Page 47 of Secret Mission

“I’m Axle.” the stranger replies in a gruff, emotional tone. “When did you see him last?”

“Oh, god.”

Wading through memories from the last few hours is exhausting. Bit by bit, I rewind through the panic and fear. Until I get to the unthinkable moment when we got separated.

“In the river. Some trees were there. He got caught. It all happened so fast. The boat was going down, and we had to swim.”

My pulse is tripping over itself now, clear terrifying memories playing on loop. “The current was strong, but it was fine. Truck was pulling us to shore. But then all of a sudden, the trees were in front of us. He pushed me to safety, but the water was holding him against the branches.”

Screams echo in my head. Terrified at the possibility that he might be gone, my shivers turn to violent shaking.

A burst of primal momma bear energy surges through me.

Voice raw, I demand for them to take me back. “We have to go up the river.”

They stare at me, then share an uncomfortable look.

“We should sedate her,” Axle hovers, hidden in the shadows.

“No! I need to be awake.”

Anger makes the air tense; his eyes feel like hammers on me from the shadows where he’s standing. He has every right to be mad.

I’m the reason his teammate is missing.

My terror is quickly joined by bone-deep guilt. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want anything to happen to your team. I tried to warn you away. We have to find him.”

“You’re a bloody mess. How long have you been out here?”

“It was almost sunset when I got swept into the ocean. How did you find me?”

Justice drops to a knee next to me, offering me a bottle of water. “The reflective material on your boot saved you. Our spotlight beam caught it.”

That tiny strip of reflective material saved my life.

“I didn’t want to let go of them in case I needed to walk, so I tied them together and hung them around my neck. I guess that was a happy accident.”

“Angel on your shoulder.” Justice grins. “Isn’t that right, Axle?”

Contempt thick, he slices at me again. “Let’s hope Truck had one too.”

The light hits him differently, and my breath catches. “You look just?—”

“Like Truck,” he replies, cutting his eyes toward me. “We’re twins.”

Chapter Fifteen

I’m still reeling from coming face to face with Truck’s identical twin and being crushed by guilt when we reach a safe place upriver for the boat to land.

“Up you go.” Justice wraps his hands around my waist to lift me out. “Easy now.”

I’m so spaced out, my head full of despair, I simply nod. But when he sets me on the ground at the water’s edge, the world shifts. Every muscle in my legs tremble.

Jelly would be stronger than I am right now.

“Oh, god, I feel sick.” Swaying, I fight the sensation that I’m still moving.

“It will pass.” Justice watches me carefully, concern laced in his features. “It’s from being in the water for so long. Think about grounding your feet.”

---