One Down: Bayou Heat (Pantera Security League Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

was shallow, with a low ceiling and a smooth rock floor, but it was well away from the human pathways, and best of all, no one could approach from behind or below. He could easily defend the location.
    “I think we should be safe here,” he murmured, ducking inside and crouching down to settle Hallie near the back of the space.
    He was about to straighten when she reached out to grab his arm.
    “Are you leaving?”
    The slight panic in her voice made his gut clench. “I want to do a sweep and make sure there’s no one who might stumble across this cave. Also want to make sure our tracks are covered.” He eyed her seriously. “You still have the gun?”
    “Yes.” She reached into the front pocket of her hoodie to pull out the Taurus PT111.
    He grimaced. She held the weapon like it was a snake about to bite her.
    “Shoot first and ask questions later,” he commanded in stern tones. “Got it?”
    Perhaps sensing his lack of confidence, Hallie squared her shoulders and gripped the gun with far more determination.
    “Got it.”
    Cerviel hesitated. He hated to leave her alone. She was clearly feeling vulnerable and exposed. No big surprise for a female who’d been locked in a cage for years.
    But he had to make sure they weren’t being followed.
    Dipping his head, he brushed a reassuring kiss over her furrowed brow. Then, with a sharp movement, he was on his feet and heading out of the cave.
    He didn’t use the pathway, however. Instead he scrambled up the vertical rocky slope and circled around the peak of the ridge. Once near the top, he pulled out his cellphone that had been boosted by Xavier just in case there was no signal and hit Raphael’s number.
    “I’ve got the asset,” he said as soon as he heard the older male’s voice.
    “Alive?” Raphael demanded.
    “Yeah, but she’s been—” Cerviel bit off his words. He couldn’t think about what’d been done Hallie. Not unless he wanted to risk everything by returning to the ranch and slicing Rick Donaldson into bloody strips. “Have you figured out why it was so important that you sent me to retrieve her?”
    “Not yet. Why?”
    “Are you still willing to let her die if you decide she’s a threat to a Pantera?”
    “Sacrifices are always demanded. You know that better than anyone, Cerviel.”
    “Maybe you won’t get her back, then,” he said impulsively.
    There was a low snarl over the line, then, “Cerviel—”
    “She’s been tortured, for fuck’s sake. She has no idea where she came from or why. I won’t have her hurt again.”
    The leader of the Pantera exhaled heavily, didn’t say anything for a few seconds. When he finally did, his tone was calm and controlled. “Do you trust my word?”
    Cerviel didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
    “You get her back to us and I swear to you she won’t be harmed in any way. But you get that you sound more like her mate than a member of the PSL, right?”
    Cerviel refused to answer. In fact, he refused to even think on the male’s ridiculous observation. All he wanted was to keep an innocent female safe. “I’ll bring her in.”
    “Is that the only reason you’re calling? Or are you ready for the evac?” Raphael asked.
    Cerviel considered. He glanced around the thick layers of trees and rugged terrain. He was fairly certain he’d managed to shake off his pursuers. But if the guards were still searching for them, the approaching lights and sound of a chopper would most certainly pinpoint their location.
    Especially if he had to travel with Hallie to a spot where the chopper could easily land.
    “No. Call it off for tonight. I don’t want to alert the guards where we are,” he told Raphael. “We’ll meet at the same coordinates where I was dropped off, at dawn.”
    “I’ll let the pilot know,” Raph promised. “But remember, he’ll be on the ground for ten minutes. Not a second longer. You need to be there.”
    “Got it.”
    Ending the connection, Cerviel slid the phone into his pocket