Page 86 of Her Mercenary

After pocketing the soap, I carefully climbed down the ravine and picked my way through the brush to the river at the base of the valley.

The woods were beginning to lighten with dawn as I stepped onto the thin, rocky shoreline. I stripped naked, taking my time to fold my clothes on a nearby branch. His clothes—ones that I would cherish forever.

I waded into the water.

Following the current, I traced the lines of the water with my fingertips until I found a deep spot. Letting myself go, I dipped under, wetting my hair.

I glanced back toward the cave, squinting through the trees. My heart literally ached at the thought that I might never see him again.

I lathered the soap, watching the foam bubble through my fingers. Slowly, I washed my hands, my arms, my shoulders, and began to cry.

I didn’t want to leave him.

I didn’t want to lose him.

I didn’t want him to kill anymore.

I didn’t want to leave, go home to a place where I knew I wouldn’t be the same as when I’d left.

I stared at the blazing orange line growing on the tops of the trees, the beams of fuchsia shooting through the clouds ahead.

I wanted to stay.

I will stay, I decided at that moment.

I’d stay by Roman’s side until his job was done, his mother avenged. I would stay until I ensured the children were rescued and safe.

And then we would go away together. Him and me. We would find a place far away, a secluded, beautiful spot to build a home and rebuild our lives. Together.

Today, I would tell him I wanted to be his forever.

But I never got the chance.

The moment the sun peeked over the mountain, a hand covered my mouth. A needle slipped into my neck, and with darkness creeping into my vision, I was dragged into the shadows.

40

ROMAN

I could feel she was gone before I even opened my eyes.

I shot up, my instincts surging to life, instantly pushing away the haze of sleep. A flower tumbled off my chest, onto the rock. I picked up the plumeria, and my stomach dropped.

“Sam?” I yelled out, my voice echoing off the cave walls as I pushed off the rock floor.

I frantically surveyed the cave, yanking on my pants. Her clothes were gone, but her canteen, the food, my pack, everything else was still there.

“Sam?” I yelled again, noticing my pack had been moved.

I picked it up and began searching through the contents. The soap was gone.

Shit.

I spun on my heel, and leaving everything behind, scrambled down the side of the cliff and sprinted to the water. I looked at the sun through the trees, trying to get a sense of what time it was. Nine, ten o’clock in the morning? Jesus, how had I slept so long?

Sunlight sparkled like diamonds against the rushing river. A fish jumped, twisting in the air and landing with a splash. Sam’s clothes lay folded on a nearby branch.

Her clothes were there—but she wasn’t.