Page 2 of Bad Rio

For a small thing, she had generous breasts. He could feel them heaving against his folded arms. Right now, that didn’t matter.

“Shut up,” he commanded in a harsh whisper. “I’m here to rescue you. Got that? Now, start cooperating or those assholes that grabbed you from the ambassador’s house will hear. You’ll get us both killed.”

At that moment a loud and insistent knock sounded on the door. “Señorita, estes bien? Are you well?Come out now.”

Becca froze.

Whispering urgently, Rio said, “The Michoacán Cartel who kidnapped you? They’re disorganized. Sloppy. Half their captives are killed before ransom is paid. Think your chances are better with them? Or with me?”

The knock and imperious demand came again. “Señorita? Open the door.” The doorknob rattled.

Because she could barely move, he wrapped his fist around her long, dark braid and yanked her head back. A pleasant, sweet scent came off her hair, and put him in mind of little yellow flowers.

However, because she was of no more importance to him than a sack of potatoes, a sack he was nonetheless tasked to protect, he didn’t care. It mattered little to him whether she smelled like mildewed potatoes or fresh spring flowers. She meant one thing to him: money. Her scent was simply something he noticed. A man in his profession must remain observant.

She was forced to crane her neck and look up into his eyes. Unblinking, he met her gaze. She needed to make her decision within seconds. If she screamed, he was prepared to throw her out the window and as he followed, draw his Glock.

In that event, his chances for mission success would suffer.

He knew she was wealthy, spoiled, and probably petulant. Coddled types like her usually were. Over the years he’d dealt with plenty of her breed. At thirty-five, he’d been doing this for a while.

Yet she did have an excellent degree from a snooty university. Hopefully an education like that also translated into at least average intelligence. Maybe she was capable of making the right choice. It would definitely simplify his life.

Her eyes were large and a deep, snapping brown. He knew the color by studying her file, now confirmed in the low bathroom lamplight. The hue was the same, but the photos hadn’t revealed the fire burning within their depths. As she glowered, sparks shot at him like lasers. An angry line appeared between her brows.

A feisty one, he realized. Warring in her eyes with fear was also fury. This one would fight.

Despite her anger, he felt her entire body trembling.

The man on the other side of the door pounded on the wood. “Señorita!”

“Decide.” Rio squeezed her again.

Against his hand, Becca nodded once.

With great care, he slowly lifted his palm.

Still holding his gaze, she cleared her throat and called out, “Un momento. Just a minute. I’m coming out.”

Good.She had at least half a brain. That would be helpful.

“Salir, ahora.Come out now!”came the impatient demand.

Quickly, Rio pushed her to the open window and unceremoniously shoved her through.

She fell the five-foot drop and to her credit, when she landed on her side, made only a small squeak.

Rio dropped beside her, already clamping his fingers under her upper arm to drag her forward. With his other hand, he drew his pistol.

Behind them, he again heard the man outside the bathroom shout for Becca to come out. He pounded harder on the door. In seconds, Rio knew he’d break inside.

They rushed to the corner of the dilapidated wooden building and he peered around. The two sentries were headed for them. The men didn’t appear in a hurry and apparently had not yet heard the commotion starting in the bathroom. In the next heartbeat, they would.

Damn.

Rio reversed course and moved the other way. They hurried back beneath the window and to the opposite corner of the saloon. Because he’d thoroughly staked out the landscape before approaching the building, he’d learned that just beyond the dirt parking lot was a concealing clump of low trees and shrubbery. In the snarl of vegetation was his prize.

“See those bushes, those trees?” He pointed.

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