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kilometers outside camp? He’d raised enough lewd remarks when he went to barter for some clothing with the husband of the vacant, glassy-eyed woman. The men’s deep cultural inhibitions about abusing a religiosa were straining already.
    â€œI’ll be outside,” he told her abruptly. “Send one of the children out if you need anything.”
    When he walked out the door, the tension knotting the muscles in Jake’s neck kicked up another notch. Che was coming across the clearing toward the hut, his beefy, red-faced lieutenant at his side.
    â€œSo, gringo, you’ve rested from your night’s adventure?”
    â€œAs much as I need to,” Jake replied evenly. “Why?”
    â€œI go to meet with our backer and arrange another drop.” His dark eyes were carefully devoid of any expression. “Do you wish to accompany me?”
    Jake felt a quick rush of adrenaline. His mission was to take down the American middleman who was scarfing up drug dollars in exchange for stolen arms smuggled out of the States. The narcs were supposed to take care of the elusive drug lords providing those dollars. But if Jake could get a bead on their location… Cold, sobering reality brought him up short. He couldn’t leave the sister alone.
    Jake gave a negligent shrug. “I’m not interested in where you get the dollars to pay me. Just that you get them.”
    He sensed at once that he’d given the right answer. Although Che’s expression didn’t alter by so much as a flicker of an eyelid, his hands shifted imperceptibly on his belt, to a less rigid grip.
    Jake smiled grimly to himself. If he’d started out on the journey with the rebel leader, the chances were pretty good that he wouldn’t have finished it.
    â€œI will also discover why the government troops were in our area,” Che continued. “Those who sent them will pay for it.”
    â€œGood.”
    If Che didn’t find out through his sources, Jake intended to through his. There’d better not be another botched drop, or someone’s ass was going to be in a sling, big-time. And it wouldn’t be his. He hoped.
    â€œEnrique is in charge in my absence. I’ll send word of the new drop date and location as soon as I arrange it. You will go with the men, gringo, to inspect the merchandise before any money changes hands.”
    â€œSuspicious bastard, aren’t you?” Jake offered with a half smile.
    Che allowed a small answering twist of his lips. “Yes, my friend. I am.”
    As Jake joined the rest of the men squatting in the center of the clearing for the noon meal, a swift, heady feeling of relief coursed through his veins. With Che and half the camp gone, he ought to be able to manage the remaining dozen for a few days. Enrique, pig-eyed brute that he was, sported more brawn than brains.
    Now, if Jake could just figure out how to keep the prickly nun and her charges safe without blowing his cover, he might just pull this damned thing off after all.
    Â 
    â€œI’m telling you, Adam, it’s the only way.”
    Maggie paced the thick carpet in front of her boss’s mahogany desk and sent him an impatient look.
    Impeccably groomed and wearing a hand-tailored gray suit that had probably cost more than Maggie made in a month, Adam sat back in his black leather chair and listened while she stated her case.
    â€œWe haven’t heard from Jaguar in almost twenty-four hours. Not since the emergency signal he sent yesterday saying he was in place and had a neutral on board.”
    â€œIt also said to stand by.”
    Maggie swung to a halt in front of his desk. “That was before we got a positive ID on the remains. Now we know that Sarah Chandler is the neutral with Jake. What’s more, we’ve had confirmation that three kids disappeared the night of the raid. Jake’s got his hands full, if they’re all with him.”
    â€œHe’s handled