Having left her past life behind, Billie has not anticipated a reunion with her former unit in a South American heist four years after they drifted apart. The idea of reconnecting was far from her thoughts, however, as events take an unforeseen turn...
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WHEN TOM AND SANTIAGO finally emerged back from the hut, they still carried the bag of money they had bought with the old man along with six mules. Billie was shocked that they would be even keen to provide them with any help after what they had caused, but it seemed that money had the power to buy anything, even forgiveness.
While the village elder may have been swayed by the money and granted forgiveness, a young man who confronted Tom as they led the mules out of the village appeared less inclined to forgive them and no amount of money could repair the damage or heal the heart that had been broken.
"Sorry, kid." That was all that Tom had to offer as he slowed his pace, prompting Billie who had Santiago and the rest of the boys behind her to follow suit.
"Those men have paid their debt! Let them pass," the old man's voice echoed, and the young man reluctantly stepped aside, allowing Tom to continue.
But as Billie passed him, she couldn't ignore the seething hatred in his eyes. His gaze shifted from Tom to her, challenging her to meet his stare, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Unlike Tom, a simple apology wouldn't grant her peace of mind.
The jungle's cacophony surrounded their caravan of smuggling mules as Billie navigated through the dense vegetation, her senses alert. The thick canopy blocked out the sky, making it impossible to see the sun's position.
Overhead, dark clouds hinted at impending rain, and the dropping temperature suggested its arrival. Despite the stifling humidity, occasional breezes offered brief relief from the heat.
Their procession had shifted, with Benny leading, followed by Fish and then Will. Tom, Billie, and Santiago brought up the rear, the line of mules defining their convoy.
Will's voice shattered the hours-long silence, disrupting the rhythmic pattern of their footsteps and the ambient sounds of the jungle. "Did you pay for the damage?" he asked Tom.
Tom sniffed and patted the side of his mule's head. "Yeah," he responded blankly, allowing the conversation to quickly fade away.
As they walked, Will inquired, "How much?" He didn't turn around to face Tom but maintained his slower pace.
"Two hundred for the animal," Tom stated indifferently. "A million for the families."
Billie rubbed at her temple, exhausted and unwilling to hear any more mentions of money or what had happened back at the village.
Suddenly, Tom halted, and Billie stopped briskly behind him. "Which one of you shot first?" Will's inquiry was the reason for the halt, and as he turned to face Tom directly, Billie's stomach dropped once more.
"I don't know," Tom returned, shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head indecisively.
Will's gaze shifted from Tom's figure to Billie's saddened face. His eyes searched her expression before he softly petted the face of the mule he was leading. "We need to watch ourselves here."
