Navy SEAL Survival by Elle James

Author:Elle James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

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.

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