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She bolted from the room.
Ryker ran after her. The night air embraced him as he flew out of the front door. Hannah was standing near his vehicle, bent over, vomiting on the sidewalk in the shadows. He raced to her side and held back her hair until she was done. Helplessness mingled with the rage. It tangled inside him, creating a war that he couldn’t sort through. All he knew was that he’d do what it took to protect Hannah. Physically and emotionally.
She straightened, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Tears streaked her cheeks. They punched right through Ryker. He opened the door to his SUV and fished some tissues from the center console. He handed them to her. “Here.”
She mopped her face while he fetched a bottle of water from an emergency supply in the trunk. Ryker steered her deeper into the shadows to prevent any of the deputies from observing the moment. Hannah was still frighteningly pale. He gently brushed a damp strand of hair off her forehead. She’d been through the wringer the last few days and that note might’ve pushed her right over the edge. Emotional stress could cause physical symptoms. “I’m going to have an EMT look at you.”
“No.” She grabbed his hand, stopping him. “I’m okay.” Her chin trembled as her voice grew softer. “Don’t leave me.”
“Never.”
The word was out before Ryker could even ponder its implications. He gathered Hannah into his arms. She melted against him, her shoulders trembling as she swallowed down fresh sobs. Ryker just held her. Let her lean on him for as long as she needed. Hannah was one of the strongest women he’d ever met, but everyone had a breaking point.
God, help me comfort her. Give me the right words to say.
Finally, when his shirt was wet with her tears, she pulled back and drained the water. She crushed the bottle in her hand.
He gently took it from her. “This isn’t your fault, Hannah. He’s trying to get into your head, to make you feel responsible for Kristin’s death. But you’re not.” He placed a finger under her chin until she was forced to look into his eyes. “None of this is your fault. Got it?”
She breathed out and then nodded. “I know. I just… that note was a shock. Sorry for falling apart on you.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” He pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. “Fall apart whenever you need to. I’ve got you.”
She squeezed his waist. “Can you take me back to the ranch? I need to see Charlotte.”
“Of course.”
Ryker escorted her to the passenger side of his SUV and opened the door before helping her inside. Hannah sagged against the seat and closed her eyes. She had to be exhausted. He was too. The ranger team would continue to work in shifts throughout the night. Hopefully, by morning, Dusty would be in custody.
Headlights shimmered in the rearview mirror for most of the drive home. When Ryker turned on the two-lane county road leading to his ranch, he kept a sharp eye out for any trouble. Man or animal. Deer were frequently crossing the road, especially at night, and had caused more than one accident.
In the passenger seat, Hannah was quiet. She hadn’t said a word for the entire ride, lost in her own thoughts. Ryker had the sense she was working through the case rather than beating herself up for not protecting Kristin, so he let her be. Later, Hannah could fill him in on her conversation with Lorrie.
He was struggling with his own theories. Had he missed some vital piece of evidence in Julie’s murder? Was Dusty responsible for killing her as well as Kristin? It was possible. Right now, everything he knew about the case should be re-examined.
They passed a dirt road, and a vehicle rumbled out. Suddenly, light blazed off the rearview mirror, blinding Ryker. His heart rate jumped as he realized someone had been lying in wait for them. A roar broke through the night as the oversized truck behind them sped up.
It was on a collision course.
He gripped the steering wheel as his heart rate jumped. “Hold on, Hannah!”
EIGHTEEN
The impact jolted Hannah against the seat. Her belt locked, holding her in place, as her breath stalled. She gripped the door handle. Fear formed a sour taste in her mouth and silent prayers flooded her heart. Dusty had been lying in wait for them. He was determined to kill Hannah and didn’t care how it was accomplished or who he hurt in the process.
Ryker swerved to make them a harder target to hit. Another roar came from the truck behind them. Hannah’s gaze shot to the side-view mirror. The truck had a large metal grill covering the front bumper and giant tires. Their SUV was powerful, but it was no match for Dusty’s vehicle. She scrambled to retrieve her cell phone from the cup holder.
Help. They needed help.
Metal crunched against metal as Dusty rammed them again. Hannah’s body listed to the left unexpectedly and her head hit the window. Pain erupted along her temple. Ryker uncharacteristically swore under his breath as he white-knuckled the steering wheel. Their speed climbed as he tried to put some distance between them and Dusty.
Ignoring the ache arching through her scalp, Hannah unlocked her phone. Explaining their situation to a 911 dispatcher would take too long. She chose Eli’s name from her contacts and put the call on speaker. He answered on the first ring.
“We’re being chased.” Hannah spit out details in rapid succession, including their location. “Large truck. Silver or gray. It has a grill on the front bumper and oversized tires.”
“Deputies are in route.” Eli’s voice was clipped, and it sounded like he was running. “So am I. License plate?”
Hannah glanced in the side-view mirror, but the truck’s bright headlights prevented her from getting a clear view. Ryker swerved again, jostling her in the seat. She gripped her cell phone. “It’s not visible.”
