Page 179 of Running to You

Beside the building, he paused, breathing hard, and texted his location to his brothers. At least they’d know where to look if this went south.

The four-wheeler’s engine cut off.

Trading his phone for his handgun, Sam crept to the back corner of the building and spied around the back.

Barely glimpsed the gun in Keller’s hand before he reared back.

A bullet hit the building right beside his head.

So much for the element of surprise.

And then the rest of what he’d seen registered.

Keller held Eliza in front of him with his other hand. She looked ragged, like she was barely able to keep her feet. Duct tape covered her mouth. Her hands were bound.

A second woman stood off to the side, same age as Keller, shorter than Eliza.

Behind them, a dark sedan.

“Drop the gun,” Keller said, “and toss it where I can see it.”

He pulled out his phone again, tapped out a text.

Volkswagen. Blue or black, Massachusetts plates. Still here but not for long. Hurry!

He shoved the cell in his pocket. “Just let her go.”

“Wish I could,” Keller said, “but she has my money.”

“Otherwise, you’d have let her burn with the rest of your hostages.”

He heard the gasp. Eliza? No. Her mouth was covered.

Was it the other one? Lola, he guessed, Keller’s wife, the woman Eliza had described as her friend and confidant.

Now, her kidnapper.

“Not hostages,” the man said. “Devoted followers.”

“So they all chose to burn to death?”

“I didn’t want to do that.” His voice was calm, almost conversational. “That’s Eliza’s fault. She left me no choice. The only way to get away was to make sure you and your friends had more important things to do than follow me.”

Evil. The man was pure evil.

“I don’t have to hurt Eliza.” By the man's tone, he really wanted to. “But I will if you don’t toss that gun where I can see it. Right now.”

Sam didn’t have a choice. He slid his gun onto the pavement, far from Keller.

“Come on out here,” Keller said.

“So you can shoot me?”

“Can’t exactly have you trying to stop us or telling anybody which way we headed.”

The distinctive sound of tape being pulled from skin, and then Eliza spoke.

“Don’t, Sam.”