Page 157 of Shadowing You

“We need to wait until we hear from Grant.” Callan scanned the tree line. “We need to know what we’re facing.”

Wait, wait, and more wait, while Ethan was out there, hiding. Or worse.

But these were Ethan’s people. She would trust them.

What other choice did she have?

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Ethan sat with his back against the boulder. He’d swear it was getting darker, though it seemed too early for the sun to set, even this far north.

The cold had seeped through the gloves and through his jeans, which were wet from the ground.

There’d been five men in the small clearing near the boulder a few minutes before. The three Chinese men, including Lu, were dressed as if they hadn’t planned to spend any more time outside than what it took to walk from a heated car to a heated home. Wool coats, leather shoes, no hats—except the one Ethan had worn, which the tall Chinese guy had on now.

The two Americans were outfitted properly—parkas, waterproof gloves, and hiking boots. They both carried rifles and handguns, unlike the Chinese, who only had handguns.

Aside from Ethan, only three men remained in the clearing. The tall Chinese guy and the curly-haired American had left to search for Mei Lin.

Lu Feng sat on a rock the size of an old box TV—boulders seemed to be scattered like marbles in these woods. His gloved hands were folded in his lap, and though his coat was buttoned to the throat, he looked perfectly comfortable. He didn’t fidget or scan the woods like the other men did. Only the furrows in his forehead gave away his tension.

Mei Lin had escaped. She’d had a head start, and every minute they didn’t catch her was another minute closer to her safety.

Father, cover her. Hide her.

The cold climbed into Ethan’s chest. How long before Lu accepted that he’d lost Mei Lin? Would he keep looking for her, or would he eventually realize his only option was to go into hiding?

No matter what he chose, Ethan wouldn’t be alive to witness it. The moment he’d jumped off the snowmobile, he’d known this would probably be his last day outside of heaven.

But what other option had he had? If he hadn’t jumped, the men would have caught them for sure.

The noise of an engine bounced off the trees, the rumble growing louder and closer. Another four-wheeler, but who was driving it?

Lu spoke sharply in Mandarin to the other Chinese man, who scurried toward the noise.

A moment later, brush cracked at the clearing’s edge, and Ethan leaned forward to get a look at who was coming, his heart lodged just south of his Adam’s apple.

Not Mei Lin, Lord. Please.

There was a grunt, and then an American guy Ethan hadn’t seen before moved into view. He held the arm of a wounded Chinese man over one shoulder. The one who’d gone to see who was coming was supporting the wounded man’s other side.

Lu lurched to his feet and crossed the clearing, barking words Ethan couldn’t understand.

The two laid the wounded guy on the ground, and Lu brushed hair off the man’s forehead.

There was a hint of humanity there. Whoever that was, Lu cared about him. He spoke, and the wounded man answered through his teeth.

Lu turned to Ethan, the humanity gone. “Treat him.”

“How?” Ethan wiggled his shoulders, his hands bound behind his back.

A folding knife appeared in another man’s hands. He cut the ties free. Blood pinpricked into Ethan’s fingers. He shook them out, hurrying to the man they’d laid on the ground. Not that Ethan relished the idea of saving the life of someone who wanted his wife dead, but he did relish the idea of being cut loose. And having something to do.

And being indispensable, at least for the moment.

He crouched at the guy’s side and searched for a wound. “What’s your name?”

He whispered something, and Ethan leaned close. “Say it again?”