Free Can't Run (Danger and Desire Book 1) by Caroline M. Townes Page A

whispered, her voice breaking with exhaustion.
    “I will tell you more when in the morning, rest for a few hours.” Eric softly insisted, and Sara couldn’t help but accommodate his request as sleep overwhelmed her and she drifted into a dreamless slumber.
    ~
    Sara woke up freezing cold, curled up in a fetal position against Eric who was still sitting against the trunk. He was awake, and she didn’t doubt that he didn’t sleep at all. Sara was sore and found that although there was daylight creeping through the canopy that it was still surprisingly dark. Sara sat up and put the hood of her jacket over her head hoping it would give her some warmth.
    “Did you sleep?” Sara asked noticing the dark circles around Eric’s eyes.
    “Not at all,” Eric replied grimly, “I wanted to hear if anyone was approaching.”
    Sara nodded, understanding that they were nowhere near safety.
    “What’s the plan?”
    “We have to get to the consulate, but getting to Manaus would be a start.” Eric replied thoughtfully.
    “So, we just have to get back to the dinghy.” Sara said, confident they could make the trek within the day.
    “No, I hit a stump while going after you. It’s probably completely deflated by now.”
    Sara sat thoughtfully, “Well, we’ll just take the speedboat then. If they haven’t already taken it.”
    Eric shook his head, “I already checked yesterday, it’s out of gas. We’re going to have to make it by foot, at least to a village where maybe we can get in contact with the consulate or find transportation.”
    “But,” Sara felt the worry in her gut that had been haunting her since the previous day, “we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
    Eric let out a breath, “No, there are villages throughout the amazon rainforest, along the rivers there are fishing villages and throughout there are also groups, many of which have contact with the cities.”
    “They were taking you away from the river which makes me assume that they were taking you to a camp for the hand off,” Eric continued.
    “What hand off?” Sara asked, feeling suddenly terrified.
    “Well, it’s safe to assume that these guys, considering they only wanted you, were hired to take you.” Eric hypothesised, uncomfortably running his hand over his head, “Look, I probably shouldn’t even be talking to you about this. I don’t want to worry you.”
    “You don’t want to worry me?” Sara repeated in disbelief, “Like hell, you shouldn’t be talking to me about this! I want to know everything you know! Why do I have people after me, who is after my dad? I don’t understand, and I think I deserve to understand what is happening and why.”
    Eric glanced at her, his expression was disconcerted and apprehensive but with a sigh it was obvious that he was about to concede. 
    “I don’t know everything.” Eric said, “Just what I was told when your father hired me.”
    Sara nodded encouragingly.
    “So, from what I understand is there are some people who are after your father due to some international development dealings. They began by trying to extort him, which he ended up paying up, but they kept wanting more so when he said no he started receiving death threats. He responded to that by topping up his and your mother’s security. But then, they began leaving messages about you. Sending pictures, sending kidnapping threats, threats to harm…”
    Sara shuddered.
    “That’s when your father hired me”, he continued, “told me to stay close to you and keep an eye on you. But he didn’t want you to know or to worry…”
    Sara nodded, but now she was worried. She was terrified. She had people who wanted to harm her and wanted to harm her family, and they obviously had the financial backing to orchestrate someone taking her in Brazil.
    “Try not to worry,” Eric assured, “We’ll get out of here and get you back to safety. I promise.”
    Sara gave the man a weak smile.
    They began their journey early, Eric was certain