Mind reeling, Macy scrunched down in the seat the best she could. Although it was dark outside, she wouldn’t take any chances of someone recognizing her. So many thoughts raced through her aching head it felt like sledgehammers were pounding away at her temples. Her leg pulsed in agony beneath the fabric of her jeans. But none of that affected her like the news about Avery. She still couldn’t wrap her head around it. Had Avery been sold as a sex slave too? Had she suffered like Macy had?
A shudder ran through her.
Nate must have noticed because he turned up the heat and asked, “Cold?”
She managed a nod, unwilling to share her thoughts. She never wanted anyone to know what she’d endured. What thoughts had crossed her mind while locked in that small, suffocating room. The lengths she’d been willing to go to escape.
Now she was wanted for murder and on the run, with no idea how they were going to make it home.
They.
The word drifted through her cloudy head. She wasn’t alone anymore. There was hope. And it came in a six-foot package of pure muscle and determination. She’d given him a chance to leave and avoid the crapstorm raining down on her, but he stayed, putting his own life in jeopardy. For her.
Men with that kind of loyalty didn’t come around every day.
A fact she appreciated even more after what she’d suffered in the hands of an evil man.
Abruptly she pushed those thoughts away. They would only torment her. Right now, she needed to focus on staying alive. Getting home.
When Nate turned down a narrow road leading into the shady parts of the city, she sat straighter. “Where are you going?”
“I need to pick up a couple things. Just stay low.”
What on earth would he need from down here except drugs or trouble? She glanced at his profile, set in determined lines. “Are you buying drugs?”
He sent her a baffled look. “What? Drugs? Hell, no.”
“Then what?”
“Weapons. I flew commercial to get here. Couldn’t bring them with me so this is the next best option.”
“Guns?”
“We need protection where we’re going.”
That didn’t ease her nerves any. Just where were they going? “I don’t have any experience with guns.”
Nate tapped the breaks and turned down a dark alley. “I do.”
Macy ducked down in the seat when a dark figure shot across their path. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
The car slowed to a stop. Nate opened the door. “Stay here.” He said before climbing out and closing the door with a quiet snick.
Macy watched him slink into the darkness, looking more like a criminal than a hero. Playing the part, she supposed, but it didn’t make her feel any better. Not taking her eyes off Nate, she waited while he conducted his business. When he moved further into the darkness, where she could no longer make out his tall, broad form, she panicked just a little. He could take care of himself; but there were so many variables in this situation she worried all the same. Too many things could go wrong.
Slinking down farther into her seat, Macy wrapped her arms around her middle. Something darted in front of the car, disappearing into the darkness. A person? Dog? She couldn’t tell but it gave her shivers.
Hurry, Nate. Please.
Minutes passed. No Nate. Only things moving around in the dark. With each growing second her heart rate increased and she grew more anxious.
Something banged on the trunk. Macy stifled a scream.
That’s it. No more shadows. No more noises. And definitely no more waiting. She wasn’t going to sit here forever, waiting to find out if Nate had been wounded, or worse. There was no hiding the fact he was American. This may be a popular tourist city, but most tourists didn’t try to buy guns from the seedy backstreets in the underbelly of the city.
Without another thought, she attempted to climb over the middle console into the driver’s seat. Bending her injured leg sent a wave of pain washing through her. She gripped the steering wheel, her vision narrowing. After a brief minute her vision returned to normal and she resumed her attempt to switch seats.
Halfway over, the door opened and Nate ducked his head in. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to save your butt.” She retorted. “What took you so long?”
“Takes a minute to buy black market weapons. Get back in your seat.”
He pressed a button to pop the trunk, disappearing for a moment while she got awkwardly returned to her side. The trunk closed and Nate climbed in the driver’s seat.
“Everything good?” She asked as he brought the car to a chugging start.
“I got what I need.”
“Do you think they saw me?”
He maneuvered out of the alley and onto the street. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
“If they had, I’d be dead and you’d be in the trunk, of one of their cars, on your way to the police. If you were lucky and they wanted the money.”
Macy shuddered. He didn’t paint a very reassuring picture. It made her happier than ever to be in the car with him and not in a trunk waiting for certain death. And, she respected the fact he didn’t sugarcoat the truth.
The sun had come up, the roads consistently getting busier. Macy shifted, leaning her head against the door. “So, what’s the plan?”
“We get out of the city, then out of the country.”
She yawned. Lord, she was drained. “How?”
“By unconventional means.”
“That doesn’t sound very promising.”
He glanced sideways at her. “It’s the only way.”
Right. Because of her. This would have been a simple rescue otherwise. If only Aziz hadn’t come into her room that night with a knife. Why hadn’t he stuck to his usual torments and taken his hate for her out with his fists and whatever else he could find? If he’d stayed to his normal routine, she wouldn’t be wanted for murder. They could have gotten on a plane and been in the U.S. by now, instead of running for their lives, buying illegal weapons in shady alleys.
She didn’t want to think about it anymore. A migraine teased her temples, her leg pulsed and she could barely keep her eyes open.
“Get some sleep.” Nate said, as if reading her mind.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. We have a long way to go.”
He’d get no argument from her. She moved into a more comfortable position and let her eyes drift closed. Nate slowing for a turn was the last thing she remembered.
****
Nate listened to Macy’s soft, even breathing as he drove west toward the Sunnat Mountains. They wouldn’t have roadblocks going into the mountains, just out. Only a fool would try to escape into the Sunnats. There was nowhere to go except up, then over and down until they reached Krygyztan, which the authorities wouldn’t suspect. The terrain was rough, even for a skilled climber. An injured American woman would never make it. Alone, anyway. They may underestimate Macy, but they had no idea what he could do.
All he needed to do was find a sports shop with hiking gear and camping supplies. And make a stop for visas. Doable, if done under the radar.
He kept to the side streets, avoiding all major roadways. It would take more time to get out of the city but it had to be done.
Macy continued to sleep until he stopped in front of a rundown pawn shop with bars over the doors and chipped paint from ground to roof.
With a yawn, she opened her eyes and looked around. “Where are we?”
“Quick stop. I won’t be long. Lock the doors behind me and stay out of sight.”
Doubtful if anyone in this part of town would recognize her as this area had few televisions or radios. Hell, they barely had running water or electricity.
“More weapons?” She asked, sliding down in her seat.
“No. Visas.”
“This is a pawn shop.”
He reached for the door handle. “Yeah. Hold tight.” After hitting the locks, he headed inside the dark, dank building. A balding man stood behind the counter. He looked up, warm as Nate approached.
In Azabek, he asked if the man had any watches. He might not recognize Nate personally, but his brother had used this shop for jobs in the past. They all had the code word for illegal documents.
The man hesitated, measuring him for a moment before he nodded and motioned Nate to follow him. They went into a claustrophobic back office that smelled moldy and dank. The man moved a bunch of junk to unveil a small workstation. Nate handed him the photo of Macy he’d used to track her down and his photo I.D.
Without preamble, he got to work making fake I.D.’s, passports and visas. In the states, a job like this would cost a fortune. When the man finished, Nate handed him a wad of bills. More than necessary, but he needed to buy the man’s silence, too. If he had recognized Macy he didn’t let on. American money went a long way in a country like this, Nate had no doubt this man was reliable.
He seemed anxious to be rid of him, ushering him out the door and quickly closing it behind him.
Nate glanced both ways down the street. An elderly woman pushed a shopping cart across the street. A couple stray dogs wandered around looking for food. A bum sat on the corner, head bowed. None of them paid Nate any attention. The weight of despair hung heavy in the air.
Nate rapped on the car window, seeing Macy jump before pushing the button to unlock the doors.
“Did you get them?” She asked when he slid into the driver’s seat.
“Yes.”
She nodded and drew in a deep breath. He noticed the circles beneath her eyes had grown more prominent. She needed a good meal, and sleep. Neither of which he could give her. They were on the run and that didn’t include restaurants or hotels.
He pulled onto the road and headed for the mountains, sticking to less desired and less traveled roads.
Macy kept low in her seat, dozing off and snapping awake at every bump in the road. There wasn’t anything he could do to make her more comfortable and it bothered the hell out of him. She’d been through hell already, yet another kind had only just begun. The journey ahead of them wasn’t an easy one. In fact, it would be downright brutal.
Gradually, the city became less prominent, the landscape growing hillier as they neared the mountains. He knew of a general store at the base of the mountains that carried everything from camping gear to groceries. It would be the last stop for them. The route they were traveling was off the grid.
Macy shifted in her seat with a wince. “I need to stretch my legs. And use the bathroom.”
Letting her out of the car would be risky, but he couldn’t allow her to suffer. “There’s a store a few miles ahead. Here, put this on.” He reached over the seat and grabbed the two hats he’d had in his pack. He handed her a beige one with a random Azbakistan sports team logo on it. “Tuck your hair inside.” He instructed as he put a blue one on and pulled the brim down.
Macy wound her hair into a bun and tucked it inside her hat like only a woman could. How the hell she put that thick, wavy hair in a small baseball cap baffled him.
“Good?” She asked, turning to him so he could see.
His chest tightened. She looked frail and delicate, but he knew that wasn’t accurate. He’d experienced the fight in her. Saw it with every hit she took. And she’d taken a lot in the last twenty-four hours.
Beneath the question in her eyes lay vulnerability that made him want to pull her into his arms and never let go.
Shaken at the thought, he said, more abruptly than intended, “It’ll work.”
Her brows drew together, but she didn’t push. Instead, she just turned her attention to the side window to watch the scenery pass.
Nate mentally berated himself for treating her like that. She didn’t deserve his attitude because he couldn’t handle his thoughts. His baby brother was dead because Quinn had fallen for his charge. That mistake wasn’t one Nate intended to make. He didn’t blame Quinn for Ryan’s death, but part of him would always wonder what role Quinn’s feelings for Avery played in their younger brother’s death. History couldn’t repeat itself on this mission because he’d come alone. He’d be damned if he made the same mistakes Quinn had.
That familiar ache started in his chest like it did every time he let his thoughts get away from him about his brother. This wasn’t the place or time for grief.
The general store came into view. He parked to the side and shut off the engine. “Walk slowly to avoid limping as much as possible.” He instructed. “Keep your eyes down and don’t speak to anyone I’ll get what we need.”
Macy nodded and reached for the door handle. Nate hurried around to her side and helped her out. He tipped the brim of her cap down before putting an arm around her. He took his cell out, pretending to take a selfie like yuppie tourists. Macy played along, posing for the camera.
“Restroom is around the side of the building.” He said, taking most of her weight so she could walk semi-normal. To her credit, she barely limped. Even laid her head on his shoulder so he could assist her more.
“Don’t forget my water, hon.” She said before letting go of him and heading toward the bathrooms.
“Sure thing babe.” He replied on his way inside the store.
The place was busy. People milled around everywhere, gathering last minute supplies before entering the mountains. Good. Made it easier to blend in.
He didn’t waste any time getting what he needed. Camping and climbing gear, food, water. The options were limited, but enough to get them through.
After paying for the purchases, he left the store, scanning the area for anything suspicious. No one appeared to be paying him any attention. To his relief, Macy sat in the front seat, head bowed so her face stayed hidden behind her hat.
He put the stuff in the trunk and climbed in next to her.
She looked over, brows raised in question. “Good?”
“Yeah. Ready?”
“Let’s do this.”
Nate handed Macy a bottle of water and a protein bar before backing out and joining the line of traffic moving into the mountains. They didn’t get far before it began to slow to a crawl and eventually stop.
“Why did we stop?” Macy asked, sitting up to peer over the dashboard.
“Stay down.” Nate rolled down his window and leaned out, noticing a roadblock and police lights flashing he cursed.
“What is it?”
“Police checkpoint.”
Macy went white. “I thought they wouldn’t be monitoring the roads into the mountains.”
“Neither did I.”
Dammit. They couldn’t go forward nor back. That left only one option. And not one he embraced. He’d hoped to make it at least halfway before they began their hike across country.
“What do we do?” Fear edged Macy’s voice.
“There was a turn off back there. We ditch the car and hoof it.”
“Won’t they see us?”
“We’ll be long gone.” Nate waited until the car in front of him had inched far enough ahead he could pull off the side of the road. Then he slammed the car in reverse and drove backwards down the shoulder. Cars honked, people shouted out their windows.
“This isn’t good,” Macy said.
“Only shot we have.”
He stomped on the gas, flying past cars. When they reached the turnaround, he hit the brakes and turned off the engine. “Let’s move.”
With practiced ease, he packed the new supplies he’d bought into the backpack he’d already had with him. Minutes later, he took Macy by the hand and led her from the road and into the trees.
“Oh, God,” She said, glancing over her shoulder. “They found the car.”
“They don't have the manpower here to run a checkpoint and chase down an abandoned car.”
“But they will?”
“Yes.” And he planned to be long gone before that happened.