Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,31

way, she’d never see another one again in her whole life.

But as hard as she tried to hear something, nothing but the bleak, desolate silence of the cliffs and the occasional whistling wind reached her eardrums.

“I don’t hear anything,” she whispered.

He said nothing, his frown lengthening.

They stood frozen so long her legs grew stiff. Then, suddenly, he startled her with a low, fierce whisper. “See that large boulder straight ahead? About the height of two men?” At her nod, he pressed his spear into her hand. Next, he gave her his pack. “Go there, crouch down with your back against the rock so you can see what’s coming—and don’t move.”

“Where are you going?”

“I heard something.”

Her hands clutched his bicep. “So let’s investigate together.” She definitely didn’t want to be left behind.

He shook his head. Peeled her hand from him. “Go, now.” His words were an unquestionable order. “Do not move until I come for you.”

Had Convict been a soldier? His tone screamed military. So did the way he disappeared in the blink of an eye. And why was she thinking about this now as she hurried to do his bidding, her back pressing against the hard rock as she crouched on shaky legs, the spear gripped tight in both hands, the pack between her feet? Probably because she was terrified and a million random thoughts were running through her mind.

Pull it together, Bella.

Sucking down a deep breath and then another, she forced herself to calm down. To remember all she had already overcome. A minute later, her breathing was far steadier. Enough for her to hear absolute silence. No sound of footsteps. Or a scuffle. Not even a shout.

She waited several more minutes. Flexed her legs. Scanned the limited perimeter. Still no Convict.

After what felt like hours, she popped up, stretching her legs as she used her higher perspective to see a little bit more of the area. Still no luck sighting him.

She took a tentative step away from the rock. Then another. Yes, he’d told her to stay, but he could be in trouble. Cowering and leaving others to solve the problem had never been her way. Plus, she was the one with the spear. That had to count for something.

Moving in the direction he’d been facing when he disappeared, she hopped over rocks and crevices, the heavy weight of the spear making her slower than she would have liked.

Suddenly, a thump sounded. Like something had leapt from the cliff behind—a cliff she’d failed to scan thoroughly.

“Fuck, yeah.” It was a rough, soulless voice she didn’t recognize. “Live pussy.”

Her spear hand came up, but it was already too late.

A meaty forearm closed around her throat, yanking her backwards until her legs dangled off the ground. Her spear slipped from her grasp.

The scent of rotted fish burned her nostrils.

“And 225 thought there were only male soldiers on board.” Indifferent to the clawing against his arm, her oversized captor pressed his nose into her hair, black spots clouding her vision as her lungs grew more and more desperate for air. “Must be my lucky fucking night.”

She was slammed onto her stomach atop a flat boulder, her lungs dragging in a frantic breath as pain reverberated through her ribs and hipbones.

A hand gripped the nape of her neck and held her down. “I’m supposed to bring back what I find.” He chuckled. “But this will be our little secret, right?”

In shock, it took her a moment to register that her legs were dangling over the rock.

Her attacker was already yanking her pants over her ass when she kicked back, her boot heels connecting with his thigh. Unfortunately, all her blow did was piss him off.

The hand against her neck dug in, choking off her air, no matter how she fought. “Feel free to struggle. They all do.” Hairy thighs flattened her legs harder against the rough rock scraping away skin. “You’ll end up raped and dead all the same.”

A curious sense of detachment rolled over her. A comforting hum sounding in her ear as her air gave out. The pain lifting away. She’d come so far. But even she wasn’t going to survive this.

Suddenly, the horrible weight of her attacker disappeared. Followed by the loud thwack of flesh against flesh. In a daze, she sucked in a desperate breath and swiveled round.

Convict.

Chest heaving, face harder than she’d ever seen, he grappled with a bald giant two heads taller with narrow grey eyes and a flat, blunt nose. Her stomach jumped to her