by Alison Aimes
She squeezed him tighter. Every stride burned. Her legs wobbling as the blood loss took its toll. She did her best to ignore it. Forced her stride to lengthen.
They were halfway down the last tunnel when a massive boom sounded. 223’s weapon!
Wrenched from Ryker’s grip, her body sailed. She hit the wall shoulder first. Slid to the ground.
Around her, rocks cracked like eggshells. Fissures split the stone. The ground. This explosion making her bombs appear like children’s toys. She wondered if Caleb had made it. The chances were grim. Even below ground and muted by heavy rock, 223’s weapon was terrifyingly powerful.
Flames flared from the ruptures, licking the ceiling and spreading fast.
Dazed, Jade struggled to pick herself up. “Ryker.” Panic laced her voice. She couldn’t lose him now. Not when they were so close.
“Jade.” Strong arms scooped her up. “I’m right here.”
He jostled her as he ran.
She would have protested the ride—it wasn’t at all badass assassin—but her leg wasn’t working right. Logic demanded she shut down her ego. But even more than that, her heart knew she could count on Ryker. They were a team, after all.
Her eyes fluttered shut.
“Stay with me, Jade.”
“Mmm.”
He jostled her slightly. “I mean it, woman.” The desperation and worry in his voice enough to force her eyelids open.
Heat seared her cheek, the flames surging higher. Huge slabs of rocky ceiling crashed downward as the tunnel collapsed in on itself.
“We’re not going to make it.”
“We’ll make it.” His voice held no doubt.
They streaked through the cave entrance.
“Now, now!” Ryker’s shout echoed from a long way off.
She blinked. Caught the blurred image of Grif’s grim face. Heard another boom.
The entrance to the cave closed in on itself—sealing the gang members and Caleb inside.
Cheering from somewhere. Cool air on her skin.
Then, nothing at all.
42
Something didn’t smell right.
Eyes closed, Jade wrinkled her nose and tried to identify what was off.
Rot, dust, male stink, and death—all familiar odors after training at the Facility—but…she sniffed again…there it was. That overlay of her favorite scent—Ryker—so tantalizing it washed through her lungs like a lapping wave.
Lips tilted upward, she followed her nose, pushing to her elbow as she opened her eyes—and almost reached for her weapon.
A crowd of faces peered down at her.
“Make room, make room.” Applying slight pressure on her wrist, Ryker kept her weapon hand secure. “I told you she was going to be okay.”
“But she was still for so long,” accused Melody.
“And she looks terrible,” added Hope.
Grif laughed outright while Tyson shushed his daughters. Marika swallowed nervously. Rafi snorted through his nose.
“Saving our asses isn’t always pretty.” Pride laced Ryker’s voice as he crouched at her side. He ran a thumb along the dagger tattoo at her wrist. “I used Caleb’s code. The bomb has been deactivated. You’re free, with a full life ahead of you.”
The sudden surge of emotion left her dizzy. For so long, she’d lived existing from mission to mission, the threat of death and Council dissatisfaction a constant. The sudden absolute freedom was…odd—as was the possibility of a real future. Was such a thing truly viable for someone like her, after all?
“She looks strange. Sort of happy. Sort of nauseated.” Hope’s worried remark drew a laugh from Rafi and propelled Jade into action.
“I’m fine. Really.” Pushing herself into a seated position in the makeshift bed of blankets, she scanned the familiar cave that served as their hideout and was surprised to discover almost the entire group of captives crammed into the small space, even the newly rescued.
Most had been so quiet she hadn’t even realized they were there. But her voice must have been the signal they were waiting for, because now they surged closer. All talking at once, asking how she was and where she hurt and when she would be back on her feet.
Her gaze swung to Ryker’s.
“They were worried,” he explained.
“No need.” There was no denying that a small part of her melted at the display of concern from people she’d once believed could only see her as something to fear. On the other hand, so much attention was horrifying.
“I tried to tell them.” His half grin should have warned her. “You keep saying I’m the one with the thick skull, but yours has proven far harder.”
She pretended to scowl at his teasing. “That’s alright, there are other hard things about you I admire even more.”
“Everyone out.” Ryker’s words were soft, but unquestionably an order.
She hid a smile.
It didn’t take long for the crowd to scatter.
For a moment, they simply stared at one another.
He was battered and bruised, with a swollen jaw and a cut above his eye, but he never looked more gorgeous.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” As usual, Ryker was the first to break the silence. He reached for her hand. Brought it to his lips. “Later you’ll tell me more about this hard thing of mine you admire above all else”—playfulness danced in his gaze before it turned somber once more—“but first I just want to breath you in.” He pressed his lips to her knuckle. “You scared the shit out of me for a while there. I don’t like it when you’re hurt.”
She could relate. Knowing he was in pain ate at her, too. “I’m sorry about your wife and son.”
His grip tightened. “They’re at peace now. It has to be enough.”
She covered the bruised hand holding hers and squeezed. “I’m sorry, too, that I didn’t tell you about the trip wire on the weapon, but I knew—”
“You knew I’d never let you go alone, and you wanted to protect me. Give me a second chance with them. And you figured you were doomed anyway because of the nano-device.”
“Yes,” she admitted.
He dropped to his knees beside her. “Thank you for that, Jade, but I need you to understand. There’s no second chance for me if you’re not in my world.” He pressed something into her hand.
She looked down.
A small carving lay in her palm. A warrior woman in mid-strike, knife raised. Pressed tight to her back was a man, his ax raised equally high. Two figures. Forever joined. Forever guarding each other’s back.
Her breath caught. “Ryker, it’s beautiful.” She closed her fist around it. “You made it while I slept?”
He wrapped his hand around hers. “I will always love Saralynee and my son and cherish their memories, but it’s time for new memories. You’re my present and my future.” He took a deep breath. “I hate the tragedies that brought us here, but I will never regret having found my way to you.”
She blinked hard, a strange stinging in her eyes. “For the first time in my life, I’m excited about what tomorrow will bring.”
He pulled her close. “Because you know I’ll be right by your side. Whatever comes next. Partners. For life.” His lips brushed her chin, her nose, her temple. “You’re hardwired to look out for those who can’t fight for themselves. I’m hardwired to be head over heels in love with you. Together, there’s nothing we can’t do.”
EPILOGUE
“Mine.” Jade whispered the word against his skin, her mouth sliding over the tendon at his neck as her hips arched to meet his.
The claim echoed to Ryker’s soul. “Yours,” he agreed. “Just as you are mine.”
Outside their small hut, the noise of the settlement continued unabated. Voices clashing. Hammers and axes clanging as new dwellings were erected.
With all the new arrivals, life in the settlement could get downright chaotic.
Good thing he’d gotten damn good at ignoring it.
“You with me, felon
?” The soft purr of her voice had his balls drawing tight.
“Always, assassin.” He lined his cock up with her wet heat, more than ready to be inside her.
The passing lunar rotations had only deepened their bond. The relative calm of returning to the settlement giving them a chance to heal. And learn to live. Together. Without the threat of impending death.
As expected, they were amazing together.
Of course, it hadn’t all been smooth sailing.
Her first contact with the team had become the crew’s favorite topic of conversation—when their Commander wasn’t around.
Ryker hadn’t been there at the start. He and Grif had gone to check for signs of life near the rubble that had once been 223’s hideout. He knew they wouldn’t find any. They’d sealed the gang members in tight.
But he also knew Jade was hopeful the other operative had somehow made it out alive. Frankly, Ryker wasn’t too broken up by the idea that he hadn’t—the fucker had left Jade to die in that hole and been intent on frying them all before his last-minute change in plans—but Caleb had also saved his woman’s life, so Ryker would have used his bare hands to dig the man out of a thousand tons of rubble if there were any indication he’d made it.
Ryker had taken Grif with him to look because he’d wanted to carve out some one-on-one time with his teammate.
After the confrontation with 223 was over, Grif had started disappearing for longer and longer periods of time, returning to the cave only once the moons were high in the sky. Dirty and disheveled, vibrating with frustration, he’d dodged questions about where he’d gone with his usual smile and bullshit charm, but Ryker had caught a disturbing glimpse of what his friend had squirreled away in his pack: rope, manacles, and some of the sleeping draught Rufus had made to help a few of the more troubled ex-captives.
Ryker had a very bad feeling.
So, he’d left a still-healing Jade to rest at the cave while he dragged Grif out for a little chat, aka interrogation. It was only a few moments later, however, that the shouting started. Not Jade. Of course. She wasn’t a screamer—unless he was deep inside her, thank you, Janus. But Tyson’s booming, angry voice had been very clear. Marika’s wails, too.
He’d hightailed it back to the cave, ax raised high. Only to stop short at the unfolding scene: his Commander standing at the cave entrance, his arms raised high. Jade’s knife pressed to his throat.
The woman took her role as protector very seriously.
But so did the handful of soldiers standing behind the Commander, a heartbeat from swinging their axes and raining down hell on whoever threatened their leader.
Ryker had talked fast. Shouted, really. But for a hothead, he was becoming good at diplomacy.
And, despite a rocky start, neither Jade or his Commander Valdus had killed each other. Yet. His annoying teammates were still taking bets.
Ryker wasn’t worried, though. The Commander’s woman, Ava, was a big fan of Jade’s. No way would Valdus risk her wrath.
“You guys in there?” Rafi’s voice had Ryker freezing in mid-first thrust.
He opened his mouth to tell the kid to beat it.
“Hello?” Melody’s sweet voice had his mouth snapping shut.
Sometimes, Ryker was truly nostalgic for the dark cell that had closed him and Jade off from everything and everyone.
“Jade? Are you in there? Can you teach me and Hope to braid our hair like yours?”
He tried not to laugh out loud at the horror in Jade’s gaze.
Poor woman. She’d had to get real good, real fast at declining invitations without hurting feelings.
Despite her constant surprise and disbelief, people could not get enough of her. Her combat and defense tutorials, initially just for Rafi and the girls, had become so popular they’d mushroomed into daily instructional classes for almost everyone in the village.
He hadn’t been surprised. His woman’s allure was strong.
Of course, in typical Jade fashion, she remained bemused and a little uncomfortable with all the attention, but it didn’t stop her from patiently and logically teaching every person who came to her, no matter how little instinct for defense they had. Hell, even Marika could now orchestrate a pretty good foot swipe and takedown. Lana and Rafi were proving even more capable.
They weren’t the only ones transforming.
Rufus and a handful of Ryker’s team had left in search of those still missing. The once broken man who’d begged Jade to leave him to die in that dust storm had transformed into a strong leader determined to rescue his Resistance brothers and sisters along with Melody and Hope’s mother.
Jade and Ryker would be joining the pursuit as soon as they finished construction of a defense perimeter around the settlement. Jade was insistent Rafi, Melody, and Hope be as protected as possible before she left.
Tyson, too, was taking a more active role in settlement life. He’d wanted to join the search for the others, but realized staying behind to care for his girls had to come first. He’d been restless and lost, until, at Ryker’s suggestion, Valdus had cheerfully handed over the day-to-day administrative duties to the man. Tyson’s compassion and patience were proving a godsend when dealing with the challenges of a fast-growing community.
Only Grif seemed to be moving backward rather than forward. Especially since his friend had insisted on staying near 223’s abandoned settlement. By himself. Despite the fact that the search for the others had begun in a different quadrant of the planet.
That bad feeling Ryker had about his friend? It had mushroomed into a def-con alarm after that decision.
He could only hope Grif found whatever—or whoever—it was he was looking for. Before it found him.
“Hellooo? What do you say?” Melody was nothing if not persistent.
“Not going to happen.” He didn’t even try to break the news gently.
“I’m afraid I’m already helping Ryker with some of his moves.” Eyes full of heat, Jade nipped at his jaw—the move sending her pussy rubbing against his dick. “He does like to practice.”
He bit back a groan, his cock getting harder. Just as it always got when his ice queen teased.
“Maybe later then.” In typical kid fashion, Melody moved on quickly. “Should we tell Ava you won’t make her briefing on her latest experimental findings, either?”
“New findings?” Jade stilled.
Shit. The two women had bonded over their interest in Council nanotechnologies and the use of local flora and fauna to neutralize them.
Time for immediate damage control.
Scraping his teeth along the sensitive tendon of his assassin’s neck, he slid his hand between them until his thumb circled her clit.
And smiled to himself when she sucked down a moan, her body trembling as her short nails dug into his back.
“She’ll catch the next one,” he called back, careful to keep the smug satisfaction from his tone.
Yes, he was playing dirty, but dirty was what he did best.
“Okay. We’ll see you later. Good luck with your practicing.” He and Jade barely heard the receding footsteps.
Their attention only for each other as their gazes fused.
“Practice does make perfect,” he growled—right before he thrust deep.
They both groaned.
“I’ve never been a fan of perfect.” Wrapping her legs tight around his waist, she locked them together and smiled up at him. “But what’s between us? It’s even better.”
He pressed his mouth to hers.
They’d both been lost. She, because she’d never known what it was to be loved. He, precisely because he had known and lost it all.
But somehow, in a universe as vast and dangerous and unforgiving as this, on a planet even more brutal, two people, who should never have been anything but enemies, had found each other and become so much more.
He would love her forever.
WANT to know what happens to Grif?
Read on, as his story c
ontinues in TAMED, Book Four of the Condemned Series…
He hunted her. Trapped her. But it was he who might end up Tamed.
Grif drove his shovel into the red dirt.
The quicksand-like sludge that passed for soil on Dragath25 sucked the metal head down. With a grunt, he yanked it up, the burns from his injury pulling tight against his skin. He hurled what felt like another half-ton of dirt over his shoulder.
Pit digging was a pain in the ass.
The hole was already deep enough to cover his head when he standing upright, but he wanted it deeper. He wasn’t taking any chances.
Sweat rolled down the ridges of his bare chest before disappearing beneath the cloth settled low on his hips. His palms blistered. Red dust coated hair that had once been black. Streaks of mud mixed with old scars and recent lash marks. None of it caught his attention. Instead, he hummed softly as he worked, an old unit song from his early soldier days.
His teammate gave him shit for the stupid habit, but they weren’t here now. No one was. After so many rotations crammed into a small pen with the other slaves, he was completely, strangely, alone.
And free.
Too bad he felt more caged than ever.
He scanned the small patch of sky visible through the pit. The jagged red cliffs encircling 223’s abandoned settlement were quiet and still. The brutal gang that had controlled this swath of the planet, eradicated. The rescued captives taken to the safety of their new home by the rest of his team. Even the usual batch of horrifying predators that roamed Dragath25 were absent. A nice aftereffect of the recent brutal dust storm, which had left them dead, or busy clawing themselves out of their dens.
Life went on. At least for some.
His shovel clanged downward, the weapons strapped to his back and thighs jangling as he worked.
The walls of the hole were deep enough now that even he would have difficulty scrambling out.
Perfect.
Dirty and streaked with red dust, he heaved his shovel over the rim of the hole. Then, he tossed up his pack. With a running leap, he scrambled up the slick, dirt wall—and barely made it.