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"Or what? You'll shoot me here and now?" My bravado surprised even me. "At least then I won't have to listen to your bullshit any longer."
"Oh don't worry about that. You won't hear a thing in a few minutes," she said, her face alight with evil pleasure.
I heard them first. The deep growls. And then I saw it.
"No," I whispered.
"Oh yes. They're starving. It's going to be quite the show."
There was no hope left now. I either had to try something, or face my fate. Sawyer's eyes flashed before me one more time, giving me strength I didn't know I had.
In a moment of pure instinct, I kicked backward, connecting with Ellen's shin. She cursed, the gun wavering, and for a heartbeat, I glimpsed a sliver of hope—a chance to break free and run back into the life that I was only just beginning to live.
thirty-six
SAWYER
The gravel crunchedunder my boots as I paced the empty parking lot of the clinic, each step echoing my rising panic. "Where the hell are you, Hannah?" I muttered, raking a hand through my dark hair.
The moon was hidden, the storm clouds painting the sky a bruised purple. The wind slashed my face with an icy grip. My gut churned like the sea, waves of confusion and worry crashing against my insides.
"Looking for someone?" A voice cut through the thickening silence, and I spun around.
Rick stood by the brick wall, with his hands in his pockets, an unreadable expression on his face. His sudden appearance gave me a jolt, awakening an uncontrollable anger.
"What the hell did you do to her?"
"Hey, man, I didn't do a damn thing. I tried to warn her." He shrugged, but there was this look in his eyes that set off alarm bells in my head.
"Where is Hannah?" I demanded, stepping closer, not quite trusting myself to keep my hands off him.
Rick shifted, his gaze flickering before locking onto mine. "We need to talk."
"Talk?" My voice cracked like a whip. "How about you start with where the hell she is? And who took her?"
"Let's just say, she's tangled up at the moment," he replied cryptically.
"I don't have time for fucking riddles. Start talking, or so help me—"
"Easy, man," Rick held up his hands defensively. "I tried to warn her 'cause I knew what she was up against. I've stayed out of things to not make it worse for myself but I'm done with that now."
"The fuck are you talking about?"
"I've been blackmailed and threatened for too long. I'll help you find the vet, but you gotta make sure that bitch goes down for it all."
"Who?"
"The Landis woman."
"Ellen? Ellen Landis?" I echoed, skepticism lacing my tone. Could I trust this man? Hannah could be out there, scared and alone, and every second wasted was a second too long.
"Come on, I know a shortcut," he said, already walking away.
With a reluctant nod, I followed, putting my blind faith in a man I swore to destroy.
* * *
Rick pulled his truck to a stop at the south end of the Acadia trail out by the old Route 36. Lightning threatened, the clouds overhead
