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With the rock still tight in her grip, Savannah summoned all her strength and slammed the sharp edge of the stone against the side of his face.
The man’s jaw went slack and he careened back an inch. As he brought his hand to his jaw, his glare turned vicious. “You fucking cunt.” He lifted the knife and brought it down toward her midsection.
She screamed and jabbed the inside of his elbow. The knife missed her middle, but piercing pain split her side, followed by warmth. She gasped. He grunted in frustration and raised the knife again, this time holding her arm with his other hand so she couldn’t deflect his movement.
Savannah’s body froze. She couldn’t run. Couldn’t escape. Fear made her want to beg for her life, but she wouldn’t go down like that. Her pulse raced against her skin, the ferocity of her blood pressure enough to give her a stroke.
She fought the urge to squeeze her eyes shut. Fought the urge to pray.
He brought the blade down.
Crack!
The blast of gunfire made her jump. A scream ripped from her throat, long and ragged. Warm fluid splattered her body, and the man dropped his arm as if it were a lead weight. His eyes glazed over and he slumped into the creek, his body pinning her legs in the water.
The scream kept peeling from her lips. Terror hot and blinding coursed through her veins as her mind struggled to comprehend the situation.
I’m alive.
She kicked her legs out from under her attacker as if he’d rise from the dead and take her back with him. A figure was next to her. Solid, calming hands ran over her arms. “Hey, hey, Savannah. Can you hear me? Fuck.”
That curse. The tone. So familiar.
Slowly, her brain led her into the present. She was no longer facing death—facing the hell she’d surely only be welcome at. Instead, she was facing Toth.
“Savannah!” he shouted, his fingers biting into her biceps. “Are you hurt, goddammit?”
Her lip trembled and she shook her head. “I-I thought I was dead.” The words came out on a raspy whisper.
Before Savannah could get her equilibrium back, Toth swooped his arms underneath her and stood. She shivered as the cold mountain air struck her drenched skin. Toth stalked out of the stream, over the grass, and back to the rock she’d abandoned, where he set her down. For once, she was grateful he didn’t back off. His body stayed close, his arms warm enough to heat a furnace.
She let her face press against the smooth cotton of his shirt. Let him surround her in his embrace. The whiskers of his short beard tickled her temple.
“I’m freezing,” she said, to break the silence. And maybe to explain why she was letting him touch her.
“You’re in shock.” He caught the nape of her neck and tilted her head back. “Do you hurt anywhere?”
Everywhere. But she didn’t say that. “I don’t think so.” Leaves rustled in the forest next to them and her body coiled.
Toth didn’t budge. His hand swept along her neck, and then he cradled her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced her darting focus to his face. “You’re safe. Got it? No one else is here ’cept some wildlife. And if there is someone, I’ll kill ’em.”
His last statement sent a bolt of electricity through her loins. It wasn’t just reassuring. It was protective. Primitive. Hot.
She wet her lips and nodded.
“Where’s the gun?” he asked, dropping his hand.
Her skin grieved as he put distance between them. Shame warmed her cheeks, the hot blaze of embarrassment almost strong enough to chase away the shock. “By the water.”
His face twisted. “You know that was your protection.”
She dipped her chin and tears stung her eyes. “He surprised me. I d-didn’t hear him approach over the sound of the creek.” Her voice shook from the tremors taking hold of her muscles, and for the life of her she couldn’t steady her words or prevent the stammering. It was like watching a bad movie. She couldn’t stop talking. Couldn’t stop trying to explain herself when all she’d done was fail. “I h-heard footsteps. I-I thought it was you and—”
He gently lifted her chin with his knuckle. The damn burning tears rolled down her cheeks.
Shenevercried.
Call it shock. Call it fear after facing death. She was coming unglued, and it was just her friggin’ luck that it was happening in front of Toth.
