Cold Day In Hell

by Jerrie Alexander

  Ana rose, carefully lifted each boot and shook before she pulled them on. She stuffed the Beretta in the waistband of her jeans and crept into the open to clear her head. Every muscle ached from yesterday's forced march and being cramped inside the cave. Stretching her arms and legs and twisting her stiff torso felt wonderful.

  The rain had stopped, leaving behind a shiny new day. Greens of every shade shimmered as droplets of water clung to the flora and fauna. An occasional ray of sun made it all the way to the ground to highlight flowers. Ana reminded herself the jungle was a beautiful but deadly place to be stranded.

  The mat of dead leaves and tangled vines underfoot had turned into mush. A distinct disadvantage when she ventured a couple of steps and her boots sank ankle deep. Her spirit dropped to the bottom of her stomach. Ty was right. The shower had obliterated their trail. She would never find her way back alone.

  This was a treacherous time of the day because every living thing was either hunting or searching for water. A big cat roared in the distance. She was a poor judge of distance. The feline could be close or miles away. The tendons in Ana's neck twisted and tied in knots. Trees filled with squawking birds silenced long enough to decide if the jaguar or tiger was far enough away.

  She used the murmur from overhead as a barometer to decide how far to venture in search of a secure yet private place to relieve herself. She pulled her foot out of the mush. The ground made a slurping sound. Movement caught her attention.

  An anaconda slid from under the leaves. It lifted its head and watched her. Ana got the feeling she might be on the menu. She tried to run backward but found her elbows caught by two strong hands. She screamed at the same time she was lifted off the ground.

  "Shh. You'll scare it." Ty moved back a couple of steps. She dangled like that until the snake, taking its own sweet time, slithered away.

  She shouldn't have screamed, because everything had gone quiet again.

  "Scare it? You both frightened the hell out of me," she said. The staccato-like pounding of her heart reverberated in her ears. "Why didn't you kill the darn thing?"

  "I don't kill innocents." Ty's chin rested on top of her head, and shards of heat circled through her. "You weren't thinking about running off and leaving. Were you?"

  "I was thinking about finding a place to pee."

  She took the sound rumbling from him to be a laugh as he lowered her to the ground.

  "Let me look around. Can't have you running into the anaconda's mate."

  "I'm not stupid. I might not have grown up in the jungle, but I've heard enough stories to know how dangerous it is."

  He sighed again, pouring fuel on her already heated temper. "And stop that," she insisted.

  "Stop what? Keeping you alive?"

  "That put-upon sigh you do." She imitated him.

  A crack of a smile, which she assumed to mean "whatever," crept up his cheeks before he turned and walked away.

  God, he was irritating. Gorgeous but infuriating. "I'm aware that I'm an inconvenience. I get that I messed up your 'plan.' "

  He stopped, spun around and pinned her with his gaze. "Plan be damned. Once it was determined your life was in jeopardy, you became my priority. Blowing the compound was secondary. Wait here."

  Ty's boots didn't sink nor did he seem to have trouble walking as he stalked away and disappeared into the heavy brush. Her desire to dislike him fizzled like dying embers in the pouring rain. His eyes had been so full of pain and passion when he talked, no way could she doubt his sincerity and determination to keep her safe.

  He stepped into the clearing and waved her to him. "Looks like a good place over here. We need to pack up and get started. No coffee this morning."

  "Pity," she grumbled on the way past, looking up at his sharp chin when he blocked her path. "What?"

  "Want me to go with you?"

  "Don't be disgusting."

  He scowled down at her. "You've heard the cliché, 'I've got your back'? Out here, it's just being safe."

  "Oh. I thought you meant...never mind what I thought. Thanks anyway."

  When she returned, Ty stood exactly where she'd left him. Standing guard from a respectable distance, but close enough to help if she'd cried out.

  He shouldered his heavy-looking backpack, slung both rifles over his shoulder, adjusted the holstered pistols, and then patted the huge knife hanging from his hip. Again, she wondered what in his background caused the sadness his dark eyes wore like a mantle.

  He pulled the machete from behind him and a small compass from his pocket. "There's a safe place to bed down ahead. If we hurry, we can make it before dark."

  Ana looked upward toward the slivers of light streaking through the tree canopy. The sun filtered through, heating the morning. "Which way is the compound?"

  "Stay close."

  Humidity rose and breathing became difficult. The air grew the consistency of a thick and lukewarm soup. Each time Ty swung the big blade, she prayed an opening or a small watering hole would magically appear. Swack. Nothing. Just more growth and vines. Just more overhead screeching and chatter.

  If he struggled for footing or got tired, she couldn't tell. But she fought for every inch. The ground sucked at her boots, making each lift of her feet twice the effort it should have been. Ana opened her mouth a couple of times to ask for a break but swallowed the words. No whining. If he could do this, so could she.

  She stepped down, and a green vine moved. Jumping sideways, she stumbled. Fire exploded in her ankle.

  Chapter Three

  Ty sensed the moment Ana lost her balance. Her cry ripped right through his ribs and administered a sharp squeeze to his lungs. He whirled and jerked her against his body.

  "I've got you." He one-armed the machete into its scabbard, scooped her into his arms to carry her like a baby.

  Tendrils of hair had escaped her topknot and stuck to her cheeks. The color had leeched from her face, and sweat soaked her clothes. Why hadn't he noticed her breathing had become labored? Damn, she hadn't complained, not once, so he'd pushed harder.

  "I'm fine. Just put my foot down wrong." Her words didn't match the pain and exhaustion Ty saw behind her eyes.

  "If I'm right, there's a place up ahead. Early this morning it was probably full of thirsty animals, but things should have quieted down by now."

  Once he reached the small watering hole, she could cool off while he looked at her ankle. Without the aid of the machete, he shouldered his way through the trees and vines, shielding her from the slap of oversized leaves. Without speaking, he pressed forward. His determination to protect her grew with every step.

  The area ahead was clear enough the satellite phone should have reception. Standing out in the open area in Ortega's compound hadn't been an option. Kind of hard to talk in a place covered with guards.

  Steadying her against his chest, he noticed how she molded to his body. She wrapped her arm around his neck and tucked her head against him. When her fingers tightened on his bare skin, a shudder rolled through his belly and headed south. Under different circumstances, he'd have tugged her chin up and kissed her pouty pink lips until she begged for more. Instead, he slowed long enough to unclip his canteen and pass it to her.

  "Drink slowly and hang on."

  "Thanks." She drank deeply and held the canteen to his lips.

  He took a quick swallow, smiled down at her, and then pressed forward. Something about her made him ache to solve all her problems. He quickly pushed his pangs of sympathy aside. After debriefing, he was bound for the good old U.S. of A. And damn glad of it.

  Ty shoved through the last few feet of heavy vines, pausing to make sure they weren't going to come face to face with a predator. The odor coming off the small pond assaulted his sense of smell before it came into view. Contrary to the blue lagoons that movies portrayed, most were watering holes where creatures tromped through the mud, wallowed and, on occasion, defecated. This one was murky with some kind of algae floating across half of it.
/>
  Ana lifted her head and checked out the area. "Nasty. And not something I'd want to bathe in."

  "Clearer pools are up ahead. Right now, I'm more worried about your ankle." He spotted a rock and carefully set her down. "Can you put weight on it?"

  "I'm sure I can." She pushed to her feet and took a couple of tentative steps. Her grimace indicated pain. "I'll be fine. It's twisted a little but not a bad sprain." She put her hands on her hips and tried to turn. She promptly fell into his arms.

  "Good thing you had trouble walking. I might've thought you were copping a free ride." Her raised eyebrow and indignant expression gave Ty a much-needed chuckle.

  "In your dreams." The rich tan color had returned to her face, easing his worry about her being overheated.

  Sweat on her forehead shimmered in the sunlight and reminded him they were under a clear blue sky. He helped her to sit, shouldered off his pack, and fished out the satellite phone.

  "At last. Coverage," he said, relief sinking deep and calming his nerves. "Soon as I check in, we'll head out."

  Ty dialed his old friend and no-doubt-disgruntled boss, Nate Wolfe, owner of the Lost and Found agency.

  "Jesus, Tyrell, you had us worried sick," Nate growled. Ty understood and welcomed the worried tone in Nate's voice. "I was ready to hop a flight to come look for you."

  That statement was bullshit, and Ty didn't buy it for a minute. Nate had been slated for this op, but after taking a bullet in the shoulder while finding and rescuing a friend, he was still recovering. Besides, the company was brand new. Nate's mission was to secure a few government clients, so there would be enough revenue coming in to finance Lost and Found, Inc. on the side.

  "It's Ty. And this is the first coverage I've had, so if you want to talk shop we'd better get to it. I can't hang out here to chat." Ana would make a tasty morsel for a big cat or hungry python. Predators loved injured and unable-to-run prey.

  "Okay, Ty." Nate spread the word out into Ty-e, making it two syllables. "You have the target?"

  "You wound me with a question like that. Of course, I do. We're two days from the retrieval point. You just make sure the boat's there."

  "It's done. FBI has an agent picking you up. Jack Fury was already in country."

  "Good. You should've have seen the light show. It was impressive."

  "Must've been. The news made national television but without pictures. The Colombian government is trying to convince the press that rival cartels are warring. We both know Ortega didn't buy that line of shit. Word's already out there will be blood retaliation."

  Ty whirled to face Ana. She was preoccupied massaging her ankle. "Too bad that bastard wasn't on site." His balls tightened. She'd taken crazy chances to get next to Ortega. What would she do when she was sure he was alive? "Ana's going to take this hard."

  "Ana?" Nate's voice grew coarse, and Ty clamped his teeth together. "You can't care if she takes it hard. Got it? No personal entanglements on an op."

  Heat sizzled up Ty's spine. He hadn't called in to get dressed down. Friend or not, Nate was pushing too hard. "Don't lecture me."

  "I'm not. But I caught the way her name rolled off your tongue."

  "I've been on enough of these missions to know what's expected. Don't quote the fuckin' rule book to me." He'd raised his voice, and Ana's head came up. Her gaze rose to meet his. She studied him as if he were a bug under a microscope.

  Dead silence. The line was still open, so there was more information coming. Ty walked away from Ana and waited for the arrogant retired SEAL to speak. Ty's experience as an Army Ranger had taught him to keep his emotions in check even when provoked.

  "Ms. Cisneros' adopted family has been moved to safety as a precaution," Nate said, ending the standoff.

  "Where to?" Ty asked. It would be Ana's first question, so why not have the answer ready?

  "I don't have that information," Nate continued. "Ms. Cisneros will learn everything at the debriefing."

  "That it?"

  "Yeah. Be careful."

  "No problem. Like I said, make sure our ride is waiting." Ty disconnected the call. Turning back toward Ana, his heart jumped to the back of his throat.

  Keeping his gaze locked on the mottled-colored snake dangling from a tree limb behind her, he eased the machete out of its sheath.

  "Ana. I need you to trust me and stay perfectly still." He fought back the urge to rush to her, because if this was a viper, it would strike if startled.

  "What is it?" Her eyes flashed wide, but to her credit, she didn't flinch.

  "Trust me. For now it's watching me."

  "It?" Her voice rose, and the viper's attention jumped back to Ana.

  Ty snapped his fingers. The snake's focus jerked back to him just as the long blade swung out, severing the head from the body. The two pieces fell to the ground.

  One boot on and one off, Ana lunged toward Ty, landing against him. He dropped the machete and lifted her into his arms.

  "I can scream now, right?" She made a sound, a nervous giggle.

  She leaned her head back and rubbed a hand over her eyes. Ty figured she was trying to wipe the image of a narrow escape from her mind. The warm sun highlighted her features. He noticed the cinnamon flecks in her dark brown eyes for the first time.

  She couldn't weigh much more than a hundred pounds. If he had to carry her for a while, it wouldn't be a hardship, at least not for him. Holding her small and curvy body, the fact she was firm and soft in the right places didn't escape his notice.

  "Right?" She cleared her throat, letting him know she'd caught him staring.

  Nate was off base insinuating Ty had a personal involvement with her. However, his respect for her grew even more. No doubt, the desire to bolt had been overwhelming, yet she'd sat as still as a statue. This wasn't the first time she'd demonstrated an inner strength.

  "I wouldn't. No telling who or what a female scream would attract." He scouted for a safe place and moved to set her down. "I think the ankle's worse than you're admitting."

  "No breaks. The rest I can deal with."

  He squatted, lifted her foot, and rested it on his knee. "Needs ice." He dragged his pack over and dug out a few supplies.

  "I'm really going to be impressed if you have ice in there." She pulled her jeans leg a little higher.

  "Close enough." He rubbed a cooling ointment on her ankle. Crushing a packet of chemicals that would provide a cold compress, he secured it in place by wrapping her ankle. "We need to move on. If you can't walk, I'll carry you."

  "How far to the next stop?"

  Her stomach growled. Damn, she had to be starving. Her injury was going to slow their progress. How long could Jack Fury hang around if they weren't there on time?

  "Couple of hours. Can you wait to eat?"

  "Yeah. Let's go."

  ****

  Ana stuffed her throbbing foot into her boot, wishing it were a lace-up because with the wrap it was a tight fit. Maybe it would hold down the swelling. Ty extended his hand, which she gladly took as she rose.

  He was a study in physical architecture, and his muscular thighs straining against the material of his pants hadn't escaped her notice. The hair on his head appeared as if one day without shaving had caused a growth spurt. A trim moustache curved down past his mouth and blended with a short goatee, giving him a devilish look. If he didn't shave soon, black stubble would quickly fill in the blank areas. The sudden urge to run her fingers over the new growth on his jaw was powerful. And stupid.

  His gaze softened, and the corners of his mouth lifted. She figured he was worried she couldn't walk. She had news for him. She'd learned at an early age to depend on herself. Manuel Ortega had done that to her.

  Tentatively, she put her weight on both feet. Pain shot up her leg. Determined not to need help, she steadied herself and took a couple of steps. The throbbing had eased after he'd secured the ice pack, making the pain tolerable. A couple more steps and he released her to move around on her own.

/>   "I can do this," she announced, turning to face him. No way could she admit how badly she hurt.

  "It's your call. Speak up if the pain gets bad." All business again, Ty swung his pack over his shoulder, grasped the machete, and started slashing away the heavy growth.

  He'd ministered to her as if she were a piece of fine china. His large hands weren't clumsy or rough as she might've expected but remarkably gentle for their size. Maybe, he wasn't as brusque and short-tempered as she'd initially thought. Maybe, if he had a heart, she could reason with him. Maybe, he'd listen.

  The trail grew thicker and the air thinner as they pressed forward, walking for what had to be hours without speaking. He moved slowly, checking over his shoulder often. Ana appreciated his concern. Not only did her ankle hurt, but every muscle in her body threatened to cramp.

  Ty slowed and glanced back at her. "Are you in too much pain to climb a tree?"

  She opened her mouth to say her ankle wouldn't hold, but his solemn expression sent her stomach twisting. She understood when she heard the steady rhythm of a swinging machete and not just one this time. Ty hadn't been looking over his shoulder to check on her. They were being followed.

  "If I have to." She strained to hear, trying to judge the time she and Ty had before whoever followed caught up.

  "The next rest stop is up ahead. Time to hustle." He sleeved the machete, scooped her into his arms and forged ahead at a blistering pace.

  Startled by his action, Ana didn't try to speak. The seriousness of the situation kept her quiet. She tried to mold her body to his in an effort to help as he forced his way without a path. As he'd done before, Ty positioned his shoulder so he took the brunt of the heavy foliage, protecting her from the stings and cuts of the sharp-edged fronds.

  A quick peek at his profile sent waves of guilt grinding through her. Jaws tight, his focus was on saving her. She couldn't regret trying to get close enough to Ortega to kill him, but her hatred might result in an innocent man's death. Her hand itched to reach for the pistol he'd given her. Maybe she could cover him. Instead, she remained still as death until he slowed.