“Uphill,” Jay replied. “Nothing but rocks and trees right up to the front door. No neighbors around for miles.”
Adam glanced up from his phone. “You up for a fast trek, Z?”
Coldcocked to the temple, Zander had been knocked unconscious for a grand total of two minutes. Just long enough for Vonn to grab Eve and shove her into the trunk. “A fucking plus,” he growled.
“Doc?”
“Good to go.”
“You sure?” Grant asked checking his weapons at the back of the van. “You took two bullets to the vest, maybe—”
“Fuck maybe. I’m good to go, asshole.”
“Duly noted,” Grant replied, tossing a spare magazine in Doc’s direction.
“Alright,” Adam said. “We’ll take the vans in as close as possible. Once we’re boots on the ground, we’ll have about a two-minute window before Vonn gets Eve into the cabin. First man with a clear shot, kill the motherfucker. If he makes it inside, we breach. I take the front with Grant and Cody. Doc, Chase, Z, cover the perimeter. Vonn doesn’t come out of this alive. Jay, Gray, Davis, you stay with the vehicles. Be ready for a quick evac on my signal. We clear?”
A rapid volley ofclearscame right back at him, and Adam had all the reassurance he needed. This was the shit his team had been trained for. Injured or not, they didn’t give up. They didn’t give in. They didn’t surrender.
Eve was his. A part of his family. His team.
They weren’t leaving without her.
And as to Detective Vonn…
He wasn’t leaving at all.
CHAPTERFORTY-THREE
Eve’s heartbeatthundered in her ears as the car rocked gently on the uneven surface of a dirt road. She’d been in the trunk for hours, the distance between her and Adam stretching out mile after mile as Vonn raced through the night.
She had no idea where he’d taken her, and she couldn’t help but wonder if his other victims had shared the same cramped space. Had they made this journey? Had they known the end had come? Had they fought? Prayed? Begged him for their lives?
Gravel pinged against the undercarriage.
Wherever he’d taken her, guaranteed, the location would be isolated. There’d be no point in kicking her heels against the side panel or shouting for help. No one would hear. Better to save her energy.
She flexed her ankles. Stretched her calves. Clenched and released her thigh muscles. The movement felt good. Her muscles loosening as they warmed. She did the same with her upper body, curling and flexing her fingers, shaking her arms, and rolling her shoulders.
She had one chance.
Her plan? Fight first. Flight Second.
With the tactical light keeping her fear of the dark at bay, she’d searched the trunk during the long drive, and found nothing. A crowbar would have been nice. A jack handle. A shovel. Hell, she would have settled for a hammer. Anything capable of doing some damage.
No such luck. But she wasn’t defenseless. Thanks to Adam, she had an option. One way to potentially save herself. Or at least to slow Vonn down. The car moved forward in a crawl before it swung around and came to a stop.
He killed the motor.
She made use of her yoga training. Slow inhale for three. Controlled exhale for three. Eyes closed to clear her mind, the faces of the dead accompanied the initials scrolling over the backs of her lids.KA,DE,WM,JC,MH.
They were with her. The women who had shared her cell.
Lending their courage and giving her strength.
The car door closed with a loud bang.
She pulled the concealed knife from her pocket and with a flick of her wrist she opened the blade. The black metal handle fit in her hand. The grip comfortable as she closed her fingers around it. Thinking back to that night with Adam, she recalled her training. Strike hard. Strike fast. No hesitation. Go for the vulnerable spots within reach.
