Page 27 of Bad Rio

A bullet screamed by her head, embedded itself violently into the trunk of a nearby tree. Becca shrieked.

“Duck,” Rio ordered. “Stay low.” Clinging to him, Becca hung on for dear life.

Twisting and turning the scooter in a serpentine pattern, Rio kept them headed almost directly downhill. Becca had no idea how he could see, how he avoided the trees and rocks, but she was grateful he did. Before he got them out of sight of their pursuers and free of immediate gunfire, it was the longest twenty seconds of her life.

Rio kept off the road and roared through the forest. Gradually, those following fell behind.

Grimly, Rio drove through the night. He said nothing to Becca, and she didn’t want to distract him. Onto dirt roads, some partly paved, and through wild animal tracks, he weaved across the Mexican forests and countryside for nearly two hours.

At last he drove them into a familiar stand of oaks, stopped the Vespa, and helped her off. Their little shack stood only yards away, dark and shielded by overhanging trees.

“We’re okay for now,” he told her, covering the scooter. “I took a long roundabout trip to get here, but we lost them at the beginning.”

Becca nodded, stiff with cold.

Tucking her under his arm, Rio guided her to the cabin, turned on the battery light, and bolted the door. Pushing her to sit on the bed, he removed her shoes and massaged her feet.

Her mind dull, and shivering violently, Becca merely watched him. They were both alive. That was all she knew.

He eyed her with concern. “We’ve got to get you warmed up again.”

With effort, she dragged herself across the bed and climbed under the quilts. Where was her father? Her brothers? Who were those men and why did they shoot at her? In misery, she lay on her side facing the wall.

Rio piled quilts on top of her, took off his coat, and then climbed beneath the layers to take her into his arms.

“Why?” Becca asked him, teeth chattering. “Why did they shoot at us? Who were they?”

“I don’t know,” he told her. “Yet. And you’re right. They weren’t just aiming at me. It’s clear they want to kill you, too. Doesn’t make sense. Your dollar value is high. Can you think of anything? Any reason why someone wants you dead?”

“No.” She moaned.

“Do you have some sort of valuable information? Any knowledge that someone might not want out?”

“No, no! I work at my dad’s hubcap business, remember? In the purchase order and shipping department! After work, I go home, eat dinner, watch TV. On weekends I go to the movies or have a drink with friends. I don’t do anything illegal.”

With tender fingers, Rio smoothed the hair off Becca’s forehead. His hand lingered, cupping her cheek. “Somebody thinks you have something, or knows something that would hurt them. That’s twice now they’ve shot at us. The first time I didn’t understand why they’d take a chance at hitting you. If they wanted you dead, why not kill you when they first found you? But they didn’t. Not until it looked like you were gonna get away.”

Becca shifted to her back and met his gaze. In the lamplight, his eyes held hers. “Rio,” she said, then something caught in her throat. “Rio, I’m not a bad person.”

“Of course not.” He ran his hand down to her shoulder, caressed her through her shirt.

“Th ... There’s nothing I’m hiding, I swear.” It seemed vitally important he believe her.

“I know that.”

“Why,” she whispered, through a suddenly tight throat. “Why is this happening to me?” A tear squeezed from the corner of her eye.

Rio kissed it away. “We’ll find out,” he vowed, nuzzling her. “We’ll get to the bottom of it. I don’t like being double-crossed. I’ll talk to my employer. His explanation better be good.”

“I—I,” Becca stammered. “I don’t want to die.”

“Not on my watch,” he promised, and he dusted a kiss across her lips.

She believed him.

Reaching for his face, she drew him closer. The warmth of his body began to warm her, too. After coming so near to death’s door, she needed his life-affirming touch. Purposefully deepening the kiss, she eased her body closer to his. She knew the unspoken message she was sending.

It was time to let go.

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