Heart in her throat, she raced for the trees, praying she was in time to save Tristan.
****
Rob’s pulse hammeredin his ears as he darted through the trees in pursuit of his wounded prey.He had Cassie’s fuck toy pinned down behind a thick cedar trunk thirty yards ahead.The bastard was bleeding bad, the left side of his shirt saturated with blood.
Rob had missed with his last shot, but Abrams hadn’t moved from his spot.The shock and blood loss must be weakening him.
A rush of triumph made goosebumps break out all over his body.Emboldened by the added protection of his plate carrier vest, he slowly moved in for the kill, savoring the moment.Wishing only that Cassie had been here to watch her lover die in front of her.
“Rob!”
He whipped around, searching for the source of that enraged shout.
Cassie.She was here.
But he couldn’t see her amongst the shadows.Where was she?
He kept half of his attention on the tree trunk where Abrams was hiding.Still out of range.But now he was torn.Kill Abrams first to inflict maximum suffering?Or just hunt the bitch down and end her right now?
The burning need for vengeance won out.
Leaving Abrams to keep bleeding on the forest floor, he turned and crept toward the source of Cassie’s voice.It felt like he’d just taken a hit of premium coke, his heart rate jacked up, his senses sharpened.He could hear his blood pulsing in his ears, the drip of the rain falling from the trees, the pungent scent of the cedar strong in his nose.
A flicker of movement caught his attention.He whirled to his left and dropped to a crouch.Weapon aimed, finger curled around the trigger.He licked his lips, waiting.
Come on, bitch.Make your move.I’m ready.
His eyes strained to pick out the first hint of her silhouette amongst the shadows.Any second now.Cassie was finally going to get what she deserved.
“Hey, asshole!”
Startled by the voice so close behind him, he whipped around and froze.Cassie stood half in shadow slightly to his right, holding a weapon on him, close enough for complete accuracy.
His heart lurched in terror a split second before a fresh wave of rage punched through him.You bitch.
Baring his teeth, he let out a feral snarl and swung his hands around to fire at her.
He’d barely moved before two shots rang out.He jerked, the breath slamming out of him when the bullets punched through his ribs.
He dropped to one knee on the wet forest floor, clapped a hand to his side as the pain hit.Searing, like acid.Stealing his breath.Distorting his vision.
He looked down, stared in stunned disbelief at the blood spilling from between his fingers.She’d hit him in the small gap between his side plates.
Struggling to stay upright, he looked back at her.
Cassie stood unmoving, cool as ever, weapon pointed at him.Ready to put another round in him.
Burning agony spread through his side, into his chest.He wobbled, struggling to stay upright.His knees buckled.
He hit the ground on his side, a throttled roar ripping through his clenched teeth.Every shallow, rapid breath was torture.He fought through the haze of pain.
Cassie.Have to kill that bitch.She did not get to kill him and walk away.
His weapon was still in his hand.His fingers tightened around it.“Taking you...with me,” he rasped out.His arm shook as he tried to lift it and return fire.
It refused to move.
The weakness spread through him.He was paralyzed.Helpless as he lay there bleeding onto the ground.
