I sprint.
He turns toward the movement, trying to find a target, trying to decide who to shoot first. He sees me too late.
I hit him hard and drive him to the ground. His hands come up fast, clawing at my throat and jacket, trying to shove me off. I punch him once in the face. I punch him again. I hit him until blood spits from his mouth and his eyes blink too slow.
Brooke fires again.
Grant’s hand jerks, and he screams. She shot his hand, and the sound is ugly. He tries to curl that hand against his chest, but his body is still fighting me.
He bucks under me and twists, trying to throw me off. His good hand scrapes the ground, searching.
A knife flashes in his grip. He drives it into my hand.
Pain explodes up my arm. My fingers spasm, and the knife in my other hand almost slips. Blood runs hot and fast between my knuckles.
I slam my weight forward anyway and hit him again with my free fist.
Grant uses my split second of pain to wrench his body sideways. He shoves hard and scrambles out from under me. He gets to his feet and runs, clutching his damaged hand close while his other hand pumps for speed.
He crashes through brush, and keeps going.
Brooke drops beside Travis the moment Grant breaks away.
She presses both hands to Travis’s bleeding body. Her hands start shaking as soon as she makes contact, but she keeps pressure, teeth clenched, eyes locked on him.
Naomi crawls toward Elise and Ryan with her hands still bound.
Beau moves to the kids first. He keeps his rifle up with one hand and cuts Elise’s zip ties with the other. He cuts Ryan’s next. He gets Naomi’s wrists free right after. Naomi immediately wraps her arms around both kids, holding them close, shaking too hard to hide it.
I push myself up, cradling my bleeding hand against my chest. My skin feels too hot and too cold at the same time. My heart hurts in my ribs.
Brooke looks up at me. Her face is smeared with blood that isn’t hers. Her eyes are wide and wet.
“Go!”
I don’t move fast enough.
“Go!” Her voice breaks on the word.
My eyes flick to Travis. His breathing is thin. Brooke is pressing down with both hands, refusing to let him slip away. Naomi is holding the kids close, whispering to them, trying to keep them from falling apart.
Beau looks at me and gives one short nod. Letting me know he has them, that Brooke won’t be alone.
Grant is still running.
If Grant disappears, he will do this again. He will keep coming until he wins.
I make the decision. I turn and chase the sound of his footsteps.
My wounded hand burns with every heartbeat. I keep moving anyway, because letting him vanish is worse. I can hear him ahead. He is loud now, crashing through the woods. The trees thin and the road appears again.
Grant bursts out first and heads for his vehicle.
I sprint to the truck. The keys are still in it. I get in and start the engine with my good hand.
Grant’s taillights jump ahead as he peels off. I follow right behind him.
He fires first. His arm hangs out the window and muzzle flashes light the road. The first shot shatters my side mirror. Glass snaps across the cabin and bites my cheek. The second shot punches through the windshield and misses my head by inches. I duck and keep driving.
