Page 76 of Love in the Wild

“Perhaps, but my resources and connections make for a very long list, Ms. Matthews. I worked harder than you can imagine for that.”

Eden tasted a bitterness in her mouth as panic set in. Thorne, Cameron, and Isabelle were coming here to their deaths. Holt came toward her and gripped her arm, dragging her from the room.

“Where are we going?” she gasped. They exited his office and passed through an elaborate lobby. When they left the building, she found they were standing on a city street, with the jungle encroaching on the edges of the city in the distance. This wasn’t Kampala, but it was somewhere in Uganda. She guessed they were in Fort Portal.

He forcibly escorted her outside to a waiting Range Rover. “To find Thorne’s other family before he and Somerset arrive. It’s time I paid my respects to the apes who took that little brat in.”

Keza! Oh God! No!

Holt opened the door to the Range Rover and shoved her inside. Two other vehicles were behind them as they left. Eden saw signs that said they were leaving Fort Portal, and she knew they would have to travel south to reach Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Holt had at least a dozen armed men with him. Thorne was just one man. Even with Cameron and Isabelle, the numbers weren’t good. She closed her eyes, focusing on her breathing, trying to calm herself.

When she opened them again, she had a new sense of clarity. She wouldn’t let Holt hurt Keza, Akika, or the others, even if it meant her losing her own life. There was no other choice. Thorne had only one mother left, and Eden wouldn’t let this monster take her from him.

* * *

It tooka day to fly from London to Entebbe and drive in a car that Cameron rented to Bwanbale’s village. Thorne hadn’t wanted to bring his friend into this, but Bwanbale knew the forest almost as well as he did, and if he was to leave his aunt, uncle and Lofty behind, Bwanbale would watch over them.

As they exited the vehicle on the edge of the village, Cameron instructed Isabelle and Lofty to stay by the car. Then Thorne and his uncle proceeded into the village. Afiya was in the garden in front of hershamba, a basket on one hip as she plucked vegetables from the vines of the plants growing on circular wires.

“Thorne!” She dropped the basket and ran to embrace him. “Where’s Miss Eden?” She smiled at him, but her joy soon faded as she looked deeper into his eyes. He held Afiya gently by her arms, glad to see her again, but not under these circumstances.

“She’s been taken. I must speak to Bwanbale.”

“Oh! Yes, yes, of course. Please come inside.” She collected her basket from the ground and rushed indoors.

Bwanbale must have heard the commotion, because he came to the front of the house even as they came inside.

“Thorne.” Bwanbale spoke in solemn greeting, and they embraced. “We meet under grave circumstances, yes?”

“Unfortunately, yes.” Cameron held out a hand. “I’m Cameron Haywood. Thorne’s uncle. Eden was kidnapped while she and Thorne were with us in England.”

“Kidnapped? But why return here?”

“The man who took her is the man who killed my parents. He wants me to help him find the cave.”

Bwanbale rubbed a hand along his jaw, and he was silent a long moment. “Who is the man?”

“Archibald Holt,” Cameron said.

Thorne saw at once that Bwanbale was familiar with the name when his friend’s eyes widened. “You know him.”

“I know of him. Holt Enterprises. He employs many men, some local, some foreign. He is a man who pays well, and he hires those who are willing to do anything for money. We have a dangerous battle ahead of us.”

Thorne put a hand on Bwanbale’s shoulder. “You should stay here. Your family needs you. But if we fail, you must tell the embassy what happened to us. He cannot go free.”

His friend smiled grimly. “Thorne, my friend, you will not go into the jungle alone. I will be at your side.”

Thorne could hear a faint whisper stirring inside his head, like dried leaves rustling along the ground. Bwanbale would come. It was as it should be.

Afiya appeared at her husband’s side, a rifle gripped in her hands. She pressed it into his palms and curled an arm around his neck to hold him close. “Say goodbye to Dembe,” she reminded him.

He nodded to his wife and went to his daughter.

“I will bring him home,” Thorne promised Afiya.

She wiped her eyes and offered a weak smile. “I know you will, jungle man.” She hugged Thorne as Bwanbale returned. Thorne, Cameron, and Bwanbale then joined Lofty and Isabelle near the rented SUV.

“You have weapons?” Bwanbale asked Thorne.

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