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“We are waiting,” Vixen says and hangs up. I follow behind Reaper and Jinx on their bikes as we make the thirty-minute drive to the Fox weigh station. It’s closed, so it’s the perfect place for us to meet up.
* * *
We pull up and I jump out, dragging the guy with me.
“Cuffs.” I hold out my hand and a pair of zip ties land in my palm. I cuff his hands and feet, then push him into his back seat.
“Call the troopers to come get him after we leave,” I say into my earpiece.
“Got it,” Keys says.
I take a deep breath and focus on getting my chaps on next. My black bike is waiting for me. I hate that I might have to bring Sky out on the back of it, but it’s the only choice I have.
“I’m heading out,” Reaper says after he kisses Jinx hard. The plan is for him to get as close as he can then hike in. I’ll then come in next. I notice he’s now got a five-gallon bucket strapped to the back of his bike where River was seated before.
Hopefully, because of the beautiful weather and all the other bikes on the roads, Phantom won’t question the sound of a random bike in the valley. There isn’t a lot of cover. The trees are bare bean poles out there, but this was the best option we had.
I continue to gear up. I slip the shoulder rig on with my dad’s gun in it, then I put on my leather jacket and cut. I hear the blades of a helicopter approaching and wonder if it’s Thad.
I don’t have to wonder long when my cell starts ringing.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he says in way of greeting.
“Doing what I need to. I love you too.” I hang up on him and slam my phone against the pavement. It’s a little dramatic, but I want him to see what I’m doing so he won’t try to call again.
River’s phone goes off, and she answers it.
“I know. He called her. They have a meeting. You can’t go, or he’ll kill Little Bear.” She walks away and I look at Vixen. I need to go, or I won’t make it on time.
“Take care of my mom and Little Bear. Keep an eye on him too.” I nod toward the sky.
“I’ll see you again.” Vixen kisses my cheek, and I give a two-finger kiss wave to the helicopter before I mount up and head out.
The road twists and turns, leading me deeper into the wilds of Alaska. I see several moose off in the brush. The nearly thirty-minute drive takes less even though I’m trying to coast and act like I’m not in a hurry, which I am. The helicopter only followed along for a couple of miles. Part of me wishes he were here. That I could kiss him one more time, but I can’t focus on that. I need to concentrate on our daughter and Phantom.
I pull up to the Chatanika Lodge and look across the street to where the dredge is back off the road. I leave the bike. The shot rock trail isn’t very good on a bike.
The hike has me crossing private property, but I’m not afraid of anyone. Honestly, I’m not afraid of Phantom. I’m afraid for my daughter. It’s a good half-mile walk and I’m heavily armed with two guns and two knives, in full riding leather, and not dressed for this. I make it to the dredge and see Monica’s car along with a motorcycle. A body lying on the ground has me running. It’s Monica. Her face has been blown away. I hold a hand over my mouth and see a trail that I follow. This is the only place he could be.
As I move further away from the road and into the thicker pucker brush, the more I’m glad that Reaper is somewhere close by. Or at least I hope he is. I’ve been hiking for another fifteen minutes. I’m a good way from the road now and can barely hear the vehicles in the distance. There are pockets of areas around me without trees from the dredging process. The trail of surveyors tape has me moving away from the dredge and following a small creek.
I finally hear crying in the distance, and I can’t stop my legs from pumping harder. I know better than to run into a blind situation, but I pass through the trees and there she is tied to one, my baby girl. I look around but don’t see him. I know I’m not thinking straight as I run for her and drop to my knees.
“Baby, Momma is here. I got you.” I hold her face in my hands and only see dirt on her, no marks, but I’m still worried.
“He killed that woman,” she cries against me. I’m about to stand when two things happen at once.
A gun presses against the back of my head and Sky screams. I lift my hands slowly out to my sides and lean away from my daughter. This is where I either fight for our lives or trust Reaper.
“Step back, little girl,” Phantom orders as he too takes a step back. I know the gun is still pointed at me. And this close, he’d kill us both.
“I’m right here, Sky, baby. Just wait, it’ll be okay.”
She nods at me as her tears flow and she sobs.
“Don’t hurt her. You promised,” I say as I step away from her and lace my fingers behind my head. I shift so that if he shoots me, the bullet won’t hit Sky too.
“You cut your hair. Bad girl.” He slams the gun into the side of my head, and for a moment I see double and fall to my side. Sky is crying harder, but I try to block her out as I focus on channeling the pain. I focus on meditative breaths so I won’t lose consciousness, and I stand back up. With this hit and the one from the museum, I’m going to be sore later.
