“Can I ask you a question, Travis?”
He glanced her way. “Sure.” He turned back to the path.
Mattie inhaled then released her breath. “Why did Galen tell you he’d found the treasure?”
“You two found something, right?”
She studied his profile. The twitch of his mouth showed he had something to hide. “He didn’t say he’d found treasure. He said he found the treasure.”
He glanced at her again, then returned his attention to the road.
Minutes ticked by without a word from him. He clearly had no intention of telling her anything. How could she love someone who kept things from her? “What are you hiding, Travis?”
“It’s nothing that could affect us, Mattie.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. If we can’t be honest with one another, then we have nothing.”
His grip on the steering wheel tightened and his jaw clenched.
“If this doesn’t affect us, Travis, then why can’t you tell me?”
“All right. I’ll tell you what you want to hear. But remember, I’m not like you, Mattie. I’ve had to work hard for everything I’ve got. Which is nothing.”
Mattie couldn’t believe he would think everything had come easily for her. She too had had to work for everything she’d achieved. Why he thought she hadn’t, she was unsure. Then again, they knew nothing about the other besides what they felt while sharing their bodies.
“I wasn’t handed anything in life either, Travis. I’ve struggled too.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s just that what I was like before I met you is different from what I am now.”
Travis’s confession confused her. “Tell me what is going on.”
“I came to Manu for treasure. I found a map in my late grandfather’s belongings that showed Templar relics here. I used your expedition to look for it.”
Shock would be an understatement for what Mattie experienced at his revelation. She wasn’t sure what this meant for their relationship but she knew she couldn’t trust him any longer.
“What were you going to do once you found it? Desert us?”
He glared at her. “Of course not.”
“You were going to include us in the crime then? So what if you were caught with these artifacts? Would we have gone to jail as well?” Mattie didn’t think she could be this angry. Travis had been willing to use her team to commit a crime and then use them again to get out of the country.
She turned to look out the window, her heart breaking. No way could the man care and still chance getting them all arrested.
“Mattie. It’s not like—”
A loud bang and the truck pitching made Mattie scream.
“Shit,” Travis cursed, fighting to keep the vehicle on the trail.
Another bang, then the windshield shattering had Mattie diving for the floor.
Someone was shooting at them.
Was it the men from the village? Had they thought them such a threat that they’d followed?
She started to rise from the floorboard. “Stay down,” Travis hollered.
Mattie instantly retreated, her heart thrumming crazily in her chest. “Do you think it’s them?” she asked, trying to fight the panic working its way into her body.
Another shot rang out and pinged across the cab roof, making Travis duck.
God, whoever was shooting was serious about killing them—and with Travis at the wheel, he’d be the first to die.
*
Travis forced his mind on keeping the truck on the trail and moving ahead. If they stopped, they’d be sitting ducks—all of them. He glanced in his rearview mirror and was relieved to see Galen was right behind them, his windshield taking a hit as well.
He hoped they were all alive inside. He didn’t see how the men from the village could be the shooters, not without a vehicle. They’d been on the road far too long for them to have caught up on foot—and from what he’d seen, they weren’t the type to have access to any trucks.
So if it wasn’t the villagers, then who the hell wanted them dead? Chaz and his death came crashing back. Then Drew and his mysterious illness. Maybe Mattie was keeping something from him—perhaps there was more to the expedition than she’d let on.
Why else would Chaz be murdered? He had no enemies.
The truck hit a dip. He gripped the wheel tightly, the muscles in his arms burning from the effort. A flat tire made it hard to control the steering, forced him to expend much more energy.
When he got control again, he glanced at Mattie. “Does Drew have any enemies?” he asked, then returned his attention to the road, ducking again when a bullet whizzed through the side window, sending glass flying.
He looked at Mattie again, whose beautiful eyes were filled with panic.
“No. Everyone loves Drew.”
Travis frowned. “Are you sure? Maybe an ex-boyfriend who has a grudge to get even?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“How about you?”
“Me? Why me? I thought it was the villagers shooting at us.”
Travis glanced at her again. “I don’t think so.”
“Why would you think someone’s after one of us? Maybe someone wants that map of yours.”
He hadn’t thought of that. But then again, no one knew about the map but him—and maybe Cedric’s attorney.
That was a thought. Could Harding have read Cedric’s letter? Could the attorney have hired someone to find the treasure? Be willing to kill for it?
Travis wished he knew.
A bullet zipped past mere inches from his temple.
They’d be lucky to get out of this alive.
Where the hell was the shooter? He had to be alongside them to keep his aim so accurate. How could he do that off the trail?
Travis glanced back to see if Galen was still following. He was.
If the truck’s tires weren’t flat, he could drive faster. Right now he couldn't afford to get caught on the road with the shooter so close. He’d keep at a safe pace and move toward Manu.
Minutes passed without any other shots being fired. Had they managed to lose the gunman? Or was he just biding his time, giving them a chance to let down their guard so he could get a better shot? Somehow he thought the latter was true.
Travis grasped the radio receiver and clicked the Talk button.
“Galen.”
The radio screeched. “Here,” his friend said in a voice that worried Travis.
“Anyone hit?”
“I took one in the arm. It’s not good.”
Mattie sucked in a ragged breath.
Travis glanced at her, then pressed the Talk button again. “Can you keep going or do we need to stop?”
“Dana’s wrapped a tourniquet around it. We’d better keep going for now. If I get too weak I’ll let her drive.”
“Did you see the shooter?” Travis asked.
“No. I have no idea how he kept up. He wasn’t behind me.”
“I was thinking that same thing. Could he have gotten through the rough terrain on a four-wheeler?”
“Maybe,” Galen said, then groaned.
“You all right?”
“Dana just tightened the tourniquet. I’m still alert and hanging in there.”
His effort at bravado failed. Travis could tell he was hurting—bad. “Maybe you should give Dana the wheel. That way you can rest.”
“I will when I need to, Travis.”
The man was stubborn—always had been. “All right.” Travis knew that arguing with him would do no good. He’d do what he wanted. “Let’s keep it rolling.” Travis glanced at Mattie. “He’ll be okay.” She was worried and he wanted to relieve her a little. “I’ll try and radio the reserve for help.”
When he got no answer, he clicked a series of beeps, hoping that someone in the area knew Morse code. Travis re-hooked the receiver and looked at Mattie again.
“Do you think we’ve lost the shooter?” She slithered back into
her seat.
Should he lie?
Nope. Best to be honest with her from now on. “I think he’s holding back for another onslaught.”
Her eyes widened at his answer.
He hated that she was scared and that it was because of him. “I’ll keep you safe, Mattie.”
“Why do I have a hard time believing that?” Her words cut deep into his heart.
Could he blame her for saying them? Not really. Why should she trust him when, from the beginning, he’d lied to her about just about everything?
“I know it’s hard to trust me, Mattie. But I’d give my life to keep you safe.” He meant every word he spoke. He had to love her; otherwise why would he be willing to stick his neck out for her or anyone else?
Travis returned his attention to the road. If she didn’t believe him then he couldn’t force her to. She’d have to decide for herself one way or the other.
“Are you sure Galen will be all right?”
“He’s strong, and knows his limitations. If he can no longer drive, he’ll turn the vehicle over to Dana.”
“Do you think this guy is after that map?”
“I’m not sure. But that would make sense. You saw the same things in the cavern that Galen did. Was it worth killing someone for?”
She nodded. “The room was filled with antiquities. I couldn’t even put a price on it all. But I’m sure those men guarding it would give their lives to do so. Why didn’t you go back for it?”
“I knew it was wrong. I told Galen as much last night.”
“That’s what you two were fighting about?”
“Yes. He wanted to find it. I didn’t.”
“Why did you change your mind?”
“That’s a long story—one we don’t have time for right now. We need to gain some ground and hope that if the guy is on a four-wheeler that he runs into brush he can’t get past.”
A loud bang rang out and the truck weaving off the trail had Travis working to gain control of the wheel. He pulled left, but not fast enough. The truck cut through thick brush and came to an abrupt halt as it hit a nut tree head-on. Travis flew forward and everything went black.
Chapter Twenty
Mattie hauled herself up from the floorboard, every muscle in her body aching. Something was dripping into her eye and it burned. She swiped at her brow, then brought her hand down and gulped at the bright red blood.
She fingered her forehead and came across a small gash. What had happened? Why was she having trouble remembering?
Mattie glanced at the driver’s side of the truck and went blank.
Something was wrong.
Where was Travis? She looked at the steering wheel that was covered in blood. Then her gaze flew to the windshield that was missing.
Pure dread filled her. Had Travis gone through the window? Was he lying outside the truck—dead?
With as much strength as she could muster, she forced open the side door and inched her way down to the ground, her heart thumping hard against her rib cage. She didn’t care that he had used her, didn’t care that he didn’t love her. She loved him and if he were dead her life would be destroyed.
Before going around the front of the truck, she glanced behind to see if Galen’s truck was there. It was—but there was no movement.
Had the gunmen shot them? This was a nightmare—one she’d better hurry and wake from or she was going to lose it.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Mattie slid around the side of the truck, looking from left to right. She was so afraid of what she was going to find that she stopped, trying to prepare herself for what she’d see.
He could still be alive, Mattie. You could save him.
With that thought in mind, she raced around to the front and scanned the jungle floor. Panic set in when she found nothing. No way could he have just disappeared.
Her heart sank.
Where the hell was he? Tears filled her eyes as she ran to the driver’s side, hoping he was there. No such luck.
Terror overwhelmed her.
She wiped at her eyes, blood and tears melding together to sting her face.
As a last resort, she leaned down and popped her head under the truck. Nothing.
She was wasting time. She needed to check on Dana, Sara, and Galen. On shaky legs, she sprinted to the second truck and found both doors wide open. She pulled herself up onto the step and her mouth dropped open. They were gone.
What in the world was going on? This couldn’t be happening to her.
A strange thought raced through her mind. Maybe she was dead. Maybe that’s why she couldn’t find anyone. To be sure, she pinched herself on the arm and flinched.
Nope. She felt that. No way was she dead. So if she was alive then where was everyone?
She dropped to her knees on the trail feeling defeated. Tears clouded her eyes and her heart hurt, along with every bone in her body.
As she heaved in a ragged sob, the strange tingling she’d felt thrummed through her. She looked around while a sense of terror lodged in her chest. Something bad was going to happen—something that she knew from experience she could stop if she could only figure out what it was.
Hold it together, Mattie. You have to save your friends.
She glanced toward the rear of the second truck and spotted a shoe.
She raced to pick it up. It was Dana’s. A foot away was a shoe print. Mattie now had a trail to follow, her gaze glued to the ground for the next.
Twenty minutes into her trek, she heard voices. She inched slowly toward them, her heart accelerating when she broke through thick underbrush and saw the crew on their knees in front of a thin man—a guy it took seconds for her to recognize—Martin Glass. Off to his right was an all-terrain vehicle. That was how Glass had been able to keep up with them.
Glass held a gun to Travis’s head, the man’s hand visibly shaking. If he weren’t careful, the gun would go off unintentionally and kill the one she loved.
Mattie had to do something—now. Or the man she couldn’t live without would die and she’d never be able to tell him how she felt.
“We have to go back for Mattie. She could still be alive,” Dana said in a panicked voice.
“Shut up, bitch. She got what was coming to her.”
Mattie sucked in a breath. So they thought she'd died in the accident. That's why they had left her.
She had to distract the gunman somehow—get him to lower his weapon.
On the ground she spotted a large stick. She picked it up and hurled it into the brush twenty feet from her.
Glass turned at the sound.
Travis instantly grasped the gun and fought to get control. The men stumbled to the ground, rolling left and right until the sound of a shot rang out.
Mattie closed her eyes, afraid she might have just gotten Travis killed.
“You all right, Travis?” Galen asked.
“Yeah,” he said in a raspy voice.
Mattie opened her eyes and sucked in a relieved breath. He was okay.
Martin Glass wasn’t as lucky. He lay on the ground, a red circle on his chest growing bigger by the second.
Mattie started toward Travis. He smiled when he saw her and then helped Sara up.
Mattie remembered her and Glass’s first meeting—the tingling had started when he was at her door. He’d been the one to give her those strange sensations. So why had she experienced them the night Drew became ill? Had he been there—watching them?
She’d bet he had been. But why harm Drew? There was no way to find out now that Glass was dead.
On rubbery legs, she swallowed up the distance between her and the crew. She had so many emotions, she wasn’t sure about any of them.
When she reached them, Travis touched her arm. “You saved our lives, Mattie. Without that distraction, we’d all be dead.”
She smiled at him. “I’m just glad you were able to shoot him before he got you. Are you guys all right?” She reached for Dana’s hand.
�
�Galen needs a doctor.”
Galen shook his head. “I think I’ll be okay.”
Dana scowled at him. “No you won’t. We need to get you some help. You could lose that arm.”
“I have to agree with Dana.” Travis ripped the shirt away from Galen’s wound. “Out here you could get an infection easily. I suggest we get into the truck that still has its tires and drive until we make it to Manu.”
“I second that,” Sara said, then took off through the jungle.
Mattie glanced at Travis, who clasped Galen around the back of the neck and gave him a shove forward. She could tell the two were close and that Travis was concerned about his friend—like she’d been about Drew.
Mattie clasped Dana’s hand and they followed. She never thought she’d look forward to getting back to civilization a week early, but she was. She had a lot to think about and she needed to be alone to do that—not have Travis close by to distract her.
* * * *
Travis made sure everyone was loaded into the truck, then climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Manu was hours away and from the pale tint to Galen’s face, he prayed they’d make it before he passed out. As he moved past the lead truck, his thoughts drifted back to right after they’d hit the tree. Everything had gone black for about a minute before he was pulled out of the truck by a thin man with glasses. The man’s beady eyes gave him pause, as did the .45 in his hand pointed at Travis’s chest.
He hadn’t had time to see if Mattie was all right before he was forced to move to the back of the truck where Galen, Sara, and Dana stood tied together at the waist and to the truck bed. The thin man went around the truck to get Mattie, and came back smiling. "She's dead."
Travis felt his world end at that moment. Yet he had no time to mourn.
The man untied the crew from the truck and pulled them forward, while the gun he held was in Travis’s back.
“Let’s go. I don’t want you found dead on the trail.” His words had sent a chill down his back—even thinking about it now. And thank God Mattie was alive.
Travis shoved the thoughts from his mind and concentrated on the road. “Mattie, grab that mic and see if you can’t raise somebody. Find out where the nearest medic is.”
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