Page 13 of Rescued by the Captain

I smirk. She looks so peaceful when she’s asleep. I caress her bare arms, thumbing strands of brown hair out of her face. Her lush tresses, her voluptuous curves all envelop my body like a soft throw. I want to absorb more of her warmth but decide against disturbing her rest. She’s stunning as is. I haven’t felt this way about someone in a long, long time.

As I tune into her breathing, watching her chest rise and fall against mine, the world fades out around me. And when I glance to my left, I realize that the storm has finally let up.

I’m relaxing again when a creaking noise comes from the living room. I jerk upwards. The cabin is silent when snow isn’t thrashing the window panes. I justify that I was only imagining the sound, given I’m not used to the place being this dead quiet.

Then, the noise starts again. Only this time, it sounds more like screeching.

I shoot up from the bed, grabbing my clothes as I head for the front door. My stomach drops to the floor when I see what’s outside.

“Shit, shit, shit,” I curse under my breath. My eyes follow the fresh trail of tire tracks and footprints, both of which lead up to the kitchen window.

I remember when the truck passed by. It didn’t get this close, and it didn’t reach the kitchen.

I don’t even think to check if they managed to break it open yet— my hand lurches for my radio, so I can contact Colt.

“Colt, you there?” I say, anxiety causing my voice to waver.

He responds instantly. “I’m here. What do you need?” He must detect how shaken up I sound.

“Tire tracks. Fresh ones, and footprints. They lead right up to the cabin. We need a backup plan, now.”

“Copy that. We’ll get there as soon as we can, but if something goes down, head for the Winchesters. They’re your best shot for protection out there.”

“Understood.” I cut the line and drop the radio to my side.

I won't let them lay a hand on you, Bria.

9

BRIA

“Bria!”

I groggily get up to see Donte looming over me. His shoulders are heaving, his eyes scan the room frantically, and he seems disheveled.

A knot forms in my stomach. “What’s going on?”

He rakes damp locks of hair out of his face. “We need to get ready in case we need to run.”

My heart jams in my throat.They’re after us. I lunge for my shirt, my coats, my pants, tug them over my limbs as I stagger into the living room.

What I dreaded most is coming to reality. It’s like the world is unraveling while I’m standing on a ridge— poised to trip over the ledge, and into an all-consuming void…

Crack!

I shriek, dropping to the floor as I hear glass shatter near me. The front window bursts open.

“Stay down!” Donte shouts, although I’m already rocking back and forth on the ground with my hands clamped on my ears.

I’m terrified out of my mind, and don’t even want to glance at what’s unspooling before me. But curiosity, and a desire to stay alive, compels me to look up — icy air blasts my skin, and chunks of wood explode in the place I just stood.

Donte

My military experience kicks in. I sprint across the room, ducking low when I enter the main room. I’m aware that someone has their offense homed in on this area. If I want Bria to make out of this alive, we need to escape their line of sight.

I swallow a breath of relief when I reach her. She isn’t injured, thankfully, not even a graze to be spotted on her porcelain skin. It’d kill me if she got hurt. It’d kill me if I lost her.

“We need to go. Now,” I say in the steadiest tone I can summon.

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