The Hero She Needs (Unbroken Heroes Book 1)(47)

“Crap.”

Atlas bounded up the pile of rocks, sniffed around, then wriggled his body into a narrow gap and disappeared.

Gemma carefully stepped over some large rocks and reached the hole. “Please don’t collapse on me.” She pulled herself in, sucking in her breath as she climbed through.

Atlas was waiting on the other side.

“Come on, boy. Let’s keep moving.”

Tapping down her panic rising in her throat, she kept walking through the tunnel. She just had to hide long enough for Boone to come.

She knew he’d come.

The tunnel widened, and she saw the dilapidated mine building ahead. This tunnel opened into it. Maybe she could get out of the mine and run into the trees to hide.

Voices echoed behind her in one of the side tunnels.

No. Her heart leaped into her throat. She flicked off the flashlight. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust, but thankfully she saw faint light leaking in from the mine building. She gingerly moved forward.

Suddenly, Atlas made a sound.

“What is it?” she whispered.

There was a creak overhead. Without warning, rocks tumbled down on top of her.

With a cry, Gemma threw herself to the ground, covering her head with her arms. Rocks pelted her, and she breathed in dust and coughed. Dammit.

A sudden pain spiked through her left leg, shooting down her calf. She bit her lip to stop from crying out.

The rockfall stopped as quickly as it had started. She waved a hand to dissipate the dust. Thankfully, none of the rubble looked very large. She glanced down and gasped.

Her left leg was pinned by a small pile of rocks.

No. She tried to pull her leg free and felt a burning pain from her ankle to her knee. Trying to stay calm, she dragged in a breath. She didn’t think her leg was broken, but it hurt like hell.

She started pulling the rocks off her. Atlas appeared, fur covered in dust.

“I’m okay,” she whispered. She bit down hard enough that she tasted blood in her mouth. This was going to take a while.

“I heard something this way,” a male voice said down the tunnel.

Shit. They were getting closer. Fear and frustration welled in her chest.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

She tried to yank her leg free, then heard footsteps.

She froze. She turned to Atlas’ silhouette in the darkness. “Go, Atlas. Hide.”

The dog hesitated, but as the men neared, he disappeared into the inky black.

Gemma pulled in a shaky breath and felt like a rock was lodged in her throat. She heard the scrape of quick moving footsteps, then a bright flashlight hit her face. She winced.

“Finally.” Radu stepped forward. He was flanked by two mercenaries.

She swallowed. Be brave. Boone will come.

“Ms. Newhouse, you’ll finally be coming with us.”

She glared at him.

“Free her from the rocks,” Radu ordered.

One merc moved toward her. She tightened her grip on the gun and steeled herself to actually shoot someone.

The man approached, and she whipped the gun up and fired.

He yelled, gripped his thigh, and fell.

Gemma fired more shots wildly down the tunnel.

She heard curses, then the gun was slapped out of her fingers. Radu appeared, and gripped her throat. He squeezed until she couldn’t breathe.

Shit. She gasped for air.

Atlas came out of the darkness, barking and growling.

Radu lifted his gun.

“Atlas, run,” she wheezed.

The merc fired, and she shoved at his legs. The shot hit the rock wall, and she caught a glimpse of the dog running into the tunnel.

Be safe, boy.

“Williams?” Radu said.

“Bullet hit my thigh.”

“He’s bleeding badly,” the other mercenary said. “I’ve put my belt around it.”

“Get him out of here. I’ll bring the woman.”

The two mercs hobbled off.

Radu crouched and started moving the rocks off her leg.

“Cause me any more trouble, and I’ll beat you unconscious.”

Charming. “You won’t get away with this.”

“I always get away, and I always get the job done. The paycheck for this job was one I couldn’t turn down.”

He got the last rock off her leg. Gemma whipped her legs up, ignoring a fresh surge of pain, and tried to kick him.

He knocked her legs aside, then reached over and slapped her face.

Her head rang and her eyes watered.

“Try that again.” He smiled at her. “I’d really like to hit you again.”

He meant it. She heard the pleasure in his voice, saw it in his face. Her chest constricted.

“Do that and I’ll make you regret it.”

Boone. His deep voice made her heart leap.

He came out of the darkness, gun raised.

Boom. Boom.

Gemma yelped, and watched Radu’s body jerk and then collapse. He hit the rock floor hard.

She scrambled backward. “Boone!”





Boone watched impassively as Radu collapsed and didn’t get up.

“Boone!” Gemma scrambled to her feet and almost collapsed. He caught her.

“Are you all right?” He pulled her close and breathed her in. She was alive.

“My leg was caught under some rocks, but I’m okay.” She let out a shaky breath and gave him a tremulous smile. “I’m so happy to see you.”