“I’m a scientist, dear. Curious about everything. So?” Isobel’s gaze ran over Anya’s body. “Answer me, or I’ll shoot you in the foot.”
Hatred burned hot through Anya. “I’m not planning on dying tonight.”
“Oh. Denial. Interesting.” Isobel lost the smile. “How is my Heath doing?”
“He’s not yours, lady.” Anya measured the distance between them. With her arm extended over the side of the sofa and attached to the wall, her other arm wasn’t long enough to go for the gun. “In fact, none of them are yours. Why are you trying to get them back so badly?”
“My work isn’t finished.” A man’s howl of pain echoed through the storm, and Isobel turned to look toward the open doorway. “I wonder who will win.”
“Maybe they’ll kill each other,” Anya said hopefully.
Isobel turned back toward her with a scowl on her flawless face. “Be polite.”
“All right.” It was now or never. Anya balanced herself on the couch with her good hand and swung as far as the restraints would let her, kicking Isobel in the face. Anya’s foot connected with Isobel’s jaw, and then she brought her ankle down on the gun. It flew to the floor, spinning around and around.
Isobel screamed and leaped for the weapon.
Anya kicked her again, sending the woman crashing over the other side of the couch. Grunting, Anya dropped to the floor and reached for the gun. Her shoulder protested, but she ignored the pain. Her fingers closed over the weapon, and she drew back just as Isobel jumped for her.
Anya fired.
The bullet hit the doctor in the shoulder, and she fell toward the fireplace. Oh God. Anya pointed the gun at the cuff and turned her head before pulling the trigger.
The bullet hit metal with a sharp ping, and she fell away from the wall.
“What the hell?” Sheriff Cobb’s big body blocked the doorway.
Almost sobbing, Anya pointed the gun and started shooting.
He bellowed and jumped out of the way as Daniel did the same.
Anya kept shooting and ran full bore for the doorway, clearing it and leaping from the porch. She partially turned and fired at both men, who stood on the porch and then ducked out of the way.
Her aching feet slapped ice and snow, but she turned and ran as hard as she could for the trees.
“Isobel!” She heard Sheriff Cobb yell, his boots stomping across the porch.
“Anya, wait!” Daniel bellowed.
Anya took a sharp left and then a right while the storm battled her. Somebody crashed through the forest behind her. She fought against snowy bushes, her movements panicked. She had to get out of there.
Daniel was coming.
Her feet froze, and her toes cracked. She halted, looking around. Where was the lake? She had to get back to the lake. The sound of water smashing into shore competed with the storm.
Too much sound swirled around her. She could no longer hear him coming. God. Where was he?
She turned toward the sound of the lake and barreled around a pine tree—right into strong male arms. Bouncing off a hard chest, she opened her mouth and shrieked.
CHAPTER
42
Heath grabbed on to Anya’s arms before she could fall.
Her eyes widened. “Heath?” Sobbing, she rushed back into his arms.
In that second, his entire world settled. He breathed out. Snow and sleet pelted all around them, and the wind whipped the world into a frenzy. Yet he wanted to shout for joy. He’d had to circle around to catch her before Daniel did, but now he had her, and he was never letting go. His hands shook, and he probably held her too tightly. She was so fucking small. Her strawberry-like smell soothed him, and he calmed down. The snow reflected around them, and he could see her clearly. “Are you all right?”
