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She backed away and ran into a wall.
Only it wasn’t a wall. It was another man. His arm wrapped around her, trapping her arms to her sides. A meaty hand clamped over her mouth. He lifted her and carried her toward the van.
“No!” Her cry was muffled beneath the sweaty palm. The nightmare of her previous encounter with two men and a van unfolded in front of her.
Breely fought with every ounce of strength she had, kicking and twisting.
The man who’d blocked her path grabbed her ankles.
Together, the men climbed into the van with her. The one holding her feet released his hold, slammed the van door closed and dove into the driver’s seat.
The guy behind her flipped her onto her stomach and pressed his knee into her back.
With her chest smashed into the metal floor of the van and the big man leaning hard into her spine, Breely couldn’t move…couldn’t…breathe.
She tried to buck and roll, but the man’s weight kept her pinned.
The vehicle lurched forward and increased speed, carrying her away from the lodge. Away the Brotherhood Protectors. Away from Moe.
Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t give up. In the chaos of the explosion, they wouldn’t know she was missing. How long would it take Moe to realize she was gone?
Any amount of time was too long as the van put more and more distance between her and Moe.
He wouldn’t be there to rescue her this time. She’d have to get herself out of this situation—which meant focusing.
She studied what she could see around her, hoping to locate something she could use as a weapon. There were hoses and plastic containers filled with pesticides. Surely, she could make something work.
First, she had to get the man off her back. Fighting hadn’t dislodged him. His weight pressing down on her wasn’t making it easy for her to get air into her lungs. If she didn’t get out from under him soon, she’d pass out.
Breely stopped fighting, closed her eyes and went limp. If he thought she’d passed out, the big guy on top of her might move away.
She lay for a long time, praying the man would move.
For her plan to work, the big guy had to notice she’d passed out.
If he didn’t move soon…she would lose consciousness from lack of air.
Chapter 12
Moe had set the two glasses of lemonade on a table next to the porch swing when the explosion ripped through the peace and quiet, shaking the timbers beneath his feet.
Smoke billowed out of the southern end of the lodge.
Moe raced back toward the door he’d just come through. When he opened it, smoke and dust wrapped around him, making him cough. He dragged his T-shirt over his face and stepped into the foggy haze that had been the beautiful, light-filled lobby.
Unable to see past the nose on his face, Moe turned to his left and touched his hand to the wall. Moving slowly, he felt his way around the room, bumping into end tables, easing around couches and chairs and running into display signs.
Though he kept hunkered low, the smoke burned his eyes and lungs. Still, he pushed forward, cursing how slow he had to move, knowing he didn’t have time to waste. He had to get to Breely and get her out of the lodge before smoke inhalation claimed her.
When he finally made it to the hallway where the restrooms were located, he pushed through the door of the ladies’ room. Inside, the smoke and haze weren’t as thick. It didn’t take long to check all the stalls.
His heart sank to his knees. Breely wasn’t there.
Back out into the thickening smoke, Moe didn’t know where to begin. “Breely!” he called out through the fabric of his shirt.
He strained to listen for her response.
Had she run out into the lobby, gotten confused and collapsed due to smoke inhalation? Or had she headed for the nearest exit?
