The Six: Genesis | A Reverse Harem Novel

Eleven

"Incoming!"

I don't have time to think, only to react. Like a pile of bricks, I drop to the ground, thrusting my hands over my head as debris, fire and metal come rushing over me. Chris is at my side, his body thrown over mine.

It's silly really. I should be the one thrusting myself over him with the netting safely tucked beneath my skin, but he's already suspicious and my actions would only make it worse. Instead, I tuck further into myself and sink my teeth into my bottom lip to keep from screaming.

We're at the top of the cliff, waiting precariously on the edge between the solid ground and the destroyed cavern I once called a second home. Chris' heavy frame rests over mine, and his breath wisps down my right shoulder, sending shivers of sensual heat up and down my spine. Desperately, I fight to stay curled up.

"What the fuck was that?"

The anger in Ryker's voice sends a different set of chills up my spine and I'm reluctant to stand when the screeching metal plummets to the bottom of the black abyss. Screams follow it, wrapped in choking calls and pleas for mercy. They're the enemy and I know Ryker will offer no aid.

"Are you alright?" I lift my head to find Chris far closer to me than I expect and I jerk, sliding recklessly toward the edge of the cliff to give us space. Without a word, he lifts an eyebrow questioningly.

"I'm fine." I choke, wafting away the stench of burning flesh, blackened metal and the fog of whatever was rising out of the hole. My mind clicks and I center my gaze on where the helicopter fell. "We need to move, now."

Chris tips his head to the side. "Why? The helicopter is down and I don't see anything else inbound."

Sucking my teeth, I point downward. "There's no telling what chemicals may be down there and with the flame..."

He catches my drift and nods as his face hardens. Slowly, he holds his hand out for mine. Anxiety bubbles inside of me, climbing the sides of my stomach restlessly. When he glances back at me and sighs, I take a deep breath and put my hand in his.

Easily, he pulls me to his side and drags me behind his long strides. I trudge behind him, eyes studying the broken landscape with a weathered eye. We're moving briskly, shouldering through twisted trees, jutting pieces of building and dust to find our way back to the helicopter—back to Ryker.

As we near the edge of the Oleum Hold, I freeze in place. Chris stumbles on his next step but doesn't let me go. Frustration leaks from every inch of his body as he rounds on me, mouth open to speak.

"Do you hear that?"

He pauses, blinking brilliant sapphire eyes at me. Time stretches in the silence, wrought with the soft clicking of something in the distance. Cursing, he whips to face the south, pointing at a black dot on the horizon.

Reinforcements.

Shit.

"Hey!" Catrina barrels through the trees, hair sprawling behind her in the wind. "We've got a problem."

Chris bares his teeth at her. "No shit."

"Stow the attitude. We have another helicopter on the horizon and it shot down the drone."

"Then send another..."

She doesn't appreciate his sass or acknowledge me and I curl into myself, pulling my arms around my stomach. Impatience and something else flit across her features, but she doesn't play to it. Crossing her arms, Catrina matches her gaze with a man well over a full head taller than her and sneers.