Her hair whipped in the wind and the cold stole the moisture from her skin.Her lungs burned.Her fingers, clutching her abductor’s sleeve, were bright red.He navigated the four-wheeler through the woods, somehow staying on the narrow trail.
She replayed his voice in her head.Familiarity struck her, but the pounding at her temples made every suspect slip through her grasp.His voice had shaken, as if operating the vehicle and holding on to her took a lot of stamina.
Which didn’t hint at a whole heck of a lot.
Once she figured out who had her, she could work on talking her way out of this.Find out what the hell the creep wanted.Hopefully it wasn’t locking her in a basement.She forced the image from her mind and fought the urge to look over her shoulder.Once he knew she’d seen his face, the game could change.
She brought her attention to his body.Thick, but not muscular.The hand splayed over her midsection lacked vigor.He hit a dip in the snow, and her body flung back closer to his chest.His scent invaded her.
Astringent.
Goosebumps broke out over her flesh as she searched the woods.Every tree that whipped by her face had the same gnarly branches.Lifting her gaze to the sky, she stared at the constellations—they were heading east.
In her mind, she ran through all the properties east of her house.There was only one that was easily accessible.The others required crossing streams or traversing mountainsides.She choked on a breath as realization hit her.
She’d die at his hands.No one would suspect him.
Snow began to fall, the flakes big and fat and promising.
It’ll cover our tracks.
He wouldn’t have taken her unless he’d known for certain it would snow again.She couldn’t wait for someone to find her.Couldn’t wait until he stopped.She had to get out now.
If she died, so be it.
She pressed her weight into his chest, and he tightened his grip.“Hold still!”His bark, mean and menacing, rang with fear.He held the steering wheel with only one hand.Easy to throw off.She scanned the forest.Hitting a tree or ditch could be deadly.She’d have to make sure to get free before the thing flipped.Miles and miles of trees stretched around them.There was no good time.All she could do was pray she survived the impact and he didn’t.
She lifted her knee, pushed back against him again, and kicked the handle.Her bare foot connected with the cold rubber.
“Dammit!”He dropped his hold on her chest and caught the wheel in both hands, righting it.
No.
“You want to get us both killed?”His voice boomed with arrogance.Now she was almost positive it was him.
“Just you,” she snarled.
He grabbed her throat in his palm.His mouth nestled close to her ear.“I’m going to enjoy cutting you open tonight.”
All the blood drained from her face.He wrenched his hand away from her windpipe and air rushed into her lungs just before the vehicle collided with an uneven patch of ice.They careened off the path.He cursed in her ear and brought them back onto the trail.Her gaze followed the path to the large log house half a mile ahead.
Terror sliced through her.She threw her weight from one side to the other.The four-wheeler bounced.A fist caught her hair, stilling her.She leaned forward until her scalp screamed then jabbed her elbow back into his nose.
His hands fell from the steering wheel.His contact with her body broke.
She threw herself off the four-wheeler, and the vehicle spun out with the force of her jump.Her hip slammed into the ground.Her brain shook and a long, low buzz sounded in her ear.
Get up, get up, get up!
Panic made her lift her head.The world spun faster than a top.Trees and snow whirled in her vision.She pushed herself to her knees.Her frozen hands sunk into the snow.The tips of her extremities throbbed.
She focused her gaze on the trail and commanded her legs to stand.Nothing happened.A moan burst through her lips.She’d run if it killed her, but she wouldn’t make it back home.Even if he was dead.She’d freeze to death.
Crunch...crunch...crunch
As slow, labored footsteps sounded at her back, she belted out a scream loud enough to shake the trees.
***
