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Doug took point,and neither Jess, Azis nor Quint gave him shit. They clearly knew the state of his anxiousness, and what was going through his head, so they weren’t going to hold him back.
Doug was no tracker, but the clear path Peter had left smashing through the underbrush could have been followed by a toddler. The arrogant prick obviously didn’t think anyone would be onhistail.
His mistake.
Within minutes, Doug heard cursing and stomping several yards ahead of them, and raised his hand to have his teammates stop.
“We don’t know if he has a weapon,” Doug whispered. “We need to play this carefully.”
Quint nodded his head. “I’ll circle around from the right, and—”
“I’ll take the left,” Azis interrupted to confirm. “Which means, Doug, you and Jess continue on his rear.”
Doug nodded, beckoning Jess to his side as he confirmed with the other two. “As soon as you’re in place and have a visual, give me two clicks on your mics, then I’ll announce our presence.”
“Oh, I am so going to enjoy seeing the look on his face when he finds out he’s been made,” Jessop sneered. “The prick’s going to shit his pants.”
Doug couldn’t have said it any better, but there was one thing he needed his three companions to know. “If he runs, he’s mine.”
He got grins and salutes from both Jess and Azi’s, and a warning from Quint. “Don’t do anythingtoostupid.”
“I won’t,” Doug promised, but the spectrum of what punishment he might inflict on Peter was still vast.
“Right.” Jess snickered and rolled her eyes. “If hehappensto trip and hurt his face on a rock while he’s running away, we didn’t see it.”
Azi’s gave him a thumb’s up and nodded, then the two disappeared into the brush.
Doug placed his feet carefully, Jess on his heels, making no noise as they came up behind the clumsy, sputtering man. They maintained a distance of twelve or so feet for a short while, not giving themselves away…yet.
The first two clicks hit his ears a minute later, then the second signal gave him the go-ahead.
“Peter Palades,” Doug barked, even though they’d found out it wasn’t the guy’s real name. “This is Downeast SWAT. We have you surrounded. Put your hands up and drop to your knees.”
Peter panicked. His eyes grew wide as he looked around, but clearly not seeing anybody, he did what Doug had hoped.
He ran.
“You’re sure?”a male voice questioned.
The innocuous words traveled up the embankment to Pixie’s position, and she blinked. That wasn’t Peter. Which had to mean… Peter had an accomplice? Dread lodged in Pixie’s throat. If she’d thought to hide from Peter alone, she’d known it would be a long shot. But to keep herself concealed from two people…? Pixie bit back a groan.
Fuck.She was in a pickle, now, but what could she do? If she moved, her stalkers would hear her, and then it was game over.
“Of course I’m sure. I know my stuff,” yet another voice answered.
Wait.Neither of those tones belonged to Peter. Was it possible that—
“She can’t have gone far. Her feet must be a mess.”
Pixie thought she might pass out. It couldn’t be…
“Talia?” Pixie’s voice was barely a whisper, but the volcano of relief that suddenly erupted in her chest, had her stumbling to her feet. “Talia?” she was able to say a little louder.
“Pix?”
Her sister’s voice was the best thing Pixie had ever heard in her entire life.
“Yeah. It’s me,” Pixie attempted, then cleared her throat, stumbling and thrashing her way out of the tree shoots, trying not to step on anything sharp in her excitement. “It’s me,” she repeated, squealing, and before she could raise her eyes to see her sister’s beautiful face, she was enveloped in the warmest, tightest hug she could ever imagine.
