Unmapped (Treasure Hunter Security #6)

by Anna Hackett

  As Peri stared at it, a spike of emotion shot through her. Ronin would not have let this artifact fall into Silk Road’s hands.

  Lady Victoria carefully wrapped the ancient weapon in a cloth and slipped it into her backpack. She settled the bag on her back. “All right, you two—” she pointed at Peri and Amber “—get us out of here. Fast.”

  Something unfurled in Peri. She stepped forward and nodded. The urge to jump on the woman and choke her was strong, but she held it back. “I can get us out of here. I even know a shortcut.” She pointed. “That way.”

  Lady Victoria inclined her head. “Good. Let’s move.”

  Peri took the lead, keeping Amber close beside her. “Stay close to me.” She kept her voice to a whisper.

  “I know that look, Peri—” Her sister’s voice was shaky.

  “Trust me.”

  “Always.”

  Peri led Silk Road on a fast clip through the city. She stared hard at the landmarks, and old tracks from earlier. She was certain they were heading in the right direction.

  Ahead, she spotted the area where the ice had come in and formed the ice cavern. The blue-green colors were so beautiful.

  “This is the shortcut,” she called back. “The ground’s rough, so move fast and stay together.”

  As she stepped inside the cavern, she prayed no one looked up. “When I say run, you run,” she whispered to her sister. “And stay close to the side wall.”

  Amber’s eyes widened, but she nodded.

  Peri led them into the large cavern. She glanced back once to assess the group, and fought back a smirk of satisfaction. Everyone was so focused on navigating the rough, icy ground, that they didn’t look up.

  Slowly, Peri angled herself and Amber closer to the side wall. It was a gorgeous sweep of ice. Keep moving, keep moving.

  Peri looked back again. The Silk Road team members were all slipping and cursing as they crossed the cavern. They were also bunched perfectly in a group in the center of the space.

  Perfect. “Come on.” She raised her voice. “Everyone keep up!”

  One icicle fell. It slammed down, shattering on the ground beside one of the Silk Road guards.

  As the man screamed, more icicles shook loose, and started falling like a deadly rain of spikes.

  “Run,” Peri said to Amber.

  The more panicked noise the group made, the more the dangerous spikes fell.

  Peri focused on running as fast as she could, staying close to the wall. Amber was right behind her, and Silk Road’s screams echoed behind them.

  An icicle crashed into the ice just a few feet from Peri. She jerked to a halt, gesturing to Amber. They both pressed their bodies flat against the wall.

  “We’re almost out of here.” Peri could see the exit not far away. “Keep going.”

  Together, they shimmied along the wall, blocking out the thumps and screams. They stumbled out into the street.

  Amber was breathing fast. She looked back into the cavern. “Some of them made it through!”

  Peri grabbed her sister’s hand. “Let’s go. Fast.”

  They sprinted down the street. Ahead, the street split, with one side climbing to an upper level of the city. Peri turned that way and they ran up the incline.

  Without warning, there was the roar of gunfire. Bullets peppered the ground just behind them. Shit. Peri lunged to the side, pumping her arms. “Faster, Amber.”

  Amber cried out.

  No! Peri skidded and turned. She saw her sister down on the ground, a hand pressed to her calf.

  “Oh, my God, Peri, I got shot.” Amber was breathing hard and fast.

  Peri dropped down beside her sister. She could see the ragged tear in the fabric and the blood soaking her trousers.

  Amber sat up and tried to stand. She dropped back with a grimace of pain. “I can’t put any weight on it.”

  Peri’s gut was as hard as rock. “I’ll help you!”

  “I’ll never make it. Go, Peri. Get out!”

  “I will never leave you.” She’d already lost Ronin. She wasn’t losing her sister, as well.

  The remnants of the Silk Road team crested the ramp, Lady Victoria and Colston in the lead. The Silk Road leader’s face didn’t look attractive now. Anger was etched on the woman’s features. She lifted her pistol and strode closer. She pressed the barrel right to the center of Peri’s forehead.

  Peri flinched. Lady Victoria looked disheveled now. Her arm was bleeding, and her coat ripped.

  Colston stood behind the woman. He wasn’t injured, but he looked pissed. It was clear they’d lost a lot of people in the ice cavern.

  “Bitch.” He shoved forward, grabbed a handful of Peri’s jacket, and yanked her up. He dragged her over to the edge of the upper level. From here, she had a perfect view of the empty ice city below. He pushed her to the very edge, her foot slipping into midair.

  “If I had a fucking well to drop you down like your dead boyfriend, I would. I’d listen to your screams echo around me.”

  “Fuck you,” she spat.

  “You made a bad choice, Ms. Butler.”

  “I’d do it again if I could.”

  “Peri!” Amber screamed. “Let her go.”

  Colston leaned closer. “Is your heart beating hard? Is fear burning in your gut?”

  He shoved her again and Peri felt the empty space yawning behind her. She looked down. It was a long drop and she knew she wouldn’t survive it.

  “That’s what Cooper was feeling as he fell in that hole.” Colston’s eyes glittered.

  Ronin. Pain speared her chest, but she glared at Colston defiantly. She wouldn’t give the bastard the pleasure of seeing her fear or pain. “Are you going to talk me to death, or what, Colston?”

  He made an angry sound and pushed her over the edge.

  Peri fell backward, seeing Colston and two other Silk Road thugs watching her as she fell. She heard Amber’s screams.

  Air rushed past Peri and she closed her eyes. She thought of Ronin’s intense, not-quite-handsome face. The feel of his hard arms around her. The taste of his lips on hers.

  Suddenly, she was caught in strong arms, the force of the fall knocking her and her rescuer to the ground and sending them sliding across the ice. Every bit of air was forced out of her lungs and she heard a masculine grunt beneath her.

  When they came to a stop, she blinked. God, she was alive.

  She turned her head to look at her savior and her chest locked up solid.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Peri? Are you okay?”

  Ronin held Peri clutched tightly in his arms. She was staring at him with wide, disbelieving eyes.

  “Ronin?” Her hands clamped on his cheeks. “Are we dead?”

  He smiled. “No.”

  Understanding dawned on her beautiful features, then she burst into movement. She leaped at him, straddling his hips. She kissed him desperately, her hands moving all over him, like she was trying to make sure he was really there.

  “You’re alive?” she whispered.

  “Yes.”

  She burst into heartbreaking sobs.

  God, she was killing him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He murmured to her, stroking her back. “I’m here, baby. I’m sorry I had to leave you for a little while.”

  The sound of a throat being cleared caught Ronin’s attention, and he looked over to where Logan and Dec stood. Dec was grinning and Logan was staring upward.

  Ronin slid a hand around to the base of Peri’s neck and squeezed. Her sobs morphed to quiet tears.

  “I’m okay,” he told her.

  “How?” she asked in a watery voice. “I saw them push you into that hole.” Her chest hitched.

  He imagined if their situation were reversed, and he’d been forced to watch her fall and thought she was dead, he’d feel the same as her. He tightened his hold on her. Watching that bastard Colston push her off the damn cliff had been bad enough.

  “The well
was narrow. I threw my arms and legs out and managed to slow my slide. Then I clung there and tried to work out a plan.” He didn’t tell her that his muscles had been burning and shaking, and he’d been close to sliding down into oblivion. “Dec and Logan had been watching us. After Silk Road left, they arrived and pulled me out.”

  As soon as he’d gotten out, he’d raced off, desperate to find Peri.

  She kissed him again, fiercely, tears still streaming down her cheeks. “I love you.”

  Shock made him go still.

  “I don’t care if you’re a dark, dangerous loner. I don’t care if you don’t know about love. You’re mine, and I’ll teach you all about it until you love me back. Until you worship the ground I walk on.” Her tone was ferocious.

  He sank his hands into her hair, emotions filling his chest. He wasn’t sure what each part of the tangle was, but he knew where they all ended. “Okay.”

  She tilted her head. “Okay? That’s all you’ve got to say after telling me you aren’t the love and togetherness kind of guy?”

  Ronin smiled. “I doubt it’ll take me long to learn how to love you, Peri. I think I’m already on my way.”

  She made a sound, her face softening. Their kiss this time was slower, more tender.

  The sound of a clearing throat came again. “Bad guys with a dangerous artifact are getting away,” Dec said. “And we need to rescue Peri’s sister.”

  Peri jolted and looked up. Ronin nodded. “Ready to go?”

  She nodded.

  “Let’s go get your sister and save the world.”

  “No pressure.” She pushed to her feet, nodding at Dec and Logan. “Glad you guys are okay.”

  “You, too,” Dec said.

  “Silk Road will be heading out of here in the quickest direction possible,” she said.

  “We’ll stop them,” Ronin said darkly.

  “There aren’t too many of them left,” she said with savage satisfaction.

  Ronin smiled. “Saw you lead them through that icicle cavern.”

  “I’d do it again if I could.”

  “Really don’t ever want to get on your bad side.”

  “All right, let’s go,” Dec said.

  They headed off, following the trail of the Silk Road team. It wasn’t long before they heard voices ahead.

  Dec held up a hand and they huddled together. “Logan and I will circle around. You guys attack them from the rear. Start picking off the guards and take down as many as you can.”

  Ronin nodded. “Got it.” He pulled out the spare Glock Dec had given him and checked it.

  “Let’s end this and secure the weapon,” Dec said. “Good luck.” He and Logan slipped between two buildings and disappeared.

  “Will you stay back?” Ronin asked Peri quietly.

  “Hell, no.”

  He sighed. He’d known she’d say that. And hell, Peri had proven over and over that she could handle herself. He pulled out the combat knife Logan had given him and handed it to her. “Take this.”

  She gripped it and nodded.

  “And stay close to me.”

  They crept down along the side of a building. Around the corner, they heard voices, and he realized that Silk Road had stopped to rest.

  “Hey, where’s Chang?” someone said.

  “He went around that way.”

  “The idiot fucking wandered off. We need to stick together.”

  “He’ll be back.”

  Or not. Looked like Dec and Logan had started taking down the guards.

  Ronin moved up to the end of the wall, his back pressed to the rock. He carefully glanced around the wall and pulled back. In that split second, he’d taken in the number of guards and their locations.

  “Two heading this way,” he murmured to Peri. She lifted her knife.

  He slowed his breathing. Time to attack.

  Two Silk Road guards rounded the corner. They were talking and laughing, not paying any attention.

  Before Peri even planned a response, Ronin attacked.

  God. He moved hard and fast. He grabbed the first guard and tossed him against the wall. With lethal, dangerous moves, he struck out, kicking the second guard in the knee. The man went down and Ronin was on him in a second. He gripped the man’s neck and twisted. The cracking sound made her wince.

  He flowed upward, just as the second guard shook his head and focused on Ronin. Three hard, short punches and the guard went down.

  This was what Ronin thought was all he had to offer. The violence, the fighting, being a shield for the people he considered good and innocent.

  But there was so much more to him. Courage, an unshakable sense of right and wrong, and the bravery to do the things others didn’t want to do in order to protect.

  He looked at her. “Okay?”

  She moved to him and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Yes.”

  Something moved in his eyes.

  “Rogers, where the hell are—” A man rounded the corner.

  He stared at them in shock, took one step back, and opened his mouth to alert the others.

  Peri ran forward. She swung out with the knife and stabbed him in the belly.

  The man grunted, and they both stared at each other for a horrible second. He started to fall backward, just as another guard appeared. This one was holding a dangerous-looking, black rifle.

  His gaze narrowed and he started to raise the weapon. Without thinking, Peri dropped down, sliding on the ice, and kicked the legs out from under him.

  He fell on his back with a shout. Before Peri could get to her feet, Ronin rushed past her like a blurred, dark bullet. He slammed down on the man, and, with a hard blow, knocked the Silk Road man out.

  Ronin snatched up the rifle and stood.

  Peri heard shouts. Silk Road knew they were here.

  All of a sudden, a female scream echoed off the ice around them. Peri’s head snapped up, her heart kicking against her ribs. “Amber.”

  “Come out now and I won’t kill her,” Colston called out.

  Peri stared at Ronin.

  “Now!” Colston roared.

  Peri didn’t hesitate. She stepped around the corner, and Ronin was right behind her.

  Colston stood with only four guards. He had Amber clutched in front of him, a pistol pressed to her temple. “Drop your weapons.”

  Peri tossed her knife and it clattered to the ice. Ronin set the rifle down on the ground.

  “THS is such a fucking pain in my ass. You guys just won’t die.” Colston’s face screwed up. “I’m getting out of here with the vajra. You won’t fucking stop me.”

  Ronin raised a brow. “The weapon your partner seems to have taken off with?”

  Colston blinked. He turned his head to look behind him.

  There was no sign of Lady Victoria.

  “Victoria? Vicky?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. He pressed the gun harder against Amber’s skin and she moaned. Then he cursed.

  “I don’t actually think honor amongst thieves exists,” Ronin said.

  “Shut up! I’ll kill you, and your woman, and that traitorous bitch I’ve had to pander to.”

  Peri stared at the angry man, her mind whirling as she tried to work out what Ronin’s plan was. He looked composed and relaxed, despite the guns aimed at them.

  “We both know Victoria will be long gone,” Ronin said.

  “I said, shut up.” Spittle flew from Colston’s mouth. The easygoing man and his cool surfer persona were long gone.

  That’s when Peri spotted a flash of movement. She made sure she didn’t look in that direction, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Logan’s big form sneaking up behind the Silk Road team.

  Ronin was keeping Colston distracted so he didn’t notice.

  She could help with that. “Amber, are you okay?”

  Her sister bit her lip, terror on her face. “No.”

  “It’ll be okay,” Peri promised.

  “Oh?” Colston dragged Amber closer. “I’m the on
e with the gun, so how do you figure that?”

  “Because you’re surrounded by pissed off former Navy SEALs,” Peri said, wild satisfaction flaring inside her. “And the one behind you looks especially angry.”

  Colston and his men jerked, all starting to turn.

  Logan attacked and Dec flew out of nowhere. They attacked the men with hard kicks. She saw Logan land an unforgiving blow to one of the guards. The guard staggered back into Colston. With a shout, Colston fell, Amber falling with him.

  “Get your sister.” Ronin leaped into the fight to help.

  Peri darted in and grabbed Amber’s arm. She pulled her sister out of the mêlée. “Amber!”

  “God.” Amber hugged her tightly.

  Peri was aware of curses and grunts, and the dull thud of flesh striking flesh, as the fight continued around them.

  “No!” Colston was trying to scramble away. Ronin grabbed the back of his jacket and hauled the man up.

  “You threw my woman off a fucking cliff.” Ronin’s voice was low and lethal.

  Goosebumps broke out on Peri’s skin. Colston broke free and ran. Ronin pulled his Glock, aimed, and fired.

  Colston hit the ice face first and didn’t move.

  Peri hugged her sister again. “Are you all right?”

  Amber nodded, tears in her eyes. “I am now. Thanks for coming for me, sis.”

  “Let me see your leg,” Peri said.

  “It isn’t too bad. Colston had someone patch it up.”

  Peri saw the blood-soaked bandage. It would have to do for now. God, this nightmare was almost over. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too,” Amber whispered.

  Ronin appeared. “Everyone okay?”

  Peri threw herself at him, burying her face in his neck. He held on tight, his hands flexing on her.

  “Amber, this is Ronin. Ronin, my sister, Amber.”

  Amber smiled. “Hi.”

  “And the others are Declan and Logan.” She leaned into Ronin’s side. “They’re with Treasure Hunter Security. I hired them to help me rescue you.”

  Dec appeared. “We need to stop the Silk Road woman and get the artifact.”

  Amber rubbed her sleeve across her face. “I noticed when she left. She went that way.” Amber pointed down an empty street.