Free East of Redemption (Love on the Edge #2) by Molly E. Lee Page B

either.
    “We have to throw them off our trail.”
    “How are we going to do that?”
    “Put them on the wrong one.”
    Rain glanced upward where the GoPro was harnessed around her hat, catching the perfect angle of my plotting face. She raised her eyebrows and swung her hand in a churning motion, signaling me to keep talking.
    For the first time since I’d tracked Rain down in South Africa, I remembered the reason why I’d insisted no one could do this job better than her. I looked straight at the camera, keeping my voice low.
    “As you can see,” I pointed toward where Corrine’s team moved slowly up the path Rain and I had taken half an hour ago, our higher vantage point leaving them fully exposed. Rain turned her head to get a good shot of them before returning the focus to me. “It’s not always the wildlife or shifting terrain you have to worry about on the mountainside. Sometimes you’re forced to survive threats from unscrupulous people. For myself, this is a competitor treasure-hunting team, and they’re hell-bent on stealing whatever I may discover on this expedition. If you yourself aren’t a digger, then it could just as easily be a set of hostile locals, vicious poachers, or even a skilled band of thieves. If ever you find yourself stranded and come across a group who gives you a bad feeling, don’t approach them. It may seem like the exact opposite of survival, hiding from another human who could offer you salvation, but that is when your judgment has to be sharp. If the people are in fact hostile, do not cross paths. You’ve got better chances of surviving off the land until you can get to a populated area, where the odds of finding real help are better.”
    I glanced back down at Corrine’s team. “In our case, we know for sure this group means us harm. They ransacked our hotel room, and tried to steal my partner’s passport last night in a further effort to deter our attempts at locating King Solomon’s treasure. They crossed a line and should be avoided at all costs. So, let’s take them on a little chase, yeah?”
    Rain gave me a thumbs-up as I shifted and headed more east than I’d ever intended. Working our way in the wrong direction through the expansive trees that peppered the mountain had my chest tightening with each step—a magnetic pull I had to fight against with each step. Harrison’s cave screamed for my attention, the visual pulsing behind my eyes, but the idea of Corrine anywhere near it gave me the drive I needed to push past the pain, transforming it to a steady anger.
    “This will cost us a couple of days,” I said over my shoulder.
    “Damn. If I ever find out which asshole from the bar tipped her off to your whereabouts, I’m going to throat punch him.” Rain’s voice was sharp, ice cold, and absolutely adorable.
    I couldn’t contain a laugh.
    “This isn’t funny,” she said but was chuckling, too. “Your crazy ex is forcing us to waste precious time and energy. We’ve got enough risks already against us.”
    I stopped next to a small ledge we’d have to climb in order to maintain our direction. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were holding me responsible for this new setback.” I clasped my hands together and held them by my knees in a squat position, offering her a more secure foothold up.
    She rolled her eyes. “This is your fault,” she said, bypassing my offered hands and grabbing hold of the rock with sure fingers. She secured her booted foot in a small notch, using it to push herself up and onto the ledge.
    Stubborn woman.
    I used the same foothold she had, ignoring her hand when she offered to help pull me up. She was just as proud and independent as ever. It was annoying, yet sexy as hell. When she popped her hands on her hips, waiting for me to right myself, I had the intense urge to grab hold of those hips and yank her body against mine. I could kiss the breath right out of those lungs and remind her exactly who she’d belonged