A surge of adrenaline blasted her veins. She chanced a quick peek at Kevin. One hand held tight to the steering wheel, the gun stayed glued in the other. But his grip had loosened, his focus fixed squarely on the narrow gravel lane ahead.
Sweat dotted the back of her neck, and she inched her fingers toward the door handle. She’d rather die hurling herself from a moving vehicle or be shot down like prey than endure whatever horrors waited for her.
As if sensing her intention, Kevin tapped the barrel of the gun against her arm. “We’re almost there.”
She stilled, her heart in her throat. She’d wait just a little bit longer until the car slowed then make a mad dash. The wide-open space outside her window didn’t boast many places to hide, but anything was better than being trapped in the vehicle with a gun at her.
Another turn slowed the car further. The tires crept along, and Kevin craned his neck as he looked out the driver’s side window. The cold metal of the gun slipped from her skin.
Summoning all her courage, she shoved open the door and launched herself from the car. Her body slammed against the sharp stones, the jagged edges piercing her skin and drawing blood. Tucking herself into a ball, she rolled a few feet before jumping up and sprinted in the opposite direction of Kevin’s car.
Her lungs burned and the muscles in her legs screamed. But she pushed harder, ran faster. She searched for a place to hide, a house to find help, but only a long stretch of land surrounded her. The road back to Hillmore was to her right, but she zagged to the left, not wanting Kevin to drive back to catch her. Her only hope was that he was too banged up to overtake her.
The sound of heavy breathing reached her ears and spiked her adrenaline. She fought the instinct to glance over her shoulder. Kevin was behind her, that’s all she needed to know. She forced her legs to move faster and her mind to stay focused.
The breathing got louder. Footsteps pounded the ground, shaking her very soul. A hard yank on her hair pulled her to the ground. Her feet flew out from under her, and she landed on her back. Pain exploded inside her and all the air left her lungs.
Kevin stood over her. He scowled, sweat and blood running down his face. “You had to be stupid. I planned to make this as quick as possible, but now I might take my time.”
Rough hands grabbed at her arms and dragged her to her feet. The hard barrel of the gun pressed against the small of her back and edged her forward. Walking back the way she’d come, she noticed a small house on the other side of Kevin’s car.
Confusion mixed with the throbbing in her head, making her dizzy. No lights shone from the small structure. No other vehicles waited for their arrival. Then his words slammed against her.
“You’re going to kill me? Why? How does that help you?”
He pressed his lips to her ear. “Because you’re the ticket to my freedom. I just have to kill you first.”
Nervous energy surgedthrough Lane’s system as he paced on the front porch. He needed to act, needed to move, needed to go out there and find Celine. But with no leads and no idea where Kevin would take her, he was in a chokehold.
Suzy’s sedan pulled up the driveway followed by a deputy cruiser.
Duke stood beside him. “As soon as Suzy gets inside, we head to Kevin’s place no matter what Spencer says.”
Lane nodded. He and Duke had strategized while they’d waited. He and Celine had found information pointing toward the casino the last time they were there. Maybe Kevin had left something else behind to help us figure out where he could take her.
Dammit, it still didn’t make sense why he’d take her in the first place. They’d circled the thought countless times to no avail. Right now, why wasn’t as important as where.
Suzy parked and ran up the steps before hurling herself in Lane’s arms. “I’m so sorry. I’ve got Parker while you figure this out.”
He held his sister tight. “Thank you. He’s asleep, but if I’m not back by the time he wakes up there’s milk in the fridge.”
She pulled back and waved a hand. “Go. I don’t need instructions on how to take care of my nephew. He’s safe with me.”
Appreciation lodged in his throat. “Head inside and lock up. Set the alarm and call if anything seems unsettling or out of place.”
“I will.” She aimed a tight smile at Duke then hurried inside, closing the door behind her.
Spencer climbed out of his car.
Lane held up a hand to stop him from going any further. “There’s nothing here. We need to head to Kevin’s. Talk to his friends and family. Find out if he owns property somewhere else. Staying here a second longer’s just a waste of time.” He jogged to his truck with Duke a step behind him.
“Deputy Timkon is en route to the Koffman house now, and law enforcement all over the county are on the lookout for Kevin’s vehicle,” Spencer said. “We’ll find her.”
Without bothering to respond, Lane jumped in his truck and peeled off toward the road. He kept his mouth shut and grip on the wheel tight. Memories played on repeat in his mind, and he tried to recall any information that could lead to Celine. The miles stretched on longer than ever. When he reached Celine’s old house, he swore ten hours had passed and not minutes.
A cruiser sat in the driveway. A sliver of hope pushed through his fear. Maybe the deputies had already found a lead.
Shutting off the engine, he jumped down and ran to the front door. He knocked twice before letting himself in.
