“You’re tired. Why don’t you head to bed and get some sleep?”
“Boone, I can sleep on the couch. I hate that I’ve kicked you out of your own bed.”
“The couch is comfy.”
“I know.”
Their gazes met. Oh, it’d been far too good waking up with her in his arms on the couch.
She shot to her feet. “Right, okay, sleep well.”
“I will, Gemma.” She hurried into the bedroom, and Atlas rose and followed her.
Boone rolled his eyes. “You are so easy.”
And here he was, jealous of his own dog.
A hand pressed over Gemma’s mouth, wrenching her from a deep sleep.
Terror was an instant punch to her system.
She flailed. Oh, God. They’d found her. What had they done to Boone?
“Shh, it’s me.” Boone’s low voice. “Sorry. You need to be quiet.”
Gemma sagged with relief. He was a dark shadow beside the bed.
“Someone tripped my exterior sensors.”
She pushed his hand down. “What?”
“We have company.”
Her heart rabbited. Oh, shit.
“Get dressed. We need to move.”
Her eyes adjusted enough to see that he was already dressed.
“Gemma, hurry.”
She nodded and shoved the sheets off.
“No lights,” he warned.
She scrambled around the room and pulled on her now clean and dry leggings, a T-shirt of Boone’s, and one of his sweaters. It swamped her, but it would have to do. She pulled her hair up in a quick messy bun. Next, she pulled on a pair of Boone’s socks.
“Here.” He reappeared. “I have some running shoes that were too small for me.”
“They’ll do.” She’d need a second pair of socks, but they’d do.
Boone moved toward a window.
“Can you see them?”
“I’ve flagged two bogeys coming up the driveway. They’re sticking to the shadows.”
Her chest locked. They were here for her.
“I assume the other two we clocked from the SUV are here as well.” She saw him open a cabinet. Atlas was silent, alert. The glow from the fireplace gave enough light to illuminate the huge rifle and handguns Boone pulled out.
Her stomach clenched. “Boone…”
He swiveled, crossed to her and cupped her jaw. “It’s going to be all right.”
“I don’t think it is.”
“Here’s the plan. We’re leaving. You’re going to follow me to the barn, where I have another truck. We’ll be gone before they have a chance to follow.”
Her throat was impossibly tight. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
There was a flash of his white teeth in the darkness. “You don’t need to worry about me.”
But she would. He was a good man, putting himself in the line of fire for her.
“Ready?” he asked.
She wasn’t going to cause him more trouble or get in his way. “Ready.”
“Good. We’ll go out the window at the side of the cabin. They’ll be watching the doors. Stick close to me, and we’ll move through the shadows. Stay low.”
She nodded. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest that it hurt.
They moved into a tiny laundry room. Boone opened the window, and she watched him snap his fingers at Atlas. The dog leaped out.
Boone threw a leg over the windowsill and followed, looking smooth and stealthy.
“Come on,” he whispered.
She swung her leg over and was not so graceful. She half tumbled out the window into Boone’s arms. He set her on her feet.
He lifted a hand and made a signal that she guessed meant to follow him. She stayed right behind his broad back. They set off across the grass, staying as close to the trees as they could. Ahead, the large shadow of the barn loomed in the distance.
She was tempted to look around, but she just focused on keeping up with Boone.
With every step, she expected to hear a shout, or a gunshot.
She was relieved when they finally reached the barn. Boone pressed his back to the wood and pulled her close. Atlas stayed nearby.
Boone tugged her toward the doorway. It was pitch black inside the structure.
“Wait in here with Atlas.” His mouth brushed her ear, and he nudged her against the wall, just inside the barn. “I need to get some things. Stay hidden.”
“Okay.”
She hated to admit it, but she was scared to be left alone. She swallowed hard as Boone disappeared into the darkness.
Gemma dragged in a breath. Then Atlas brushed her leg, and she ran a hand over his fur.
Knowing the dog was with her helped.
Again, anger that this was happening filled her. She felt like a hunted animal. She scrubbed a hand over her face.
Then Atlas stiffened. He was staring at the large door into the barn.
Fear clogged her throat. She couldn’t see anything. Her pulse drummed. She shifted against the wall, trying to stay deep in the shadows.
Suddenly, a dark shadow charged through the door, right at her.
Gemma grunted as the man hit her, and they slammed into the wall.
“Should have stayed still, then I might not have seen you.” The man gripped her throat. “You’ve caused us a lot of trouble, bitch.”
It was the man who’d said he wanted to hurt her. She recognized his accented voice. Without stopping to think, Gemma rammed her palm into his nose.
He growled, and she twisted to escape. He grabbed her hair and pulled.
No. The pain in her scalp brought tears to her eyes. This wasn’t happening.
“Keep fighting, girl,” he said. “Give me an excuse to hurt you.”
“Asshole,” she bit out.
He grabbed the front of her sweater and pulled her up on her toes.
There was a low, dangerous snarl, right before Atlas slammed into the man.
“What the fuck?”
He went down with the large German Shepherd on top of him. The man yelled.
Gemma couldn’t see what Atlas was doing, but the man’s screams intensified.
“Gemma.” Boone reappeared. “Okay?”
“Yes,” she replied shakily. “One mercenary found me.”
“Let’s go. Atlas.”
The dog released her attacker. Boone leaned over the man and punched him. The man didn’t get up. Boone pulled her deeper into the dark barn. A second later, she saw the silhouette of a truck.
He opened the passenger door. “In.”
She climbed in, shivering as the adrenaline rush hit.
Atlas bounded in behind her. Boone circled the truck and got into the driver’s seat. He started the engine.
“Buckle up.” Then he stepped on the accelerator.
They sped out of the barn. She got a brief glimpse of some men running toward them.
Then she heard gunshots.
Oh, God.
“Down.” Boone pushed her head down.
The truck fishtailed in the gravel, then picked up speed.
A moment later, they were on the road.
“We’re fine.” Boone checked the mirrors. “They’re not following. Or if they are, they’re too far behind.”
She sat up, trying to stop her shaking.
“You’re safe.” His shadowed face was set in hard lines.
She nodded.
Then Atlas leaned into her, sharing his warmth.
“Thank you.” She held on tight. “Both of you.”
She was safe for now. But how long would that last?
CHAPTER SEVEN