Page 73 of Unchained

“He had more in the woods?”

“Yup. They were guarding the perimeter. We found six and killed them—hopefully that’s the last of them.”

She winced every time his shoulder bounced into her stomach. “Did you guys see Brooks?”

“I had eyes on them through the back door of the tent, waiting to make a move. Dare called me through the mic and said you and Nash had been caught, so I hustled over here. Brooks is doing okay, though.”

Relief lowered her shoulders. She closed her eyes on a swallow, and the movement pulled at the gritty lining of her throat, threatening to choke her. Tears warmed her cheeks. A lot could have happened in the minutes since Cole left the tent. Brooks could have been tortured or injected by now. If Nash and Dare didn’t hurry—

The terrain suddenly became flat and the jostling lessened, easing some of the pressure on her abdomen. Cole rounded the vehicle, opened the passenger door, and lowered her into the seat. “You okay?”

She nodded, brushing the tears away. Of all the brothers to see her break, this was the last one she wanted.

He cursed. A heavy hand patted her shoulder. “It’s all right. It’ll all be over soon.”

“You need to go,” she said, holding back a sob. “Please, just leave me. They need you.”

He firmed his lips. “Can’t do that. The guys would kill me if something happened to you.”

She sat forward in her seat. “You said yourself there’s only three guards left and they’re in the tent. Please. Go.”

Cole swept his gaze down the road then back to her. The muscles in his jaw jumped as if his body craved the action he was missing. He locked his gaze on her. “Fine. But scoot over to the driver’s seat and get out of here. I’ll call you on Dare’s phone,” he said, nodding at the cell phone in the cupholder. “When we need to be picked up. Okay?”

She nodded wildly. If she was useless to help Brooks, the least she could do was make sure manpower wasn’t wasted babysitting her. “Got it.”

He waited as she clambered over to the driver’s seat. Opening the console, she pulled out the keys and held them up to show Cole.

He reached behind his back and placed a gun on the passenger’s seat. “You dropped this.” His dark glare sent a shiver over her bones—and to think he was one of the good ones. “I’d better not fucking regret this.” He shut the door then crossed in front of the vehicle and disappeared into the woods.

She stuck the key in the ignition and turned it. Circling her hands around the steering wheel, she stared at the road ahead. Every instinct resisted the orders she’d been given. If Brooks died here today, Cam wouldn’t be able to live with herself. She had a gun, and a vehicle.

I can’t do nothing.

CHAPTER 23

Brooks locked his jaw. He never should have let Leonetti tie him down, but cooperation was the only way to ensure Cam’s safety. Besides, when they injected him with Axalantheum, the zip-tie restraints on his wrists wouldn’t hold him in place—nothing would. He sat in a chair with his back facing the side of the tent, able to see the entire layout. One guard stood between the door and him, his gun trained on Brooks. With many guards now dead or incapacitated, he could escape once he broke the ties. But the hunt wouldn’t stop. Brooks would always need to look over his shoulder—if he made it out.

He burned with the need to see Cam. They’d said she’d been caught but hadn’t returned with her. Maybe it was a setup. Something to keep Brooks compliant. Leonetti couldn’t hold him by force, not with most of his guards down. So he’d use psychological warfare to make him obey.

He focused his attention on Leonetti, who was bustling around the medical table as if he had nothing to worry about. Stepping over the dead guard’s body, Leonetti didn’t even flinch. The guard Brooks had kicked sat on a chair in the corner, his feet up on a box, his breathing labored as he stared at Brooks. He likely had a few broken ribs—not a threat.

“Where’s Cam?”

Leonetti met his stare. “She’s on her way here. You heard them.”

“She should be back by now. There’s no way she made it that far.”

Leonetti shrugged. “Don’t believe me then. But I assure you I didn’t order for her to be killed. I wouldn’t do that to you,” Leonetti said placatingly.

“Bullshit.”

“You have the control here, Brooks. If you cooperate, she can leave.”

Brooks’s face flamed. “You told me that earlier and then admitted you’d test on her.”

“Yes, well. Then I saw your performance. She won’t survive the testing, and you and I both know that. I can’t waste the medication.” He held out his hand. “You do your part and accept the drug, and I’ll set Cam free. I’ll even give you a few minutes together.”

Brooks sucked in his breath through his nose. “I’d rather die than help you.”

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