Page 70 of Unchained

Three more guards came around the side of the tent, weapons trained on Brooks. “Hands in the air!” Bullets fired. Brooks cried out and staggered, one hand covering his leg.

No!

She yanked her feet from the muddy earth. “Br—”

A rough hand clapped over her mouth, cutting off the scream. She was lifted off her feet, her back pressed to a man’s thick, hefty chest. Her feet dangled in the air as he kept them backed against a tree. Her breath hissed out roughly. The scent of sweat—not hers—tickled her nose. They’d caught her. Again. They’d torture and kill them both. Her head swam in a thick mist, threatening to steal her consciousness.

“Don’t scream. It’s me—Nash.” His soft breath huffed against her ear. Immense relief took hold of her, and she went limp in his hold. Slowly, he peeled his fingers away, taking her breath with them. He lowered her toes to the ground but kept her secured against the front of his body. “Don’t move. We’re surrounded.”

She wet her lips and peered into the shadows as her eyes continued adjusting to the darkness. Movement twenty yards to her left caught her eye. She watched as a guard trekked through the foliage, swiping branches out of his way.

Her lips burned with the need to tell Nash to leave. But, call it selfish or just plain survival, she didn’t dare open her mouth. If he left her, she’d die. He was her—and Brooks’s—only chance. When the guard was out of sight, she blinked then turned her head a fraction of an inch to the side. “We need to get to Brooks. He’s been shot.”

Nash tensed. “They won’t let him die. They need him too badly.”

“That’s not reassuring,” she said, the words coming out clipped and harsh. Now wasn’t the time to rely on Leonetti’s desires. He was insane. He’d want Brooks to suffer at his hand.

“I’m going to get you to our vehicle and then go back for him.”

“No way.”

His hand tensed on her forearm. “Too bad.”

“I’m not leaving him.”

“I’ll knock you out if I have to. Not my first choice, but I promised Brooks I’d get you out of here. Do you want his efforts to be for nothing?”

A stinging sensation built behind her eyes, making moisture collect at her nose. She sniffed and pressed her lips together to slow the tremble. “No.”

“Then do as I say and you both might fucking live.”

She bit the sides of her tongue. Distaste filled her, but she couldn’t let her ego get in the way of saving Brooks’s life. If Nash was protecting her, he’d have a harder time getting to Brooks. “Do you have an extra gun?”

Nash peeked around her shoulder. “You can shoot?”

“Well enough.”

He sighed, reached behind him, and pulled out what looked like a Beretta. Pressing the cool metal into her palm, he scanned the trees. “Don’t shoot unless you have to. My brothers are around.”

Hope inflated her chest. “They are?”

He snorted. “Heck yeah. I don’t know what the hell they’re doing—probably having a pissing match somewhere. Idiots.” He let go of his hold on her. “The truck is on the road. Dare keeps a spare key in the console. If anything happens, get yourself out, got it?”

“Okay,” she mumbled.

He gripped her shoulder. “I need you to promise.”

She searched his face. His eyes were cold and hard.

“All right. I promise.”

“Good. Start moving.” He nodded to her left.

She peeked around the tree at the tent. The forest was eerily quiet. “They must have him.” She pressed her toes into the soft earth and winced as her foot caught a sharp rock. Nash came up beside her, ushering her through the trees.

“Shit, where are your shoes?”

She screwed up her face. “I didn’t have time to grab them before the asshole shocked me with a stun gun,” she said dryly.

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