The Hero She Needs (Unbroken Heroes Book 1)(16)

“I know.”

“I wish you’d never lost your parents, Boone. It must’ve been horrible. I hope your uncle was good to you.”

“As good as a crusty old bachelor could be. He was my dad’s brother. Older.” Boone set his mug down. “But one thing he always did was support me, whatever I wanted to do. Gemma, it’s your life. What do you want to do?”

White teeth worried her plump bottom lip. Lips he’d kissed.

“I had friends who never got to do all the things they’d dreamed about after the military. Don’t think, just tell me.”

“I want to open a bakery. Nothing fancy, just a simple place that uses good ingredients. I want to know the regulars who come in for their favorite things.”

Boone nodded. “There you go.”

“Starting a business is a big risk. Most fail, and while it isn’t the financial part that would affect me, obviously, I couldn’t stand for it to flop. To have my parents say they’d warned me. And there would be press.” Her voice deepened. “Billionaire’s daughter fails to get business to thrive.”

“Most things worth having require some risk. And I reckon you have an expert who’d be happy to share his knowledge, help you mitigate some of those risks.”

Her shoulders sagged. “He’d try to take over. He’d start talking about expanding into dozens of locations. Dad can’t do small.” She yawned, slapping a hand over her mouth.

“You’re tired. Why don’t you head to bed and get some sleep?”

“Boone, I can sleep on the couch. I hate that I’ve kicked you out of your own bed.”

“The couch is comfy.”

“I know.”

Their gazes met. Oh, it’d been far too good waking up with her in his arms on the couch.

She shot to her feet. “Right, okay, sleep well.”

“I will, Gemma.” She hurried into the bedroom, and Atlas rose and followed her.

Boone rolled his eyes. “You are so easy.”

And here he was, jealous of his own dog.





A hand pressed over Gemma’s mouth, wrenching her from a deep sleep.

Terror was an instant punch to her system.

She flailed. Oh, God. They’d found her. What had they done to Boone?

“Shh, it’s me.” Boone’s low voice. “Sorry. You need to be quiet.”

Gemma sagged with relief. He was a dark shadow beside the bed.

“Someone tripped my exterior sensors.”

She pushed his hand down. “What?”

“We have company.”

Her heart rabbited. Oh, shit.

“Get dressed. We need to move.”

Her eyes adjusted enough to see that he was already dressed.

“Gemma, hurry.”

She nodded and shoved the sheets off.

“No lights,” he warned.

She scrambled around the room and pulled on her now clean and dry leggings, a T-shirt of Boone’s, and one of his sweaters. It swamped her, but it would have to do. She pulled her hair up in a quick messy bun. Next, she pulled on a pair of Boone’s socks.

“Here.” He reappeared. “I have some running shoes that were too small for me.”

“They’ll do.” She’d need a second pair of socks, but they’d do.

Boone moved toward a window.

“Can you see them?”

“I’ve flagged two bogeys coming up the driveway. They’re sticking to the shadows.”

Her chest locked. They were here for her.

“I assume the other two we clocked from the SUV are here as well.” She saw him open a cabinet. Atlas was silent, alert. The glow from the fireplace gave enough light to illuminate the huge rifle and handguns Boone pulled out.

Her stomach clenched. “Boone…”

He swiveled, crossed to her and cupped her jaw. “It’s going to be all right.”

“I don’t think it is.”

“Here’s the plan. We’re leaving. You’re going to follow me to the barn, where I have another truck. We’ll be gone before they have a chance to follow.”

Her throat was impossibly tight. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

There was a flash of his white teeth in the darkness. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

But she would. He was a good man, putting himself in the line of fire for her.

“Ready?” he asked.

She wasn’t going to cause him more trouble or get in his way. “Ready.”

“Good. We’ll go out the window at the side of the cabin. They’ll be watching the doors. Stick close to me, and we’ll move through the shadows. Stay low.”

She nodded. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that it hurt.

They moved into a tiny laundry room. Boone opened the window, and she watched him snap his fingers at Atlas. The dog leaped out.

Boone threw a leg over the windowsill and followed, looking smooth and stealthy.

“Come on,” he whispered.

She swung her leg over and was not so graceful. She half tumbled out the window into Boone’s arms. He set her on her feet.

He lifted a hand and made a signal that she guessed meant to follow him. She stayed right behind his broad back. They set off across the grass, staying as close to the trees as they could. Ahead, the large shadow of the barn loomed in the distance.