She didn’t waste energy trying to scream after him because, at the end of the day, Sanchez was right. About giving him hell if the opportunity arose, and also the chance she’d been given.
She could, no shewould, get herself free. And then she’d do whatever it took to find her way back to Jagger.
A bum hand, the pain from being shot twice, and a slick layer of fresh blood on her fingers made the task of unlocking the cuffs a definite challenge. It took several attempts, but Natalia finally managed to get the damn things unlocked. She nearly broke down crying when the metal bracelets fall from her raw, tender wrists.
A different kind of pain made itself known as the blood that had been constrained by her previous position came rushing back all at once. Her injured shoulder and thigh felt as though they were engulfed in flames, and it was only getting worse. And from what she could see beneath the moonlight, she was still losing blood.
Focus on the positives, Foster. You’re alive, and the man who tried to kill you is dead.
The positives. Right.
Julian was dead—for real, this time—and Sanchez had seemingly disappeared. Natalia thought she heard a car drive away in the distance, but in her current state, she couldn’t be sure.
Okay…now what?
Jagger’s ruggedly handsome face filled her mind. She pulled upon the strength of the love they’d so recently found to push her forward. She had to get to the road. If she could do that, she might get lucky and be able to wave someone down for help.
Natalia moved ever-so-slowly, her motions jerky as waves of overwhelming pain and nausea threatened to take over. Beads of sweat formed on her skin despite the cold night air, but she kept her focus on covering as much ground as she could, even if it was a mere inch at a time.
Using her one good arm and uninjured leg as momentum, she began making her way through the grass. She wouldn’t give up. She’d made it too damn far to just lay down and wait to die.
I need you, Jagger. Please find me before it’s too late.
“Can’tthis thing go any faster?” Jagger practically shouted at Liam, who was already driving like a bat out of hell.
“I’m sorry.” The man’s sarcasm said otherwise. “I was kind of thinking you’d like to make it to Taliaalive.”
“Cutler does have a point.” Cade spoke up from the back seat. “Alive is definitely preferred.”
Jagger shot the sniper a glare from over his shoulder with a growled, “And I’m trying to make sure Taliastaysalive.”
“She’s gonna be okay, brother.” Liam’s gaze remained locked on the road ahead. “Can’t let yourself think any other way.”
He was trying like hell not to, but he’d never been this scared. He’d promised Talia he’d keep her safe. That he wouldn’t let anything happen. And now?—
“He’s right, Jag,” Cade agreed with the man behind the wheel. “We’ve all been where you are, so we get how you’refeeling. But you have to remember, this is Talia we’re talking about. The woman was a fuckingspyfor crying out loud.”
Liam jumped back in with, “She’s smart, trained, and one of the toughest women I’ve ever known.”
“And spunky,” Cade hurriedly added with a smirk. “I bet she’s out there right now, giving Miller her own special brand of hell.”
Jagger didn’t smile or smirk, but he did feel the tension in his shoulders start to ease. Not much, though. He wouldn’t let himself truly relax until they found her and he saw for himself that she was okay.
“Thanks,” he muttered low. Jagger turned around and settled back against his seat.
“Are the others keeping up?” Liam checked the rearview mirror.
Jagger looked through his window at the sideview mirror and nodded. “I see ‘em.”
Ryker, Christian, Brody, Blake, and Draven were a car’s length behind them in Ryker’s government-issued SUV. Emmett, Rocky, Lucas, and Gwen followed, making up the rear of their deadly caravan.
“How much farther?” Jagger asked.
Liam checked the tablet in his lap. “Seven miles, according to the GPS.”
Cade huffed out a breath. “I still can’t believe how lucky we got with that list of Julian Miller’s previous aliases.”
“Right?” Liam agreed. “Thank God Ryker’s CIA contact owed him a few favors. Getting the names Miller used during his time with the Agency was pure genius.”
