Call my phone NOW.
Moving carefully to the place he’d chosen, he stole one last quick glance over to make sure Lassiter hadn’t spotted him.Then made sure the volume was turned up and set the phone down next to some ferns.
He hit the send button before ducking back out of sight, praying Willow would feel the vibration of her phone and risk moving enough to take it out and read the message.Praying that she would have enough reception to get it.
If she didn’t, he was going to have to risk everything and resort to drawing Lassiter’s fire at close range to save her.
Lassiter was still slowly moving in her direction.Tripp’s heart thudded, the tension in his gut ratcheting higher with each passing second as he waited.
Come on, Willow.Do it.
His phone didn’t ring.And he had no way of knowing if Willow had even received the message.
Lassiter stepped into a small patch of sunlight.Way too fucking close to Willow.So close that sweat broke out along Tripp’s spine.
They were out of time.
He pushed away from the tree, ready to run toward Lassiter and draw his fire, giving Willow enough time to run for it in the opposite direction.He’d just taken his first stride when a ringtone went off behind him, shattering the heavy silence.
He ducked back behind the tree.Watched in relief as Lassiter whipped around and dropped out of sight.
The ringing continued for another second, then stopped abruptly.Willow had timed it perfectly.Just long enough for it to seem like he had frantically tried to silence his phone.
Tripp scanned the dense undergrowth, waiting.Had it worked?
He stared at the spot where Lassiter had dropped out of sight.He couldn’t see him.For one terrible moment, he thought the plan had failed and Lassiter was still heading for Willow.
But then a branch swayed to the left of the spot.A moment later, a twig cracked closer to him yet.
He eased out a breath.Thank God.He’d drawn Lassiter away from Willow’s hiding spot.
Now he had to figure out how to take him down without getting shot.
Tripp shifted into a better position, moving with careful treads.Rolling each foot from heel to toe and keeping his weight to the outside to minimize noise.He had to stay quiet, and close enough to keep sight of Lassiter’s movement.
Once he was certain that Lassiter was committed to continuing toward him, Tripp picked his way to a hiding spot between a rotted stump and a fallen tree, slipping into the shadowy crevice between them to wait.
There was a thick stick on the ground near his foot.He picked it up, clenched it tight.Ready to club Lassiter with it if he got close enough.
Lassiter was barely moving now.Cautiously choosing his footing, making almost no sound as he crept toward the spot where the phone was.
He was close enough for Tripp to see his face clearly.The way his gaze moved around restlessly.Weapon poised.Finger on the trigger.
Tripp waited, staying completely still as Lassiter finally edged past him without noticing.He stayed put until the other man’s back was to him before making his move.
Launching from his hiding place, he dove at Lassiter.
