out and he falls to the ground laughing.
I grind my teeth and hold position.
“You’re kidding, right?” Axel rolls to his back and stares at the ceiling fans slowly spinning over our heads.
“No.” I’m down to huffing out single words. Forty-five seconds to go.
“Well shit, I guess you won’t be doing the pack run with us tonight.”
Max loves his team building bullshit. If he doesn’t have us hoofing a 10K run in full body armor and gear, he figures out something else to keep us occupied. Last time, he kept us scaling the hundred-foot cliffs that lead down to the beach all damn afternoon.
“Nope.”
“You’re not even going to try and sneak out?”
“No.”
“Lucky bastard.” Axel glances at the time.
I’ve got twenty seconds left and I’m struggling. Whoever thinks planking is for lightweights doesn’t know shit.
Axel reaches out and knocks my elbow. He thinks to make me drop, but I know Axel’s thoughts before his brain registers them. I brace for it and hold my position.
Ten seconds.
Axel wraps his hand around my elbow and tries to break my lock. I double-down and resist while growling at him.
Five seconds.
My shoulders are on fire. My abs tremble and burn with the exertion. My bum leg doesn’t give one shit about this. Planks are all about the core and maybe a bit of shoulder girdle strength.
One second and I huff against the pain, soaking it in. Pain is a body’s way of reminding us that we’re not dead.
My alarm sounds an end to five minutes of torment and a new countdown begins. This was but the first of five rounds of this particular hell.
“You going to join me for the next four rounds?”
Axel rolls his eyes and gives a half-hearted groan. He glances at the rest of our team, who’ve naturally paired off in the gym.
“What did Skye say about rock climbing?” His gaze casts wistfully to the interior rock wall that dominates an entire side of the building. The modified hanger is forty feet tall and fifty yards long. The rock covers the entire length of the longest wall. Guardians don’t just climb up rock walls. We traverse them too.
Planking isn’t supposed to do shit for your quads, but my injured thigh throbs from the minimal exertion. I rub at it, conscious of Axel’s gaze. His lips twist with worry.
“She said if I behave, she might let me join the team as support.”
“Support?” His brow wings up.
“Yeah…”
“She does know you’re a Guardian.”
“She does, but she also has the final say on whether I sit on my ass here or sit on my ass supporting your ass.”
“My ass doesn’t need any support.”
“Thank shit for that.”
“So? No rock climbing, I take it?”
“Nope. I’m going to be a picture-perfect patient. What do you know about Moira?”
“I would’ve said something if I knew anything.” He reaches out and grabs my shoulder, giving a hard squeeze. “We will find her.”
“And I’ll bring her home.”
“And you’ll bring her home.” Axel gives me a look. We understand each other perfectly.
The timer on my phone beeps again. I flip back to my plank position and Axel joins me.
We don’t talk about what will happen if Skye doesn’t clear me from medical hold, but it’s always on our minds. A Guardian is no good if he can’t operate. And if I can’t operate, who’s going to rescue Moira?
Hang on, Moira, you’re stronger than you know.
Five
Moira
“Get up,” Bossman growls at me.
When I don't move fast enough, he grabs me by the hair and gives a sharp yank. A howl escapes me as he hauls me to my feet. I grab at his wrist as my feet skate across the floor, trying to find purchase. I barely get my feet under me before he slams me into the corner.
“Stay there. Don't move.”
Like I have anywhere to go. With fragile female tears streaming down my face, I slide down to the floor, where I draw up my knees and wrap my arms around them.
Here’s where it gets tricky.
Playing Bossman is going to be much different, and infinitely harder, than what I did to Shelly. Shelly was a brute. His brain operated barely above base, primitive instincts. It’s why he was more interested in raping me than staying alive.
Called that one right.
I’d give myself a high five, or fist bump, if I wasn’t scared about these next few minutes. No time to mess up now. My opponent is a stalwart professional.
I huddle, knees bent, arms wrapped around myself, and force my terrified brain to think.
How do I escape