It was slow going, but Avery didn’t stop. Big rocks. Small rocks. Rocks so big she could only roll them out of the way by sitting on her ass and using her feet and legs to push. It didn’t matter if she had to dig her way to China, she was getting out of this cave.
Except, with every day that went by, she got weaker and weaker. Her pants were loose enough that they were almost falling off her hips. She wasn’t dehydrated, as she had all the water she could drink, thanks to the drip along the wall in the back alcove. But soon, even that wouldn’t be enough.
Shaking, Avery forced herself to crawl toward where the opening to the cave had been and pick up another rock. She cradled it to her chest and shuffled backward, placing the rock behind her and off to the side, along with the others she’d moved so far.
She was exhausted, but refused to give up.
Eventually something had to give. Either the terrorists would come back—which was highly unlikely since they assumed she would die in their man-made tomb—or she’d move enough rocks to get out of her prison. What would happen then, Avery had no idea. The area was most likely crawling with terrorists or sympathizers. How she’d get back to the American base, with nothing on her feet but a pair of socks, she had no idea. But she wasn’t going to quit.
Blinking once again and hoping like hell she’d see some sliver of light coming from the rock pile, which would mean she was close to breaking free, she sighed in disappointment when the utter blackness didn’t abate.
Crawling back to the pile of rocks, Avery picked up a small one and threw it as hard as she could behind her. She was scared, tired, hungry, and her head was throbbing. But she couldn’t give up. Wouldn’t.
As she continued, she couldn’t help but wonder if anyone knew she was missing. If anyone was looking for her.
Stopping for a moment, Avery sat back on her heels. She closed her eyes, not that it made a difference, since darkness was darkness, and prayed harder than she’d ever prayed in her life.
I’m here. I’m right here. Please, someone find me.
Then, taking a big breath and wincing at the pain in her bruised ribs from the beatings she’d endured, she picked up another rock.
*
Find out if the SEAL team can find Avery in Securing Avery.
(And of course Securing Kalee is coming up as well…poor Phantom!)
And as a bonus…want to find out more about Eva Dawkins? The pilot? Where she is now? What she’s doing? If her ex continues to be a threat? Or if someone ELSE is a threat?Riley Edwards has written her story in my fan-fiction world and this story is one you will WANT to read! Pick up Maximus now!
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Also, be sure to check out a sneak peek below of my NEW Delta Team Two series starting in April with Shielding Gillian!
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Shielding Gillian
Shielding Gillian
Blurb:
As an event planner, Gillian Romano’s an expert at rolling with the punches and solving unexpected problems. But her flight getting hijacked while returning from a job is definitely out of her skill set. Passengers are being murdered, and when she’s chosen by the terrorists to be their mouthpiece, even more innocent lives rest on Gillian’s shoulders. Only the calm, reassuring voice on the other end of the line keeps her sane, forging a bond with a stranger she’s never seen but trusts with her life.
Walker “Trigger” Nelson and his Delta Force team have spent years training for close-quarter hostage rescue. When they get called to South America to attempt to save an airplane full of hostages, he doesn’t expect to meet a woman who rocks his world in the middle of the op. Gillian’s cool head and bravery in the face of certain terror—and possible death—blows him away. Any outcome that doesn’t include Gillian leaving that plane alive and well is not an option.
After their safe return to Texas, both Trigger and Gillian are excited to find out if their instant chemistry can survive the real world. Neither realizing that someone isn’t happy with the outcome of the hijacking, and is watching, waiting, for a second chance to strike.
** Shielding Gillian is the 1st book in the Delta Team Two Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
CHAPTER ONE
Gillian Romano closed her eyes and rested her head on the seat. She was exhausted…but in a good way. The event that had taken months of her life to plan had gone off without a hitch. She’d been extremely nervous as it had been in Costa Rica, but because everything had gone smoothly, she knew she’d most likely have a lot more business coming her way.
The CEO of Pillar Custom Homes out of Austin, Troy Johnson, had contacted her a year ago to inquire about her organizing all aspects of an appreciation trip for the company’s prestigious clients.
She’d said yes, then immediately freaked out. As an event planner, Gillian was used to organizing weddings, birthday parties, and nonprofit galas in the Killeen and Austin area. Mr. Johnson had gotten her name from the president of a local animal shelter who’d hired her the year before to throw their annual fundraising dinner. The president had been using Pillar Custom Homes to build his house, and he’d passed her name along.
Mr. Johnson had invited a dozen of his most prestigious clients and their families, as well as some of the most influential names in Austin real estate. Gillian had been responsible for all aspects of the trip. From flight and transportation arrangements, to booking the private hotel suites and setting up entertainment for the four-day trip. It had been the most difficult thing she’d ever done—especially considering the fact that she was doing most of her planning remotely—but everything had turned out beautifully, if she did say so herself.
Smiling, Gillian let out a long sigh of contentment. She’d seen the last of the guests off the day before and had spent one day in the beautiful Costa Rican resort soaking in the feeling of a job well done and getting I some well-deserved R&R.
She was now heading home and couldn’t wait to tell her best friends—Ann, Wendy, and Clarissa—all about how beautiful Costa Rica was and how well the event had gone.
Gillian was in one of the front rows of the plane, right behind first class, as she’d splurged on getting a seat with a little more leg room. She was by the window, and the young couple sitting next to her had fallen asleep almost as soon as they’d taken off.
Her eyes popped open when she heard an odd sound up in the first-class section of the plane. Looking over the seat in front of her, she saw that almost all of the passengers in first class were standing. She wasn’t alarmed—until she heard one of the women let out a sound that made the hair on Gillian’s arms stand up. It was a keening mixture of disbelief and terror.
Before she could do more than furrow her brow, a man appeared in the front of the cabin. He was holding a rifle, and he pointed it up in the air and said something in Spanish, which made people all around Gillian shout out in horror and several began to cry.