Page 128 of Cavern of Silence

"No. Down now, take it like a man, or she dies. Decide," he yells, and spit flies in my face.

There's no other choice.

Julieta's cries ring through the air, and I get down on all fours. When the hot metal singes my flesh, I grip the dirt, trying to steady myself so she doesn't die.

Burning skin, Julieta's cries, and men shouting in excitement create an atmosphere I'll never be able to escape. And I almost pass out from the pain.

After Jonas brands me with the J then the T hits my back, and everything starts all over.

When he finishes, my arms and legs are shaking. I can't feel my back, and when I'm dragged to my feet, Julieta's horrified eyes are all I see in the mob of evil.

"Take him back to the bunker and get her out of here," Jonas instructs.

Julieta is yanked in one direction, screaming, and two thugs pull me in the other.

I'm not taken to the room I was initially in. They spray me down with a hose, give me a jumpsuit similar to what a prisoner would wear, and shove me in a six-by-eight dirt cell. The heavy metal door slams, and only then do I collapse on the ground with pain searing in my body and Julieta's terrorized expression stained in my mind.

21

Julieta

One week later

Why couldn'the let me die and save himself?

It's eight in the morning, and I've been lying in bed, crying for hours. I keep reliving Ryker fighting and Jonas branding him. And his blue eyes haunt me.

My face continues to throb. It isn't as bad as a week ago, but regardless, nothing compares to what tears at my heart the most. It's deeper than anything I've ever experienced, and I don't know how to get past it to do my job.

And I have to get back on the planes, or they will surely kill Ryker.

They kept me in a dirt pit for several nights, but last night, they dropped me off in a hotel room.

When I walked in the room, the closet door was open, and my flight attendant uniform was hanging in the closet. My work schedule sat on the nightstand next to the bed.

Dread and more grief over Ryker filled me.

When I got into the room and I saw the uniform and schedule, it was another blow. I should never have allowed myself to believe I could run from the Global Leaders. All it did was create hell on earth for Ryker.

It seems impossible a week ago we were catching fish and swimming with the pigs, and today he's God knows where and I'm resuming my old duties.

And he allowed Jonas to brand him, not even flinching, to save me.

I sob some more, not able to help the sorrow that consumes me.

Marry me,his voice says in my head, and I cry harder.

I'm in Belize. I only know this because the fight club is at Jonas's compound. I have no recollection of how I got from the Bahamas to this country, and I curse myself for not paying attention in the airport.

And now Ryker is Jonas's prisoner. He will use him until he can't anymore, and then Ryker will die, unless I figure out a way to help him.

Hunter or any of the guys—they will know how to help him.

I don't know how to contact them, and the Global Leaders now observe all my moves.

You have to get to Bermuda. Then they can rescue him.

How? You couldn't do it with Ryker. How are you going to get there on your own?