Gold Rush

 Chronic-pushover Simon Talt needs to jumpstart his archeology career. Unexpectedly, opportunity comes when he’s kidnapped, bundled into a Jeep en route to the Amazon, and shown a few photos of pre-Columbian carvings that may-or-may-not be a map. Soon, he and the friendlier of his kidnappers, a woman named Xayane, get separated from the Jeep and promptly decide to follow the map on their own. Xayane proves to be witty and dry–if violent–but she’s working on that. And traveling with her… well. She’s not so bad. Her brother chasing after them, though? That, Simon could do without.

Xayane Merces wants to prove herself in the eyes of her elder brother, Vitor, who runs their illegal gold mine. Facing a kidnappee who wants to redirect her operation and her brother’s low expectations, Xayane decides to work with Simon rather than just control him. They strike out as a pair. The further Xayane gets from Vitor, the more tenacious he becomes, opening her eyes to his unstable and ruthless nature. By contrast, the pitiable environmentalist in her custody is a welcome break from shooting people in the face.

With foes hunting them down, Simon and Xayane must cross the border, climb a mountain, descend into an 18th-century mine, and finally find long-hidden Inca treasure. As Xayane increasingly trusts Simon, a wedge drives deep between the Merces siblings. Relationships shift as her brother becomes her foe and Simon becomes her partner. For Simon, life outside of museums will transform him into the person he’s been trying to be for years–someone adventurous and maybe, possibly, even cool. Just so long as he doesn’t get shot for his troubles. For Xayane, she’s almost ready to put this life of crime behind her–unless Vitor forces her to aim her sights on him.