Through Uncharted Space: A Phoenix Adventures Sci-fi Romance

by Anna Hackett

  “Dakota!”

  He leaned over her. She was so still. Too still. Completely unresponsive. No breathing. No pulse.

  He pressed his hands to her chest, using the age-old technique that had originated back on Earth, and started resuscitation. Compressions, a breath. Compressions, a breath.

  Her lips beneath his were so cold.

  She wasn’t responding.

  “No. Damn you, Dakota. Don’t do this.” He tore at the pockets on his envirosuit. Rynan had shoved a tiny emergency first aid kit at him before they’d left. Dare tore it open, hoping it contained more than just bandages and antiseptic wipes. He spotted the two small shock pads and almost wept. He reached down, yanked her suit open, and then tore her shirt open down the middle. He pressed the two sticky pads to her damp skin.

  He let them do their job, and kept breathing into her. Breath. Breath. Breath. He felt her body jerking under the shocks.

  Nothing.

  “Breathe, damn you. You can’t leave me now.” He heard the raw terror in his voice. Dare hadn’t let himself be afraid for a very long time. Not since he was that defenseless, young boy.

  “Dare? Do you copy?”

  Rynan’s voice. Dare looked up, frowning. Had he imagined it? Then he realized it was coming from his earpiece.

  “Rynan!”

  “Where are you?” his brother asked.

  “I’m in a golden dome on some outcropping. Olok abandoned us in a small sub.”

  “Yeah, our sub was rigged to lose power, but I managed to get it moving again. We should be able to limp in to your location. Our submersible isn’t going to last much longer.”

  “Ry, our sub was damaged and filling with water. We had to swim. Dakota…she’s not breathing.”

  He heard Rynan curse. “Okay, we’ve picked up the signal of your small sub. Justyn’s bringing us to you. For now, I’ll talk you through the resuscitation.”

  “I’ve attached the shock pads, but they aren’t working.”

  “Stay calm. She’s tough, you’ll get her through.”

  Her skin was so pale, her eyelashes dark against her cheeks. Dare followed Rynan’s solid instructions. Everything became a monotonous series of pumping her chest and breathing through her cold lips.

  Dare didn’t let himself think. He just kept going, and soon, he lost track of time.

  The next thing he knew, his brothers were kneeling beside him.

  Ry grabbed Dare’s wrists. “Dare. You can stop now.”

  “No, she’s not breathing yet.”

  “She’s gone, Dare.”

  Dare sat back, shock hitting him like a tsunami. She couldn’t be gone. He reached down and touched her cold cheek, her wet hair, running it through his hands. “I’m in love with her.”

  He was desolate inside.

  This felt worse than anything he’d faced in his life. He’d face that basement of horror and pain again, a hundred times over, if she’d just breathe.

  He heard his brothers cursing, felt them each grip his shoulders. They’d always been there for him and he’d vowed to always be there for them—a bond forged in blood and darkness.

  And he would be there for his woman as well.

  “No!” He wasn’t giving up on her. Dakota never gave up.

  He pressed his hands to her chest and pumped. He leaned down and breathed into her mouth. This time he was harder, more determined.

  He was never going to give up. He could hear his brothers murmuring to each other, concerned. But Dare just looked at Dakota’s face, ignored their voices, and kept going.

  Suddenly, her eyes opened. She heaved in a wild breath, then coughed, water spurting out of her.

  Elation filled Dare. He leaned down, pulling her into his arms. He held her as she coughed the ocean water from her lungs.

  “Dare?” Her voice was husky.

  “I’m here. I’ve got you.”

  He realized his cheeks were wet. Tears. He hadn’t cried since he was a small boy. He hadn’t even cried in that basement.

  He pulled Dakota closer, looking up at his smiling brothers. And he didn’t care that they could see the tears on his cheeks.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Dakota felt like she’d been to hell and back. Her chest hurt, her stomach ached, her head pounded.

  “Just take it easy,” Dare said.

  She finally found the strength to lift her head, and when she looked at his face, her heart constricted.

  Dare looked how she felt. His wet hair was plastered against his skull, and his eyes had a hard, haunted look in them.

  She cupped his cheek. “Are you okay?”

  He shook his head. “No. If I ever have to relive anything like this again…” He pulled her close, hugging her tightly to his chest.

  Beneath her ear, Dakota heard the rapid beat of his heart.

  “How you doing there, Dakota?”

  She blinked at Rynan. She saw him and Justyn standing above her. When had they arrived? She realized it was the softest she’d ever heard Rynan’s voice. Damn, she must have really rattled them all.

  “I won’t lie, I’ve felt better. But I’m alive.” She coughed. “We’re all alive and not floating around out there.” She stabbed a finger on the other side of the dome.

  “True.” Rynan knelt down beside her. “Here. My med kit is a little better equipped than the standard fare.” He held up a pressure injector.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “A mild stim. It won’t make you crash like that one Dare took on Sulla, but you’ll feel like you’ve mainlined some real caffeine. It’ll get you on your feet and dull any pain.”

  Her lips quirked. “Get that sucker into me, then.”

  She felt Dare’s chest move as he laughed, and the sound of it made her feel better. Rynan injected her, and she felt the sweet sting of pain as the stimulant entered her bloodstream. She blinked up at the golden dome. She could see now that it was made of large panels all joined together.

  It didn’t take long before she could feel the energy racing through her. “Oh, that stuff is good.”

  The corner of Rynan’s mouth moved. It softened his hard features, and made him look almost handsome. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

  Dare helped Dakota up and she stood there for a second, getting her balance. Then she raised her head and gasped.

  “Holy stars.”

  Ahead of them was the temple. Tall, twisted columns rose up to sharp spikes, pointing up toward the peak of the dome. It was all made of a golden rock that seemed to glow with an inner light. A set of steps led up into the arched entrance of the building.

  “It’s something, isn’t it?” Justyn said, his hands on his hips.

  “I want to see inside it,” she said.

  Dare shook his head. “Of course, you do.”

  Together, the four of them walked up the temple steps. Dare kept his hand closed on hers, as they walked through the arch.

  Inside, the golden rock glowed, lighting the inside of the temple. Dakota stopped there for a second, her chest tight, marveling at what she saw.

  The Atocha Treasure was lovingly laid out on shelves and altars. The golden glow of the walls twinkled off the gold and silver artifacts—there were baskets filled with coins, jewelry, statues, silver bars and piles of emeralds.

  This wasn’t just a temple; it was a shrine. To Dakota, it was simply amazing that this had been here, beneath the waves, hidden for so long.

  Then she felt a sharp sting under her ribs. The entire people of the planet of Maro had protected this treasure. Revered it.

  For so long, Dakota’s one goal had been to find this treasure. To take it, sell it, and build a life for herself. One that was hers, and that no one could take away.

  Now, she stood here, staring at it, and she felt hollow inside.

  Taking this treasure would be a desecration. What right did she have to it? What right did she have to steal Maro’s history?

  Suddenly, clanking noises and voices
echoed from outside.

  The men all tensed.

  “Did Olok come back?” she whispered.

  “Ry? Justyn?” Dare said, staring out at the entrance.

  Ry crept forward, peering out. “Looks like your buddy Korrdo has arrived.”

  “What?” Dakota bit out. She couldn’t believe that asshole had found them.

  “Go out the back of the temple,” Dare told his brothers. “Circle around them and disable their ship, if you can.”

  His brothers nodded and ran through the temple.

  Dare grabbed Dakota’s arm, and pulled her deeper into the temple. “We need somewhere to hide.”

  They crossed the space, and Dakota couldn’t help but stare at the gold and silver treasure.

  Dare pulled her behind a large pillar, tugged her close. The golden rock was actually rougher than she’d guessed, but she stayed pressed against it, and waited.

  “Sweet mother of the stars.” A voice echoed in the temple.

  “Maxir is going to be real happy with you, Korrdo.”

  Dakota moved an inch so she could peer around the pillar. Ahead, she saw Korrdo’s tall form. He was wearing a deep-water envirosuit, and holding his helmet under his arm. He was taking in everything in the temple, while his team of goons moved around him. Some of them were hooting with laughter.

  “Start loading the treasure,” Korrdo said. “Be careful and don’t drop anything.” He turned to look at a large, quiet man beside him. “Take a look around, I don’t want any surprises.”

  The rest of the men, who were all wearing the same envirosuits, opened up bags and started loading the treasure into them. Dakota felt a surge of anger. Olok might have left them to die, but she could understand why. Korrdo was just greedy. He wanted the treasure so he and Golden Nova could hurt people.

  Korrdo smiled. “This will fund Golden Nova for decades to come.” He smiled. “Max will be very, very happy.”

  Dakota’s stomach turned over. That the treasure would be used for such terrible things felt so incredibly wrong.

  But what could they do? They had no weapons. No way out. Nothing.

  Suddenly, Dare stiffened, his fingers digging into her skin. She looked over and saw Korrdo’s right-hand man heading in their direction.

  She ducked back behind the pillar. The man was only steps away from their hiding spot.

  Dare held his hands up, ready. Dakota’s muscles stiffened as she waited.

  The big man rounded the corner, and when he spotted them, his eyes widened and his mouth opened.

  Dare rammed into him, grabbing the man’s arm. “Dakota,” he said with a hiss.

  She leaped up, and jammed her fingers into the side of the man’s neck.

  He fell like a ton of bricks, but Dare caught him, and lowered him quietly to the ground.

  The goon hadn’t given them away, but it wouldn’t be long before he’d be missed.

  They could try and sneak out.

  Once, she would’ve done that. Or just hidden and waited for Korrdo and his team to leave. Anything to save her own skin.

  But not now.

  She squeezed Dare’s hand. Now she needed to do everything in her power to save this treasure and Dare. He glanced down at her with a quizzical frown.

  Before she could talk herself out of it, she released his hand, rounded the pillar, and sauntered out into the temple.

  ***

  Dammit to hell. Dare watched Dakota stride across the temple. He stayed back behind the pillar, out of sight. He controlled his urge to rush after her…barely.

  “Korrdo, I see you finally bumbled your way here to join the party,” Dakota drawled.

  Korrdo whipped around. The man’s gaze moved past Dakota, searching the rest of the temple.

  “I’m alone. I finally ditched the Phoenixes. Stars, they were such bores.”

  Korrdo smiled. “Yes, there’s no way you’d share the treasure with anybody, is there, Dakota?”

  She ran a hand through her hair, moving her fingers through the tangles. “That’s right. You know me so well, Korrdo.”

  “So, you’re stuck here…alone.”

  “I always have a plan, Korrdo. You should know that by now.” She gave a nonchalant shrug. “Well, I may have had a slight problem with my sub. It malfunctioned.”

  She was moving slowly through the temple, brushing past Korrdo’s men, pausing to look at the treasure. Dare realized she was studying each of the men, assessing strengths and weaknesses.

  Damn, he loved her. Every wild inch of her.

  Now, they just needed to get out of the temple alive.

  Dare looked around. He needed a weapon. There was no way he could take on Korrdo and his men without one.

  He knelt and patted down Korrdo’s man. In one of the man’s pockets, he found a stun baton.

  Hmm, probably the one that Korrdo had used on him back on Sulla. He shook the baton, and extended it. He worried that if it had been in the water, there was a chance it might short-circuit. He tested its weight in his hand. Still, even without a stun, it was heavy enough to do damage.

  Dare ducked down and crept along a low row of altar tables. He saw Dakota go up the steps to Korrdo. The man reached out and gripped the ends of her hair, pulling her close. She leaned into him and, for a second, Dare thought she looked like she was enjoying it. His jaw clenched so hard he was surprised it didn’t crack.

  “Come with me,” Korrdo said. “Be mine.”

  Dakota reached out and fiddled with the front of his suit. “In return for what?”

  “Share my bed, and you can even keep some of the treasure. But really, you won’t need it. I’ll give you everything you need.”

  She tilted her head. “And you’ll decide what I need?”

  “Of course.”

  “So you’ll cage me. Force me to follow your rules, and then give me little trinkets when I’m a good girl. You’ll turn me into a whore.” She tapped her chin. “No, thanks.”

  For a second, Korrdo’s face was a comical mix of confusion and anger.

  Then Dakota reared back, lifted her leg, and kneed him between his thighs. As he doubled over with a groan of agony, she reached over him and slid his laser out of his holster. She spun, and started shooting.

  She raced back down the steps, then crouched low, rolled under an altar table and came up on the other side.

  Dare rushed forward, swinging at the Golden Nova man closest to him. He slammed the stun baton under the man’s chin and stunned him. He fell in a jittering pile.

  Dakota was still shooting, and more Golden Nova goons fell with a chorus of shouts and groans.

  Two more guys rushed at them, and Dare attacked. He smacked the wrist of another one, snapping bones, making him drop his gun. The man fell back with a cry.

  Dare shoved the end of the baton into the next man’s gut and stunned him.

  “Get them,” Korrdo bellowed.

  Chaos ensued. More people were running toward them, more lasers were being fired.

  Dare saw Dakota scrambling past on her hands and knees, staying in cover as laser fire whizzed around them. He dived, tackled her, and together, they rolled behind a set of steps.

  “Never a dull moment with you,” he said.

  She winked at him. “Just the way you like it.”

  Suddenly, Dare heard another sound. He saw Dakota frown.

  It was the sound of crumbling rock.

  They poked their heads up and saw that some of the laser fire had hit one of the giant temple pillars.

  It had cracked near the base and was now slowly tumbling over.

  Dare and Dakota watched as the pillar fell and smacked into the side of the golden dome. It had to be strong enough to withstand that. Dare stared hard at the glass.

  He released a breath. It looked fine, everything seemed to be okay.

  Then, a spiderweb of cracks appeared on one large panel of the dome. They snaked outward, like cracking ice on a frozen lake.

  He and Dakota froze
.

  “Oh no,” she murmured.

  The next second, a hunk of golden glass fell with a crash to the floor, and sea water started pouring in.

  ***

  Dakota struggled through the knee-deep water. The dome was filling up fast. She already saw various bits of treasure floating around them. Korrdo and his men were shooting, but it was sporadic now, as they turned their attention to the new problem.

  As the water reached her thighs, she started to really get worried. She had no desire to drown again today.

  Suddenly, Dare leaped up onto the base of the broken pillar. He reached down and she gripped his hand. He pulled her up beside him.

  She looked over, and saw that Korrdo and his few remaining men were rushing out of the temple with their bags full of treasure.

  “We can’t let them take the treasure!” she said.

  “I’m wondering where the hell Ry and Justyn are.” Dare’s face was grim.

  “They aren’t answering on the comm line?”

  Dare shook his head.

  Stars, she hoped Korrdo hadn’t caught them before entering the temple. “How can we stop Korrdo?”

  Dare was eyeing the large hole in the dome, not too far away. She followed his gaze, and not far beyond, she could see what had to be Korrdo’s sub tethered outside the dome. It wasn’t that different from what they’d come down in.

  An idea formed. “We could swim out to Korrdo’s craft. It isn’t far. Leave that scumbag stuck down here.”

  He stared at her. “If we do that, we’d have to leave the treasure.”

  “I know. But at least he can’t get away with it.” She blew out a breath. “Damn, doing the right thing really, really sucks.”

  Dare reached for her, his lips touching hers gently.

  She gripped his shirt. “This is why I tried to stay alone,” she said. “To not care about anything, or anyone.”

  She felt water wash over her feet. The temple was filling up rapidly.

  “No one really wants to be alone,” Dare said. “I was alone even while I was surrounded by my brothers, my sister-in-law, my colleagues. I controlled everything in my life so that no one would get close to me. Until a certain independent, smartass, scam artist burst into my life.”

  Dakota fought a tangle of wild emotions in her chest. “And tried to steal your escape pod and shuttle, and knocked you out.”