He cocked an eyebrow.Oh, man.“Usually because they want to avoid this kind of obsessive bullshit.”He took a deep breath.“Listen, I thought we ended things on decent terms.I apologize for not being clearer when we parted ways.But the truth is, I care about Desiree.”
She scoffed.“You didn’t give us a chance.If she were out of the way—”
“Don’t you understand?If you do something to harm her, not only will I want nothing to do with you, but you’ll be in prison for murder, Meredith.”
Her expression faltered.“I’m sorry to do this.”She aimed the gun at his leg and her finger moved on the trigger.
He yelped and jumped out of the way.Darting for cover behind the fallen log, he fired.The bullet zipped by Meredith’s shoulder and smacked into a tree.The curtain of her blonde hair trailed behind her as she charged through the dense forest.
***
Dez crouched inthe dirt behind a large boulder.The moonlight filtered in through the trees, bringing a bit of light to the darkened forest.She clamped her lips together and let her breath wheeze in and out of her nose in small pants.The rush of the river cutting through the forest was almost deafening.There was no way to cross safely, but if she could, it would put the perfect distance between Meredith and her.
She needed a weapon.
Pushing her hair out of her face, she scanned the ground around her.There had to be something.Meredith had a gun.And there was no doubt in Dez’s mind that she’d use it.
If she got the chance, she had to take out Meredith.
Dragging her fingers over the mixture of dirt, leaves, and sticks, she searched the ground.Her hand brushed over a patch of rocks.She swept away the leaves—the rocks were a good size.Some almost as large as a baseball.She filled her cardigan pockets with as many as she could and then held one in each hand.
She stood, and the weight of the stones pulled down her sweater on both sides.Not heavy enough to slow her down, but with every step the rocks bumped against her legs.Now all she had to do was find Meredith before Meredith found her.
She walked parallel to the river.At least this way she wouldn’t get lost.The river flowed under a bridge on Pioneer Road.If she could make it there, she might be able to flag someone down.On high alert, listening for the slightest sounds, she swallowed over the thickness in her throat.
“Dez, I’m here!”
She stopped in her tracks.Her fingers loosened around the stones in her hand.Aiden.Oh, thank god.Maybe he’d already caught Meredith.She moved swiftly toward the sound of his voice, coming from farther up the river—probably closer to the road.“Aiden!”Her shout bounced off the trees, the flap of wings telling her she’d disturbed the slumbering wildlife.
Hope loosened the anxiety in her stomach.She broke into a jog and called out again, the sound rattling her chest.Oh, God.Please don’t let me be hearing things.
It was his voice.She was sure—
“Dez!If you can hear me, follow my voice.”Urgency lit his tone.“Meredith is still out here.”
No.The nightmare wasn’t over yet.Meredith was still searching for her...waiting to kill her.
Her dress caught on fallen branches as she raced in the direction Aiden’s voice was coming from.“I can hear you!Keep talking.”
A flashlight bobbed in the distance.Yes!She waved her arms.The globe grew bigger, its movement more frantic.Aiden’s tall, shadowed form came into view.Relief washed over her.She let the rocks fall from both her hands, and a sob caught in her throat.He charged toward her.
Less than thirty feet separated them, and she broke into a run.
Crack!
A gunshot exploded in the night.Dez let out a scream and cupped her hands over her ears, crouching to the ground.
“Stay down!”Aiden’s order penetrated the fog of terror closing in around her.
He held the flashlight and gun in his hand as he swept the two around the mosaic of trees and branches, keeping his pace moving toward her.
Part of her wanted to get up and glue herself to his side, but she couldn’t yet.
“Leave now, Aiden,” Meredith said from somewhere close.
Dez lowered her hands and swiveled her gaze, peering into the trees.Aiden wasn’t far now, less than ten feet away.
“Where the fuck is she?”Aiden’s whispered question made her skin ripple with goosebumps.“I’m not going anywhere, Meredith,” he called.“You’re done.Come out with your hands up.”His command was firm and unwavering.
