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“Boone, Flux is worth a lot to Carruthers. He’s not gonna stop coming after me.”
Boone’s grip tightened. “Carruthers is not touching you, Gemma. I swear.”
* * *
Boone eyedthe mine structure high on the hill above them. It was a dilapidated wooden building clinging to the hillside. Below it was a patch of yellow aspens surrounded by dense evergreen trees.
He was sitting on the porch, watching Gemma and Atlas run around on the grass.
He hadn’t had a nightmare last night. He’d spent the night spooning Gemma, or fucking her, and the rest of the time, he’d slept like a log.
Then he’d started his day with his head between her legs, after which they’d had a very long shower.
Despite everything going on, he hadn’t felt this light in a long time.
Must be the good food, cupcakes, and hot sex.
No, that wasn’t the truth. It was Gemma.
She’d woken him up.
And she was in more danger than he’d thought. His hand clenched into a fist. Whatever he had to do to keep her safe, he’d do it.
The rumble of Shep’s truck caught his ear. His friend had left earlier this morning to head into the local town for some things.
Shep parked, then sliced out of the truck, and Boone stiffened. He knew his friend well enough to tell he was tense and worried about something.
Shep headed over, watching as Atlas leaped on Gemma. She went down, giggling as she play-wrestled with Boone’s dog.
Damn, watching the pair of them made his chest tighten.
Shep leaned against the porch railing.
“I’m guessing the trip to town didn’t run smoothly?” Boone said.
“There are some guys in town. Asking questions. I couldn’t risk getting too close, but I reckon they’re your mercenaries.”
“Fucking hell.” Boone bit off a curse. “Shep, how the hell could they have found her? They’ve managed to track her—” He broke off, horror dawning.
Shep cursed. “They have a tracker on her.”
“She has new clothes—”
“It has to be on her body somewhere.”
Fuck. Boone rose. Another violation of Gemma’s life. “If they have a tracker, why are they asking questions in town? Why aren’t they here already?”
Shep’s mouth flattened. “Reception sucks here. Maybe they can’t get an exact lock on her, just a general area.”
They didn’t have a lock on her yet, but he knew the clock was ticking.
He looked up and saw Gemma watching him. Her smile was gone, and her face was pale. Slowly, she walked over.
“What’s going on?”
“Shep saw some of the mercs in town.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding. How are they here?”
