She’d expected a monster and she’d found one in his eyes but the man driving now could be anyone you’d meet on a street. Nondescript. Tallish, medium build. Possibly graying hair.
The phone!
She wiggled her foot enough to realize Wax hadn’t found it. Her team would be able to track her through it.
They’d find her. They had to.
“You made your choice, Ava,” Wax said with regret. “It’s a pity you didn’t want to join the family tradition.”
Those chilling words gripped her heart. “What tradition? There’s no family connection between you and me.”
Wax laughed gleefully. “Oh, but there is and I can’t wait to tell you all about it before...” He left the rest unsaid but she knew.
Before she died.
Ava had to stay strong. By the time her team located her and Rachel it might be too late.
It was up to her to find a way out. Just like it had been last time.
“We’re here.” The excitement in his voice told her this was just the beginning of the terror.
Don’t go back into that blackhole.
It had taken years to crawl out. Her life and Rachel’s depended on her keeping her head.
Wax stopped the vehicle and got out. Ava’s heart thundered in her ears. She tried to get into a position of offense. The space was cramped. Wiggling around so that her feet faced the door, she drew her legs up against her chest and waited.
The door opened. She shoved her feet against his chest. Wax stumbled backward. Getting her feet out of the UTV and steady on the ground proved a nearly impossible feat.
She grasped the open door with her restrained hands, steadying herself.
Now what?
Wax managed to keep his footing. He lunged. Ava fought with all her strength but it was a losing battle the moment she felt the needle prick her neck.
???
He cursed and raised his arms angrily while the last of the fight went out of her. She collapsed on the snowy ground.
He should leave her there to die. The thought pleased him but it went against everything he had planned for her.
His once sweet Ava would soon become his final victim before he left Montana.
Everything else was in place. He’d leave her and the other one for them to find along with the truth. And then he’d move on to better hunting grounds. Maybe someplace warmer. He had all new identification. Howard Linkletter—a play on his real name—made him smile.
He stared in disgust at her sprawled form. “You’re making me work too hard for you.”
Wax bent down and hauled her up over his shoulder. Her arms flopped against his back.
He’d need to get the Arctic Cat UTV out of sight. They’d do their best to track him. The only means of finding him would be the Cat’s track. The second snowstorm moving in would cover them up giving him the time needed to deal with Rachel and Ava. Then he’d leave his mountain cathedral and his pretties behind for good.
Doubts crept in. Was he ready to give them up after twenty-five years? He traversed the icy stairs until he reached the cathedral where Rachel waited.
Her eyes widened as he entered.
“No, Ava! No!” She screamed her friend’s name.
“Yes, that’s right. I have her. It’s time for the rituals.”
