“Woof.” While her tail disappears, I shrug my pack and rifle over my shoulder, racing up the mountain path. All the while I pray Becca reaches her before the stalker.
Running full out, I replay our night together. “Living in the dark ages,” she’d said.
My fists clench. She has no idea the shit I’ve endured—years of war, the guilt, the blood. The betrayal by my own family. Who is she to judge me?
Then Gran’s voice pipes up in my head.“You made love to the woman, got angry when she stood up to you, then left like atoddler. You should be ashamed of yourself. You were raised better than that.”
If she’s going to haunt me, I give her hell right back. “You said you’d leave your house to me.”
“And leave your niece homeless?”
“It wasn’t my fault she married an asshole. It was his job to provide for them.”
“But he didn’t.”
“I’m not living in the dark ages.”
After the voices in my head fall silent, I push hard until my legs burn. No more ghosts, just breath and motion.
Picturing Brett Johnson in his shallow grave, I shudder. If I don’t reach Briana in time, she might be next.
And it’ll be on me.
Dammit. Fuck her for putting me in this position.
“Woof-woof-woof.” Becca’s excited bark can mean only one thing.
Thank God, she’s found her.
At the crest of the ridge, she swivels toward me, pistol braced, finger on the trigger.
“Whoa now.” As my hands shoot into the air, Becca growls, uncertain.
Was I wrong about her? Is this my last breath?
“Holy crap.” A gasp escapes her. “Never sneak up on an armed woman. I could’ve shot you.”
Despite the fury churning in my gut, I close the distance, pull her into a hard embrace, and swallow the knot in my throat. A second. That’s all I need to breathe before I tear into her.
Over my head, the drone’s buzz slices through the moment. Somewhere out there, a killer’s still stalking these woods. Head in the game, I flip open my control app.
Nothing.
Becca must’ve scared him off.
“Good job, girl.” Kneeling, I scratch behind her ears.
She rewards me with a slobbery face wash, then lets out a low whine, sensing the thick tension in the air.
Rising slowly, I rake a hand across my beard, working to tamp down the fire under my skin. No white knight here. And she sure as hell isn’t a princess. Dark ages, my ass.
“Did you know someone was following you?”
Hands on her hips, she juts out her chin. “Of course I did. You scared him off—ruined everything.”
Jesus, she was using herself as bait?For a second, words fail me—but not her.
“So, what now? You going to arrest me? Bring me back to your FBI buddy? Is that why you fucked me? To keep me close? I can’t believe I trusted you.”
