Page 54 of Braxton

“Banshee, do you copy?” Brax asked in a low voice, touching his comms.

“Loud and clear, Pharaoh,” Zane responded. “How is it down there?”

“Tighter than a nun’s nasty,” Saint answered. “Now where the fuck are we going?”

“I’m tracking your thermals. Keep going straight then veer left in about one-hundred meters. I’m going to direct you straight to the other three thermals I’m seeing.”

“Roger.” Brax strode forward, trying not to worry about Quinn. She was tough and he knew she could take care of herself. Even so, something inside him, in his heart, was saying she needed him.

“Shit,” Zane said. “I’ve got movement.”

The trio halted, waiting for more intel. Not far ahead, the tunnel split.

“Tango on the move, and he’s heading down the tunnel directly perpendicular to your position.”

Dammit.Brax pressed his back against the wall while Saint and Ryland did the same across from him. A moment later, Cross passed in front of them at the end of the tunnel. But instead of turning down their corridor, he continued moving on a straight path.

“Fuck,” Ryland hissed. “I’m going after him.”

“Saint, go with him,” Brax ordered. The last thing they needed was for Ryland to lose his shit, and Brax knew Saint would help keep the other man in check. While they rushed after Cross, Brax hit his comms.

“Talk to me, Banshee.” His only response was a muffled crackle.Fuck.He tried again, but got no answer. Assuming he was too far underground, Brax continued forward then turned in the direction Cross had come from. The moment he turned the corner, he heard a woman scream.

And his heart sank.

Quinn!

He immediately recognized her pained voice and it felt like all the blood drained from his body. The overwhelming urge to protect her sent him running toward the origin of the scream. Not far ahead, he saw light pouring out of a doorway and he skidded to a halt. Staying close to the rocky wall, he stalked forward, gun tucked closely to his side.

He just didn’t realize he was being stalked, too, until the prick of a needle pierced the back of his neck. He slapped a hand over the stinging spot and spun around, coming face to face with a slim figure dressed in all black and wearing a balaclava. She knocked the gun from his hand and slammed her palm up under his chin.

His head snapped back and he let out a surprised oomph then straightened up, ready to fight. Except, he wasn’t ready at all. A wave of dizziness passed through him and his knees wobbled. Turning, he stumbled forward, desperate to get to Quinn.

“Quinn!” he roared, forcing his sluggish feet to keep moving.

But after only a few steps, he fell to the ground and darkness consumed him.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Breathing through the pain, Quinn did her best to block it out. But her thigh throbbed from the scourge. Grendel had only used it on her once, but the spiked balls had torn through her denim and cut her leg up pretty good. It stung like a bitch and she gritted her teeth, determined to pretend like it was nothing more than a scrape.

Grendel lifted the weapon and studied the spikes, now red from her blood. He was a strange combination of sadist and healer. But she had a pretty good feeling he’d probably enjoyed the intense amount of pain Camille and Cross had experienced during the endless skin grafts the “good doctor” had performed.

She let out a silent sigh of relief when he hung the scourge back on the wall. She wasn’t sure how much more she’d be able to take before passing out. When he reached for the thumbscrews, she twisted her hands harder, continuing to loosen the ropes. She still had a long way to go, though, before she’d be able to get free.

“This is a fun one,” Grendel said. “Very old, yet very effective. In case you aren’t familiar with it—”

“I am,” she snapped. The side of his mouth curled up and she was on the verge of telling him to go to hell when the Lady in Black appeared.Camille. When she tossed an empty syringe aside, Quinn sat up straighter.

Who had she just stuck?

Camille motioned to Grendel, but didn’t speak.

While Grendel and Camille left, Quinn worked her wrists hard, trying to get them loose. Ignoring the rope burn, and trying not to think too hard about who Camille’s latest victim was, Quinn fought against her tight restraints.

A moment later, Grendel and Camille dragged an unconscious Braxton into the room and Quinn’s heart plummeted.No.They dropped him down in the empty chair beside her and zip tied his hands together.

Doing her best not to show her emotions and the inner turmoil tearing her apart, Quinn tried to play the situation off. “Oh, good, do I get a break while you torture my ex-husband instead?”

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