Navy SEAL Survival (12 page)

“And if, after this is all said and done, we are still interested in each other, I'll fill in the blanks. If anything happens to me on this excursion, my man will find you.” She planted her hands on her hips. “Now, are you coming with us?”

Duff didn't like being kept in the dark, but he didn't have a choice. He couldn't let her go on her own. “I need to shower and change.”

“I'll be downstairs with the others. When you get on the bus, sit with someone else.”

“Won't the girls wonder why?”

“I'll sit with Kylie. I don't want whoever is abducting women to think we're together.”

Duff brushes his finger across her shoulder. “I won't like it.”

“Neither will I, but the longer my sister is missing, the greater the chance I won't find her. She's my only living relative. I won't let her go without a fight.”

Duff circled that bare midriff and yanked Natalie close, her body pressing against his. “When we find your sister, you and I are going to have a little talk.” He brushed his mouth across hers. “And then we'll talk some more.” This time he claimed her lips, crushing her to him, in a desperate embrace. If his gut was right—and it always was—today would be hell.

This woman he'd only known for such a short time had made an immediate impact on his thoughts and, he suspected, his heart.

Duff raised his head and brushed his lips across the tip of her nose “Don't do anything stupid.”

“I'll do whatever it takes to free my sister,” she said, her words warm against his lips.

“That's what I'm afraid of.” He kissed her again and let go of her. “I'll be down before the bus leaves. Don't let it go without me on it.”

Duff left her room and entered his. Dialing the number for Sawyer's bungalow, he waited while it rang.

“Yeah,” Sawyer answered.

“We're going. Meet in front of the hotel at eight.”

“Got it.” Sawyer didn't wait for additional information, just hung up. Duff could rely on his friend to notify the other two members of his team.

Duff ducked into the shower, washing away the sweat from his run. In fewer than ten minutes he was dressed and downstairs. He met with his team at the breakfast table. They loaded up on protein and juice. Not knowing what to expect, they charged their bodies with what it took to run an extended mission.

“Keep an eye out for Rolf. He's not who he says he is and he might be armed,” Duff told them, his voice low enough only they could hear.

Sawyer, Quentin and Montana nodded, finishing their meals in silence. Quentin and Montana would take the rental car and be on their way to the ruins before the bus left the hotel.

Sawyer and Duff met with the twenty-five people signed up for the tour. Natalie worked her way over to him without being too obvious. “Kylie gave the tour director your names. You're on the list in place of Lisa and Jodie.”

Duff gave the slightest of nods and raised a hand when his name was called out.

Delayed several minutes by one late-riser, the bus left the hotel almost on schedule, the tour guide giving a running commentary on the rich history of the area and the Mayan culture dating back centuries earlier.

Duff sat near the back of the bus. Natalie sat toward the center with Kylie at her side. So far, he'd seen no sign of Masters. For that matter, he didn't see Loverboy from Natalie's Peeping Tom efforts the night before. Other than Sawyer, Duff and the missing Melody's young friends, the bus was filled with gray-haired senior citizens, excited to be on their way to completing items on their bucket lists.

Even if this turned out to be a nonevent, he'd be better off treating it as the most intense, focused mission he'd ever conducted. The trip seemed innocuous, but Duff had been on missions that, on the surface, should have been slam-dunks. Those had been the ones where he'd lost fellow teammates.

Chapter Eleven

Natalie sat beside Kylie, pretending to listen to what the tour guide was saying about the customs of the ancient Mayans and the importance of the temple they were about to see. All the while Natalie focused on everything around her, wishing she could have brought a gun. She felt naked and exposed in this foreign country, populated with drug lords vying for control and thugs looking for easy money.

A hundred questions roiled through her mind with each passing mile, leading them deeper into the jungle and away from the relative protection of the resort security.

Foremost in her mind was where they had hidden her sister and the other women. Who was in charge of the kidnapping ring? Was it Masters? Or was he a gun for hire? A mercenary who contracted out to the highest bidder no matter what the job entailed?

If he was a hired hand, who did he answer to?

As they rolled into the parking lot near the ruins, Natalie scanned the area. Hundreds of people came to see the ruins each day, and that day was no different. Other tour buses disgorged their passengers, the guides speaking a mix of Spanish, English, and even some Japanese or Chinese.

Natalie didn't care what language they spoke, her gaze panned the faces as she waited her turn to get off the bus. With so many people present, it was hard to pick out any one face in the crowd.

Kylie grabbed her hand and hurried her along to catch up to the other girls.

Natalie glanced back. Duff and Sawyer kept pace, staying several yards back, allowing others to come between them.

By the time they hiked from the parking area to the pyramid Castillo de Kukulcán, Natalie was perspiring in the humidity. Chelsea, Hanna, Briana, Kylie and Allison insisted on climbing to the top. “For Melody,” Chelsea said.

Though not fond of heights, Natalie couldn't say no. She smiled and faked an excitement she didn't feel, hoping that from the top she might have a better chance of spotting Masters, if he was the one orchestrating the kidnappings.

Natalie brought up the rear on the long climb up the narrow steps. She didn't dare look down for fear she might freeze before she made it to the summit. No matter how much she wished she could go back, the long line of people following her wouldn't be too pleased if she made them move over to allow her to descend. So Natalie continued upward until they finally reached the top.

While the girls stood at the edge, taking pictures of the view and of themselves, Natalie hung back. She pressed a hand to her queasy stomach, petrified at the thought of going back down those narrow stairs when she couldn't even get close to the edge without hyperventilating.

“Are you okay?” Duff's deep voice said beside her.

Natalie shook her head.

“Afraid of heights?”

“Is it that obvious?” she said, her voice shaking more than she liked.

“You're as white as a sheet. Other than that, no, it's really not obvious.” He chuckled. “Just wanted you to know my other two men are here, watching out for you and the girls.”

“That's good to know.” She dared a glance at the stairs leading downward and her vision blurred.

“The trick is to look at the back of the head of the person in front of you. Don't stare out at the view or look farther down than you have to. Take one step at a time.”

“Thanks. But I'd prefer a rescue helicopter. I get dizzy looking down that long line of stairs. I'm not sure I can do this.”

“I'll go down in front of you. If you slip and fall, I'll catch you.”

“You're only making it a little better. I could have gone without the suggestion of slipping and falling.”

“We're heading down.” Kylie appeared in front of her. “Are you feeling okay? You look a little pale.”

Natalie forced a smile. “I'm fine.”
No, I'm not.
But she wasn't going to tell them that. They'd been through so much already, she didn't want to spoil their visit to the ruins by being a big baby about going down what she'd just come up.

Duff spoke to Sawyer, who managed to get in front of Chelsea before she started down.

Kylie followed the others, taking the stairs with ease.

Afraid they'd get too far ahead of her, Natalie gripped Duff's arm. “Okay, I'd like to take you up on catching me if I fall. Besides, you're tall. Even a step down from me you'll still be almost eye level.”

Duff chuckled. “My pleasure.” He stepped down and held out a hand to her. “Coming?”

As he made that step down, Natalie's heart stuttered, caught and held. When she placed her hand in his, her pulse raced ahead and her head spun. She stared down at the long flight of stairs to the bottom and swayed.

“Look at me,” Duff commanded.

She glanced up, her gaze connecting with his. “I can't do this.”

“You can, and you will,” he said, his tone firm, confident.

“Easy for you to say,” she quipped. “You're not the one terrified of heights.”

“I was until the twentieth time I fast-roped out of a helicopter. By then I realized I was wasting a lot of energy better spent on the mission at hand.” He stared into her eyes. “Your mission is to see those girls all get home safely to their parents and to find your sister. You can't do that from up here. So, are you going to stand there shaking, or are you going to follow me down off this temple?” The more he talked the stronger his voice.

Natalie straightened her shoulders and nodded. “I'm coming.” Her hand in his, she took that first step down, only glancing at the steps long enough to place her foot, then focusing on the back of Duff's dark head. He really was a gorgeous man, and he was right. Her duty was to her sister and to the girls already halfway down the pyramid.

One step at a time, she placed her feet carefully, refusing to stumble, knowing she would take Duff down with her if she fell, and possibly everyone else in front of him. A domino effect of disaster.

Her breath caught in her throat and her pulse thundered in her ears.

“Breathe, Natalie,” Duff said. “You've got this.”

When she glanced up from the view of her feet on the stairs, she caught the intense green of Duff's eyes. “I've got this,” she repeated, and took another step, then another until she settled into a rhythm that got her all the way to the bottom.

Once on the ground, her knees wobbled. She wanted to lie down spread-eagle and kiss the earth. And would have, except Duff's arm slipped around her waist and held her upright until she stopped shaking.

“Come on, Natalia,” Kylie called out, fifty feet ahead of her and Duff, trailing Chelsea and her gang. “We're going to the Temple of Jaguars.”

Natalie stared up into Duff's face and gave him a lopsided smile. “Thanks. I don't think I could have made it down without you.”

“Glad to be of assistance.” He stepped away, nodding toward the others. “You'd better get going.”

Leaning up on her toes, she kissed his lips and then hurried after the young women, afraid if she stayed with him much longer, she'd make a complete fool of herself, throw her arms around his neck and promise him her firstborn child for getting her down off the sacred temple.

Natalie caught up with the others in front of the Upper Temple of the Jaguars. They spent the next thirty minutes wandering through the Ball Court where ancient Mayans had played some sort of sport with a large, heavy, rubber ball.

When they were standing in front of the Temple of the Bearded Man, Chelsea dug her hand into her small backpack. “Damn.”

“What's wrong?” Natalie asked.

“I dropped my phone back on the playing field. I'll be right back.”

“I'll go with you.” Hanna turned around and followed Chelsea, who hadn't waited.

“My picture of the jaguar's head came out blurred. I'd like to go back and get another before we move on. I'll go with them.” Allison dug her smartphone out of her pocket and hurried after them. “Wait up.”

Natalie called out, “You should all stay together.”

Chelsea spun, walking backward. “It's daylight and there are hundreds of people around. If something happens, we'll just yell. It will only take a few minutes.”

Kylie shaded her eyes from the glare of the sun and stared after the three girls. “Should we wait here?”

“I'd rather not,” Briana said. “There's no shade. We could at least wait in the Bearded Man Temple.” She didn't wait for Kylie's response, moving into the shadows of the temple. Kylie followed.

Natalie paused, hoping to catch Duff's attention.

Pretending to admire one of the Ball Court's two stone rings, Duff and Sawyer stood near one of the high walls inside the Ball Court. Every so often Duff would glance in Natalie's direction, without being too noticeable.

On one such glance, Natalie caught Duff's eye and nodded toward the girls headed back to the center of Ball Court.

He gave her an imperceptible nod and nudged Sawyer.

Sawyer shot a glance toward the girls.

Duff's other two friends were standing at the entrance to the Upper Temple of the Jaguar, on standby in case Duff and Sawyer needed their help.

Natalie felt better knowing the Navy SEALs were there, guarding her back.

When she turned back to Kylie and Briana, her stomach fell.

“Natalia.” Briana hurried down the stone steps, her eyes wide, her hand pressed to her chest. “I don't know what happened. One minute I was staring at some drawings with Kylie. I turned my back and the next minute she's gone.”

Natalia gripped Briana's arms. “What do you mean she's gone?”

Tears ran down her cheeks. “I searched all over the temple and I can't fine Kylie. I don't know where she disappeared to.” Her damp eyes widened and she pressed her knuckles to her lips.

Natalie turned Briana toward Duff and Sawyer who, by now, were watching Natalie and Briana closely from the middle of the Ball Court. “See those two men who came with us on the bus?”

Briana nodded, wiped at the tears streaming down her face. “Yes.”

“Go to them, tell them what you told me and do whatever they tell you to do.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.” Natalie gave her a shove toward Duff. Without waiting for Briana to get across the length of the field, Natalie ran up the steps into the Temple of the Bearded Man, cursing at her stupidity. She'd taken her gaze off the girls for a moment. Now one of them was gone. The one with the lightest blond hair.

The Temple of the Bearded Man sat closest to the jungle's edge. Over the centuries trees and bushes had crept closer, a perfect place for someone to lie in wait for that perfect moment to snatch an unsuspecting young woman away from her friends.

Her heart sick for Kylie, Natalie ran around the side of the temple toward the back where the jungle's shadows were darkest.

“Kylie?” she called out, praying the young lady had only stepped around the back to study the carvings on the wall.

Near the edge of the tree line, something pink lay on the ground.

Natalie ran toward it and scooped up the bright pink beaded necklace Kylie had worn that morning. The clasp had broken and beads had spilled across the ground. Natalie flung the necklace to the side and ran toward the trees. “You want a blonde, take me!” she shouted.

As she neared the dark, overhanging vines, a shadow shifted and a Hispanic man emerged, lunged for her and pulled her into the jungle.

Not until it was too late did Natalie realize he wasn't alone. Another man with wicked dragon tattoos twisting across the skin of his arms stood beneath the branches of a tree, holding a syringe in his hand.

Natalie started to scream. The man who held her clamped his hand over her mouth.

She bit his palm and struggled, twisting and writhing, trying to avoid the syringe.

The man who'd grabbed her slammed her to the ground on her stomach and landed on her back. His partner jammed the needle into her arm and Natalie's body went limp.

She could hear and see what was going on, but she was powerless to fight back. The two men converged on her, one grabbing her beneath the arms, the other lifting her by the ankles. They carried her along a trail, half walking and half running.

Duff.
Natalie tried to shout, her mouth as paralyzed as her arms and legs. Gray clouds gathered around the edges of her vision, creeping in until she was consumed by darkness.

* * *

A
S
SOON
AS
Duff saw the girl running toward him and Natalie racing up the steps to the Temple of the Bearded Man, he knew something was wrong.

“We got a problem.” Duff backhanded Sawyer and took off at a dead run.

“What?” Sawyer caught up to him before he'd gone five yards.

“See that girl running toward us?” Duff said without slowing.

“Yeah.”

“Stay with her. Natalie just ran toward that temple.”

“So?”

“Just stay with her,” Duff called out.

When they came abreast of the crying young lady, Sawyer ground to a stop and pulled the girl into his arms. “Hey, everything's going to be okay.”

“What happened?” Duff asked, pausing long enough to hear her story.

“Kylie disappeared...” The girl hiccupped and swallowed a sob. “Natalia is going after her.”

Before the last words left the girl's mouth, Duff was already racing toward the temple. He took the stone steps two at a time, ran through the columns and slipped around the back of the ancient building. He stopped, willing the blood pumping through his veins to slow enough he could hear sounds past the pounding in his ears. Nothing stirred, no one moved and he found no sign of Natalie, just the darkness of the tree line teasing him, tempting him to enter. But where?

A bright flash of color lay at the edge of the jungle. He ran toward it and bent to study the remains of a pink beaded necklace like the one Kylie had worn that morning.