Chapter 4

Nyx took a long pull from her water bottle and looked around the ruins. Coming here alone was risky. More than risky. It was downright stupid. Her dad would rip her a new one. She should have had at least one other person with her because the rainforest—any wilderness—was more dangerous without a buddy.

But what were her alternatives?

Bring Frankie and Ellis? Even using the pathway she'd been told about, the hike in from her Jeep had been rough. Nyx couldn't imagine either woman reaching the site without injuring themselves.

Hire some stranger? That was every bit as dangerous as coming alone. The Lost Treasure of Trujillo was estimated to be worth a billion dollars. She couldn't trust anyone she hired, especially if they discovered why she was here.

She'd left the inn at first light to get started before it became too hot, but it was only mid-morning and she'd already surveyed the exposed area as well as some of the less overgrown sections next to it. Without a lidar scan or a machete, there wasn't much more she could do. But she needed to be thorough or her teammates would insist on another trip.

Sliding the water back into the holder on the side of her backpack, Nyx considered her options. There was only one.

Climb the pyramid and get a view of the site from elevation.

Three sides were invisible, with the trees and other vegetation nearly swallowing the structure. The front side facing the clearing was accessible, but she couldn't be certain what erosion had done to the steps. Another risk, especially when she was here by herself. If she fell, there'd be no one to help her.

Nyx checked the sky. Not too cloudy yet, but it wouldn't stay that way. It might be the dry season, but it still rained nearly every day. She wanted to be off the pyramid before the afternoon storm rolled in.

The top seemed impossibly high, and there was nothing to grab onto if she slipped. Hesitating, she took another look.

The pyramid had three small sections of steps with a wider platform added at strategic intervals for about one-third of the distance. Then she'd hit the big section of steps. From where she stood, they appeared steep. Instead of a capstone, the top was flat and had four long stone buildings set parallel to each other. There were probably birds or animals living there now, and even if she didn't go inside, Nyx might startle them.

She needed to reach the top to get the best view of the site.

An image of Ellis trying to scale the steps in trousers and low-heeled shoes made Nyx shudder. She couldn't—wouldn't—lie to her teammates and that meant she needed to get up there to keep them safe.

Dawdling didn't help. Nyx didn't want to be caught on top when the rains came—or on that steep section of steps. The stone would be slippery when it became wet. With a scowl, she walked to the base, decided the erosion wasn't bad enough to make the climb unsafe, and began to ascend.

By the time she was a third of the way up the last section, Nyx was glad she had a robust workout regimen. If she didn't, she'd never make it. Even with her program, she was breathing hard.

There were no railings, so she didn't pause to look around. She kept her focus on the steps in front of her, making sure her balance was steady before continuing.

The top of the pyramid was above the treetops in the area, and she had an incredible view. Green, green, and more green as far as she could see. It didn't help her identify possible treasure burial sites because she couldn't see beneath the canopy, but the beauty made it worth the climb.

Reaching for her water bottle, she took a sip and studied her surroundings more carefully. Not quite all trees, after all. Off in the distance, Nyx saw a road and several paths leading into the ruins. Se?or Alvarez, the innkeeper, had told her the people of San Isidro kept the one she'd used sort of clear of vegetation, so who maintained the other ones? And why?

Nyx was still sipping water when she spotted vehicles on the road. More than one. The traffic made her uneasy. She capped her water and stowed it. Her eyes never stopped sweeping the terrain.

That's why she spotted it. Motion on several of the paths she'd identified that led to the Huarona city. There was nothing else around here. They were coming to the site.

Her heart rate picked up. Se?or Alvarez had warned her the ruins were close to the hacienda of a drug lord named Vargas. An assassination had taken place here a year ago.

Was she jumping to conclusions? Maybe, but who else would send that many vehicles and an army of men to the ruins?

The steps were too steep to rush down, and if she moved at a safe speed, she'd be caught in the open when those men reached the city. That left her with no choice except to hide inside one of the buildings atop the pyramid.

They all had open doorways and windows, and from the pictures she'd studied when she'd researched the site, they were empty. There'd be nothing to conceal her. Her only chance of remaining unseen would be to crouch in a corner as far away from an opening as possible and stay very still.

The first building she checked contained a spider the size of a car—only a slight exaggeration—and she let it have the space. Her second choice held bones from a small animal. Hard pass. She checked where the men were on the paths. Time had run out.

Option number three was clear. Heart pounding, Nyx hunkered down in the corner and hoped they wouldn't stay long.

Hours later, her head rested on her knees and all she wanted was for everyone to leave.

The charley horse hit without warning. Nyx swallowed her gasp, but her foot kicked a stone when she straightened her legs. She went still, not even daring to rub her calf. It wasn't a surprise when a few minutes later a man appeared in the opening.

With one armed henchman on either side of her and the third pulling up the rear, they escorted her down the pyramid.

Her guards drew to a stop in front of the duo meeting in the center of the clearing. The man she assumed was the drug lord had dark, wavy hair, a crooked nose, suggesting it had been broken more than once, and a ragged scar on his right cheek. His eyes were as flat as a great white shark. Nyx barely suppressed a shudder.

The other? It was the mercenary she'd shared lunch with the other day.

"Friend of yours?"

"More than a friend. She's my fiancée," the merc said.

It took all her control not to gawk at him. An instant later, it dawned on her. He'd claimed her to keep her alive. Terror returned, hitting her like a tsunami. She tried to edge closer to the merc but was stopped. The decision was quick and easy. Nyx would back him up. How they'd pull it off remained a question. They didn't even know each other's names.

"I told you to come alone." The drug lord's voice was hard.

"I did come alone, Se?or Vargas. My fiancée didn't like the order and must have arrived before me to get into position to provide backup." The merc looked down at her. "Do I have it right, Fireball?"

Nyx nodded. "One man against many didn't seem fair." Her voice sounded choked, but fear tightened her throat. "I didn't want anything to happen to you, hon."

"As if you'd be any help," Vargas said, dismissing her, and returned his attention to the mercenary. "You can't control your woman?"

Shrugging one shoulder, he said, "I'm not interested in women who can be controlled. I prefer fireballs." The merc glanced at her again and winked.

It was meant to reassure her, but despite how relaxed he seemed, how confident, Nyx sensed his tension. They were in deep shit.

He didn't have to protect her. He could have told Vargas the truth and not put himself at risk. Sure, she would take a bullet in the back of her skull, but that shouldn't matter to a mercenary. She wanted to know why he'd stuck his neck out for her, but not right now. She needed to remain alert, ready to step into her role as fake fiancée when necessary.

"You allowed your woman to travel to Puerto Jardin while you're attempting to become an arms supplier to Se?or Torres? You expect me to believe that?"

Another one-shoulder shrug from the merc. "She didn't know about the gunrunning when she decided to surprise me."

"But she's fine with you working as a mercenary?"

"She likes nice things. I like to give her nice things."

Nyx pressed her lips tightly together. Not only was she stupid for coming to the ruins to protect him, she was a gold-digger, too.

"You don't seem happy, Se?orita…" Vargas paused, clearly waiting for her to supply her name.

"Templeton. Nyx Templeton." There was no point in lying. All they needed to do was search the Jeep and find the rental agreement with her name written on it. At least she'd left her passport and ID in the hotel safe in Trujillo.

Vargas inclined his head. "What did Se?or Case say that made you frown, Se?orita Templeton?"

She tried to figure out what to say, but the delay caused a hardness to enter the man's dead eyes. "I love him, not the things he buys me. I hate that he thinks all I care about is gifts."

Vargas shifted his focus back to the merc. "Imagine all the nice things you could buy for your woman if you could provide Se?or Torres with weapons."

"I have thought of that," the merc said. "The problem remains. Se?or Torres is taking things slowly. I'm not in a position to force his hand."

Vargas stared at the merc. Even though it was hot and humid, Nyx felt goosebumps rise on her arms. "I think," the drug lord said slowly, "I have a way to encourage you to work harder to establish a connection with Se?or Torres and acquire the new rifle to sell to him." His lips quirked up the tiniest amount. "You and your charming fiancée will be my houseguests until I receive the weapons."