Fire and Desire

Corinthians nodded, stuffing her wallet into her back pocket. “How are we going to get out of here?”

“Just follow me and do what I tell you to.”

Corinthians took offense with the bossiness of his tone of voice. She glared up at him. “I'll do what you tell me to do as long as it makes sense.”

“I won't do it, Trevor. It doesn't make sense. There has to be another way,” Corinthians said moments later as they stood on the balcony of her hotel room.

Trevor turned and met her gaze. “What do you suggest that we do? Use the elevators or the stairs to get down?” His voice was low and agitated. He was beginning to lose his patience. “This is the only way we can make it down without being seen. It's not as bad as it looks.”

Corinthians wasn't convinced of that, as she looked down over the balcony's railing to the ground that was five stories below. She then looked at the fire escape ladder that over the years had grown covered with trails of burgeoned vines. Evidently periodic safety inspections weren't required here. “I disagree. I think it's as bad as it looks.”

Trevor frowned. “Then suit yourself. You can stay here if that's what you're inclined to do. But I'm going down using that ladder. I suggest you do the same and follow. Believe me, the last thing you'd want is to stay behind. Female hostages, especially the ones who're attractive as you are, don't fare well with terrorists. I'm sure you know what I mean.”

Corinthians shuddered. She knew exactly what he meant. Last year the newspapers had reported how an American businessman and his wife, who had been vacationing in Central America, had been abducted by a group of revolutionaries. The man had been killed and his wife had been gang raped before she'd been left for dead.

She took a deep breath. Revolutionaries or terrorists, they were all the same in her book. Both groups had causes and beliefs they were willing to die for; causes and beliefs they would do just about anything to draw worldwide attention to.

Corinthians glanced again at the ladder. It didn't look like it could hold one person's weight, let alone two. “I might fall,” she finally said softly in a shaky voice.

Trevor saw the fear in her eyes, and he heard it in her voice. A part of him wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms and soothe her, reassure her. “You won't fall. I won't let you. Trust me.”

Their eyes met for a moment, then Corinthians nodded. She would trust him. For some reason she believed he would get them to safety.

“Come on, Corinthians. We need to get a move on, and the fire escape is our only way. I'll go first and you follow. With me ahead of you, I'll be between you and the ground.”

Corinthians nodded and watched Trevor. With the overnight bag in one hand, he hefted his body over the side railing. After getting the proper footing, he reached out and grasped the vine-covered ladder with his free hand.

He glanced back at her. “Just follow me down.”

Trevor had gone down the rungs a few feet before looking up at Corinthians. She hadn't moved from her spot on the balcony. “Come on, baby, you can do it.”