She stopped to listen. She had to wait a moment before she could hear anything but the sound of her own heart and labored breathing.

A dog yapping, far away. Good.

But Gomez might have sent men ahead to guard the river crossing. Everyone knew that this was the only place shallow enough to cross the river for another forty miles. She had to be prepared to go around them. No, she was so tired she wasn't thinking straight. Being prepared was only defensive. She had to attack. Her father had always told her that when hunted, the only thing to do was turn hunter and eliminate the threat entirely.

She closed her eyes. More death. More blood on her hands.

Stop whining. Chavez would agree perfectly with her father's philosophy. He would think nothing of killing her after he got what he wanted. Had Chavez come hack and joined that pack behind her? How that bastard would enjoy the hunt. The thought sent a thrill of pure rage through her that banished any regret. If it had to be done, then do it. Start thinking about where they would be planning to ambush her.

Her eyes flicked open and she pulled out the gun she'd taken from the guard. She started to crawl forward again, her elbows digging into the mud. Her gaze searched the woods near the river. Are you there? Are you waiting for me?

Turn hunter. Eliminate the threat.

Tomaco

The house was a crumbling three-bedroom hacienda some five miles outside the town of Tomaco. After a preliminary search, Galen permitted Forbes to go inside.

"I'm not impressed. Not the greatest pad I've ever stayed at," Galen said as he ran his finger over a dust-covered table. "I'm disappointed in you, Forbes. You should have at least provided maid service for a man of my consequences. This is where she said she'd meet you?"

Forbes nodded. "She didn't want a chance of our arrival leaking to anyone in the village. She said no one has lived here for the past six years."

"How does she know? This is pretty far from the hills where the rebels hang out."

"I didn't ask. Which bedroom do you want?"

"None of them. Neither do you." He turned and headed for the door. "I told my guys to make sure to stash bedrolls in the jeep. We camp out in the forest and keep an eye on the house from there. My mum always told me that fresh air was good forme."

"And you don't trust Elena Kyler not to have lured me to this house as a trap."

"Did I say that?" He went outside and climbed into the jeep. "Hop in and we'll hide this fine vehicle in the brush before we unload and set up camp. As compensation for depriving you of a roof over your head, I'll fix you the finest al fresco meal you've ever eaten. I'm an extraordinary cook."

Forbes got into the passenger seat. "I suppose your mum told you that too."

Galen started the jeep. "How did you guess?"

It was after midnight when Forbes jerked wide awake.

Something was wrong.

A sound?

Galen's bedroll was empty.

Shit.

He tossed his blankets aside and jumped to his feet.

The house.

He ran through the woods. A branch slapped him in the face.

He could see the driveway of the house just ahead.

Two men struggling. Galen was on top. A gun was lying on the ground beside him.

Galen grunted, his head whipping back as the man's fist lashed out and caught him on the chin.

The man took advantage of the temporary weakness to lunge up and over, bringing Galen with him. Then he was breaking free, scrambling for the gun.

Forbes stepped forward and kicked the gun away.

Galen took advantage of his opponent's moment of distraction and chopped down on the side of his neck.

The man went limp.

Galen breathed a sigh of relief as he rose to his feet. "Fast." He picked up the gun. "And tough. She almost broke my jaw."

"She?" Forbes stiffened. "It's a woman? You're sure?"

"Believe me, even in extreme circumstances I can tell the difference."

Forbes gave a low whistle. "Elena Kyler?"

"Presumably."

Forbes took a step closer to get a better look. The woman was wearing black jeans, a dirty white shirt, and a leather jacket and was little more than a shadowy figure in the moonlight. She appeared to be of medium height with short dark hair.

"I felt something warm. She's bleeding." Galen was kneeling, flipping open the leather jacket. The white shirt was stained with blood.

"For God's sake, Galen. Did you have to do that?"

"I didn't. It's a knife wound. It's been stitched, but it broke open. If we don't do anything, she could bleed to death." He glanced up at Forbes. "It's your call."

"What?"

"She was good. There's an excellent chance Chavez sent her to take you out. Don't ever let anyone tell you women can't be as deadly as males."

"You're crazy. It was probably Chavez who did this to her."

"Somebody stitched up that wound. Showing up here with a stab wound would make any story she told you much more believable. Hell, you want to believe her already. It's only her bad luck that she ran into me before she found you. So you tell me, do we stop the blood?"

"Of course we stop it."

"I thought that's what you'd say. I hope you won't regret it." He unbuttoned the shirt and applied pressure to the wound. "Go back to the camp. I have a first-aid kit in my duffel, and bring those two lanterns. I'll try to stop the bleeding. I don't think any major organs were hit. The blood flow seems to be lessening."

"Right." Forbes hurried back toward the woods.

"You're not out anymore. Open your eyes," Galen said. "Talk to me."

No response.

"Talk to me or I'll open that wound another two inches before Forbes comes back, and then we won't be able to save you. What a shame."

Her eyes opened. Huge dark eyes, staring up at him warily.

"Good. That's progress," Galen said. "Elena Kyler?"

"Yes."

"Where's Rico Chavez?"

"I don't know."

He lifted the compress. "Oh, my, it must have slipped. Look at all that blood."

"I tell you, I don't know." She glared at him. "I was at a prison in Belim. He may be near here. He may still be in Mexico City."

"You have the prison story right. That deserves a reward." He put the compress back. "Think about it. I'll give you a couple minutes. I'm sure you'll be able to pin his location down."

"Was that Ben Forbes who just left?"

"You could have seen who he was if you'd chosen not to play possum."

"No one was supposed to be here but him. It could have been a trap."

"My thought exactly."

"Who are you?"

"Sean Galen."

"DEA?"

"Not in my worst nightmares."

"I didn't think so. I've seen your kind before. I've fought side by side with mercenaries from all over the world. My father was one. You all have the same edge."

"Don't generalize. I'm unique. I'm also supposed to be your savior. Superman incarnate. Faster than a speeding-"

"Here's your first-aid kit. If you can call it that." Forbes dumped the large kit down beside Galen. "Good God, it's as complete as an EMT unit. And you have enough equipment in that jeep to withstand a siege. Talk about being prepared. What were you-oh, she's awake."

Galen nodded. "Wide awake. It is Elena Kyler."

Elena was looking at Forbes. "You're Ben Forbes? You were supposed to come alone."