Page 9 of Depths of Destruction

Emilia slowly leans away from Naomi's chest.

I point to the ladder. "When you get to the top, one of my guys will be there. Go with him. It'll be safe, I promise."

"Naomi—"

She puts her finger over Emilia's lips. "Do what he says. Go."

Emilia climbs up the ladder. I go first, and double check it's still safe before I help pull Naomi out of the pit.

When we get out of the hole, my guys have removed all the women. Only my soldiers who are securing the perimeter until we are all gone are still there.

We're almost back in the thick of the jungle when shouting and gunshots rumble through the air.

"Run," I tell Naomi. I take her hand to tug her into the trees and through the wooded area.

"My sister," she yells through more gunfire.

"She's ahead of us."

Naomi is in high heels and a pencil skirt, which restricts her movement and slows her down. So I pick her up and run, carrying her until we get to the vehicles. She buries her face in my neck, holding on to me tightly.

Her sister and Malin are already at the Jeep. He sees me and gets in the driver's side. I set Naomi next to Emilia before jumping in next to Malin. We take off, driving away from the gunfire.

When we get to the camp, the other four women have already arrived with my men.

Six guys are still not back.

"Malin, take Naomi and Emilia, along with the other women, into the tents."

"Who are you?" Naomi steps in front of me and looks up.

"My name is Andre Lòpez. I run the rescue team for Interpol. I have six guys out there. As soon as they're back, we'll talk."

"Interpol?"

"Yes."

The color drains from her face, and she grips my forearm. "Why would Interpol be involved in this?"

"Lòpez, we need another vehicle to go back," Hunter yells. "There's a flat."

"I have to go. We'll talk later," I repeat, but all I see in her eyes is fear.

The entire ride to pick up my other men, I can't get the look in her eyes out of my head.

Your job isn't to ask questions. It's to do as you're told and bring your men back in one piece.

But why is Interpol involved in this?

And why did she look so scared?

3

Naomi

The tent is small,but it's a welcome luxury compared to the pit we were all in. Malin, who helped rescue my sister, has a first aid kit and helps the women who have open wounds. Another man, named Dirk, comes in with food and passes it out.

Emilia is still shaken up from being kidnapped and groped but seems to have settled since we left the pit. Santiago and his thugs called her and me out of the pit. They held me back to make me watch her tremble in fear for fun. One of the thugs ripped her shirt to see her reaction. The entire time, I tried not to throw up. My stomach pitched as I screamed for them to let her go, but it only made them harass her more.