AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kirsty’s voice came on the line. Ryan knew she’d spent a lot of time in Spain during her modelling years. It made sense she could speak the language. “Someone at the mine is narrating the fight,” she said. “They’re telling us that the Martinez cartel are to be feared and they deal ruthlessly with those who oppose them.” She paused. “That would be fine and dandy if it didn’t look like the Martinez guy was getting the crap kicked out of him by Beast.”
“Two down,” Lake said in Ryan’s ear.
“One down,” Dimitri said. “Harvard, watch your six.”
“Got it,” Harvard said calmly.
“Oh no,” Kirsty said. “The guy just told everyone that two hostages had dared to escape the Martinez cartel. They’ve hunted them down and are going to show the world what happens to anyone who goes up against the cartel. He says that after their boss is done teaching Beast a lesson, he’s going to make Belinda Collins scream on TV.”
Ryan let out a stream of curses as gunshots rent the air.
“They know we’re here,” Dimitri said.
“Who has eyes on Belinda?” Lake said.
There was silence.
“Grunt. Get to Belinda,” Lake said. “You’re the closest. Noah, take out any threat to Beast.”
“Roger that,” Noah said.
“The rest of you,” Lake said, “mow them down.”
There was a pause, as though the world took a breath, and then an explosion rocked the forest.
“That would be one of their boats,” Callum said with satisfaction. “I’m taking out the rest.”
“I’m coming in to help,” Ryan said.
“Don’t get in my way, son. I’m in a killing mood.”
Ryan smiled as Elle’s voice came over the phone. “The press camped out outside the resort have heard the news about Belinda. A couple of teams are rushing to their choppers. They’re heading your way.”
“Got it,” he told Elle before speaking to his team. “Be aware. Beast’s fight is being televised. Reporters are on their way.”
“Roger that,” Lake said. “You heard him. First man to take out the broadcast unit wins a bottle of Scotland’s finest.”
“Or woman,” said Megan.
“Or woman,” Lake said. “Now let’s get this done.”
Belinda was moving in a fog. But she was moving. As soon as John jumped up and launched himself at their kidnappers, Belinda got to her feet and half limped, half ran to the edge of the gaping hole behind them. Everyone’s attention was firmly focused on John. No one had been watching her.
She threw herself over the edge of the muddy crater, sliding down the steeply sloped side and straight into the water. It was deeper than she’d thought it would be, and she kicked hard, fighting with what little strength she had left, to keep her head above water.
Above her, it sounded like the world was ending. Gunshots blasted. Something exploded. Men shouted. Someone screamed. She was suddenly in the middle of a war zone. Her heart thumped hard and fast as she panted for breath. The water
was cooler than the humid air and helped clear her head some. It helped her get past the stabbing pain in her side and the continuous throb of her knee. In a moment of clarity, she remembered John telling her to run for the trees. An impossibility if she couldn’t climb out of the bowl full of muddy water. The sides were steep and muddy, and she was certain her knee wouldn’t hold up in an attempt to climb them.
She trod water, in a circle, looking for a way out, and spotted one. There was a ladder lying against one of the slopes. It was made of bamboo tied together with rope. But it would do. Fighting through the pain thudding in her head, she forced herself to swim towards the ladder. Each stroke was agony. The cut in her side ripped open, letting dirty water in, and her leg felt like it was a lead weight attached to her body. She panted, struggling to stay afloat and make it to her destination. Above her, the gunfire continued. Was John alive? Had he been shot? She shook her head, instantly regretting it when her vision blurred. He had to be alive. There was no other option.
An eternity passed, but she reached the ladder. Exhaustion almost dragged her under the water as she clung to the side of the hole. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something slip into the water. She stilled, fear making her heart beat loudly in her ears. The water rippled. Something was coming for her. And it was getting closer. With a sob, Belinda summoned all the strength left in her. She struggled to pull herself out of the water, clawing at the dirt, huffing out moans of desperation when it came away in her hands.
The ripple on the water was getting closer, heading straight for her. With one last desperate push, she managed to haul herself up onto the muddy slope. She held on to the ladder as she snatched her feet from the water—just as something long and dark slid past them. Belinda didn’t know what it was, but it circled around for a second attack.
Muffling her moans of pain, she pulled herself up the rickety ladder. Even the smallest pressure on her knee sent shards of pain throughout her body. Running for the treeline was going to take a miracle, because Belinda was sure she wouldn’t even be able to stand. She made it up two rungs before she heard a splash. She looked down in time to see a large snake disappear back into the water. Shaking, she pulled herself up another rung. And then another. In her mind, the ladder seemed to get longer with each rung she conquered. Her body was leaden, her head disoriented. Spots danced before her, and she feared she would lose consciousness again.
No, not now!
