UNDERCOVER TO MY HEART

BELLOW THE RIM

Bracing for impact is a lie people tell themselves when they know they are about to die.

There was no time to brace. There was only the awful screech of grinding metal, the sharp smell of burning rubber, and Jack’s heavy weight slamming sideways against me.

Hold on, Jack growled in my ear, his arm wrapping around my waist like a steel band.

He threw his entire body weight to the left, forcing the skidding bike to flip sideways an instant before it slammed into the low guardrail. The heavy motorcycle flipped over the metal barrier with a violent crunch, plunging down into the hundred foot drop below. We went airborne a second later, tumbling over the edge and crashing through a dense wall of branches, sharp thorns, and loose dirt.

We rolled together down the steep embankment, smashing into bushes until we slammed hard against the trunk of an old pine tree. The breath blasted right out of my lungs. Pain exploded across my shoulder and hip, leaving my brain spinning in the pitch black darkness.

Get up, Jack hissed, his voice rough and pained. Move now, Bella.

Before I could drag air back into my chest, his hand gripped my jacket and yanked me off the dirt. He dragged me across the jagged rocks, ducking low behind a thick wall of hanging ivy. He shoved me into a narrow, dark rock alcove hidden deep in the face of the cliff.

Down, he whispered, pushing my shoulders until I crouched flat against the cold stone floor.

I pressed my back into the jagged wall, my heart hammering like a trapped bird inside my ribs. The dark alcove was barely wide enough for two people. Jack pressed himself right in front of me, his massive frame blocking the opening and locking me against the rock. His hot breath hit my neck, fast and shallow.

Up on the highway, tires screeched to a halt. Heavy car doors slammed shut in rapid succession.

Check the edge, a harsh male voice yelled from above. See if they went over.

White beams of flashlight cut through the dark trees over our heads, crisscrossing across the steep slope. Footsteps crunched heavily on the gravel right above our hiding spot. Loose dirt trickled down onto my hair.

I pressed my hand flat against Jack’s chest to keep my balance. My fingers instantly felt a hot, sticky wetness soaking through his torn shirt.

Jack, I whispered, my voice barely audible over the wind. You are bleeding.

It is nothing, he muttered, not taking his eyes off the illuminated gap in the ivy. Stay quiet.

It is not nothing, I whispered back, my tactical training kicking in despite the sheer terror in my veins. You got hit during the shootout.

I told you to drop it, Bella, he grumbled softly.

I reached up and slid my hand carefully down his right side, feeling the torn leather of his vest. My fingers brushed against a deep, raw tear in his skin right across his ribs. He flinched, a sharp gasp escaping his lips, though he kept his head turned toward the slope.

You took a bullet, I said, shifting slightly in the tight space. I need to check it before you bleed out on top of me.

I am fine, Jack said, his jaw clenching hard. Watch the lights.

Shut up and let me look, I snapped under my breath.

I carefully unclipped my small tactical penlight from my inner pocket, shielding the head with my fingers so only a faint red glow leaked out. I pulled his shirt up away from his waist. The bullet had torn a nasty, jagged furrow along his ribcage. It was deep, pouring dark blood down his stomach, but it had missed his internal organs.

The bullet grazed you, I murmured, pulling a clean roll of gauze out of my field kit. It needs pressure. Why did you not tell me?

Because we were busy flying off a cliff, he whispered back, his cold dark eyes finally shifting down to look at me.

Hold still, I said. This is going to hurt.

Do your worst, agent, he said, a faint, bitter edge in his tone.

I pressed the thick pad of gauze hard against the open wound. Jack did not make a sound, but his hands flew up and grabbed my waist, his knuckles turning white as he squeezed through the pain. The physical contact sent a sudden, burning shock straight through my chest. His body heat was overwhelming in the damp night air.

Seven years, I whispered, keeping my eyes locked on his wound so he would not see my hands trembling. Seven years I thought you were in the ground.

You were safer believing I was dead, Jack answered, his voice dropping to a rough, low murmur.

That was not your choice to make, Jack! I breathed out, tightening the bandage around his torso. You left me with nothing. I buried a casket with an empty suit in it!

My father would have put a bullet in your head to get to me, Bella, he said, his face inching closer to mine in the dark alcove. Look at me.

I refused to look up, focusing entirely on tying off the bandage tape.

Bella, look at me, he repeated, his fingers gently catching my chin and tipping my face up.

His dark eyes were intense, wild, and completely full of pain.

I ruined my own life to keep you breathing, Jack whispered, his thumb lightly brushing across my cheekbone. I joined this filthy club, I fought my way up, and I took every scar just to make sure the cartel never looked at you. Everything I did was for you.

And now you are running a suicidal revenge mission, I countered, my eyes burning with unshed tears. You are going to get yourself killed, Jack.

Then I die, he said simply. But you walk away clean. That is the deal.

I do not want you to die, you i***t, I whispered, my hand resting over his heavy heartbeat.

Jack opened his mouth to reply, but the crunch of heavy boots directly over our heads cut him off instantly.

Look down there, a voice barked right above us.

A bright beam of white light sliced straight through the thick hanging ivy. The light swept across the rock floor, illuminating the dust in the air and blinding my eyes.

I see something, a gunman called out.

The radio on the man's vest crackled with loud, static noise.

Did you find the bodies yet? a voice demanded over the speaker.

I froze, my breath catching in my throat as the bright light landed directly on my face.