“And I’d rather you stay right by my side,” he insists. “Our ride can be replaced. You, my Sparrow, cannot.”
I watch them stare each other down for a few seconds. I can tell she’s battling with her feelings, weighing her emotions with her sense of duty.I get it, my friend. Boy, do I get it.Hunter finally gives him a terse nod.
Knox nods back, then he pulls his fiancée in for a long kiss.
I peek a glance at Delaney, but she seems very interested in something on the ground about two inches in front of her feet.Fuck.
Nearby, Addie slings a backpack over her shoulder. “Linc, why don’t you drive the lead Jeep, and Ryder and Delaney can navigate. Knox, Hunter, Brighton and I will follow.”
“Copy that, Boss,” Linc says.
Delaney and I walk over to the first Jeep, and I open the rear passenger door for her. The car is full of gear, so there’s no room for me to get in next to her. She climbs in, once again barely looking at me as she mumbles a thank you, and I carefully close the door and get into the front passenger seat. After buckling my seatbelt, I pull up the GPS. I have my maps, but I want to make sure all our bases are covered. The last thing I want to do is get lost.
Even though it’s technically considered a desert, the Kalahari is so much more. It’s a truly special and exceptional place. Unlike true deserts, it supports abundant wildlife, features unique red sand dunes, vast savannahs and massive salt pans. Covering three southern African countries, it’s best known for its extreme temperatures, the iconic black-maned Kalahari lion, and for being the ancient home of the San people. And it’s absolutely massive in size.
Yeah, we don’t want to get lost out here. It could mean certain death.
Since the mine has been abandoned for twenty years or so, I have no idea what to expect. I just hope locals haven’t snuck in and started illegally mining. It’s a big concern here because of the poverty in the region, and the danger from slides and collapses isn’t enough to deter efforts when people will do anything to survive. But from what I know, they mostly focus on the huge, abandoned mines formerly owned by DeBeers. Ones with clearly marked borders and well-known locations. My little mine shouldn’t drawmuch attention comparatively. It’s probably considered too dangerous and, being abandoned for so long, carries a reputation for a lower chance of actually finding anything. Locals also believe it’s cursed, and only a handful of people know the original Phantom Orchid was discovered here which works in our favor.
After over an hour traversing the rough ground and spotting a handful of endemic animals, which Delaney oohed and ahhed over, we reach our destination. A cloud of dust swirls around us as Linc stops the Jeep and we get out. The sun is still high in the sky and it’s damn hot out, so the first order of business is to set up camp. Without it, we’re leaving ourselves vulnerable to the elements.
After we take a quick look at the boarded-up entrance to the mine, getting a quick idea of what we’ll need to crack into it, we start unloading. While Linc and I set up four tents, Knox and Hunter build a large campfire, and Delaney, Addie and Brighton organize the gear and supplies. It’s important to keep the camp clean and not leave any trash or food laying around. The last thing we want to do is attract a lion or other dangerous predator.
Because there are only four tents, six of us will double up and one person will get their own tent. I know Knox and Hunter will be in one. Addie and Brighton are close, so they’ll share another. That leaves me, Linc and Delaney. And let’s be honest, I’d much rather share with Delaney than squish into a small tent with Linc who’s going to hog all the space. Plus, Delaney smells so much better,and cuddling up to her warm, soft curves sounds divine. Way better than getting an elbow in the head or feeling Linc’s hairy leg brush against mine during the middle of the night.
Yeah, I’m bunking with my little English crumpet. She just doesn’t know it yet.
Once everything’s in place, it’s time to do what we came here to do. The entrance to the mine isn’t much more than a boarded-up shaft, and Linc uses a crowbar to force it open. Leaning over the pitch-black hole, I look down. A lone, rickety ladder leads straight down into the bowels of the Earth, and a strange sense of foreboding fills me. I’m not a superstitious person, but I can’t easily discount my feeling or the prickles rising on the back of my neck.There’s no curse,I remind myself.
Knox whistles under his breath. “That looks like a looong way down.”
“It’s about thirty feet,” I confirm.
Before we left Argentina, I made copies of the map depicting the mine shaft tunnels. I gave everyone one earlier, and I hope to God this doesn’t turn bad. I don’t normally get nervous before a job, but something feels off to me.
“We don’t all need to go down right now,” I say. “There’s no telling what the mine’s condition is, and I’d like to scope it out first.”
“I’m going with you,” Delaney says, and I nod. I could tell her no, but that wouldn’t go over well. And I know she’s as invested in this as I am. If not more.
“I’m not going to argue with that.” Linc sounds a little relieved. The big guy is about to be a father, and I refuse to put him in any danger.
As if she’s thinking the same thing, Addie turns to Linc. “Why don’t you hammer the anchors into the ground? Anyone who goes down wears a harness in case that ladder is rotted.”
We all agree on who’s doing what, then head over to the Jeeps and start pulling out ropes, headlamps and other equipment we’ll need. I make sure to grab the heavy bag containing tools. If the rest of the Phantom Orchid is down there, we’re going to need to dig it out with drills, hammers and chisels.
Once we slip our harnesses and headlamps on, I turn to face Delaney. “I don’t mind going down first and scoping things out alone.”
“Forget it. We’re doing this together,” she insists, placing her comms unit in her ear.
I know there’s no arguing with her, but I had to offer. And it’s nice hearing her refer to us as “together.” I check my comms then nod. “Okay. I’ll go down the ladder first and let you know how stable it is and where to watch your step. As soon as I reach the bottom, I’ll let you know.”
“Be careful, Moneybags.” Her ocean eyes clash with mine, and I don’t miss the concern flashing there.
“You, too, Crumpet.” We share a small smile.
My team gathers around, and I get into position as Brighton secures the end of my rope to the anchor Linc hammered into the ground a few minutes earlier.
“You don’t think Laurent will show up again, do you?” Delaney asks, chewing her bottom lip.
