Page 42 of Colombian Chemistry

“I’m okay!” she called before collapsing on the rocks.

“Thank God,” I breathed as I put my hands on my head. “She’s okay.”

But before I could even finish the sentence, three men in red shirts stepped out of the trees. Irene scrambled to her feet, but not before they got ahold of her. I ducked into the bush beside me, crouching low while I snarled at the sight of the men with their hands on Irene.

My Irene.

“Let go of me!” she demanded as she struggled to free herself.

“El Jefe is gonna be happy to see you, chica,” one of the men said. “And my wallet is gonna be even happier.”

He grinned and leaned down into her face. She closed her eyes and turned away.

I slipped my gun from my holster and lifted it up, placing him right in my sights. I had four bullets left, and there were three of them.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

They dropped at her feet, and for a moment, Irene stood silent. Then she opened her mouth and let out that blood-curdling scream I’d gotten to know so well.

“Stop screaming and fucking run!” I shouted as I leaped from my bush.

She turned toward me and stood at the edge of the churning river separating us.

“Run, Irene! Just run!”

She started running back the way she’d come, and I slapped myself in the forehead. “The other way! Away from the bad guys! Go down the river! I’ll follow you, and we’ll cross as soon as it’s safe!”

“Oh! Okay!” she shouted back.

She took off running along the riverbank, and I kept pace along with her. Soon the tenacity of the water would let up and she could safely cross, but until then, I knew she was far from safe. The Jungle Kings wouldn’t be far behind.

Irene stopped and placed her hands on her thighs.

“What are you doing? Keep running!” I shouted.

“I can’t breathe,” she said back, though I could hardly hear her. “Just need a minute.”

That panic swirling inside of me reared its head while I saw her standing there like a lame animal ripe for the picking.

“Irene! This is not the time to stop! Keep going!” I pleaded.

She lifted one finger as she panted. “Just one minute. Can’t. Breathe.”

I saw the flash of red through the trees, and I lifted my gun. It was too late, though. There were too many. Six men surrounded her in moments.

My heart stalled out when I realized that I couldn’t help her. I was too far away for hand-to-hand and had only one bullet left. This time, they’d finally gotten her, and there was no way to stop them.

“Unhand me!” she demanded, but they dragged her along anyway. I ducked into the bushes and hid while I started rolling through the options in my head. Options that wouldn’t allow them to take Irene from me. I’d never allow them to hurt her.

Never.

CHAPTER TEN

Marcus

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I followed silently along the river, keeping Irene and the cartel in view as long as I could. When they veered away, I plunged into the cool waters and paddled hard until I reached the other side. They dragged her along with them for several miles as I crept behind them, always keeping them in my sights.