Page 29 of A SEAL's Protection
“Yes.” His voice is gentle as he scans my face. “Who else knows what you’re doing out here?”
I think back. “Only the board I presented my grant to. That’s three professors. They’re the only ones who knew.”
Other students paired up and shared ideas. But I didn’t want to share. What I was doing felt too special and too dangerous. I was right about that.
He doesn’t say anything, but his jaw tightens. “My sat phone got smashed. We need to get out of here via the most direct route possible. I’m sorry.”
I slump against a tree trunk. If I give up now, it will all be for nothing. I’ve got the samples from the streams, but if I can’t show what’s happening in the ice packs, those samples won’t matter. It can be argued that they’re temporary, and a one off. I need to prove that the pollution has been happening for years. And the ice packs show that.
“I’ve got one more sample to get.” If I can just get one from the ice, it will be worth it.
Marcus shakes his head. “It’s too dangerous.”
I straighten up, my chin lifting. I’m Allegra fucking Simpson. I know how to stand up for myself.
“If I go now, Marcus, all of this will be for nothing. They’ll have won. But if I get that last sample…”
My mind races back to the rockslide. Was it a coincidence that it happened when it did? If it had happened a few minutes earlier, I would have been sitting on the boulder, and those rocks would have landed on me. But it didn’t. They waited until after I’d gone to the stream, which means they don’t want to harm me.
“They don’t want to hurt me, Marcus. Otherwise, they would have done it today. They just want to scare me, maybe take my research. They’re scared of what I’m going to prove.”
Which means that I’ll find mineral deposits in the ice. “I need that last sample. I would have liked more, but one sample will do.”
His jaw hardens. “I can’t allow that, Allegra.”
I stare at him, anger rising. “Since when did you decide what I’m allowed to do? You work for my father—you don’t work for me. I’m going to get the sample. You can stay with me or you can go, but either way I’m getting it.”
He runs a hand through his hair and huffs out a breath, frustrated. And I don’t blame him. I’m annoying as hell. But I’m not coming this far to fall at the last hurdle.
He exhales. “Show me where your final sample point is.”
I flick the GPS screen toward him, running my finger along the coordinates.
“Right here.”
He studies the screen, then spreads his map on a tree trunk to pick up the trail.
“It’s half a day’s hike. It was on the way to the next supply town anyway. Just a short detour.”
I trace the lines on the map to the point where the ice will be in packs, where it never melts.
“One sample. Then I’m done.”
He taps the map. “The route goes by the river, which is exposed.”
He steps closer, his shoulder brushing mine as we both peer at the map. “What about this path? Looks like a deer trail. We’ll stay under the cover of the forest, come out by the river, climb to where you need to be as quick as we can. You take the sample, no dawdling. Then we take the direct route to the supply town.”
His finger traces the route. “It’ll take two days. That’s all I allow.”
I bristle at his choice of words but don’t say anything. “Two days,” I echo.
He folds the map, then fixes me with a hard stare. “If we’re doing this, then this time I’m setting the rules.”
The weight of his words makes me pause. He’s not joking. “Like what?”
“Like you do exactly as I say when I say it. No questions asked.”
My mouth opens to protest, but then I see the look in his eyes and I close it again. I’m not used to being bossed around. But the truth is, I want Marcus to stay. I want his protection.
