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Why was it alwaysblood?
She was so beyond sick of seeingblood.
Especially when it washers.Madison was bleeding.
She was covered in blood again. Her blood this time. And she was still bleeding.
There was…water. She’d landed in water. At least her feet had.
She was trying to catch her breath here. But…maybe…her ribs were broken. She was bent a little. That could be what was causing it—her not being able to breathe and everything.
No matter how much it hurt, she forced herself tomove.To try to figure out where she was. But…it was dark. And…she could hearpeopleyelling her name. Not just Dom.
She’d thought she’d heard Miguel, too. That rich, rumbly, extra-sexy mellow voice of his was distinctive. But…that was a woman’s voice.
She wasn’talone.
Major Crimes was there. Dom was there. And he had people with him. She wasnotalone. Dom had come for her. Just like she had known he would.
“Can I get some light down here, please?” Madison yelled, though it hurt like hell. “I am really getting sick of all the dark!”
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Dom about hithis knees when her words came. “Madison! How bad are you hurt?”
“I have been better, babe. So much better. But…I amstuck.I slid in probably from the force of the fall and it is…narrow here. Compress…ive. Got any light? You know…you know I really hate the dark, right?”
“I know. And once I get you out of here, we’re going to turn every light on in that suite at the Barratts. And just leave the lights on. No matter what.” Dom passed his flashlight to K.J. “Get the light on for her. Madison hates the dark.”
Miguel’s light was already on. And there was noise behind them. Lake and Jake were coming. Others.
“We need light! Fast! But donotapproach. Ground is unstable at this location!” K.J. yelled.
“Miller, what is the situation?” Miguel asked.
“Looks like Mads is about twelve feet down. She’s wedged in a crevice—caved in shaft—or something. Newcomb…I can’t tell, guys. But he’s not moving and…he’s headfirst. There is…blood. They are each in tunnels approximately thirty-to-thirty-six inches wide, approximately two feet apart. Incline of closeto eighty-to-ninety degrees, for Mads. About half for the asshole who did this. Mads, does it feel like that water is rising?”
“No. But my damned foot is stuck! And there is no way I can climb out!” Madison yelled back. Still…with that total shrew tone in her voice that meant she was beyond angry.
And scared. She was still so afraid.
“We have rope, babe. We have rope,” Lake yelled down to her.
“Brought the whole cavalry, didn’t you?” Madison yelled.
“Of course we came to rescue you, Mad-Mads. Now we have to just get you out!” Lake yelled back.
“How are we going to do this?” Dom asked.
“We don’t know how stable it is. This…could cave in at any moment,” Miguel said, a solemn tone in his voice. “We can’t guarantee it will hold long enough for rescue to get here. Even if they are just thirty away. Mawbry and crew are on the way.”
“We can’t wait that long. We have to get her out of there.” Every minute she was down there just increased the chances they wouldn’t be able to get her out at all.
“I know. But there is risk. And I don’t think any ofusare going to fit.” Miguel said.
“Just get her out. No matter what.”
