Page 80 of Colombian Chemistry

Excitement flickered in his blue eyes. “In Cartagena?”

I hated uttering the words I had to say. “Yes. Actually, she’s here. In the compound. She’s helping us rescue you.”

His eyebrows shot to his hairline. “My Irene? Here? In the compound?”

“Yes. She’s here. Hopefully, she’s on her way to safety,” I said.

My earpiece crackled back to life.

“Marcus, it’s Wes. I’ve got you back on with us.”

“Irene. Is she safe?”

There was a moment of silence that loomed like an eternity.

Piper came on. “I’m so sorry, Marcus. Pedro got ahold of her just before we got out the door. He had a knife to her throat, and a half dozen guards were charging at us. I had to leave her.”

“You left her?” I roared.

“Hey,” she soothed. “I can’t help save her if I’m dead. You know the rules. It’s better to leave someone behind and come back to get them than die and leave them forever.”

I knew the rule. I fucking made the rule. It didn’t calm down the terror ripping me apart inside.

“Yeah. I know the fucking rule.”

“It’s okay,” Wesley said. “I’ve got eyes on her, and I can guide you guys there. She’s safe.”

Hearing she was safe calmed my nerves just a little, but it still killed me I’d let her get into this situation. I should have said no and forced her to stay behind.

“I’m on my way to you guys,” Piper said. “I’ll be to you in sixty.”

“Meet us at the west exit point,” I said.

“Roger that,” she responded.

“Okay. Change of plans.” I checked the ammo in my gun. “Knox, you take Dr. Saltzman to Piper at the west exit and get him out of here. Once he’s safe, you two rally with me to get Irene back.”

“They have Irene?” Dr. Saltzman asked.

I’d forgotten he didn’t have an earpiece and was just learning this.

“We’ll get her back. I promise.” I pressed a hand on his shoulder. “Right now, I just need you to do as we say and get to safety. Once you’re safe, we can focus on Irene.”

“No. Get her first,” he argued. “My safety doesn’t matter. Only she matters.”

Even though I wanted to agree with him, we were never going to get back down here now that every guard in the compound looked for us.

“This is the best plan. You’ll be free in a few minutes, and we’ll focus on Irene then. I’m heading to her now.”

“You’ve got company!” Wesley said. “Eight guards coming down the north hallway.”

Knox and I pushed Dr. Saltzman behind us and flipped over a wooden laboratory table. The vials and beakers crashed against the floor, sending glass flying in every direction. We hunkered down behind the table, propping our assault rifles over the edge of the table.

“Contact in three, two, one,” Wes said.

The men filtered through the door, and we let them until all eight bodies were in the room.

“Now,” I whispered.