She knew he could see it. Hear it in her clipped breath going in and out of her parted lips. Read it on her in other ways that were only possible to him and his distinct skills.

He had told her on the jet that she would be able to rest now, but her mind was still on fire.

"You wouldn't make it far," he finally stated what they had both been thinking.

She leaned back in her chair, arms crossing over her chest. He didn't need to say much else on the matter — it was a moot point here in this house amongst armed men at all doors and on the perimeter. And, honestly, where would she go?

She realized that she had never been in the jungle before.

The sun was rising over the tree line, striking the sky with the orange hue of dawn. The heat was also increasing, and her skull ached dully. For the first time, she wondered if she had gotten a concussion from the blow to her forehead. Her next words left her mouth in a rush.

"This isn't sustainable."

He blinked. "This can work for both of us."

"No, it can't." She put out one cigarette and quickly lit another. "What we're doing can't last."

He remained silent. This only served to enliven her further, blowing smoke in his direction. He seemed as unfazed by this as he had the night prior and sat quietly in the chair, waiting for her to finish.

"What do you think is going to happen?" She wasn't done yet. "You'll just stop doing what it is that you do? And I'll just change everything that makes me who I am?"

"You need to sleep."

"I need to know what's going to happen to me."

Alejandro touched the bridge of his nose delicately, closing his eyes for a moment. A subtle look of vexation flashed over his features. Then he gazed at her and again was calm, voice composed and soft as he spoke.

"My business will be finished tonight, and you and I will leave this house tomorrow morning. We will travel farther south, to a place close to the ocean. There you will be safe, and you will no longer have to worry about anything else."

She put out the cigarette in the ashtray, rising from the chair. The dizziness was back.

"I'm not sure I can do this."

Still seated, he glanced out across the lawn and then back to her standing beside him.

"Get some rest, Kate."

So she entered the room again, bare feet soundless on the carpet. She crossed to the bed and slipped beneath the sheets. Then, she closed her eyes.

...

"We have to go," Alejandro's voice was very low. "Put your shoes on now."

She had been sleeping and was roused when he put his hand on her shoulder to give her a stern shake. She pushed through the fog, trying to clear her head and awaken fully. The darkness outside told her that she had slept the entire day away.

"What? What's happening?"

Kate felt her lungs in her throat as she tried to breathe evenly. She got up from the bed and quickly slipped her feet into the dusty sneakers that had been put aside.

He was wearing his sports jacket again, sleeves speckled with blood. Not his, from what she could see in the shadowy room. When he pulled the gun from the holster under his arm, she flinched. He extended the handle towards her and opened his fingers. She realized he was giving it to her and hesitated. Before reaching forward. He put it firmly into her palm.

"Kate, you may need to use this," he whispered straightforwardly. "We will be leaving here quickly and quietly. There might be men who try to stop us. Do you understand?"

The weapon was warm in her hand, and she could smell that it had been fired recently. She nodded, watching him as he drew his other gun from the opposite holster and pulled the safety back. Then, he pulled a silencer from his pocket and fixed it to the barrel.

She could feel her blood pulsing just beneath her flesh. This gun felt larger than she ever remembered one being. Drawing the safety off slowly, muscle memory began to take over. She straightened her arms and pointed the weapon at the floor before her.

He moved across the room silently, putting his ear to the door for a brief moment, before turning to her, his eyes large and dark.

"Stay behind me. Anyone with a gun is going to shoot at us."

Swallowing, she nodded again, her body spring-tight next to his.

Then he opened the door.