Then the jaguar opened its jaws.
Ricardo shut his eyes.
But the bite never came where he expected.
There was a sudden pressure near his shoulder, a rough tug, and the dry snap of something fraying.
Ricardo’s eyes flew open.
The jaguar had bitten the rope.
Not him.
Its massive head twisted once, slowly, with controlled force. The knot near Ricardo’s upper arm strained. The fibers tightened, then loosened just enough to send a hot, stinging rush through his numb shoulder.
Continued on the next page
