Page 74 of No Going Back

Mira listened to Sam banging on the pipe, focusing on the sound to try and take her mind off the pain. Each breath seemed to hurt more than the last one. Closing her eyes, she thought of Tyler. Was he up there somewhere, looking for her? She had no idea what time it was, or if Raven were even back yet. Tyler might not even know what happened.

God, her heart ached for him. It was her own fault, letting things go too far. She'd initiated it, wanted him. Thought she could handle the consequences. She’d been wrong. He’d been honest with her from the start about what he could offer. She couldn’t blame him for this. He’d done nothing wrong. She was the one who changed the game plan. She was the one who had fallen hard. Now, knowing there was a reason for his behavior, she had seen how much he was hurting. Hell, it made her want him even more. She wanted to help him through his pain, be there for him. Work through whatever had happened to him together.

When I get back can we talk again?

She hadn’t answered him. The man held her heart in his hands, even now. She should have answered him. What if she died down here and never got to speak to him again? Never saw him again? His last thought would be that she ignored him. Hindsight was a terrible thing. If she got out of this basement alive, she would talk as much as he wanted. It no longer mattered what he could offer her. She would take it. As long as he was in her life in some way, they could work out the rest.

Mira blinked back tears. Her heart felt like it was breaking, literally. She listened to Sam banging, but the pain was getting more intense. Her chest tightened with each breath. She struggled to take in air. Relax, Mira, relax. Slow breaths, just like Sam said, slow breaths. She closed her eyes. She had to stay alive. She wasn’t ready to give up on Tyler yet.

***

SAM PUT DOWN THE REBAR.

“Hey, Mira, how are you doing over there?’

When no response came, he frowned. Shit. Quickly moving back to where she lay, he knelt. Her eyes were closed, her face deathly pale, but her chest rose and fell gently.

“Mira, come on darling, wake up.” Sam gently tapped her cheek, trying to rouse her. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

“Hey, how are you feeling?”

“Sleepy, very sleepy.” Her voice was raspy, her breath shallow.

“I need you to stay awake for me, Mira. Come on, keep your eyes open.”

“It hurts, Sam.”

“I know. I need you to hang in there. There are a lot of people that care about you above us, and they are doing everything to get us out.”

“Mmmmm. Tyler?”

“I’m sure Tyler is up there with the rest of the boys.”

“Tyler. I want Tyler.” Her eyes were closing again.

Sam squeezed her hand. “Stay with me, Mira. Tyler, huh? Why Tyler?”

“Love him.”

Well, that was news to Sam, but he smiled. “Yeah?” Her extra concern about him on the op now making sense.

Her eyes closed. Sam tapped her cheek again, but she was out. The shrill ring of his phone took him off guard. He looked at it in amazement.

“Hello?”

“Sam? Thank God.” Kelly’s voice sent a wave of relief through him.

“Kelly? Damn it’s good to hear your voice.” She was alive and despite the chaos that must be going on above him, his team had reached him.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m here with the teams and Dale. Sam, we need to know exactly where you are?”

“Outside interview room 2.” Sam heard her relay that to someone else, then Dex came on the line.

“Hey, boss. We’re working on getting you out.”

“Can't happen quick enough.”

“I hear you. How are you doing? Are you hurt?”

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