Chapter 11
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BOONE CLENCHED HIS jaw as Radley walked ahead of him, her boots crunching on the dead leaves as she moved toward the cabin.
It was exactly as she’d said—the place looked deserted.
Given the weeds, overgrown foliage, and boarded up windows, the place appeared completely abandoned.
He scanned the surrounding area, not noting anything out of place in the woods.
The only thing that did catch his eye was the combination padlock on the front door, which is what Radley had noted as well.
Good girl.
She was observant. Sharp. Now if only she’d stay out of harm’s way by not always insisting that she drive or volunteering to meet with a terrorist or two on her own.
His blood pressure had spiked when she’d simply mentioned it before.
Boone didn’t want to send her into harm’s way.
He wanted to keep her safe—preferably right at his side.
The fact that he liked having her close he didn’t want to examine too closely.
Radley was beautiful, sure, but it was more than that.
He’d always felt a duty to protect others, especially those smaller and weaker than him.
And Radley? She was all of the above. Petite compared to his own muscled frame.
Fragile. Maybe a touch foolish when it came to her own safety, but something else drew him to her.
Despite their differences, they clicked.
They had chemistry. He kind of liked that she challenged and argued with him.
Boone would never be the type of man who wanted a meek woman, afraid of her own damn shadow.
He’d protect Radley, sure, but he appreciated that she wasn’t afraid to hold her own.
Now if only her impulsive nature didn’t get her hurt or killed.
Her hips swayed as she headed toward the door, and he let his gaze slide over her.
Radley swung her backpack around, pulling out a set of lockpicking tools, and Boone’s breath caught.
The tight leather jacket she wore perfectly hugged the swells of her breasts.
She had on another pair of cargo pants, and while they were somewhat loose, he could perfectly see the shape of her round ass.
She’d be a delicious handful, and Boone could imagine gripping her to him—maybe backing her against his bedroom door as he thrust into her tight heat.
He’d lick the side of her neck, tasting that satiny smooth skin, before he nipped and sucked on her.
Her breasts would bounce as he bucked into her again and again. Her lips would part—
“Damn it,” she said.
His cock twitched as she bent over to pick up the tools she dropped. Boone moved in to assist, but she was already working at the padlock once more.
He shoved his prior thoughts down almost as quickly as they’d arisen, but hell. Radley was pretty much his ideal woman. And they’d have to remain no more than friends.
She picked the lock with expert ease, handing it to him as she put her tools away.
Boone set the padlock aside and followed Radley into the cabin, his lips quirking as she insisted on going first. He’d have no problem letting her go first in some instances—in bed, beneath him, crying out his name in pleasure.
Fuck, he was such a goner.
The floor creaked as he stepped inside the cabin, and Boone aimed his flashlight around the space, noting the empty room. Radley was already walking in like she owned the place, heading toward the hallway.
“Did you search the rooms in the back?” he asked.
“Just a brief sweep.”
He clenched his jaw as he moved further inside, frowning at the sawdust on the ground. Radley’s gaze followed his own. “There’s a lot of sawdust out back, too. They were building the crates here.”
“But not filling them?” he mused.
Radley shrugged. “There was no evidence of that, but the place was mostly deserted. Maybe they were continuing to make crates while searching for a new location to send shipments from.”
“All right. Let’s move further in.”
“Yes, sir,” Radley joked.
“You’re trouble, kitten,” Boone chided as he moved after her down the hallway. He was close enough to breathe in her sweet scent, and suddenly he hated the idea of Radley searching this place alone. “You were supposed to wait for me the other day.”
“We’ve already been over that, soldier,” Radley said, entering the first room. She flipped her dark hair over her shoulder, aiming a flashlight around the space but shooting him a sly look as he aimed his own light into the room.
Boone frowned at her but moved to the closet. He yanked open the door, noting it was as empty as the room.
The second room was more of the same—bare, but with a pile of sawdust near the window. “This is weird,” Radley said, shining her flashlight on the floor and moving closer. “It looks like something is written in the sawdust.”
“What?” Boone asked.
He walked toward her, then paused, the hair on the back of his neck suddenly standing up. Radley crouched down as Boone swung his flashlight back to the hallway, suddenly feeling uneasy. He didn’t hear anything but somehow sensed they were no longer alone. Boone took a step closer to the door.
“Yeah. Someone wrote something...,” Radley said, oblivious to any possible danger. “Shit.”
“What’s it say?” Boone asked in a low voice, keeping his eyes on the hall as Radley remained crouched down by the window.
“Help. Someone wrote the word help in sawdust.”
***
THE SOUND OF A DOOR slamming shut had Radley jolting in surprise, and then she sprang up and was running from the bedroom, Boone right on her tail. “Rad—wait!”
Their footsteps thumped down the hall, and the daylight coming in before was completely gone. The living room was complete darkness aside from the beams of their flashlights.
“Shit!” Radley said, rattling the front door. “I took the padlock with me the other day so this wouldn’t happen.”
“I was too busy chasing your ass inside to stop and grab it,” Boone retorted.
Radley rolled her eyes. “And yet you’re the one who caused this particular problem. You left the padlock outside. Now we’re locked in the damn cabin!” She shook the door again, Boone grumbling beside her.
“Let me try.” He gently brushed her hands to the side, and Radley tried to ignore the electricity sparking between them.
Even in her panicked state of alarm, she was acutely aware of Boone’s big frame.
He smelled good—of male and wood and spice.
And the heat from his solid body was comforting.
He wasn’t panicking like her—he was pissed.
Handing her his flashlight, he shook the door himself.
When it didn’t so much as budge, he took a few steps back. “I’m going to try to breach it.”
She nodded, biting her lip, and watched as Boone hurled his big body at the door. He hit the solid wood with an oomph, but staggered back, cursing.
“Let’s use the table,” Radley suggested.
Boone’s gaze slanted toward it, and he nodded. “Someone fucking locked us in here,” he muttered. “Son of a bitch.”
Radley took two steps, then stopped, suddenly sniffing the air. “Is that...gasoline?” Panic began to rise within her. They were locked inside. The windows were boarded shut, and someone was pouring gasoline out there, no doubt planning to set the entire cabin on fire.
“Fuck.” Boone’s curse was low and deadly, and his gaze shot toward one of the boarded-up windows. “Let’s go out the back.”
Radley ran down the hall to the room they’d just come from. “Wait—I need a photo!”
Boone shook his head but didn’t argue, watching as she snapped some pictures of the sawdust and word written in it on the ground.
Suddenly, the front of the cabin ignited, the sound stealing her breath.
“We have to move!” Boone yelled. Reaching up, he gripped the frame around the window, then hefted his body into the air, kicking the boards out. Radley gasped in surprise. While he looked muscular and fit, she was just now realizing how damn strong Boone was.
He dropped back to the ground, his boots scattering the sawdust away. There was no time to worry about it now—the place was going to be nothing but ashes after the fire swept through. Boone gripped Radley by the hips, lifting her up to go out the window first.
“Boone!” she protested, yelping in surprise.
“Rad, get your sweet ass out the window. Hang onto my arms, and I’ll lower you down.”
Trembling, she got her footing on the window frame.
“Squat down,” Boone ordered, his hands still on her hips and mouth right at her ear. “Easy. I got you.” She shivered at the sound of his deep voice at her ear. He felt powerful and virile behind her—a take charge kind of man anyone would want on their side.
“I don’t see anyone,” she said, her voice trembling.
“Let’s hope it stays that way. Hang onto my arms,” he instructed.
She reached up, gripping his biceps, feeling strangely vulnerable.
If anyone came running toward them with a weapon, she’d be defenseless.
Somehow, Radley didn’t doubt Boone would dive in front of her if that happened.
He was chivalrous almost to a fault. All of the men on Bravo Team were fearless in that sense.
They protected others, fought evil, and took out the enemy.
There was no chance in hell he’d let Radley get hurt when he was there.
Boone leaned out the window, and Radley realized he’d let go of her hips. He was holding her hands now, their arms locked together. “Drop down, Rad,” he said, his voice husky and low. “I got you.”
She released him, dropping the last several feet to the ground. Radley had her weapon out in an instant and was shocked when Boone practically vaulted out the window after her. No hesitation. No fear. He landed with a roll but quickly stood up, rushing toward her once more.
“I don’t see anyone!” Radley said, watching in horror as flames licked across the roof of the cabin, coming close to the room they’d just escaped from.
“Let’s get out of here,” Boone said, grabbing her hand.
She didn’t argue, simply clung to him as he led her to the front of the cabin.
Radley was used to thinking on her feet, working through scenarios quickly in her mind.
She appreciated that Boone was the same.
He’d already come up with a plan of escape, and she felt a sense of relief at having a competent and deadly former Delta Force soldier at her side.
Boone had pulled a weapon free with his other hand, but as they rounded the front, they were completely alone. As Boone was scanning the area, still looking for the perpetrator, Radley’s jaw dropped.
All four tires on Boone’s pickup truck were slashed.
They skidded to a stop, Boone still maintaining a protective stance beside her.
“Bad news, soldier. We need a ride to get out of here,” Radley said, her voice full of remorse.
Boone cursed and kept his weapon aimed, moving toward his vehicle. She saw his intent as he snatched a piece of paper from his windshield. Radley’s gut clenched as she read the hastily scrawled note now clenched in Boone’s hand.
You can’t protect her forever. She’s mine.