Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(102)

He, she, or they had screwed up her escape, too. Big-time.

With a sigh, she looked down at the soaking-wet jeans she’d removed.

Her water had broken…because she was in labor. Congratulations, Sergeant, it’s official. You’re royally fucked.

Good thing she’d assisted in a couple of births when undercover in third world villages. At least she knew the basics—starting with a person didn’t deliver babies when wearing jeans.

She’d be giving birth in a basement. As a captive. She rolled her eyes. Over the past months, when she’d whined, Alec would laugh and say mothers loved to tell their cubs all the trouble they’d caused when in the womb. Apparently, Alec and Calum’s mother had busted an ankle, and she’d never let them forget.

Well, you little terror…or terrors…you’re going to get an earful from me.

Another labor pain caught her. Oh, fucking god, it hurts. As her stomach turned to concrete under her hand, she heard footsteps in the hallway. Can’t scream, can’t scream. She gritted her teeth.

The door opened. One of the bastards who’d escorted her to the basement stood in the doorway. This one had tried to cop a feel, and she’d planted a fist in his gut. He’d stayed out of reach since.

If you come in, I’ll kill you. She’d try her damndest, at any rate. She let her gaze convey that.

He sneered. “You think hiding behind the bed will keep you safe?”

Speaking would mean unlocking her jaw. And screaming. Sweat broke out on her forehead as the contraction lasted and lasted.

“It won’t, bitch.” His coarse laugh held ugly anticipation. “The Director will be down after he finishes his supper. He says you’ll give him good information, or we’ll rip that freak out of your belly and cut its fingers off in front of you.”

You can try, asshole.

With everything except her shoulders and head concealed by the bed, she fingered the knife in her ankle sheath. When they came for her, she’d do what she had to do. For as long as she lived.

“Filthy beast.” Annoyed by her lack of reaction, he left, slamming the door behind him.

Calum, Alec, hurry. Please, please, please hurry. I’ll wait as long as I can.

But they didn’t even know where this place was.

As fear flooded her system, she curled on the floor and let the pain take her.





Chapter Twenty-Four





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The night was moonless, thankfully, which meant Ryder couldn’t see Darcy trembling like a leaf.

Tynan’s address had been the right one. This was the stone prìosan that had held her captive for over ten years. She stood outside the stone wall on the west beside Ben’s littermate, waiting for Alec.

When they’d arrived, Alec had wanted to get an idea of what they were facing. To look through the huge wrought-iron gates. So, after dropping him off a block away, she and Ryder had driven around the corner, parked up the hill from the property, and found themselves a dark shadow in which to wait.

“There he is.” Ryder’s voice was a whisper in the light breeze.

Earlier, as she and Wells were climbing into Alec’s car, Ryder had slid into the back seat and said simply, “My bro, Ben, said you needed another cat.”

Another person to help. She’d wanted to hug him so hard.

Looking as if he didn’t have a care in the world, Alec sauntered around the corner and up the hill. He eased into the gloom of the overhanging tree. “I caught Vicki’s scent.” His quiet voice couldn’t conceal his anger. “Close to the front. She must have made a run for the gate, fell deliberately, and left her scent behind.

Darcy shook her head. Vicki had probably panicked and… No, Vicki was a Marine. A spy. There was no panic in that female. “She’s probably planning her escape even now.”

“Let’s save her the trouble,” Ryder murmured.

Darcy pulled in a breath. Vicki wasn’t the one who was panicking, Darcy was. Her heart was hammering violently enough to hurt, and even her bones were shaking.

She swallowed past the constriction in her throat and whispered, “See the walnut?” She pointed to the tall tree on the other side of the wall.

The males nodded.

“That’s the tree closest to the wall. I’ll wait for you in the branches.” If she made it.

As if he could hear her doubts, Alec squeezed her shoulder. “You’ll do fine, sweetheart.” Pulling out his cell phone, he sent a text to Wells and Tynan. Going in now.

Darcy stripped and stuffed her black tank top and sweatpants into a tiny bag.

The males disposed of their clothes in a black garbage bag and left it under the tree. Tynan said it would look as if the garbage collector had missed a bag.

“Ready?” Ryder stood beside her. His skin was dark enough to blend in with the shadows, and he’d tied his shoulder-length black hair back. “I’ll be right behind you.”

The knowledge helped, even as she wished it were Owen and Gawain with her. But no. Stay away, my males. Be safe. She thought of them being hurt, being shot, falling. Dying. A shudder ran through her.

No, don’t think about dying. She forced her lips into a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. “Try to keep up, cat.”

“The Mother be with you,” Ryder whispered.