Page 31 of Bad Rio

“No, look like you want to find a weapon.”

She sat up in bed. “Okay, there’s an old Phillips screwdriver on top of the mantle.”

“Good! Anything else?”

“Mmm, not really.”

“Do you normally carry a purse?”

“Yes.”

“What in there could be utilized? If you have a pen, it can be used to stab someone. A comb can be shoved into a guy’s lips—man, that would hurt. See where I’m going?”

“Yes.”

“If we were outside, you could scrape up a handful of dirt or sand, throw it into an attacker’s eyes. It could buy you time to scream, to run away.”

“Okay, I’m beginning to get it.” She tried to imagine being attacked and reacting properly.

“What are your strengths? What can you use? Think!”

“I’m thinking, I’m thinking.” What was in her purse back home? A wallet. Tissues. Makeup.

He leaned over the quilt and cupped her breasts. “These are weapons, honey, never doubt it. Your confidence makes you wildly hot. To a man, it’s very distracting.” He gave her a wicked smile.

She smiled back.

Standing up again, he put on his coat and hat. “I’ll have a look around. Stay inside.”

She had no intention of going anywhere.

****

In deep thought, Rioretraced his path up the mountainside to his lookout point. The sun had come out and melted most of the snow, leaving slush and mud. He’d told Becca he wanted to look around, but he also wanted cell reception. Harrison had better have a good explanation for that fiasco last night.

At the top of his lookout near the outcropping of boulders, he peered through the field glasses. There was nothing going on close but miles to the south he saw unusual activity. Yep, he’d be getting Becca out of there as soon as the sun went down.

Taking out his phone, he waited for his call to connect.

“There was a fuck-up,” Harrison said, as soon as he answered.

“No shit,” Rio answered. “What happened? Those guys weren’t sent by you.”

“I can’t explain right now. Just know that this thing has become a little complicated.”

“What’s that mean? They tried to blow my head off, and they weren’t careful about hitting Rebecca De Monte, either. Wanna explain that?”

“I just got the report. The team I sent was ambushed by the cartel. Goddamn it, we lost seven men. All killed.”

“Somebody told them about the rendezvous point,” Rio said. “They were waiting in the right place.”

“I know,” Harrison said impatiently. “Just get Rebecca to the next location.” He rattled off a new meeting point some sixty miles to the west. “I’ll have my men there. Get that girl to me now.”

“How can I be certain your guys won’t be ambushed again? I don’t like your plan.”

“Don’t turn into a rogue character, Lang.” Harrison sounded aggravated. “I don’t need you going off the reservation. Just do the job you contracted for.”

“Maybe I’ll take the girl home to her father myself. That’s what I’m getting paid for.”

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