McAllister Justice Series Box Set

by Reily Garrett

  In replaying the prior conversation with their guide, he knew she’d navigated the natural tunnels for years. “She’ll keep going and find the connecting path out. Even if we were able to get through, we wouldn’t know which branch to take when it bisected. It would be easy for us to get lost down here. She has a radio and cell phone, which means she also has light.”

  With slow deliberation, he ran his fingers over her head, face, and neck before smoothing his hands over her torso. “Are you injured?”

  “No, no. I’m fine.”

  She wasted no time in assuring herself he remained physically intact. He felt her hands roving over his back and head before hugging him tight.

  “We need to move it, sweetheart.”

  “That was an explosion, not a natural collapse. My ears are still ringing from the detonation. There may be more in store for us.” Frustration mingled with anger in her tone.

  “Yeah, I agree. We’re gonna have to be careful on our way out. Let’s find out if we have an open route to the surface.”

  “Hold on, Roy, I think my cell has a full charge.”

  “At least we won’t step in any shafts.”

  Unable to let go, Royden wrapped one arm around her shoulders to help her up while using the light on his cell to visually assess her. “Let’s go.”

  Abby reached for her phone until Royden suggested, “Wait, one at a time.

  “Jesus. How could this happen?” She wrapped one hand around his waist.

  “We’ll worry about the how and why later. Right now, we need to get the hell out of here. Be careful of your step.” He’d hated the fear tinging her voice and the fact he again failed to protect her. It was supposed to be the most exciting day of her life, not the last day.

  Acceleration of her breathing alerted him to her increasing panic. Flashbacks and a dark imagination would send her mind back to the underground prison.

  Taking precious time to calm her, he stopped and pulled her into his arms. “We’ll get out of this, Abs. Nobody’s gonna keep us down and nobody’s gonna stop us from getting married.”

  “I need air.”

  “There’s plenty here. Take a slow breath.” He wanted to surround her in a soft blanket of protection. Smoothing his hand up her arm and neck until he cupped her cheek let her know he was right there. The feel of her forehead against his own, mingled breaths, and the soft puffs lengthening with each exhalation calmed his own heart rate.

  Despite the urgent need to move, they’d get nowhere if she lost it. Distraction by close proximity yielded the quickest result.

  “Thanks, cowboy. Give me thirty seconds and I’ll be ready to roll. Keep talking.”

  Darkness blanketed the room except for their small bubble. Since someone preset the charges, that same evil could be lurking in any dark crevice, waiting to finish the job. “Did I ever tell you about Chacán-Pi?”

  “You want to talk about food now?”

  “Why not? And we’re not discussing food.” He brushed his lips across the crown of her head. “Chacán-Pi is a sculpture.”

  “Since when did you become interested in art?” Abby urged him forward, signaling her readiness to move.

  “Ah, well. There’s this place in Germany, the Institute for Microbiology and Virology.”

  “Oh, okay... It’s a medical thing.”

  “They have this giant stone sculpture of a vagina.”

  “Ah. That explains it. Men always know where vaginas are located.”

  “No, listen. This isn’t sexual. It’s about caving. This is a thirty-two-ton carving. Monstrous. Back in 2014, a visiting student decided to go spelunking and got stuck. It took twenty-two firefighters to deliver him. They’ve been called midwives ever since.”

  “I always knew men would climb into a vagina if they could.” The slight giggle rivaled the best music worldwide.

  “No place I’d rather be.” Despite their circumstances, his body’s response proved her right and the fact that neither higher education nor dangerous circumstances fazed his need to connect with her on an elemental level.

  “You’re distracting me.”

  “It worked. Your breathing is under control. And we’re moving.”

  “It’s a shrink thing.”

  Though he couldn’t see her intentions in the dim light, he noted her affectionate retaliation with the tentative brush of her fingers along his waistline before sliding down to pat his ass.

  “Doesn’t take much to start your engine.”

  “Keep that up and we’ll make it out of here in record time.”

  He’d never thought of himself as helpless, but leading Abby toward the cavern’s mouth and anyone who might be waiting for a perfect ambush opportunity reordered his thoughts. The Glock in his ankle holster lent little comfort when he couldn’t see enough of his surroundings to target a hidden killer.

  Each time she stumbled, he pulled her tight to his larger frame. They walked as one unit with his arm extended. His intent to light the area before them while keeping as much of their own bodies in the dark detailed the extent of his ability to frustrate a waiting shooter. Smaller rocks littered the floor and challenged their footing, but the bulk of the room seemed to be intact.

  “Do you think he was watching us with infrared?” Her shaking voice drifted off as her hand tightened at his waist.

  “No. If so, he would’ve timed it for after we’d entered the next room. Besides that, he would’ve needed boosters to carry the signal, and that would’ve left evidence behind.”

  “Jesus, I hope our guide is okay. Do you think she got caught under the rubble—”

  Another explosion farther in rocked Abby’s body into his larger frame.

  “Sonofabitch! We’ve got to get out of here.” Her voice broke as she turned and the fingers of both her hands dug into his sides.

  “Abby? Listen, sweetheart. The stalker obviously thought we were farther along and sought to trap us.” He wiped the tears from her face. “All we have to do is walk out. We’ve got this.”

  The phone’s app cast light on their surroundings yet gave little comfort. Royden trained it to what lay ahead with the shadows trailing to their feet.

  “Ah. Sonofabitch!” Abby stumbled over the uneven flooring but caught herself on Royden’s arm.

  “What?”

  “My ankle. I’ve twisted it.”

  Royden stepped close enough to allow his warmth to engulf her. His height ensured she could rest her head against his chest, letting the soothing rhythm of his heart keep her in the moment.

  “Let me see.” Using limited resources, he crouched to raise the hem of her jeans. Years of playing sports gave him rudimentary knowledge to examine the injury.

  The trek down had taken an hour—with stops along the way to admire the beautiful formations. Had they not dawdled, the fallen rock would either have buried them alive or trapped them. When he stood, she leaned against his chest.

  The first sniffle led to another until the dam broke. She hadn’t cried since the night she’d escaped a killer bent on twisting her mind.

  Tears soaked Royden’s shirt. Precious minutes passed until she lifted her head with a murmured, “Thanks, I needed that.”

  She obviously craved the contact, warmth, and reassurance. “I’m here for you, sweetheart. I always will be.”

  “I know. It’s one of the reasons I love you. However, no more self-pity. Let’s go.”

  A boost in spirit didn’t translate into physical restoration. Her hands still trembled against his flanks. “Listen, Abs. I’m going to give you a piggyback ride out of here. We’ll make better time.” Instead of waiting, he turned after taking her left hand and placing it on his shoulder. Due to her shorter height, he crouched down. “C’mon, hop aboard, but be careful of your stitches.”

  She didn’t hesitate, feeling for his shoulders and wrapping her legs around his waist. “I can hold the phone ahead of us if you lean forward just a little to help me keep my balance. Be careful with your footing
.”

  Despite her legs wrapped around him, she still trembled. He hoped the constant connection helped steady her nerves.

  Chapter Eight

  Abby waited for another thunderous boom to bring the roof and walls tumbling down to crush them. A slight adjustment of her legs allowed Royden to lean forward and balance her weight. The warmth of his body seeped into her chest and soothed like a cup of hot chocolate on a snowy day.

  Tears fell from her cheeks and added their moisture to his jacket collar. If not for his steady murmured conversation, she couldn’t have held her focus.

  Each time his footing wobbled, she cringed, knowing he carried her to maintain body contact even as his antics of bygone years distracted. Apparently, his school days included his own version of risky antics. He wasn’t so different from her brothers after all.

  Every so often, he’d ask a question and engage her in conversation. A check-in of sorts.

  When weak light ahead grew stronger and a soft but steady stream of conversations announced the entrance near, she took her first deep breath. “You can put me down now. I’m good.” Though Royden knew her weaknesses, she wouldn’t broadcast them to the world. Straightening her spine and wiping her face, she felt the coils of anger tighten her chest.

  Royden circled her shoulders. “That’s my girl. Show no fear.”

  Unfamiliar voices drifted through the tunnel, men barking orders to enact emergency procedures. She listened for the familiar sounds of her brothers, knowing they would attempt to dominate the operation, despite it not being their jurisdiction. “Do you think they’re already here?” Royden was well aware of her brothers’ overprotective side.

  “If not, they will be soon.” Resignation registered in his tone and weary set of his shoulders.

  “We’ll face them together. I can handle them.”

  “Of that, I have no doubt.”

  The smell of clean, fresh air strengthened her determination to stand tall. “Do you think he’s still here?” In her mind’s eye, her intended assassin now lurked around every corner. Since her suffocation and near drowning in the collapsed sphere, Abby’s mind formed a picture of her stalker. “It can’t be Carrigan, Yet I can’t think of anyone else with strong enough motive to kill. It’s my testimony that will cement his fate and put a lethal injection in his arm.”

  “It’s a possibility. There’s going to be a crowd and posing as a tourist wouldn’t be uncommon. First responders will know to keep an eye out.”

  “Royden?” A tall, well-built, and rugged man looked familiar. His approach coincided with his outstretched hand. “What the hell?”

  “Hey, Tanner. Thanks for securing the entrance.” Royden nodded to Abby. “We’re in one piece, thanks to fortunate timing.”

  “It had to have been preset somehow. Either that or the bomber pretended to be waiting for a tour. I’ve taken video with my phone of all the people I’ve encountered.”

  “Thanks. We’ll sort through it later.”

  EMS personnel greeted them with blankets and questions. As soon as they stepped clear of the entrance, murmurs from bystanders quieted, the hush as ominous as the trek out.

  Abby searched the faces of those not in uniform. No smirks or threatening expressions declared she was life’s lottery winner of the day.

  Before answering the medic’s questions, Abby asked one of her own. “We got separated from Sherri, our guide. Have you seen her?” The thought of dragging an innocent into her ordeal soured Abby’s stomach.

  “She exited from the mouth farther north, a little banged up, but she’ll be fine. That’s how we knew you two would probably come out here.” The paramedic’s reassuring smile added weight to his words.

  Abby’s mind numbed with the medic’s assessment. Blood pressure, pulse, the cold stethoscope bell pressed against her back, all declarations of continued life but for how long?

  None of the faces in the crowd struck a recognizable cord in her thoughts, but anyone could be an accomplice. On the other hand, her senses failed to register little that didn’t connect to her body. Royden’s hand on her arm kept her in the moment.

  Billy was the first McAllister on the scene. No-nonsense was a look adopted by all the siblings, perfected by Matt, the eldest. A stint in the military had helped the younger sibling adapt to work in the police department, yet his comfort and expertise with explosives made them all edgy.

  Despite all the McAllisters’ involvement with law and order, either current or previous stretches in PPD, they each deemed public welfare a higher priority than the letter of the law. They’d nudged the line on several occasions, which explained why she sometimes opted out of family meetings.

  When their gazes connected from across the parking lot, he blew out a breath and relaxed his stride. Still, anger and determination radiated as from a nuclear blast. Instead of addressing her directly, he faced Royden, a hand shoving hard but not budging him.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you? You’re supposed to be protecting her.” Losing his temper wasn’t a common practice for the second eldest McAllister. Poking Royden in the chest likened to a panther crouching before springing into action.

  “We’re alive and in one piece, partner. Thanks for asking.” Royden stretched his shoulder muscles as if working out a kink. If fact, he resembled a rattler preparing to strike. “I had security on both entrances. His MO included a rifle, I figured we’d be safe.”

  “Obviously, you underestimated your opponent, partner.”

  Abby bumped the paramedic aside and stepped between the two men facing off, a hand on each chest. “Listen up, both of you. I’ll have none of that macho bullshit over me. Got it?” For emphasis, she gave her brother a small shove back.

  The attempt merely rocked him on his heels but did gain his attention.

  “I may be almost a foot shorter than you two, but I can still filet your butts. Do we have an understanding?”

  The muscle ticking in Billy’s jaw relaxed as his gaze landed on her and softened. “Yeah. I was just worried about you.” Taking a different tack, Billy wrapped his arms around her tight, pulling her in for a hug. “Jesus, kid. You find more trouble than all the rest of us combined. Why is that?”

  “It’s my superpower. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” Abby hugged her brother and prayed he didn’t feel the remnants of her tremor.

  “Well, you’ve never been one to do things half-assed.”

  Zeroing in on his partner again, Billy picked up where they’d left off. “What do you have so far?”

  “Explosions were set. I’m guessing—timed. The guide had gone ahead to give us a private moment. I’m told she moved forward after the first explosion and got out through the other exit.”

  “If we hadn’t dawdled, the cave-ins might have trapped us, front and rear. Either that or we would still be stumbling through the darkness trying to find the other exit. Thank heavens our guide moved quickly.”

  “As soon as they’ll let me in, I’ll go down to see what I can find. It’s doubtful we’ll recover any parts of the devices, but I have to look.”

  “Good luck with that,” Royden muttered.

  “Take Abby to her house so she can collect her belongings, then—”

  “No. You two are not going to railroad me into leaving my home. I left for the weekend, but I intend to go back. I have to face this, Royden. Can’t you see that?” She couldn’t stay at her apartment, but wouldn’t jeopardize her family, either. In collecting her things, she’d sort out where to go. Where do you run when there’s no place to hide?

  “Abby...”

  “No, Royden. I won’t. The bastard already followed us halfway around the world. He knows where I live. You think he won’t find your house?”

  Both men cursed in stereo.

  “We’ll stake out your apartment until we figure out the next step. Ethan is bringing Diego to you. He is to stay by your side at all times. Otherwise, we smother you in a blanket of McAllisters. And that is my final offer.
” Billy’s jaw hardened. He’d just displayed his version of compromise.

  Arguing at the moment would yield nothing. She’d learned long ago to pick not only her battles, but the timing for each. She had no intention of clinging to a dog for emotional support. “Okay, but while I’m at work—”

  “He’ll be registered for service duty. No one can argue the need.”

  “I don’t recall Ethan or Lexi taking him through licensed courses.”

  “He’ll be registered and cleared before he arrives, vest and all. He has enough training and is already protective. Trust his instincts. When’s your next court appearance?”

  “None on the docket this week. And if Lexi’s hacking records again to push this through...” She was going to say she didn’t approve, but the lie wouldn’t come. Having a large German shepherd by her side would provide temporary relief, at least until she regained her composure. Ethan and Lexi trained their dogs well.

  At the other side of the lot, her eldest brother’s SUV skidded to a stop. Matt hopped out and clipped the leash to Damien, his K9 partner. Both appeared to be in work mode.

  She glanced over at Royden, now leaning against the opposite stretcher by the ambulance. “How many people did you tell about our trip here today?”

  “Really?” He kept his eye on Matt’s approach, standing tall when McAllister got close.

  “I know, I know. But the only people I told were my friends at work.” Helplessness was an all-reaching bank of clouds covering the earth. She’d never succumbed to despair and wouldn’t start now.

  The expression on Matt’s face declared the next hours would entail a lot of explanations.

  “We’ll discuss this tonight at my house. Your apartment is too small to fit everybody.” Royden shrugged a shoulder, prepared to face the eldest brother. “We’ll both have a lot of talking to do.