Search Me(21)

“Think we’ll find some form of civilization before its dark?” I asked, breaking the silence.

“Hope so.”

We continued on for a few minutes before I said, “Yeah, um, speaking of civilization, what exactly is the plan whenever we get there?”

“Why the hell are you asking me?” he snarled.

His tone momentarily stung me. I tried to ignore it considering the Advil hadn’t had time to take effect, and he was probably in a lot of pain. “I dunno. I guess because between the two of us you have the most survival training being a former soldier and all.”

Maddox grunted. “Yeah, I didn’t get a whole lot in Basic on what to do when you have a treasure map in your possession that crazed thugs want.”

“And to think Jensen looked so harmless earlier. A creep, yes, but certainly not some gun wielding psycho with a pair of equally psychotic henchmen.” A horrible thought crossed my mind, and I let out a choked sob.

Maddox whirled around before his eyes started darting from left to right. “What’s wrong? Did you hear something?”

I shook my head. “I was just thinking about Eula and Drew and the other workers. What if Jensen goes after them or something? You know for information about us?”

“Seriously?”

I nodded. “You know like when they take someone hostage to get information about someone else’s whereabouts. They could torture them to get to us.”

Maddox snorted. “I think you’ve read too many of your Dad’s detective novels.” He rubbed the back of his neck before giving me a crooked grin. “You sure you weren’t getting all bothered at the thought of maybe Drew being taken hostage rather than Eula?”

My brows furrowed in confusion. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged. “I guess I thought you and Drew were kinda hot for each other…well, as much as two people like yourselves get hot.”

I skidded to a stop in the high grass. “You’re a real ass**le, you know that?”

Maddox turned around and quirked his brows. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me just fine.” Without taking my eyes off his, I stalked determinedly over to him until we were standing toe to toe. I jerked my chin up. “That was a cheap shot at Drew and at me. Not that there’s anything more than friendship between Drew and me, I know that it’s probably hard for your inflated ego to grasp that you’re not the only guy I’ve ever cared for. After you treated me the way you did, I didn’t cling to the hope you were coming back for me, nor did I just waste away pining for you to come home.”

Maddox’s jaw clenched. “I never said you did.”

“Well, just for the record, I did love someone else, and when we finally had sex, he didn’t run away, making me feel used and horrible. And even though you turn your nose down at him, Drew has more integrity and character than you ever will when it comes to caring for women!” I brushed past him and started power-walking up the clearing.

“Damn, Lane, watch the claws,” he replied.

I whirled back around and jabbed a finger at him. “Get used to them, Big Boy. I’m going to keep them out as long as you keep acting like a jackass. I was making a serious comment about the fate of the people we work with, and somehow you managed to twist it into something else.”

“Whoa, whoa, don’t get so riled,” he replied, holding his hands up in surrender. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sure the others will be fine. Jensen knows we have the map, so he’s probably not going to involve anyone else. Okay?”

Maddox actually sounded sincere, so I nodded. “And Maudie?” I questioned in a whisper.

He glanced away from me, but I could see emotional anguish flicker on his face. “All we can hope is that the ambulance got there, and she’s getting the help she needs. She has to be okay. We have to keep ourselves together to get through the next few hours.”

“I’ll try,” I replied, sounding surer about it than I felt.

He rocked back on his heels. “And speaking of getting through the next few hours… I’m going to be totally upfront and honest with you. I don’t know what the hell to do. Part of me says to call the police the first chance we get. The other part wonders if this is all too big for the police.”

An icy feeling crashed over me. “That’s so not comforting.”

“Sorry, but I was trying to shoot straight with you.”

“I know. And I’m glad. Sorta.”

Reaching over, Maddox plucked a leaf out of my hair, causing my stomach to do an irritating flip-flop. “I promised Maudie that I would take care of you, and I will.”

The determination in his voice coupled with his intense stare caused my breath to hitch. Although I hated myself for it, I couldn’t help but find what he said very, very romantic. “Thank you.”

Once he realized we were dancing precariously in the landmine territory of ‘feelings’ and ‘emotions’, he quickly looked away from me. Rubbing his hands over his eyes, he sighed. “Yeah, I guess there’s the really heinous third option of handing over the map to Jensen.”

I gasped. “No, we couldn’t! Not after what he did to Maudie! Not to mention that she wanted me to get the map before Jensen—that has to mean something.”