The Hero She Needs (Unbroken Heroes Book 1)(23)

“Here you go.” The woman held out a white paper bag. “Enjoy.”

Gemma took it. “Oh, we will.”

Atlas was waiting in the truck. Boone had already fed him, but the dog sniffed the bag, nuzzling the paper.

“These aren’t for you, handsome,” Gemma said. “As soon as I can, I’ll bake some more dog treats for you.”

Boone’s dog gave Gemma an adoring look. He was pretty sure Atlas was half in love with her.

Soon they were back on the road. If they had a good run, they should make Denver by the afternoon.

Gemma handed him a donut, and he ate it while Gemma ate her muffin. She sang along to some sickly-sweet pop song that came on the radio.

Boone smiled. She didn’t have a bad voice, but she wasn’t exactly in tune. She made up for it with her enthusiasm.

The highway stretched ahead. It had been a while since he’d driven such a long distance. He glanced at Gemma, who was serenading Atlas. It was nice to take a trip with company. A woman filled with light and life. She was fighting off the weight of expectations to follow her passion, and she was being hunted by dangerous people, but she was still smiling.

He glanced in the rearview mirror.

Then he stiffened.

Two black SUVs were bearing down on them. Fast.

His instincts started screaming.

“Gemma, you strapped in?”

Her singing cut off. “Of course. Who doesn’t wear a seatbelt in this day and age?” Then she frowned, picking up on his tension. “What’s wrong?”

“We have company.”

She gasped and looked back. “How? How did they find us?”

A good fucking question.

“Stay down.” He stomped on the accelerator.

As he picked up speed, so did the SUVs.

One roared up beside them. The windows were tinted, and he couldn’t see inside. Then suddenly, the SUV careened into them. Metal crunched. Gemma screamed.

Boone held tight, fighting to keep them on the road. Then he jerked the wheel, ramming his truck into the SUV.

“God, we’re going to die,” she cried.

“Not today.” Jaw tight, he rammed the SUV again. It lost control and careened off the road.

In the rearview mirror, he saw it flip.

“Oh, shit,” Gemma panted.

“Stay down.”

Bullets peppered the back of his truck. Boone ducked, and Gemma screamed again. Atlas stayed low, and didn’t make a sound or move. Boone leaned over him, opened the glove box, and pulled out a handgun.

There was more gunfire, and suddenly the truck shuddered. Dammit, they’d hit a tire. He set the gun on the seat beside him, and gripped the wheel to stay in control.

Suddenly, Gemma opened her window.

“Gemma, what are you doing? I said stay down.”

“No.” She grabbed the handgun. “I’m going to help.”

“Gemma,” he growled.

He couldn’t stop her and keep control of the truck at the same time.

She leaned out the window, aiming back at the SUV. She fired.

And kept firing. It was clear she’d used a gun before.

Suddenly, the SUV behind them swerved and came to a stop. She’d hit something, or someone.

Boone didn’t slow down. He grabbed her and pulled her back inside.

She dropped back into the seat and closed the window. “Holy cow.”

She was shaking.

He gripped her arm. “Next time, you listen to me.”

“I’m fine, Boone.”

He gritted his teeth. The idea of her hurt and bleeding…

She reached over Atlas and touched his stubbled cheek. “I’m okay. Now, let’s get far away from here.”





She couldn’t stop shaking.

Boone had pulled off the highway and ended up down a side road. They pulled into some trees and stopped.

“You need to change the tire, right?” Gemma asked.

“Right.” He got out.

She opened her door, and Atlas jumped out. Gemma followed him, her legs feeling like jelly.

She took a step from the truck. You’re fine. You and Boone are safe. You weren’t a victim. You fought back.

Boone circled the truck, his face like thunder.

Uh-oh. She stilled.

“You should never have opened the window and put yourself in the line of fire.”

She lifted her chin. “You’re welcome. I got them off us.”

“You put yourself in danger.” He closed the gap between them and pinned her against the side of the truck.

Gemma found herself caught between cool metal and a hard, angry man. “It worked out, Boone. My father’s security team taught me to shoot. It was the only way I could convince my father I didn’t need a bodyguard once I finished college.” She cupped his cheek. “We’re both alive.”

He made a growling sound and then his mouth crashed down on hers.

Her mouth opened instantly, and she let him in. Their tongues tangled. She pressed into him, desire white hot inside her. One of his hands clenched in her hair, tilting her mouth for his. The kiss was a savage assault, a battle, and she didn’t know if she wanted to win or lose.

His name was like a chant inside her head, mixed up with the intense need. His hands were all over her, sliding under her sweater, and he pressed hard against her. She felt the rigid line of his cock against her.