Page 64 of Guarding The Phoenix: Vol. 1

“Come on. We need to move.” Axel didn’t let me stop. He didn’t let me go back and check on Chase. Tears slid down my face. Had we lost Chase? I wanted to mourn. I wanted to rage at fate. But all I could do was race down the stairs after Axel.

He strode to the private door. The one that had been off limits when my husband was alive. I couldn’t stop the fingers of dread as we approached it. The fear was too ingrained.

The sound of gunfire followed us into the room. Inside, I spied my attacker. His head slumped against his chest. He was missing the back half of his skull. The gore made me gag. Yet I wasn’t sorry he was dead.

“Don’t look. Just run.” Axel ordered.

“I’m trying.” But I knew I wasn’t running fast enough.

Axel threw open the door that could only be accessed with a code. They must have found it digging through the bastard’s files. It opened into a long tunnel that carved into the rock.

How had I never known about this?

But I kept my mouth shut. Axel needed my silence. If I gave voice to the thoughts swimming in my head, we would never make it to our destination. I’d have a total meltdown.

Was Chase alive?

The thought of losing any of my guys was unfathomable. They mattered so much to me, even though we had only known one another for a brief span of time. They felt like family.

The further we raced down the passageway, the more the sounds of the battle diminished. The path sloped down, and down even further at steep intervals until I thought it would never end. It was wide enough for a truck to get through.

We reached a doorway that had multiple exits. It was a huge, garage style door split down the center that once opened would allow a truck to enter the tunnel. But there was also a small, secondary, normal-sized door inside the bigger door. And that’s where we were getting out.

“If I tell you to run. I want you to run hell bent for leather to the yacht at the end of the dock. Understood?”

I nodded my understanding. But kind of wanted to pee in my pants at the fear humming in my veins.

He opened the door slowly. Peered out, looking left and right, searching to make sure the coast was clear. Even through my fear, I found Axel sexy. And while he’d taken charge in the bedroom, I was seeing a new side of him. This was the Marine who didn’t hesitate or cower during an attack. He took charge with unwavering steel.

If we weren’t running for our lives, I’d want him to direct all that energy my way. Because I found it deeply arousing.

“The coast looks clear. We need to move fast and stay quiet. Keep up with me and don’t let go. If I tell you to run, you run.”

I nodded my understanding. My pulse hammered and palms were sweaty. Even the painkiller couldn’t keep the anxiety away.

And then we headed into the dark. The salty tang of the sea washed over me. Axel maneuvered me down the wooden pier to the boat moored at the end. The gunfire was faint. They didn’t seem to know we were headed to the yacht. And that was a good thing.

At the boat, we boarded, and Axel whispered in my ear, “Sit down so you’re out of sight. I need to check and make sure none of Santos’s men are on board and the coast is clear. Yell if you need me.”

I crouched low. He tossed the duffel down beside me. Then, with a last look, he pressed his finger over his mouth, telling me to be silent.

Then he left me there while he searched the yacht. I had always thought this thing was ostentatious. Even more than the house. But for once, it thrilled me that the bastard had this damn thing. Because it was our salvation.

Axel was gone a few minutes. Relief flooded me when he returned. “Let’s get you down below. Then I need to get the boat ready for departure. We’re leaving the moment the guys get here.”

We went down below. Shock rocked me back on my heels at what I found. The galley was full of supplies. Bottled water. Canned goods. Dry foodstuffs. Guns and ammunition. And I glanced at the fridge and bet it was stocked with supplies, too.

“How?” I croaked, my throat aching.

“Gideon. He’s a planner. Likes to plan for every scenario. And it might drive me bug fuck, but I’m always thankful when he does. Stay down here until one of us comes and gets you, all right?”

I nod, too stunned by the night and turn of events. I was running on fumes. The adrenaline surge had given way to the effects of the painkiller.

Axel swiveled around at the pounding footsteps on the dock. My heart jumped into my throat. With his gun in hand, he said, “Stay here.”

Before I could respond, he charged up the stairs.