Santos began stomping away.

Leo jogged to plant himself in his path. “I know you met Dr. Warmstone, and I’m not here to cause trouble.” Not entirely false. He planned to get the relic and leave. If Cetus showed and started shit, that technically wouldn’t be his fault.

“Doctor gone. Forest take.” The man gestured to the jungle.

“I know. We don’t expect to find him, but his daughter would like to hear more about her father’s final days.”

“Ruth,” Santos whispered.

Leo almost showed his surprise that the man remembered her name. “Yes, Ruth. Dr. Warmstone spoke of her?”

“Man love hija.” Spanish for daughter.

“He did. And she loved him too, which is why she’s here. She wants to see the place her father disappeared.”

“No.” Santos shook his head. “Bad place. No go. Warn doctor. He go. He no come back.”

“Why did he go alone? Weren’t you his guide?” Leo asked.

“He pagó dinero. Spirits angry I bring extraño.Me maldijo.” He said the word for cursed as he indicated his eye.

“So Dr. Warmstone went back by himself but never returned.”

“Spirits angry. Spirits take.”

Despite knowing the answer, Leo still had to ask. “Would you guide me and his daughter to where Dr. Warmstone went?”

“No!” Santos exclaimed.

“I can pay. A lot. I was told only you could take me to the door.”

The man’s eyes widened. “No door in jungle.”

“I know there is. I saw the picture the doctor drew.”

“Door gone. Y yo también.” Without a goodbye, Santos fled, and Leo debated following. Surely something would convince the man to guide them.

Before he could decide if Santos was worth pursuing, a shrill scream from inside the hut, where he’d left Ruth, had him whirling.

So much for his promise he’d keep her safe.

CHAPTER 15

Ruth woke groggy and disoriented.She rolled over and fell out of a bed, a low one, so at least the floor wasn’t far when she hit it. She blinked at the hard-packed dirt. Definitely not in the tower anymore or the sandbox.

She pushed to a sitting position, and her queasy stomach lurched.

Don’t puke.

She hated throwing up. A few calming breaths helped to ease the nausea. Slowly, and still unsteady, she rose to her feet and glanced around. She appeared to be alone inside a small cottage with walls made of metal, the paint on them flaking and rusted in spots. The only two windows appeared to be covered with some kind of acrylic sheets that let light in but were too filmy to see out. For furniture, a bed whose mattress dipped, a chair that might collapse if used, and a crate that might have been used as a table. Despite spotting Leo’s pack alongside hers on the floor, the man himself was missing.

Probably out scouting. That was what warriors did, right? Still, she hated being alone in a strange place. Rather than focus on her trepidation, she reminded herself they’d made the voyageintact. A relief. Especially once she slapped her body and made sure all her bits remained intact. But her mind… Foggy as heck.

Bzzzz.

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