Through Uncharted Space: A Phoenix Adventures Sci-fi Romance (21 page)

“Dare.” Her hands reached for him. He grabbed them, holding tight. Now he could hear the fear she was trying to hide.

“I’ll get us there.” It was a vow.

She gave him a small smile. “Of course you will. You’re Dare Phoenix.”

He pressed his mouth to hers, the water cold on their cheeks. He put everything he had into the kiss. Her hands clutched at him and she made a small sound that almost broke his heart.

Then he set her back. He pulled on the helmet and clicked it into place, sealing it. There was a rush of air as the breathing system kicked in. Through the visor, he saw Dakota watching him as best she could, with her face pressed up to the roof.

The water was only inches from the top of the sub now. He grabbed her hands, holding on tight. She dragged in one last breath and the water closed over her head.

Dare tugged her close, and they stared at each other through the helmet’s visor. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to the helmet, kissing him one last time. When she pulled back, she winked at him.

Damn
. Only Dakota would wink at a time like this.

It only took a minute before her body jerked, as she fought not to open her mouth. He knew her lungs would be burning, and she was fighting all her instincts. Then her mouth opened, water filling her lungs.

She started to choke and shake, convulsing in his arms. Dare held her, his heart breaking into tiny, jagged pieces.

She reached forward, her hand pressing against his helmet. Her struggles slowed, her movements turning sluggish.

Then she went limp.

Dare heard a roar and realized it was his own agonized sound. He wrenched open the door of the sub, and, after getting a good grip on the back of her suit, he pushed out of the craft.

With powerful kicks, he started swimming. He aimed straight for the dome, pulling his precious cargo behind him.

Ahead the dome glowed gold-orange. He had to get there. That was his only thought.

He kept swimming. He didn’t think about what other creatures might be lurking around. All he could think about was the lifeless body of the woman he loved that he was dragging along behind him.

He loved her. Dare Phoenix loved Dakota Jones. She was his and he had to save her.

A few more kicks, and he reached the smooth gold glass of the dome. He swam along it. Where the hell was the entrance?

He kept moving, the hiss of the air in his helmet the only sound to pierce his chaotic thoughts.
Come on!
They didn’t have much time. Finally, he spotted something that looked similar to the iris-like entrance he’d seen at the Sori Sanu city dome.

He reached the entrance and turned back to look at Dakota. She was so still, her dark hair floating out around her.

He looked around the door frame and found what he guessed was some sort of control panel. He slapped a hand against it, and when the door retracted, he kicked his way inside. As soon he was in, the door closed again and the water started draining out of the space.

Come on. Hurry up.

His boots touched the ground and he dragged Dakota into his arms. The second the interior door opened, he staggered into the dome.

He didn’t bother looking around, just laid her out on the ground. He tore his helmet off.

“Dakota!”

He leaned over her. She was so still. Too still. Completely unresponsive. No breathing. No pulse.

He pressed his hands to her chest, using the age-old technique that had originated back on Earth, and started resuscitation. Compressions, a breath. Compressions, a breath.

Her lips beneath his were so cold.

She wasn’t responding.

“No. Damn you, Dakota. Don’t do this.” He tore at the pockets on his envirosuit. Rynan had shoved a tiny emergency first aid kit at him before they’d left. Dare tore it open, hoping it contained more than just bandages and antiseptic wipes. He spotted the two small shock pads and almost wept. He reached down, yanked her suit open, and then tore her shirt open down the middle. He pressed the two sticky pads to her damp skin.

He let them do their job, and kept breathing into her. Breath. Breath. Breath. He felt her body jerking under the shocks.

Nothing.

“Breathe, damn you. You can’t leave me now.” He heard the raw terror in his voice. Dare hadn’t let himself be afraid for a very long time. Not since he was that defenseless, young boy.

“Dare? Do you copy?”

Rynan’s voice. Dare looked up, frowning. Had he imagined it? Then he realized it was coming from his earpiece.

“Rynan!”

“Where are you?” his brother asked.

“I’m in a golden dome on some outcropping. Olok abandoned us in a small sub.”

“Yeah, our sub was rigged to lose power, but I managed to get it moving again. We should be able to limp in to your location. Our submersible isn’t going to last much longer.”

“Ry, our sub was damaged and filling with water. We had to swim. Dakota…she’s not breathing.”

He heard Rynan curse. “Okay, we’ve picked up the signal of your small sub. Justyn’s bringing us to you. For now, I’ll talk you through the resuscitation.”

“I’ve attached the shock pads, but they aren’t working.”

“Stay calm. She’s tough, you’ll get her through.”

Her skin was so pale, her eyelashes dark against her cheeks. Dare followed Rynan’s solid instructions. Everything became a monotonous series of pumping her chest and breathing through her cold lips.

Dare didn’t let himself think. He just kept going, and soon, he lost track of time.

The next thing he knew, his brothers were kneeling beside him.

Ry grabbed Dare’s wrists. “Dare. You can stop now.”

“No, she’s not breathing yet.”

“She’s gone, Dare.”

Dare sat back, shock hitting him like a tsunami. She couldn’t be gone. He reached down and touched her cold cheek, her wet hair, running it through his hands. “I’m in love with her.”

He was desolate inside.

This felt worse than anything he’d faced in his life. He’d face that basement of horror and pain again, a hundred times over, if she’d just breathe.

He heard his brothers cursing, felt them each grip his shoulders. They’d always been there for him and he’d vowed to always be there for them—a bond forged in blood and darkness.

And he would be there for his woman as well.

“No!” He wasn’t giving up on her. Dakota never gave up.

He pressed his hands to her chest and pumped. He leaned down and breathed into her mouth. This time he was harder, more determined.

He was never going to give up. He could hear his brothers murmuring to each other, concerned. But Dare just looked at Dakota’s face, ignored their voices, and kept going.

Suddenly, her eyes opened. She heaved in a wild breath, then coughed, water spurting out of her.

Elation filled Dare. He leaned down, pulling her into his arms. He held her as she coughed the ocean water from her lungs.

“Dare?” Her voice was husky.

“I’m here. I’ve got you.”

He realized his cheeks were wet. Tears. He hadn’t cried since he was a small boy. He hadn’t even cried in that basement.

He pulled Dakota closer, looking up at his smiling brothers. And he didn’t care that they could see the tears on his cheeks.

Chapter Seventeen

Dakota felt like she’d been to hell and back. Her chest hurt, her stomach ached, her head pounded.

“Just take it easy,” Dare said.

She finally found the strength to lift her head, and when she looked at his face, her heart constricted.

Dare looked how she felt. His wet hair was plastered against his skull, and his eyes had a hard, haunted look in them.

She cupped his cheek. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head. “No. If I ever have to relive anything like this again…” He pulled her close, hugging her tightly to his chest.

Beneath her ear, Dakota heard the rapid beat of his heart.

“How you doing there, Dakota?”

She blinked at Rynan. She saw him and Justyn standing above her. When had they arrived? She realized it was the softest she’d ever heard Rynan’s voice. Damn, she must have really rattled them all.

“I won’t lie, I’ve felt better. But I’m alive.” She coughed. “We’re all alive and not floating around out there.” She stabbed a finger on the other side of the dome.

“True.” Rynan knelt down beside her. “Here. My med kit is a little better equipped than the standard fare.” He held up a pressure injector.

“What is it?” she asked.

“A mild stim. It won’t make you crash like that one Dare took on Sulla, but you’ll feel like you’ve mainlined some real caffeine. It’ll get you on your feet and dull any pain.”

Her lips quirked. “Get that sucker into me, then.”

She felt Dare’s chest move as he laughed, and the sound of it made her feel better. Rynan injected her, and she felt the sweet sting of pain as the stimulant entered her bloodstream. She blinked up at the golden dome. She could see now that it was made of large panels all joined together.

It didn’t take long before she could feel the energy racing through her. “Oh, that stuff is good.”

The corner of Rynan’s mouth moved. It softened his hard features, and made him look almost handsome. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

Dare helped Dakota up and she stood there for a second, getting her balance. Then she raised her head and gasped.

“Holy stars.”

Ahead of them was the temple. Tall, twisted columns rose up to sharp spikes, pointing up toward the peak of the dome. It was all made of a golden rock that seemed to glow with an inner light. A set of steps led up into the arched entrance of the building.

“It’s something, isn’t it?” Justyn said, his hands on his hips.

“I want to see inside it,” she said.

Dare shook his head. “Of course, you do.”

Together, the four of them walked up the temple steps. Dare kept his hand closed on hers, as they walked through the arch.

Inside, the golden rock glowed, lighting the inside of the temple. Dakota stopped there for a second, her chest tight, marveling at what she saw.

The Atocha Treasure was lovingly laid out on shelves and altars. The golden glow of the walls twinkled off the gold and silver artifacts—there were baskets filled with coins, jewelry, statues, silver bars and piles of emeralds.

This wasn’t just a temple; it was a shrine. To Dakota, it was simply amazing that this had been here, beneath the waves, hidden for so long.

Then she felt a sharp sting under her ribs. The entire people of the planet of Maro had protected this treasure. Revered it.

For so long, Dakota’s one goal had been to find this treasure. To take it, sell it, and build a life for herself. One that was hers, and that no one could take away.

Now, she stood here, staring at it, and she felt hollow inside.

Taking this treasure would be a desecration. What right did she have to it? What right did she have to steal Maro’s history?

Suddenly, clanking noises and voices echoed from outside.

The men all tensed.

“Did Olok come back?” she whispered.

“Ry? Justyn?” Dare said, staring out at the entrance.

Ry crept forward, peering out. “Looks like your buddy Korrdo has arrived.”

“What?” Dakota bit out. She couldn’t believe that asshole had found them.

“Go out the back of the temple,” Dare told his brothers. “Circle around them and disable their ship, if you can.”

His brothers nodded and ran through the temple.

Dare grabbed Dakota’s arm, and pulled her deeper into the temple. “We need somewhere to hide.”

They crossed the space, and Dakota couldn’t help but stare at the gold and silver treasure.

Dare pulled her behind a large pillar, tugged her close. The golden rock was actually rougher than she’d guessed, but she stayed pressed against it, and waited.

“Sweet mother of the stars.” A voice echoed in the temple.

“Maxir is going to be real happy with you, Korrdo.”

Dakota moved an inch so she could peer around the pillar. Ahead, she saw Korrdo’s tall form. He was wearing a deep-water envirosuit, and holding his helmet under his arm. He was taking in everything in the temple, while his team of goons moved around him. Some of them were hooting with laughter.

“Start loading the treasure,” Korrdo said. “Be careful and don’t drop anything.” He turned to look at a large, quiet man beside him. “Take a look around, I don’t want any surprises.”

The rest of the men, who were all wearing the same envirosuits, opened up bags and started loading the treasure into them. Dakota felt a surge of anger. Olok might have left them to die, but she could understand why. Korrdo was just greedy. He wanted the treasure so he and Golden Nova could hurt people.

Korrdo smiled. “This will fund Golden Nova for decades to come.” He smiled. “Max will be very, very happy.”

Dakota’s stomach turned over. That the treasure would be used for such terrible things felt so incredibly wrong.

But what could they do? They had no weapons. No way out. Nothing.

Suddenly, Dare stiffened, his fingers digging into her skin. She looked over and saw Korrdo’s right-hand man heading in their direction.

She ducked back behind the pillar. The man was only steps away from their hiding spot.

Dare held his hands up, ready. Dakota’s muscles stiffened as she waited.

The big man rounded the corner, and when he spotted them, his eyes widened and his mouth opened.

Dare rammed into him, grabbing the man’s arm. “Dakota,” he said with a hiss.

She leaped up, and jammed her fingers into the side of the man’s neck.

He fell like a ton of bricks, but Dare caught him, and lowered him quietly to the ground.

The goon hadn’t given them away, but it wouldn’t be long before he’d be missed.

They could try and sneak out.

Once, she would’ve done that. Or just hidden and waited for Korrdo and his team to leave. Anything to save her own skin.

But not now.

She squeezed Dare’s hand. Now she needed to do everything in her power to save this treasure and Dare. He glanced down at her with a quizzical frown.