Page 134 of Veil of Silence

Christian placed one foot on the first wet plank, then looked back at Nora.

Something passed between them—something Austin couldn’t interpret from where he stood.

Something about his look made Nora stop fighting Harris.

Austin couldn’t tell whether Christian had surrendered to Cross’s command—or had finally decided what he intended to do.

From behind Harris, Nora watched Christian lead Preston onto the footbridge.

The younger boy fought him with every step, his shoes slipping on the rain-slick planks. Christian kept hold of his wrist and pulled him forward while Cross followed with the gun trained on them.

“Christian, please.” Nora’s voice broke. “Don’t do this.”

He turned away from her, not looking back.

The bridge swayed beneath their weight. It had been old when Nora’s family stayed here, and years of neglect had left several planks warped or missing. The creek surged beneath them, swollen by the rain and carrying branches and debris downstream.

Preston stumbled at one of the gaps.

Christian caught him before he fell.

His arm went around the boy’s waist, holding him upright. For a moment, the two remained there, Preston clinging to him while Christian stared at the water.

“Keep moving,” Cross ordered.

Christian leaned close to Preston and said something Nora couldn’t hear.

Preston stopped struggling.

Cross took another step onto the bridge. “I said move.”

Christian slowly straightened.

Then he turned.

He swung Preston around and shoved him toward Nora. “Run!”

Preston raced across the planks. Cross lunged for him, but Christian stepped into his path and drove both hands into Cross’s chest.

The gun fired.

The bullet struck the wooden railing, sending splinters through the air. Harris pulled Nora farther behind him. But he released her the instant Preston cleared Cross and reached the end of the bridge.

Nora dropped to her knees and caught him.

His momentum nearly knocked her backward. She wrapped both arms around him and dragged him farther away as another shot tore into the trees.

On the bridge, Christian grappled with Cross for the gun.

“You disobeyed me.” Rage twisted Cross’s face as he slammed Christian into the railing. “After everything we did for you.”

Christian caught Cross’s wrist before he could bring the gun around again. “You took everything from me.”

“You were nothing when we found you.”

Cross drove an elbow into his ribs. Christian doubled over, but he didn’t release Cross’s arm.

Nora pulled Preston against her and covered his eyes. “Christian, get off the bridge!”