Page 6 of Colombian Chemistry

“Too bad you aren’t rich. Maybe I’d have done it for a hefty fee.”

After a long pause, her eyes lit up. “I am rich! I lied!”

My eyebrow lifted. “You’re rich?”

“Very.” She nodded her head. “Loaded.”

“Then why’d you say you weren’t?”

Her full lips twisted for a moment, then she answered, “I, uh, I didn’t want you to hold me hostage for a ransom.”

I furrowed my brow. “Hold you hostage? Why in the hell would I hold you hostage? I’ve saved your life. Twice.”

She glanced at her feet and twisted her dress in her hands. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just really confused and scared. I don’t know who to trust right now. Please. Will you help me?”

Still confused by her sudden change in financial status, but now more intrigued at the idea, I contemplated the prospect. If this chick was loaded, I could charge her a pretty penny for a lift to Bogotá. I had a Willy Jeep that could handle the journey with ease, and I could use a trip to a big city to stock up on some of the supplies they didn’t sell here.

She glanced at her strappy pink shoes again then back up at me. “So, will you take me?”

“How much?” I asked.

“Um? Five hundred?”

With a snort, I chuckled and started away. “Five hundred? I wouldn’t escort you a mile through Jungle King territory for five fucking hundred.”

“A thousand!” she shouted and ran after me.

I got to the front door of my cottage and turned back around. “Does this t-shirt look like fucking steel armor to you? No. It’s cotton. I’ve saved your ass twice, and I’m done playing the knight in shining armor. The jig is up, and I’m not getting involved in this shit anymore. Find someone else to take you. Best of luck, Sweetcheeks.”

There. Done. Don’t get involved. I’d finally managed to get my head on straight.

Then why do I feel so guilty?

“Please,” she pleaded once more, stopping my entrance to my cottage with a hand on my shoulder.

I shook my head, trying to shake off the little fingers of guilt trying to grab hold of my hardened heart. “I’m not—”

“She must be here somewhere!” a deep voice echoed down the street.

She and I both spun toward it. More voices.

Men were looking for her. At least a dozen now from the sounds of it. That was a lot of boots on the ground for one girl. What the hell did they want with her? Maybe she really was rich, and they expected a hefty ransom from her. It’s about the only reason they would put this much effort into hunting one woman down.

“Please!” she squeaked as she bounced up and down. “At least hide me! They’re coming!”

“Fifty thousand,” I said quickly.

“What?” she gasped.

“Fifty thousand, and I’ll guarantee you safe passage to the US Embassy.”

She glanced over her shoulder toward the deadly voices.

“Take it or leave it,” I said. “You’re filthy rich, right? That’s why they’re hunting you?”

She sucked her lip between her teeth then nodded her head.

“Then fifty G’s aren’t a damn thing to you. I think I’ve already earned that shit from saving your ass twice, but we’ll call the first two freebies. So, what do you say, Sweetcheeks? Fifty grand and I’ll make sure you get there safely.”