Her Master's Collar (On the Hunt)

by Brookes, Sara

  Finley and Valentine slithered out of sight, standing once they were a few feet away and disappearing into the darkness. She assumed Roland had sent them to scout farther down the tunnel in search of more people. Markus tipped his head, disappearing in the opposite direction on a mission of his own.

  As Roland continued to watch the pacing guard, she turned her focus to the line of men positioned in a neat row. Their hands and feet had been bound so tightly, dried blood darkened the skin under the tight bindings. Her heart ached for them. They shouldn’t have to go through something such as this just because some renegade band of people had gotten their panties in a wad with how the World Government chose to run things. These men had no dog in the fight other than the fact they were trying to support their families.

  A loud shout echoed off the rocky walls. The guard wearing a pattern into the cave floor suddenly went on full alert.

  “Shit. They know we’re here.” Roland threw himself over the edge before she could blink. A small cloud of dust kicked up into the air as he slid down the embankment. He slammed into the guard, causing her to wince as they landed in an ugly pile. As the men continued to tussle, she noticed the guard had gotten the upper hand on Roland despite the punch he fired into the man’s jaw. Roland was too busy struggling to notice his foe had managed to get a hand on the weapon strapped to his waist.

  Knowing she needed to do something, and do it fast, she swung over the lip, trailing her hand out behind her to help control her descent. Rock and dirt tore at her suit, but she forced herself to ignore the pain. Instead, she focused on not breaking a leg once she reached the bottom.

  She pulled her legs up just short of the end, rolling neatly around by using her momentum to carry her. Using some of the combat techniques Roland had taught her long ago, the guard wrestling Roland found himself staring at the business end of her weapon.

  Markus jogged up behind her, followed closely by Finley and Jericho. “One of them got the jump on us. Finley took him out before he could finish. I managed to disarm the charge he set since the ass seemed to be of the mind to blow us all to Kingdom Come. Searched him, but didn’t find anything. He can’t be alone, though, there’s got to be more somewhere around here.”

  A deep, cackling laugh saturated the air. The volatile undertone of evil raised the hairs on the back of Korene’s neck. The sound caught her so off guard, it took a few seconds to realize it was coming from the man on his knees before her. “What’s so funny?”

  He pressed his forehead hard against the end of her weapon, almost as if he wanted to goad her into firing. “You are. You all are. It was so simple. Too simple that I didn’t think it would work. But here you are so I can finish the job I started years ago.”

  The hatred in his eyes caused her to stare at him in astonishment. She’d never seen someone so consumed by their loathing.

  Finley stopped cutting through the bindings on one of the hostages and gestured to the prisoner with her knife. “Roland, would you gag him already, so we can out of this hellhole and collect the reward for this son of a bitch?”

  Korene’s blood ran cold. “What did you say?” Finley swore loudly, the knife slipping in her hand and slicing one of the hostage’s fingers. Those unique eyes went dark as she worked to come up with an excuse. “Forget it. I think I get it now.”

  She reengaged the safety on her weapon, stepping away from the man. Fugitive, she corrected, based on Finley’s confession. Roland’s hand slapped around her wrist as he stepped in to point his own weapon at the kneeling man. “I’ll explain all this when we’re done. Right now, I need for you to keep a level head. Think about this situation very, very clearly. We’re already in a precarious position as it is. Don’t make it worse.”

  She wrenched her hand out of his grip, the fragments of her trust falling away to coat the dirt floor of the cave. “There’s no need to explain, you bastard. You used me. My company. Everything. I’m such a blind, lovesick fool.”

  He leaned closer, tightening his grip. “I said I’ll explain, but not here. Now is not the time because there are too many unknown factors going on as it is. Don’t make this any more complicated.”

  Valentine waved his gun in the air. “What the fuck are you doing, Roland? Get the asshole so we can get out of here.”

  Jericho’s words cemented home the fact she was the only one in the dark. She breathed deep, her stomach hurting from the realization she’d been played for a fool. He lied to me. She breathed again, holding it for a few seconds before slowly releasing the air. “What the fuck are you doing?”

  The man on his knees sneered, his eyes glazed over with the heat of his anger. “Don’t you get it, you corporate bitch?”

  Roland suddenly cursed so loudly the terrified hostages winced. “Finley, would you hurry up? We need to get everyone out of here.”

  Korene holstered her gun, determined to get to the bottom of things. “This scumbag obviously knows what’s going on. Someone better start talking and at this point, I don’t care who it is.”

  “You stupid fuckhole.”

  Changing her mind, she pressed her weapon against the man’s forehead again. His soulless eyes glared at her. “Someone needs to teach you some manners.”

  The man’s laughter rang out again, the horrific sound echoing off the cave walls. “Get it through your little skull. He doesn’t give a shit about your hostages. This was all just a fucking ruse to get what he really wants.” He grinned as he turned his head to meet Roland’s gaze. “Me.”

  A rumble vibrated through the floor. The shaking grew more violent, causing Korene to stumble. Roland jerked the man to his feet, capturing him in a modified choke hold. “You better start talking right now about where the rest of the charges are or I let her fire, Baxter. The price on your head be damned.”

  “Doesn’t matter. We’re all dead anyway.”

  The gleam in the man’s eyes unnerved her but she held her weapon steady.

  “Do something selfless with your life for once and tell me where they are before I drag your ass to lockup,” Roland demanded.

  Instead of answering, the man’s maniacal laughter rumbled in his chest, growing louder to echo off the rocks.

  “Screw this shit.” Markus stepped forward, but Roland jerked his hands apart, breaking the man’s neck with deadly smooth efficiency.

  “What the—dammit, Roland. You just killed this entire mission.”

  Roland frowned at Finley, yanking her to her feet as she continued to swear at him. “Enough. Plans have changed. We adapt. Our mission is to get everyone out of here, safe and sound, and get them back to Earth with as little as fanfare as possible. Let’s get off this godforsaken planet.” He assisted one of the hostages to their feet, waiting until they were steady before letting go.

  The rebel’s vitriolic words finally sank in as Korene returned her weapon to the holster. “It makes sense now. The elaborate setup to get here, posing as husband and wife on a luxury transport. Those measures aren’t necessary to come rescue some workers, but I was too blind to see it. This was all a ploy. You didn’t care about my employees at all, did you? They were just a convenient way for you to get to…him.” She waved her hand at the motionless man as her anger grew. “You didn’t want him to know you were coming, even though he certainly seemed to be expecting you.”

  Roland captured her hand. “Now is not the time to rip me a new asshole.”

  “At least you admit you need a new one. How about I tie your prick into a knot and slice off your balls instead?”

  “I know it was wrong of me not to tell you what the plan was upfront. I knew I was taking a risk—I accepted it.” He frowned. “I will apologize until the sun burns out of the sky. The less you knew about this, the better. But right now—”

  “You didn’t want to tell me, but you sure as hell seemed just fine using my money and my resources to finance this little scheme of yours. Not to mention seducing me back into your bed.” Her hands started to shake. “You bet your
ass I had every right to know.”

  His expression softened, the wrinkles at the edge of his eyes deepening. “I can’t change the fact I didn’t tell you, but you have to realize I was protecting you.”

  There was more. With Roland, there was always more. “Spill it. All of it. Now. I’m not leaving until you start flapping those lying lips of yours.”

  A loud boom sounded in the next chamber, loosening small bits of rock and dust so they filled the air. “If we don’t get out of here, there won’t be anything left to tell.” He held out his other hand to her, gesturing urgently for her to come with him. “I promise. Just let me get you to safety.” When she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him, he growled. “Son of a—I fucked up, all right? I’m not denying it. But so help me, I will throw you over my shoulder and carry that stubborn ass of yours out of here.”

  She sneered as she slapped her hand in his. “I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.”

  Surging forward, they ran for the flattest grade of the gulley wall. She’d expected to tag along, provide another body to help with the rescue mission and possibly even offer a hand. It never even occurred to her to consider Roland wasn’t being truthful with his intentions, even though she knew full well he rarely disclosed his true plans. Even now, she knew there was more—decades more. Years which probably had nothing to do with this mission. Just as soon as they reached the surface, he’d better start explaining. Or else she really would tie his dick in a knot, no matter how much she wanted to suck him.

  The weakened hostages reached the slight incline first, with Finley and Jericho directly behind them to offer a hand. They struggled up the incline, forced to use muscles that were probably atrophied from the lack of movement. Just as she about to step forward to provide assistance, an intense rumble shook the cave.

  “That one was different. Something’s wrong.” Roland pulled her close, shielding her with his body as he studied small bits of debris falling around them. A low rumble sounded in the distance, growing louder by the second. “Why do I get the sinking feeling this is just the start? Get everyone out. We’ll use the other side. We’re running out of time.”

  Roland took off running without issuing any further orders. His long strides made her thankful for every single mile she forced herself to jog each morning. He ran full out, pulling her along with him up the steep slope. It was a struggle to reach the top, but she was grateful when level ground was underfoot once again.

  Without warning, the cave shook violently as another charge exploded.

  He yanked her to him, covering her body as the walls violently shook. His heart thundered in her ear. “The walls are collapsing between the caves and the volcano. He didn’t plan to just blow us up. The psychopath wanted to burn us alive. I should have known. Goddamn, I really am slipping.”

  She followed his gaze over her shoulder, seeing the lava glow red hot as it began to rapidly fill one end of the gulley. Roland’s team stood on the other side with the hostages they’d rescued. “Who the hell was this guy, Roland?”

  He ignored her question, pulling her to stand before cupping his hands around his mouth to shout. “Do you have your emergency masks?”

  “Yes!” Valentine shouted in return.

  “Good. There are more vents similar to the one we came down. Find them. Use it to escape and rendezvous on the surface at the assigned point.”

  Bright red fire, fueled by the fabricated oxygen, bloomed before them, filling the space as it swallowed the team.

  “No!”

  Roland spun around, tucking Korene’s body against the protection of the rock wall to put himself between her and the fireball. The fire licked at his skin through his clothing. Luckily, the adrenaline coursing through his body prevented the agony from becoming unbearable. He knew how to balance the pain just as he’d taught her once. Knowing he was protecting the woman he loved provided more than enough of a buffer.

  Yes, he’d lied to her. And he fully intended to make good on his promise to disclose everything when they got out of here. If they got out of here, he amended. Right now survival was more important than any kind of misdirection he’d conducted.

  An explosion rocked the ground under their feet, the shock wave shuddering through the cave walls. The already dire situation had just become critical. He wasn’t certain they could survive another blast with the walls surrounding them crumbling as they were. “This place could go at any minute.”

  “We can’t leave them.”

  “If we don’t leave now, we will all end up buried.” He found it hard to ignore the desperation in her eyes. She’d just had her entire world rocked at the admission of his deception, and would need some kind of comfort. “I have complete faith in my team to do what they’ve been trained to do. Let me do what I’ve been trained to do—protect you.”

  “You’re hurt.” She fingered the tattered fabric at his shoulder. “The last thing you need to worry about is me.”

  “And you know that couldn’t be further from the truth. I will always worry about you. My injuries don’t matter right now, Korene.” He leaned forward, pressing his mouth to hers. He poured every emotion he’d ever felt for her into the kiss, sparing nothing. It could very well be the last time he touched her.

  Her hand pressed warm against his cheek. “Roland.”

  “Korene, please.” Pain streaked through his arm as he brushed away a tear at the corner of her eye. He’d gotten her into the mess, he was going to get her out of it. “I am so head over ass in love with you, I don’t care about the complications I brought on us. You have to believe me when I say nothing matters more to me right now than getting you to safety.”

  She stared at him for a long second before nodding and sliding her hand into his. They took off in a dead run, making their way back to the base camp where they’d dropped most of their spare equipment. He scooped up what he could grab. Another explosion sent them both to their knees, raining small bits of rock down so they were covered in a fine dust.

  He tossed an oxygen mask her way, watching to make sure she correctly fit it over her mouth and nose before he placed one on his face. Confident they’d have enough air to reach the emergency tank on the surface, he grabbed her waist, pulling her body tight against his as he lifted his hand high overhead.

  Bright pain radiated throughout his entire torso, but he ignored it. He’d rather be in agony than dead. From the feel of the intense sting, he didn’t doubt his actions to protect Korene would undoubtedly result in the need for some serious medical attention.

  Her face pressed to his neck as he fired the grappling gun. The thin silver cord corkscrewed as it disappeared into the darkness. Another explosion shook the cave, the larger rocks finally loosening to fall to the ground with heavy thumps. The cave started to collapse behind them, causing Roland to curse loudly as he willed the line to find purchase in the high wall above them. He’d shot blindly, the mouth of the long shaft nothing more than a small pinprick of light.

  The gun tugged in his hand. He locked the line down with his thumb, reversing the feed on the line so it would pull them up to safety. They shot up into the darkness just as the cave walls buckled. A bright glow beneath them signaled the space had filled with lava.

  They’d managed to narrowly escape, but he couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. He hadn’t thought far enough ahead about they’d do when they got to the end of the line, but he had a sickening feeling there wasn’t enough to carry them to the top. The darkness would present another problem because he hadn’t thought far enough ahead to grab a spare torch. Maybe he’d exchanged one set of problems for another, but he couldn’t dwell on possibilities.

  They were alive.

  The motor slowed, indicating decision time was imminent. If he could manage to find some kind of ledge on which to balance, perhaps he could find a way to knock loose the bit and reload the grappling gun to launch another line. He wasn’t one hundred perfect certain the line would hold both of their weights ag
ain. There just hadn’t been enough time to take all of those things into account. He began to mull the idea of resetting the line and handing it over to her when they came to a halt.

  “Don’t even think about it.” Light flared, burning his retinas with the sudden flash of brightness. Once his eyes adjusted to the eerie green glow, he let out a burst of laughter that filtered through the oxygen mask as a mechanical sound.

  Korene wrapped her legs around his waist, holding the torch out to her right, another grappling gun out to her left. Damn, he loved this woman. The muscles in his damaged arm burned from holding their combined weight, reminding him they weren’t out of the woods yet. But she’d just upped their chances significantly.

  “Hold this,” she demanded, shoving the thin light stick into the collar of his suit. She looked up without waiting, firing the device. As the line unspooled, she started chanting quietly as they waited for it to find a solid surface.

  His arm gave out just seconds before her line tightened. Her legs tightened around his body, the sharp agony slapping him conscious. “Can you grab my waist?”

  Desperation fueled him as he nodded. She shot upward, the jolt from the shift in direction so jarring, his teeth clicked together from the abrupt change in motion. The harsh movement also caused his hold on Korene’s waist to loosen.

  A fine layer of dust coating the surface of her pants caused him to slip. “Dammit, hold on to me, Roland!”

  He managed to stop himself with a tight grip on her ankle despite the wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm him. He’d never experienced this kind of intense pain in his life. His grip held as they sped for the surface. Now was not the time to remind her they didn’t have enough line or another gun to get all the way out. Black edged his vision. Her shouts sounded fuzzy and far away. Despite his best efforts, his grip faltered.

  Korene’s scream was the last sound he heard before passing out.