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Angela lay there, still and pale. White powder clung to her nostrils and caked in the blood beneath her nose. Her face was swollen from what had to have been a terrible beating.
He didn’t need to check her vitals to know she was dead. But he went through the motions anyway.
She was gone. The mother of his child. And though she’d never been a mother to Tyler, he thought maybe she’d tried to be one at the end. She must have tried, just as Selene said she had. And Vinnie had beaten the hell out of her for it
He closed his eyes and shook off the sadness and regret of a life so thoroughly wasted—except it hadn’t been a total waste, had it? She’d given him a beautiful son.
“Thank you for that, Ang. Thank you for giving me Tyler. And for giving him back to me today.” It surprised him that his throat went tight on those words. He hoped she was at peace somewhere, somehow.
Jim drew himself up, told himself to focus. Then he looked at the dirt around the car and spotted footprints. Two sets led off into the woods. Two sets.
That had to mean Kara was still alive. “Thank God,” he whispered. “Thank God almighty.” He checked the cell. There was still no signal, but he took it with him all the same as he hiked into the woods in search of the woman he loved.
* * *
Kara ran deeper into the woods, zigging and zagging, doubling back and looping around until she didn’t even know where she was. Vinnie was still chasing her, but she thought she’d managed to get far enough ahead so he couldn’t see her. So she slowed her pace, walking carefully, hoping to make it more difficult for him to hear her, as well.
God, if only it would get dark. The sun was still in the sky, lower than before but not close to setting. Not just yet. She had to keep moving, get away from him, make sure he couldn’t hear or see her, and then find a place to hide. It was her only chance.
Every part of her hurt. Her ribs most of all. She was certain now that Vinnie had broken them when he’d kicked her.
She thought about her family, about how losing her would devastate them. About how much she would regret not being able to see the twins grow up, or her mother find love again, or Selene figure out where her life was leading her. She had to stay alive. She had to.
Those thoughts kept her going despite the pain and the way her body cried out for rest, for a break. She crept as quietly as she could through the undergrowth, the thickening woods. She smelled pine and decaying leaves and rich soil. Birds chirped, took flight now and then when she made an inadvertent sound.
A squirrel chattered. She wasn’t sure, but she thought the sounds of Vinnie’s pursuit were growing fainter.
She thought about Jim. About Tyler. Jimmy didn’t love her. But he did like her. And he was attracted to her. She didn’t think he’d been faking his desire. And she thought he had fully intended to marry her. Maybe it was only because he knew how badly his son needed a mother. But that was a compliment to her, wasn’t it? That Jimmy had chosen her, out of all the women a man like him could have for the asking, to be the one in his son’s life. It was an honor. And while Jimmy may not love her, she knew Tyler did. He adored her as much as she adored him. It could be a good life, being Jimmy Corona’s wife. Being Tyler’s mother. It would be a good life.
If Jimmy still wanted it. And if she could survive long enough to claim it.
She kept going, picking her way, trying not to make a sound as she moved ever deeper into the woods. It was working, she knew it was. She hadn’t heard a sound from her pursuer in a long while. Maybe she’d lost him. Maybe he’d given up and gone back to his car. Maybe she could begin to relax now.
She needed to get her bearings, figure out where she was and then find a safe place to stay until after dark. Once the sun went down—and it would only be a couple of hours now—she would make her way out back to civilization. But she’d have to get a solid idea which way to move now, while it was still light enough to see.
She chose a small tree-lined rise and climbed it pulling herself along, still trying to be as quiet as possible. When she got to the top, she found a spot where she could see between the trees and skimmed the horizon in search of rooftops or chimneys or the snakelike cut of a road through the forest.
She was still searching when the distinct sound of a gun being cocked near her ear, made her go ice-cold and still as stone.
“You’ve really pissed me off, you know that Kara Brand?”
* * *
It was getting dark, and Jim was running out of signs to follow and had no idea which way to go, when he got lucky.
A branch snapped off to his left, so Jim ducked behind a tree and watched, squinting his eyes, until he made out the shapes moving through the haze of foliage. A woman stumbled slowly through the woods. Kara! And Vinnie moved along behind her, his steps stronger and more certain.
Jim swallowed his relief that Kara was still alive and realized from the direction in which they were moving that they must be heading back to the car. He couldn’t let them get there. If Vinnie got her to the car, he might take her out of his sight again, and that was not something Jim could allow to happen.
He chose a path that led him at an angle toward the car, and moved as quickly and quietly as he could. He would cut them off before they got there, get Kara out of the line of fire and take Vinnie down, one way or another.
Jim’s entire focus remained on Kara. He didn’t lose sight of her again and he didn’t allow any other thoughts to enter his mind. He pushed aside his worry for Tyler. Tyler was safe now, with the Brands, a family who would do anything for him. He buried his concern for Kara’s family, who must be going nuts with worry by now, not knowing where Vinnie had taken her. Their concern would be alleviated when he returned their Kara to them safe and sound. He silenced the small voice of mourning he felt over the death of his one-time wife. Angela was in a better place now.
Kara was his focus. Nothing but Kara.
He drew closer to her, close enough now to see that her face looked odd, and then he realized that was because it was bruised. Vinnie had hit her. The thought made his stomach heave. But he had to stay in cop mode now or he’d blow any chance of getting Kara away from Vinnie alive.
He managed to get nearer, and still nearer as they hiked toward the road and the waiting car. He lifted his gun and said a brief silent prayer.
