Into the Fray (Daring Escapes #3) - Margaret Daley Page 0,2
about the fee she would pay him for his protection.
She sat for a few minutes longer, her eyes drilling into his broad back as if to convey all her fury in that one look. What now? She had to go back to the dig with help. She was afraid that if she didn't, she would lose all her workers before long. Tory chewed on her bottom lip, trying to decide who to turn to next. There was no one else to help her. He had been her last chance.
Hoisting her purse strap on her shoulder, she scanned the restaurant. Fear pushed her anger at Guerrero into the background. A few men were still staring at her. One lifted his glass in a silent salute and smiled at her, displaying brown stained teeth. Shivering, she bolted to her feet.
Tory focused all her attention on the door and headed straight for it, praying no one said or did anything. Her heart pounded against her chest with each step she took. Everyone in the place probably heard its loud beating because it thundered in her ears.
She reached the door and grabbed for the handle. Large, beefy fingers grasped the handle first. Snatching her hand away, Tory risked a glance back at a man who reeked of alcohol. She stepped away, a film of perspiration covering her brow.
He grinned and opened the door, waving his arm in front of him to indicate for her to go first. Why had she come here alone? Tory shook her head and took another step away from the door, chiding herself for her impulsive behavior so unlike her. She had thought she could do this alone because she had always taken care of herself and her problems for years with no help from anyone. And she’d thought with Juan’s recommendation, Guerrero would help her and, therefore, make sure she got back to her hotel while they discussed what to do next. She needed to get back to the dig as soon as possible.
The drunk weaved his way past Tory and disappeared through the entrance. The door swished closed behind him, leaving her staring at its scarred wooden panels.
Tory felt a penetrating gaze on the nape of her neck. She knew she shouldn't look back into the room, but she couldn't help herself. Turning slightly, she found Guerrero watching her a few feet to the right of the exit. For a couple of seconds, relief fluttered through her until his intense regard took in the length of her. The insolent perusal increased the tempo of her heartbeat even more. She hurriedly fumbled for the handle and yanked open the door.
Hot air blasted her as sunlight momentarily blinded her. She blinked, pausing to allow her eyes time to adjust to the brightness. The sound of raucous laughter behind her compelled her to step outside and close the door. Taking a deep, calming breath, she surveyed the empty street.
Where were the bustling crowds when she needed them? She again looked up and down the street as a rivulet of sweat cascaded down her face. Better yet, where was the taxi that brought her to the restaurant? She’d asked the driver to wait, and she would pay for his time. He didn’t wait. Obviously, everything but the restaurant shut down for the afternoon. She could understand with the heat and high humidity. Sighing, Tory took off down the street in the direction of her hotel, a good five miles on the other side of Bella Ciudad. She prayed she could hail a taxi in a more respectable part of town.
The sound of her footsteps echoed off the walls of the buildings as she hurriedly walked. Up ahead, a man exited a store and stood against a post. Tory tightened her hand about the strap of her purse and increased her gait to almost a jog, thankful she was in good physical shape.
A short, stocky man stared at the empty street as she neared him. She passed him on the sidewalk.
He turned toward her.
Her heart slammed against her chest as she squeezed the leather strap, preparing to use her purse as a weapon if need be. Everything she thought earlier about this area of town flooded her mind as the man stepped toward her. Her breath suspended in her lungs while she desperately tried to think of all the self-defense advice she had ever read. The man tipped his straw hat and smiled, offering her a greeting in Spanish. She hurried past him,