Lawson nodded, his mind flashing once more to Sarah. He was glad she left with the other women, but at the same time, he wished she was beside him. When she was close, it was like everything else just fell into place. Even though he knew he had made the right choice by asking her to leave, he missed her already.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” he replied.
“You think we’ll get backup in time?” Xavier asked, glancing at his watch, then looking out the window across the yard.
Lawson grunted. “Wish I could say yes, but I think we’ll mostly be on our own. The sheriff and FBI had a lot to wrapup, so I guess it really depends on how long it takes them to do everything they need done.”
“Maybe the women will get to town and let Willis know what’s happening. That they’ve blocked our communications. That should help speed up the assistance,” Xavier offered while moving to another window.
Both of them fell silent again, ears straining for any sound outside. Upstairs, there was a creak on the floorboards. Cade and Aaron were getting into position to look out over the grounds.
“Remember, don’t show them any mercy,” Lawson told Xavier, shifting back to battle mode. “You know they wouldn’t give any to us. We need to strike hard and fast. Take out as many as we can, as fast as possible. If we’re lucky, they’ll hit some of the traps first and that will help improve our odds.”
Xavier nodded. Lawson knew he didn’t need to tell him twice. He was gripping the gun in his holster tightly, ready to take a shot at a moment’s notice, but there was still nothing. After a few more seconds of silence, the grounds lit up in a burst of light. An explosion echoed from the right side of the lodge.
“Here we go. Let’s get it done.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Sarah stared out of the window as the last view of the lodge disappeared out of sight. Bailey had just pulled off the property and onto the winding mountain road that would lead them down to Blue Ridge. Sarah’s stomach tightened with worry, praying they would make the hour drive to town unscathed.
Normally, going for a drive made Sarah feel so free and alive—the wind in her hair, feeling the sunlight on her face, and the smell of clean forest air wafting through the windows. But tonight, under cover of darkness and fear, she felt as though the car’s exterior was shrinking around her.
She didn’t want to leave Lawson, and she could tell the other women with her felt the same. How could they just up and drive away from the men they loved? Even if it was for the best, it felt wrong. Logically, Sarah knew Lawson was right. She and the other women, except Bailey, would be a hinderance to the men. They’d be a distraction, splitting their focus and possibly getting someone killed. That was the last thing she wanted on her conscious. She’d never forgive herself if she was the cause of one of her friends being hurt, or worse. But her heart? Her heart was demanding she return and stand by his side. Help protect him as he would protect her. As senseless as it sounded, that’s all she wanted to do.
“I can’t believe we have to leave,” River muttered, breaking the silence as she stared out of the window.
“It won’t be for long,” Sarah assured her, slipping at once into therapist mode. “And we all know it’s for the best. We wantthe guys to be able to focus on what they need to do instead of worrying about us, right?”
“Exactly,” Bailey agreed. She had that confident tone to her voice that made Sarah start to unwind slightly. If there was anyone she could trust with all of this, it was Bailey. She had a good head on her shoulders, and she knew exactly how to handle herself in situations like this. After all, Bailey was a cop down in Blue Ridge. Sarah was thankful for that knowledge.
“We have to concentrate on what’s in our control right now, not what’s out of it,” Sarah continued. There was something comforting about sliding into this familiar role, telling them what she knew they needed to hear. It might not be easy, keeping calm when she felt so terrified, but she knew they needed to stick together to make it through this.
“Yeah, agreed,” Bailey replied. “The guys are relying on us to keep ourselves safe. That’s what we need to do right now.”
Hannah was sitting in the passenger seat, staring silently out the window like she couldn’t even hear them. River had her arms wrapped around herself and was shivering slightly. They were all dealing with their fears in their own ways, but Sarah hated seeing her friends so lost and upset. She gritted her teeth. She needed to stay strong, and pass that strength on to the other women.
They would all survive this. Their men would be fine. And they’d all be together again soon.
“We’re going to be back at the lodge tomorrow,” Bailey announced as though she could sense the tension in the car. “And Granger and his goons are going to be where they belong. Behind bars.”
Sarah noticed how tightly Bailey’s hands gripped the wheel as she spoke and how her eyes constantly checked the review mirror, looking for danger. Of all the women in the car, this had to be worse for her. With Bailey being a cop and having theknowledge and skills she did, it had to be hard for her to be there escorting the women instead of helping their men defend their home.
Sarah tried to think of something positive she could add to Bailey’s words. Something that might help ease the tension but nothing came to mind. Normally, she had many reassurances she offered her clients in times of stress, but right now her mind was blank. Her thoughts buried behind her own unease and terror.
All at once, Sarah stiffened as headlights appeared behind them. Bailey’s eyes suddenly darted to the rearview mirror.
“Was there anyone else coming down from the lodge?” she asked, concerned.
Sarah shook her head. “Not that I know of. We should have been the last ones to leave.”
“Well, there’s another car—”
“Bailey, look out!”
River screamed just in time to alert Bailey to the car heading directly for them up the mountain road. Bailey slammed her foot on the brake and twisted the wheel to avoid a head-on collision, sending them grinding into the dirt and grass at the side of the road. Sarah jerked forward, grabbing the back of Hannah’s seat in front of her to hold herself steady.
Bailey cursed to herself as she glanced around, trying to figure out what they should do. The bright lights behind them suddenly revealed another vehicle slowing to a stop a short distance away.
