Page 11 of Unbroken

It was a mistake.

She never should have looked behind her.

Because in the next second, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her, stealing her breath and stopping her heart.

CHAPTER

NINE

Maya's petite body slammed into him, and Aiden let out a small oomph of surprise as he wrapped his arms around her to steady them both. A shrill scream rent the air, and Maya exploded into motion. Her arms and legs swung wildly, jerky with terror.

“Maya.” He immediately released her but stayed close. “I’m here to help you, Maya. I’m with the FBI.”

Her arms continued to windmill in his direction, desperately trying to fend him off. She stumbled sideways under the force of her movements, and he shot out one hand to catch her. “You’re okay. You’re safe, Maya.”

He kept talking to her, kept using her name over and over, hoping it would eventually break through her haze of fear. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he promised.

In his peripheral vision, he was dimly aware of his other team members surrounding the house and barn, making sure the man couldn’t escape. They would take care of him. Right now, Maya was his main priority.

If Aiden hadn’t already known Wainwright was responsible the second he and Kennedy pulled into the driveway of the rundown old house, the shattering of glass from the dilapidated barn was a dead giveaway. Watching Maya crash through the broken window had nearly stopped his heart.

She was nearly naked, her slender body covered only by a bra and underwear. Her skin was filthy, and streaks of blood covered her arms and legs. He couldn’t begin to decipher how badly she was injured.

All of a sudden, her movement stopped. As if she’d just exerted every ounce of energy, she crumpled to the ground in a heap. He dropped to a knee next to her, speaking in a low voice as he did so.

“You’re safe now,” he assured her. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

Her arms covered her face and head as she curled into herself on the dewy grass, and her body trembled violently.

“Maya, do you remember me? My name is Aiden. We met at the coffee shop a few days ago. I⁠—”

Before he could blink, she launched herself toward him, her arms wrapping around his neck like a vise. Her sobs filled the air, her erratic breathing leaving her mouth in great, gasping pants next to his ear. He pulled her to him, holding her tight as protectiveness washed over him.

“You’re okay. You’re safe.” Aiden gently patted her back as she clung to him.

He watched over her shoulder as his team apprehended Wainwright. The man’s dark gaze was fixed on Maya wrapped in Aiden’s arms, and the look on his face was enough to send chills down his spine even from this far away.

“You’re so brave, Maya. I’m so proud of you.” He continued to speak to her, offering soothing reassurances until the police and medics showed up. By then, her sobs had quieted and her body relaxed in his arms.

“I need to have the medic check you out,” he said to her in a soft voice. “Is that okay?”

Her arms tightened around his neck, and her head moved against his shoulder in what he assumed was a nod. He glanced down at her feet. They were a bloody mess, and the sight sent fury spiking through him.

“I’m going to carry you over there, okay?”

Her head bobbed another nod, and he lifted her into his arms as carefully as he could. “They got him, Maya. Everything will be okay.”

She kept her arms linked around his neck, face tucked into his chest, like she couldn’t bear to look at the place she’d just escaped. He didn’t blame her.

“We’ll get you all taken care of,” he promised.

The low sound of approaching sirens filled the air, and her tear-stained face slowly lifted from his chest.

“Is he gone?”

Aiden glanced over to the police cruiser where Wainwright sat ensconced inside the backseat.

“He will be soon.”