He whirled around to find Meredith moving away from the tree where he’d left Dez.Her arm circled Dez’s throat and the mouth of her gun pressed against the slim column of Dez’s neck.
All the blood drained from his head.He shouldn’t have left her.Shouldn’t have—
Turning the gun so it pointed at the sky, he raised both of his hands.“Please.Let her go.It’s me you’re angry with.”
Meredith ground the gun harder against Dez’s neck.Dez’s pale face scrunched with discomfort.Meredith smiled and pulled Dez in retreat, moving toward the river.They weren’t far.Less than ten feet from the slope to the water.Anxiety spiraled inside him.
“Don’t go any farther,” he demanded.
Even without his flashlight, he could see the hard glint in Meredith’s eyes and the tension on her face.If ever someone had murder written on them it was now.
Jesus.
She retreated a step.Then another.
A frigid finger of dread touched his spine.“I said stop!”he yelled.
She ignored him, taking two more steps backward.In one swift motion she could send Dez down the ravine.If his memory was correct, it was maybe a six-foot decline to the river.
He had to calm her down.
“Let’s talk, okay?I clearly gave you the wrong idea and I want to correct it.”Fear ran rampant through his body.In any other situation, with any other person held hostage, he could keep his cool and talk his way out of it.
But this was his fault.If something happened to Dez because of him...
“She needs to erase the spell she has on you,” Meredith said, through gritted teeth.Then she turned her mouth to spit her words into Dez’s ear.“Then maybe I’ll let her go.”
Meredith had lost touch with reality.The more he corrected her, the angrier she became.He moved his gaze to Dez, sending her a silent message to just stay quiet while he found a way to get between them.
Dez’s hand slipped into the pocket of her cardigan.He widened his eyes and gave his head half a shake to the side.No.Whatever the hell she had planned, no.
“I feel sorry for you, Aiden.”Meredith moved the gun away from Dez, flicking it lazily in his direction.“You fell for her wiles.You were supposed to be smarter—”
Dez spun around, her hand sailing through the air and cracking something into Meredith’s head.Meredith staggered to the side and let out a screech.She grabbed Dez’s arms and propelled her toward the ravine.
“No!”Aiden focused his gun on Meredith.If he got in the middle of them, he could cause one or both of them to fall in the river.“Hands up!”
Blonde and dark hair swirled in a tangle as Dez and Meredith struggled.Dez grabbed a handful of Meredith’s hair, rearing her head back.
Meredith threw a punch to Dez’s stomach, loosening her hold.He ran for them, but Meredith shoved Dez hard in the shoulders.
Aiden aimed the gun at Meredith and pulled the trigger.
Crack!
Meredith sank to the ground.
Dez stumbled.Her ankle caught a fallen branch and she staggered backward.Her mouth opened in a scream, and her eyes were wide and locked on him as she fell out of sight.
“Dez!”His heart ripped from his chest as he raced for the edge of the ravine.
***
The ground slippedaway from her feet.Dez windmilled her arms through the air but there was nothing to grab.Her back hit the earth, knocking the wind from her lungs.Her body tossed itself down the sharp hill.
She stretched out her fingers, grasping for the slope, but only dirt filled her hands while she spun down the hill.The roar of the river grew deafening.She closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, bracing herself for impact.
Splash!
