Page 76 of Sanctuary of Secrets

Jax drove along the winding country road, passing some construction fencing on the right. What was being built on that plot of land? Would it be a problem for the facility he planned? The area had to be remote for the team’s purposes. He frowned and made a mental note to check into it. When his truck roundedanother corner, a quad caught his eye. It sped away from another construction zone into the woods.

The next thing that came into view turned his blood to cold sludge in his veins. There was no mistaking Seyla’s SUV, its familiar animal rescue bumper stickers screaming at him as it slowly sank beneath the surface of a small pond. Jax swerved onto the berm and slammed his foot on the brake pedal.

He bounded from the truck, racing to the water.

To her.

He tapped the emergency number on his phone while he ran, calling in their location and what had happened. When he got to the edge, he froze. No bubbles. Jax dove in and cut through the frigid water to get to the SUV, gritting his teeth against the lingering pain from his shoulder. After what felt like forever, he reached it. He used a hand to search around the inside of the vehicle, unable to see anything.

Empty.

How would he find her?

The black brackish water forced Jax to play a sick game of hide and seek. He fished around in it, diving lower each time, dividing the water into quadrants.

Any hope of finding Seyla alive faded as the seconds crawled by. His hope plummeted until he detected a ripple in the water near his shoulder. He twisted, grabbed hold of what felt like a leg and pushed his muscles to the brink, aiming for the surface. When he broke through, he hauled the body upward, righting it to reveal Seyla’s black hair swirling around her face. She thrashed against him, coughs wracking her body. Fearing she’d drown them both, Jax pinned her against him and swam for shore. The animalistic terror on her face played in a recurring loop across his mind, refusing to abate. His chest spasmed with pain as he hauled them both onto shore.

The sound of the ambulance in the distance reached his ears.

Seyla worked to breathe. However, the coughs kept getting in the way.

“Who did this to you?”

No response.

Jax shifted, and Seyla’s face grimaced in pain. He quickly found the source—blood oozed from a wound in her side. Had she been shot? Stabbed? Further inspection of the area revealed a cut. Ironically, the frigid water had most likely saved her from bleeding out, chilling her blood and decreasing the pressure. Seyla coughed several more times, then opened her eyes again. Confusion, fear, and finally relief flashed across her face. Jax gathered her into a hug, kissing her forehead.

“Thank God you’re alive.”

Seyla attempted to speak and coughed again. After a second round of coughing, she choked out, “I didn’t see their face.” She mumbled something else, which brought on another bout of coughing before she achieved the ability to speak again. “Where’s the dog? The white husky? We have to find him.”

Had shock made her delusional? There wasn’t a dog in sight.

Seyla grabbed hold of his shirt, and he pressed her hands against his chest to warm them. Why were they sticky? He drew back to inspect them and found a couple of cuts on them, most likely from breaking the window to get out. A couple cuts marred her arms as well. He ran his fingers over her cheekbone, wanting to pull her close again, although afraid to hurt her. She’d gone through too much already.

And now this.

Jax’s gaze traveled over the details of her face, thankful that she’d survived. A thought blindsided him—he was falling in love with her again. No other explanation for what he was experiencing made sense.

“Find the dog.”

The words slugged him with the strength of a sledgehammer. Didn’t she care that she’d nearly died?

“I don’t see any dog, Seyla.”

“He’s here. Find him. Please. Before he gets hurt.” She attempted to sit up, pain evident in her face.

“Try not to move until the paramedics get here.”

“The dog.”

“All I’m worried about at this point is you.”

Seyla made an effort to move again.

“Okay. Alright. I’ll go find the dog once help arrives. Promise me you’ll stay put, though. Okay?”

“Deal.”

---