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She stopped breathing. The lights had almost hit them as the car turned on the drive. If they’d been seen…
They’ll come after us. Take me back. Hurt—maybe kill—Midas. The drumbeat of her heart echoed in her ears as the vehicle slowly pulled past. She had the impression of another big SUV. Had to be with four-wheel drive in order to navigate out there.
Midas kept his grip on her but eased to the right so he could duck his head around the tree. “Can’t see who is inside,” he breathed. “Dark windows. Bright lights. Come on, come on…dammit, can’t see the tag.”
But the vehicle was still moving. Going away from them. That was fabulous.
“Once they get to the cabin, they’re gonna realize really fast that you aren’t in there. Hold tight.”
She already was holding pretty tightly to him and—
He took off. Far faster than before. Tree branches scratched at them as he seemed to torpedo through the woods. The sound of his footsteps pounded in the snow. The cold bit at her, but the coat he’d put on her provided Alina a welcome buffer. The coat was warm from his body and carried his scent.
Faster and faster, he ran.
And she tried not to think about who might have been in the car. Or what the occupants would do when they realized she wasn’t in the cabin any longer.
***
He parked the vehicle in front of the cabin. Stared a moment at the snow as it fell down and covered his windshield. He’d always liked the cold. And when snow drifted down and spun in the air, it was really something beautiful to see.
He enjoyed beautiful things.
He enjoyed beautiful things even more when they were broken. After grabbing his bag, he climbed from the vehicle and headed up the steps. His eyes narrowed at the smoke drifting in the air. The scent from the fire had reached his nose the moment he exited his vehicle. The fools inside shouldn’t be starting a fire, no matter how cold it was. Fire could attract attention to a cabin that wasn’t supposed to be in use.
It was so hard to find good help.
He reached for the door. Unlocked. Seriously? The two idiots were far too complacent. Clearly, it was time they were replaced.
He pushed open the door and came to a dead stop. Not fucking happening. Shayne was on the floor. The man’s hands were zip-tied in front of him, and his head sagged to the right. A few feet behind Shayne, the closet door hung open to show the completely empty interior.
Impossible.
He crouched next to Shayne. Drew back his hand. And hit the fool as hard as he could. Shayne barely stirred. So he hit him again.
A groan broke from Shayne. His eyes fluttered open. “Wh-what?”
“Where is the woman?”
Shayne’s eyes closed.
“I will kill you here and now,” he snarled. His knife already pressed over Shayne’s heart. He’d put it there the minute Shayne’s eyes began to flutter. “Where. Is. She?”
Shayne’s eyes whipped open. “Big—big guy. He took her. Boyfriend?”
Was that a question? Or was he saying the boyfriend had taken her? And what boyfriend? Alina Bellamy had zero personal involvements. The lack of intimate connections had made her a perfect target. Not having close ties—other than the tie to her jackass of a father—should have made things easier. Friends or lovers wouldn’t notice her absence. Mostly because Alina had no friends or lovers.
“He was here,” Shayne gasped. “I-I think he did something to Fallon.”
Like Fallon was even the guy’s real name. That tattooed asshole just thought it sounded cool. But where the hell was Fallon? More importantly, where is my prey?
“Fallon…outside…thought he…heard something…”
He rose and sheathed his knife. How long had Shayne been out? Couldn’t be that long, right? Maybe there was still time. He needed to get back in the car. Go back down the drive. If Alina had fled on foot—with her mystery rescuer—he could find her.
Maybe.
Woods were all around the cabin. Miles and miles of woods. Would he find Alina before she ran into some good Samaritan? Or, God forbid, the cops?
