My eyelids are heavy and wait—they’re already closed. I blink open, pushing the rocking tilt of the earth in front of me.
“Noah!” Her voice is louder now.
When I look over, Lily is struggling with one of Raven’s men. He works to untangle her chains from the stump.
While Raven is still struggling with Max, he’s barking orders to secure her. His men grab what they can, bolting for the tree line.
He’s going to get away. He’s trying to disappear with her, and this time, he won’t be so easy to find.
I grit my teeth, pressing my hand to my leg, but it slips in the slick blood. I lift a foot and press it into the earth for leverage. When I put pressure on it, when I try to stand, dizziness churns through my body and I collapse. The tang of gunfire invades my nose, but I focus on Lily, on where the man peels back her chains and gropes for her.
I don’t see it, but Lily must, and she lets out a wail, calling my name. Something hard hits me on the back of my head, and the air swims around me.
Lily yells, “Max!Aus. Fass!”
Max breaks away from Raven who scrambles up, and Lily points to the man hovering over me. He charges again, catching air and bulldozing him to the ground.
Lily pushes and claws at the half-undone chains around her, and panic rips through me as several FBI agents scatter along the ground.
My arms tremble, and with resolve I push up one more time, but I stop short as chains thud to the ground. Raven grips her arms, his fingers curling tight, claiming her as if she’s his to take. Rage pushes me to my hands and knees, and though I’m losingtoo much blood to stand and walk, I drag myself closer inch by inch.
More shots ring out around me, but I stare at Raven, who beckons me closer, dangling Lil in front of him. He smirks when my fingers scrape into the muddy earth, and he sneers when I meet his eyes once more.
Lily elbows and kicks out, but she’s so petite compared to him.
Her eyes widen, large tears carving streaks down her cheek.
I’m failing her. I’ve failed my mother and now her. Why didn’t I ask her about the note? Why wasn’t I there for her?
“No,” I rasp. I force my body to move, to fight, but I’ve never been so helpless.
The bastard tugs her closer to him. “Haven’t you heard, Ranger Sullivan? Guys like you don’t win.”
I see it in his eyes—he thinks he’s beaten me.
Several of his men have escaped, a handful apprehended. Others in a firefight with the two agencies I didn’t call—a significant task force sent in, most likely on my behalf. Did I do this?
With a roar, I shove myself forward, ignoring the agony, ignoring the way my body wants to pass out completely. I won’t stop.
Because if I stop, I lose her.
She’s the one I’ll uproot my life for. She’s the one I want to have my family’s name. She’s the one I see a future with. Her life for six years was on the run, and I want to be the safe place she can land. Iknowshe’s found that here with me. She had found that with my mom.
My body slams against his with everything I have left. The impact knocks us both off balance and jostles Lily away. Raven and I both fall, hitting the ground in a ball of chaos.
Air rushes from my lungs as I roll across the pine-covered dirt. The pain in my thigh adds to my fury, and in the tangle of limbs, my adrenaline kicks in. My wound burns as we grapple, but I barely register it.
Move. Fight. Survive.
For her. All for her.
Max’s bark echoes from somewhere and it draws my attention, allowing Raven to strike a blow to the side of my face.
My heart pounds searching for Max. I hadn’t given him the command to let up, but he must have. I heard him.
The time spent searching drowns everything else out, and when I find him, I let out an audible sob of relief.
My vision narrows to where Lily is on the ground. But there Max is.
