Page 22 of Protecting Kelli
Flash’s first instinct was to reach out and grab the gun, but if something happened to him, Kelli would be left alone with these two assholes. The better plan was to sit tight. These guys would fuck up sooner or later. And he’d be ready when they did.
“Give me your wallets,” the man ordered, waving the gun at them.
This was a robbery? Flash was confused, but he didn’t hesitate to say, “I don’t have any money on me.”
“Don’t care. Wallets. Now!” the man ordered again.
Moving slowly so as not to alarm the man, Flashreached for his back pocket. Kelli loosened her fingers around his right hand, but Flash refused to let go. He felt a crazy need to stay connected to her. Like if he let go of her, he’d lose her.
He felt more than saw her fumble one-handed with her bag as he handed his wallet to the asshole in the front seat. The man didn’t even look inside it, just threw it to the floor at his feet. He did the same with Kelli’s wallet.
His suspicions that thiswasn’ta robbery were confirmed, Flash tensed even more, if that was possible. He could feel Kelli shaking next to him, but he didn’t take his eyes off the man with the gun.
And the passenger didn’t take the gun off him for a second either. He was in his mid-forties, had dark skin and black hair, wore an old, tattered navy-blue T-shirt and shorts that went down to his knees…but it was the blank look in his eyes that worried Flash. He didn’t seem to have a soul. He’d seen men like this before. Desperate men who would do whatever it took to accomplish their goal…whether that was killing civilians, setting off bombs, or protecting their leader.
It seemed like they drove for an eternity, and Flash’s concern grew even greater when they left the city and the roads they took got rockier and more rustic. Soon they were driving through thick trees, the minivan bouncing up and down so hard, Flash hit his head on the roof a few times.
Though, he wasn’t exactly disappointed with where they were. He had extensive training on jungle survival and evading tangos. If he and Kelli could get away from the men, he had no doubt he could get them back to the resort. They might miss their flights, and they’d have todeal with replacing their IDs and credit cards, but all that was better than being shot in the head and left for dead in the forest.
When the man behind the wheel finally stopped, silence filled the minivan for a moment.
“Out. And if you try anything, I’ll shoot her,” the second man said.
Fuck.That was the one thing that could get Flash to cooperate. He could deal with a bullet wound, but the thought ofKelligetting hurt because of something he did, or didn’t do, made him physically sick.
Moving slowly, Flash scooted toward the door, which opened for him. The driver had gotten out and come around to open it. The man with the gun—clearly the leader of their little duo—now aimed the weapon at Kelli’s head as they exited the minivan.
“That way,” the gunman said, gesturing behind him with a nod.
Flash followed the driver, his hand clutching Kelli’s as they walked into the jungle. He estimated they walked about half a mile before the driver stopped.
“Get in.”
Flash frowned in confusion. Get in? Get in what? Where?
“I said, get in!” the leader yelled. Flash turned in time to see his hand swinging but before he could act, the gunman hit Kelli on the back of the head with the butt of the pistol.
She let out a surprised and pained yelp, and Flash immediately yanked her hand, pulling her toward him. Far too late to keep her from getting hurt. She whimpered as she put her free hand up to the back of her head.
Flash could smell the iron in her blood before he even saw her pick up her hand to look at it. Her fingers were covered in red.
Turning, Flash growled at the man who’d hit her.
He simply smiled. “Isaidget in. I meant it. Now…Get the fuckin, unless you want me to shoot her this time.”
Flash looked where the man was pointing…and saw what seemed to be a manhole cover on the ground. He was even more confused. What the hell was amanhole coverdoing in the middle of the jungle?
The driver crouched, grunting as he shifted the heavy cast-iron circle to the side, revealing a black hole underneath.
“What the fuck?” Flash muttered.
“It’s your new home,” the man with the gun said almost gleefully. “You and your friend are going to spend some quality time together down there. It won’t be long…assuming we get what we want.”
“And what’s that?”
“Money,” the man said without hesitation. “We’re gonna contact your families and tell them if they ever want to see you again, they’ll transfer money into an untraceable bank account.”
Flash couldn’t help it. He laughed.
