Caught In His Embrace: A Second Chance Romance Novel

Chapter 423 Exhausted , Josiah stumbled as he stepped out of the narrow wooden hut , nearly tripping over the threshold .

Mr.

Evans A bodyguard swiftly reached out to steady Josiah , eyes scanning his pallid , grim face with concern .

Are you all right ? Tm fine .

Josiah shook his head , then suddenly turned to the bodyguards flanking him .

Why are you all standing here ? Go find him Mr.

Evans , we have to protect you one bodyguard unl Do I need it ? Josiah asked angrily , his gaze filled with sarcasm , Get out there and find Conner ? Mr.

Evans The bodyguards were hesitant Go now , Josiah instructed .

Yes , sir .

The bodyguards exchanged glances but ultimately obeyed Josiahs orders , swiftly scattering in all directions .

After shouting himself boarse , Josiah felt a sharp pain throbbing in his temples .

He raised a hand to rub his temple , his gaze sweeping over the surroundings .

The mountain had no streetlights , and the recent rain had left the paths muddy and treacherous .

The longer they delayed , the worse things would One more more person searching meant one more ray of hope , Josiah gripped his flashlight tightly and plunged into the search himself .

The sounds of voices faded into the distance , and only the steady beam of his flashlight illuminated the path ahead .

Josiah glanced at his phone from time to time , afraid of missing any incoming calls or messages .

Suddenly , the ground beneath Josiahs feet gave way ! He thought .

Damn it ! By the time he realized what was happening , it was already too late .

His center of gravity plummeted , and his entire body plunged downward in free fill .

Ethan help .

Josiahs pupils shrank as he shouted .

However , the descent was too rapid .

Josiahs cry was swallowed by the abyss along with him .

Ugh As his body tumbled down , scraping against jagged rocks , Josiah gritted his teeth and let out a muilled groan .

His flashlight had long been lost .

He was now engulfed in an endless void .

A sliver of fear coiled in the depths of Josiahs heart .

He wondered , Is this it for me ! Ah , Josiah screamed .

Before terror could fully take hold , a searing pain ripped through his thigh .

Josiahs body jerked to a sudden halt .

The pain was excruciating , enough to make him momentarily shut his eyes , his breath coming in ragged gasps .

He reached down , pressing a hand to his left thigh .

Josiah realized his pants were torn .

His palm came away slick with something warm and ket blood .

The sharp , metallic scent of it filled his nostrili His Josiah sucked in a breath , rubbing his hand against his clothes to rid himself of the sticky dampness .

He then reached into his pocket , looking for his phone .

He needed to check his wound and contact Ethan to save him .

However , Josiahs phone was nowhere to be found .

Tik .

With a frown , he clicked his tongue in frustration .

He thought , It must have been thing away when I fell Perhaps its nearby ? All that remained in Josiahs pocket was a lighter .

He pulled it out and struck the flint .

A flickering flame sprang to life , casting faint illumination over his surroundings Intually , Josial thought he had fallen off a cliff , but no cliff was this shallow .

The place looked imore like a cive .

Josuh raised the lighter higher , its dim glow barely penetrating the darkness ahead .

There was is no end in sight .

He wondered , What kind of place is Just as Josiah a hand had withdrawn , he moved back again .

That dark shadow earlier resembled a person .

Josiah directed its glow toward the murky ulourite after flicking the lighter off , then reigniting 1 .

Jou thought , It seems to be a person .

In this deep mountain , could it be … Conner ? His throat tightened .

A wave of emotion surged through hum as he struggled to his fort .

Aght li burtat As pain flared up from the wound on his left leg , a sharp , blinding agony shot through Josiah , making him see stars .

1/3 Josiah forced himself to endure it , shoving the pain aside as he rushed toward the shadowy figure on the ground .

Dropping to one knee , he reached nut and flipped the person over Conners eyes were tightly shut .

He was still wearing a hospital gowns under his coat .

Comper , Josialt called , his voice hoarse with urgency .

As the realization hit him , a surge of emotion welled up in his eyes , threatening to spill over .

Thank Godf He had found Conner .

That meant Joyce could still be saved .

Commer Josial blinked , forring hack his tears .

He reached out to help to help Conner up and patted his face .

Wake up .

Can you hear me , Conner ? However , Conner seyes remained shut .

There was no response .

It wasnt looking good .

Conner had been given sedatives , and then he had fallen .

Josjali thought , Tin injured , theres no guarantee that Comer is faring any better , I could stay here and wait for Ethan to bring reinforcements , but what about Conner ? Can he afford to wait ? No.

I cant sit idly ! Some on , get up Josiah made up his mind .

He took a deep breath , put Conners arm around his s shoulder , and helped him to his feet .

He Josiah struck the lighter and continued to survey his surroundings .

The tunnel stretched endlessly ahead , an eerie wind rushing toward them .

He had his suspicions this must be some kind of underground passage .

And if there was wind , there had to be an exit .

With Conner in in tow , turning laack was impossible .

Their only option was to move forward .

Before setting off , Josiah shrugged off his jacket and tossed it onto the ground where he had fallen carlier .

If Ethan and his men arrived and w they would know he had been there .

Josiali then hoistedd Conner onto his back , Ugh Josiah winced , a mudled groan escaping his lips as his knee nearly buckled beneath him .

He barely managed to steady himself .

Conner might have been a j a grown man , but it normally wouldnt have been a problem for Josi for Josiah to carry him .

However , that was under normal A deep gash split open the fles flesh of Josiahs left leg now .

Every step sent a sharp pang of pain through his body .

Josiah gritted his teeth , slowly regulating his breathing until he finally steadied himself .

Then , he took a step , then another , slowly moving forward .

As Josiah walked , he talked to Conner , hoping to wake him .

Conner , youve got guts , you Joyce your bone marrow u know that Tania tied you up here to stop you from giving And even in your state , you were still thinking of escaping , of going back to save Joyce , werent your Right … Josiah trailed off before adding abrupdy , I forgot to say thank you ghter .

Still , he kept chattering away .

However , Conner remained Even though Conner saving Joyce had nothing to do with Josiali , Joyce was his daughter .

unresponsive_ Hey ! Panic erept into Josiahs voice .

Conner , show some resp some response .

Say something .

Where are you hurt ? You finally managed to escape you cant ollaper now.

Joyer is waiting for you to save her life .

You have to hold on , Connert The wind howled around them , picking up force .

And then , in the distance faint but unmistakable a sliver of light began to pierce through the darkness .

Josialı speculated it to be the exit .

Conner , hold on .

Please , you have to .

Il Conner didnt make it , not only would joyers surgery be doomed , Sienna probably wouldnt be able to handle it either .

A cold blue light flickered ahead , Josialis heart fraped hope flaring in his eyes .

He quickened his pace , his left leg so numb that he could no longer Suddenly , everything opened up They were out .

The sky was starting to lighten , no longer pitch black .

Josiah looked up and could fantly see beams of light shining froan the mountains .

Those were his men .

Jual slated Conners weight on his back and grined his teeth , pushing forward Ugh , Commer groaned Commer Josialis steps faltered .

He turned his head sharply .

Conner Are you awake ! How do you feel ! Are you hurt ? Jonialis gaze froze .

A black and white landed snake coded tightly around Commers leg- It was a riper , a venomous unabr .

Joslali went rigid , every hair on lais boly standing on end .

In the blink of an eye , his arm shot out , moving with had only taught at that manner must not be harmed .

He had to get back to the hospital safe and sound , back to Sorina .

He dor save joyce , to undergo ilie surgery as scheduled .