"It looks like there's no 'if,'" Remy said. "But I don't think we'll find him here. I saw him a few days ago at his house."

"You did?" French glanced at Remy, suspicion clouding over. "What for?"

"Ava was on my tail. At the time, I still thought she was responsible. I reached out to Jared for information."

French gave a low whistle. "I bet he was surprised you're alive."

"No, David had arrived an hour before I did. Told him the story."

"He probably s.h.i.t his pants."

"If he did, he didn't let on."

French shook his head. "No, if he's killed so many people, seeing one ghost wouldn't faze him. You're lucky David was there. Boyer loves to hunt. I bet he's never bagged a ghost before."

"I'm not that easy to take down."

"Obviously. You're still here."

"Jared Boyer," Remy muttered. "I'll be apologizing to Ava until I'm ninety."

French didn't respond, but he quickened his pace.

Remy silently cursed. He needed French on his side and all he was doing was breaching the peace by bringing up Ava. The guy must be as lost as Remy when it came to her.

They had to get Ava to safety. He just hoped she could defend herself until then. But if her jail experience was anything like his . . . no, don't think about it. Don't do this to yourself. Just find Ava and then bury the b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.ds.

Remy broke out into a nervous sweat. Fortunately, that fact was hidden thanks to the afternoon sun being blistering hot and him already sweating. He would find her. He would make everything right.

His gaze lingered on French as they continued their journey. Remy would deal with him later. He wasn't about to flip a coin for Ava. She belonged with him.

Unless she decided otherwise.

That thought didn't sit well.

A sound jarred him from his thoughts. He stopped and scanned the area. "French!" he hissed.

Jeremy stilled, his hands already gripping the gun at his side.

"Above us," Remy whispered.

They watched as a group of forty armed men pa.s.sed overhead. Some were dressed in swat, others in both local and western clothes.

Remy and French pressed back into the rock to hide.

"Do you recognize the group?" Remy asked. They definitely stood out from some of the other militant groups and terrorists. Perhaps they were on their way to join up with one. It wasn't unheard of.

"No. I can identify most, but I've never seen these guys."

"They're heading the same way we are," Remy said. "Let's follow them for a bit."

French nodded and resumed leading the way.

Ava was supported by Natan and Mikael, using them as crutches. They were much steadier than the rickety wooden ones she was originally given. But she still had to keep her injured leg bent and nearly blacked out on a few occasions from the pain. Thankfully, they didn't have much farther to go. If her memory was correct, they'd reach the tucked-away building in less than an hour.

"How are you holding up?" Natan asked.

"Fine," she said through a clenched jaw.

"I can carry you the rest of the way," he said.

"No, you'll only wear yourself out. Save your energy for Boyer."

"Tell me about him," Natan said, his shoulders tensing underneath Ava's arms.

Ava let out a jagged laugh. "I don't know anything about him. I only know lies."

"Then tell me the lies."

"I thought of him as my Army dad. He kept an eye on us, always making sure we were okay. I thought we were close, but now I understand. We were nothing but eyes and ears for him."

"How did you know about this place? Did he take you?"

"No. Communications were down, but I had to get in touch with him. I tracked him to the building and found him as he was leaving; he said it was a terrorist storage facility that he was going to level. I never questioned him."

A warm sensation that had nothing to do with the oppressive heat rippled through her body. She stilled.

"What is it?" Natan asked.

Ava scanned the hills. "We're being followed," she said, wondering if her senses were accurate. Was Remy out there? Was he following them? She felt as if he was standing next to her. But, he was taken by Venom . . . by Jared Boyer. Oh G.o.d. The puzzle pieces were starting to fit together, but not all of them. There were so many open holes that drilled her brain with possible scenarios.

Natan gave an order, and the men surrounded Ava, guns aimed in all directions as their narrow gaze scoured the craggy hills.

"Tell them not to shoot," Ava said. "Not yet."

"We don't shoot unless they shoot first."

That didn't rea.s.sure Ava since Boyer wouldn't hold back. If he had Remy with him, they'd both be targets for Natan's unskilled family.

"Let me look," Ava said, nudging her way through but being continuously blocked by well-meaning protectors.

Natan shouted, and the men shuffled into position, taking Ava along for the ride. She braced herself between Natan and Mikael, whose sungla.s.ses were propped fashionably on the top of his head instead of where they were designed to be worn to cut the glare and make his aim ten times better.

"Mikael, give me your rifle," Ava said.

"I'm using it."

"I want to look through the scope."

Mikael handed Ava the rifle and took a step behind her. "Did you just hide behind an injured woman?" she asked dryly, spying through the scope.

"You're not a normal injured woman," he said.

With the scope, she swept along the ridges and dips where she thought the sound had originated from.

There.

She glanced up from the eyepiece, her heart racing. "It's Remy. I don't see Boyer. Hold your fire." Did Remy escape from the Venom ship?

Natan looked through his scope. "I only see an arm."

"It's Remy. I know it's him."

"I'm not risking it," Natan said. "The men will keep in position. Who is this Remy person, anyway?"

Ava faltered. "A friend," she finally said. "Let me call out to him, otherwise . . ."

"Otherwise, what?"

"Well, he's the one who trained me. Just think about a bigger, scary version of me."

Did Mikael just shudder? That wasn't flattering, especially since she was over exaggerating. Remy was like a giant p.u.s.s.ycat. You just needed to know how to handle him.

"Call him," Natan said. "I don't want unnecessary bloodshed, but I make no promises. My family comes first."

Remy and French pressed back against the rock wall. Remy knew his arm was exposed, but he couldn't squeeze into the small nook without evicting French. Hopefully it wasn't too noticeable. Only a trained eye should be able to pick him out against the gravelly hill.

He regulated his breathing to help keep him calm against the rising adrenaline. Remy knew their presence was known, but he doubted the armed men knew anything else. He had seen them shuffling about, wondering where the enemy lay.

"Remy!"

French and Remy locked confused gazes.

"That sounded like Ava," Remy said.

French nodded his agreement.

"Remy! It's clear. They won't shoot!" Ava called.

"Is she saying that under duress?" French asked.

"You tell me," Remy said. "The Ava I know wouldn't."

"No, it's probably clear, like she said."

Remy peeked out. "What's my middle name?" he called.

"What's that supposed to prove?" French asked. "We know it's her."

"She'll lie if she's under threat."

"I wouldn't know," Ava called. "You keep changing your ident.i.ty."

French laughed. "I think she's okay."

"Yes, but who is she with? Is this the group that held her hostage?"

"If it is, they wanted Venom," French said. "Would it be a coincidence that we're all here?"

"I guess there's only one way to find out." Remy scrubbed his hand over his face. Life was always complicated when Ava was involved. He'd missed that.

French walked into the open, hands in the air. "Don't shoot," he called.

Remy waited a few beats before following. Guns were still pointed, but Ava and another man were out in front. He didn't like the way the man was holding her. The jerk better remove his arms or Remy would rip them off for him.

As Remy drew closer, he realized the man was actually supporting Ava. She had a thick bandage around her lower leg, oddly shaped as if splints were added.

Christ, her leg was broken and she was out hiking.

He quickened his pace, plowing past French. "Are you out of your mind?" he hollered. "You're out here with a broken leg?"

Ava looked around her with a worried expression. "Stop yelling. Most of these guys don't understand English." She turned to the man supporting her and whispered something.

They were way too cozy and comfortable with each other. Remy felt his anger peak as the other nodded, keeping her close as he barked an order. It was bad enough that French might be involved with Ava, but this . . . this was . . . unbelievably excruciating.

He reminded himself that Ava was free. That she could be with anyone she chose. But this guy? While he looked like he was in shape, he also looked out of place. He didn't fit in with the band he was surrounded by. And what was with the dummy that kept staring down the end of his rifle with his sungla.s.ses propped on his head?

If these were the ones who had taken Ava hostage, it's no wonder they were now under her direction.

"Hold," the man warned Remy as he charged closer.

As if he would, Remy thought. "What are you doing out here with a broken leg?" he demanded.

"We're searching for Venom; same as you, I would guess."

"How did this happen?" Remy flashed an accusing glare over to the dark-haired man.

"Long story. I'm fine," Ava said. "Natan has enough pain pills to keep me set for the next few days."

Natan? Remy wanted to pound the smug expression from Natan's face.

Remy reached out, taking Ava and shoving Natan to the side. Natan's eyes widened, but he stepped back, giving the signal for his men to stand down.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his hands running down her arm.