The emotions are so strong, I have to look away when I pull back. This thing between us is too big. A force. Tempered in the fires of hell.
What’s been woven between us now can’t be undone.
My job is to keep it alive.
Focus, Ryker.
“We can’t linger here,” I tell her, forcing myself back into operational mode. “You need to eat and drink water while I work on these collars.”
The protein bars are heavy and have good expiration dates. The seal on the water bottles is good.
Jade digs into a bar. “I don’t know when I ate last.”
“We lost a day.” I start inspecting her collar.
She stops, the bar halfway to her mouth. “You mean this isn’t Thursday?”
“Friday night.”
“Oh, Jesus. No wonder I’m starving. Is the twenty minutes up?”
“Half an hour ago.”
“They probably didn’t wait.”
“That’s okay. Because we’re about to turn their game upside down.”
Jade shivers as I slide my finger under the hard plastic around her neck. There’s a mechanical lock, a small camera, and enough mass to contain the explosives he warned about.
I’m still not convinced he’d have that tech.
More likely that was a mind-fuck. A control lever. Keep his prisoners terrified.
But…
Doubt tries to creep in.
One wrong move if it is explosive, and she dies. We die.
Trust your training.
The first thing I do is cover the mud-caked camera on both of our collars with old shop towels.
Being underground probably killed the signal. The mud would likely block the image. But I’m not taking any chances.
While I work, her hand moves to rest against my bare stomach. The soft, warm touch kicks up my blood pressure, making it harder to think.
One chance.I get one shot at this.
“Can we talk?” Jade asks, cautious after she takes a long drink of water.
“Nothing specific.”
“So… nice weather huh?”
I glance at her eyes and the center of me softens when I realize she’s smiling.
How the fuck?
