Page 160

He wanted Hunter to protect me. That’s the way it always was, but who was protecting him? Why did he never think about himself?
I wrung my hands together as fear swirled in my stomach. I couldn’t stand the thought of him in there all alone. If it weren’t for the call from Lock, I wouldn’t be here right now. I’d have no idea that Knight was on the verge of…
I couldn’t think about it. If he died?—
“Breathe, Kate,” Hunter urged, rubbing a hand up and down my back as I bent over and gagged. My whole body shook with fear, but the nausea swirling was because of all he would leave behind if something happened to him. He never did understand how much he meant to everyone.
“You have to get someone over here,” I said quickly, straightening myself as I resolved to pull my shit together for Knight. “He wouldn’t leave you alone.”
Tears slipped from my eyes as I stared into my friend’s. I knew Hunter would go to any length to save Knight, but we both knew he was outnumbered. The sheer amount of men who filtered into the building made it impossible to even think of a rescue mission without more numbers.
“Kate—” he choked out. “You know I would do anything for you.” His eyes shone bright as he stared at me.
That was all I needed to see to know he was at a loss. There was nothing he could do. Not if he wanted to get us out alive.
“I can’t lose him,” I whispered, shaking my head. “I can’t?—”
“I know.” He swallowed hard, looking back to the building. I saw the determination in his eyes as he turned back to me. “You stay here. You swear it or I won’t go in there. He would kill me if I let anything happen to you.”
I knew it was a lost cause. Going in alone would be impossible to survive, but I had to let him try. Maybe that was selfish of me. Hunter had his own family he had to think about, yet he was here with me, thinking of doing something insane.
“I swear it,” I said, decision made.
With a curt nod, he studied the building for another minute. I could see the wheels turning in his mind, coming up with a plan. Nerves skittered through me as he took off through the wooded area, then across the brush-filled field. We were in the middle of nowhere, which should leave me feeling vulnerable, but I was too focused on Hunter getting to Knight to worry about anything else.
And that’s why I was completely surprised when a hand slid over my mouth and I was yanked back against a muscular chest. I gasped, but it was cut off by a low voice hissing in my ear.
“Don’t scream.”
My breaths sawed in and out of me as he spread his fingers slightly, allowing me more room to breathe.
“I’m going to remove my hand.”
I nodded, then waited as he slowly eased back, allowing me to turn and face him. Except, it wasn’t just one man. Three men stood in front of me, all of them looking just as murderous as Knight.
“Who are you?” I whispered.
“Jason. Lock sent us. Where’s Knight?”
My lip quivered as I realized reinforcements had shown up. I wasn’t alone. Hunter might actually have a chance. “Inside,” I croaked out. “He was dragged in there?—”
My fingers flew to my lips as I forced myself not to break down. I took a moment and calmed myself. They wouldn’t be able to help if I freaked out. “Hunter went in after him?—”
“By himself?” Jason hissed.
I nodded, my guilt overwhelming me as I really thought about what I had asked of him.
“Stay here,” Jason hissed, rushing past me.
I grabbed him by the arm, refusing to stay behind now that we had backup. “I’m going, too. If he needs help?—”
“Fine, but stay behind me.”
I nodded and waited for the other two men to pass before I followed quickly. My bag swung against my leg and I gripped it tighter, keeping it from rattling as I ran. My chest grew tight with every step I took, but I forced the panic down. I had to think about what I might be facing, and that meant preparing for anything medically necessary.
I startled at the sound of a gunshot, my feet refusing to move as a whimper rose in my throat. If it weren’t for the man beside me, I wouldn’t have made it a step further.
“Kate,” he whispered. “Keep moving.”