Someone must have kicked on a generator.
“Sonofabitch,” Viper cursed. His eyes widened on Emmy, who was huddled against Laine. “Shit. Sorry.”
Striker whacked him in the arm. “Idiot.”
Roarke slung his gun to his back and grabbed the rope they’d use to scale the wall. He opened his free hand. “Can I take her?”
He didn’t understand his desire to get Emmy over first. Nor why he hadn’t commanded Viper or Striker to take her.
Laine nodded. “Honey, you need to go with Roarke.”
“No!”
Emmy’s sharp cry made him wince. They didn’t have time. He caught the girl beneath her arms and carefully lifted her against his side. “Hey, kiddo, sorry, but we’ve gotta move fast. I’m gonna take you over the wall, and your mom’s going with my friend, right next to us, all right?”
That seemed to settle her. Urgency bit at his heels, but he’d move a fraction slower if it meant not scaring the life out of her. “Do me a favor and hold on to that bunny, sweet pea.” He tucked the animal against her chest, and she held it tighter. “Now hold on to me. I’m gonna climb. You just hang on.”
She hooked her little arm around his neck and part of him melted. He seized the ropes and climbed. Despite the extra forty pounds in his arm, he made it to the top with ease. A glance to his right revealed Viper with Laine on his shoulder in a fireman carry. “Look, there’s Mommy,” Roarke said to Emmy.
She cracked a hesitant smile, and he slid them safely to the ground. When Laine landed a beat later, she reached for her daughter.
“It’ll be faster if I carry her,” Roarke said. He turned to Emmy. “You good with that, toughy?”
That earned him an actual smile from the girl, followed by a shrug.
He broke into a jog with Emmy in his arms.
Chapter
Eight
Laine ached to hold her baby. She ran close to Roarke, both his men near her side. She’d met Viper once years ago, through Ollie, but hadn’t yet been introduced to Striker.
The cool air whipped against her cheeks. They weren’t far from the house. She glanced over her shoulder at the compound. It was like looking back at hell.
Shouts sounded. Terror quickened her steps, and her breath came out sharply. She hadn’t exercised since moving here, and she kicked herself for not keeping up on her fitness.
Every few seconds Emmy glanced at her. Laine managed to keep her speed close to the men’s, but surely they were compensating for her. A rock caught her toe and she gasped. Her face rushed toward the ground. An arm came around her waist just before she smashed her nose on a rock.
Viper righted her.
“Thank you,” she wheezed.
“Don’t mention it, doll.” He held her bicep. “If you need a lift, just lemme know.”
“I’m fine.” She pumped her legs harder. No way she’d be the weak link when everyone had risked their lives for her. Sweatdotted the back of her neck. Her chest and legs burned. Every stride was restricted by her long tunic.
Just when she thought she couldn’t keep going, Viper fell into step with her. “There’s our ride up ahead.”
The back of a sedan peeked through some branches near the river. “Thank god,” she murmured. She’d fallen several paces behind Roarke. Striker ran to their right and slightly behind—to keep an eye out for people following them, she suspected.
Viper chuckled. “Guess we should’ve warned you about the short marathon.”
“We’re being pursued,” Striker called, his voice unwavering despite their trek. “Three hostile vehicles on the move.”
Laine’s pulse escalated. Sure enough, two military-style jeeps were traveling from the direction of the compound.
Roarke slowed and urged her in front of him. “Don’t look back. Get ahead of me and run.” He pressed his fingers into her shoulder blades.
