It was pitch-black as they made their final descent down the mountain. In the light of their flashlights, the SUV finally came into sight. To Leila’s relief, it didn’t look like anyone had messed with it. A vehicle used by Bastet wasn’t anywhere in sight, but she’d been angry enough that she might have sabotaged theirs.
“Drake,” Xander said, walking toward the vehicle. “Wait with Leila for a few minutes. I’ll check the car first.”
Leila and Drake stood back a few yards while Xander made the rounds, examining the tires, under the hood, under the frame.
“From here, we’ll drive to the border,” Drake muttered. “We’ll leave the car with him and continue on foot.”
Leila nodded, her heart twisting. It was only about a three-hour drive. Possibly the last three hours she’d be able to spend with Xander.
Finished with his inspection, Xander stepped up to them.
“Looks fine. We can head out.”
“Great,” Drake said, walking up to the vehicle. She opened the driver’s side door. “First stop, Taba. From there, Xander, you get the keys. You can go where you want.”
“Sounds good.” Xander nodded.
Inwardly, Leila sighed. She had already known his decision, of course, but to hear him confirm it only broke her heart more.
She and Xander joined Drake at the open passenger side door where Drake had spread out a map of the peninsula. They stared at the map for a moment, trying to decide which crossing they should take.
“Here. The city of Taba is right on the border,” Drake said, pointing to the small black dot located in the crook where the Red Sea met the borders of Egypt, Israel, and Jordan. “We have the option of using a land crossing there. Jordan would be a possible detour if Israel doesn’t work out at first. If you want to try to get in legally—with our fake IDs—that is, we can try going through the border checkpoint there.”
“You should try to avoid using the fakes,” Xander said. “Even though it should work, your biometric data will be in the system.”
“Well, there’s also the option of diving…” Drake went on. “But would require some cash and some training.”
“We don’t have time for that.” Leila shook her head. “Plus, I’ve never dived before.”
“Okay. Another option is the tunnel.”
Xander raised an eyebrow. “A smuggler’s tunnel?”
“Exactly.” Drake nodded. “The thing is, I don’t know if it’s still there.”
“But that would get us across quickly without being seen.” Leila tapped her chin.
“That’s the idea.” Drake shrugged.
“That might be worth a shot,” Leila said. “Let’s head there, then.” She glanced at Xander.
He didn’t return her gaze. What was he planning to do? He seemed willing to come with them to the border, but then what?
He opened the door to the backseat and climbed into the vehicle.
With a shake of her head, Leila got into the passenger seat. Drake started the SUV, then put the mountains and sunset behind them, heading north toward the deep, midnight blue sky.
CHAPTER 19
Leila shifted her weight on the passenger seat, unable to sleep or get comfortable. Xander snored softly from the back bench seat behind her. The SUV bumped along, spraying pebbles in its wake. The desert path sliced through the mountains as the sky darkened into pitch blackness, the only light coming from the nearly full moon and the dots of stars above them.
After an hour of constant pings and bangs, they reached Highway 55, and actual pavement. The highway wound along the coast, leading them toward the border town, Taba.
Leila’s nerves rattled in her stomach. Israel was completely unknown territory for her. Aside from the basic geography and history, she knew nothing about the country—and, hopefully, Israel knew nothing about her. The anonymity would play well in their favor, but was it possible to just sneak across as if it was no big deal? Drake and Xander didn’t seem to think much of it. Then again, Drake had said she’d done it before.
Leila rubbed her temples. Maybe she was overthinking it. She was always overthinking it.
They had been driving for two hours when Drake parked so they could make a pit stop. Drake and Leila took turns behind a cluster of boulders a short distance from the road. While Xander disappeared to take care of his business, Drake and Leila waited in the car.
Leila drummed her fingers against her upper arm and her legs bounced.
“Everything okay?” Drake asked, leaning back in her seat.
Leila shrugged. “We’re about to storm the border and cross illegally. No, I’m not okay.”
“I mean between you two.” Drake raised her eyebrows. Leila looked at her in surprise, and Drake shrugged. “You both just seem a bit… tense.”
“Yeah.” Leila sighed and lifted a hand in exasperation. “Tense. I mean, come on, he’s been hiding a secret life. What right does he have to be mad at me?” Leila snapped her mouth shut. If she talked any more, it would be too hard to stop.
“Things have been crazy,” Drake said quietly. “He’s still trying to wrap his head around it all. He still can’t keep his eyes off you, believe me. He’ll come back around. Give it some time.”
Leila frowned. It was a bit odd getting relationship advice from Drake, especially since their conversations always revolved around punching and stabbing people. “If we have any time left,” Leila muttered. “Faris will probably shoot us on sight.”
“We’re just going to have to be better than Faris,” Drake snapped. “He can’t get away with this.”
Leila’s heart twisted at the sound of Drake’s cracking voice. Drake, emotional? What was going on? “That’s why we’re going to find Soliman.”
Drake nodded, staring at the dashboard. She swallowed hard. “There’s something I think I should tell you…”
