The short hallway ended abruptly in a large great room. Her eyes darted, searching for the door. She needed to get out of this cabin. It was her only chance at surviving.
Finally, she spotted a door across the room. She bolted toward it as more verbal threats followed her. She grasped the large knob and twisted, but it didn't turn. Wasting precious moments—moments, in which Collin drew ever nearer—she unlocked the dead bolt and the lock.
She swung the door open as Collin reached for her. Ducking his arm, she darted out the door, running for all she was worth. If she could just get into the trees beyond the small clearing, maybe she could evade him, especially with his limp slowing him down.
She prayed as she ran, relishing the feel of the cool breeze on her face.
A flash of blinding sunlight reflecting off the water hit her in the eyes just before she entered the trees. She turned and ran toward the water, staying in the cover of the trees. If she could figure out exactly where she was, then she could figure out how to get out of here.
At first, Collin's voice followed her, but then his cursing and threats grew fainter and fainter. She didn't slow, however. She could never put enough distance between her and that vile man.
She burst out of the trees onto a narrow, paved road.
Tires squealed, and she looked up to see an SUV coming right at her. She raised her arms in front of her face and squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.
The heelof Daniel's boot bounced against the floor of Robert's Tahoe. They were so close, assuming Ainsworth took Riley to his father's lake house. He refused to even consider that Collin might have taken Riley somewhere else. If he did, he'd lose hope of finding her, and then he really would spiral.
A large animal darted into the road in front of them, and Daniel slapped his hands on the dash, bracing himself. "Robert, stop!"
Brakes squealed, and the SUV skidded to a stop, but Daniel's mind kept racing. Images of a small boy on a bike darting into the road filled his head. An unresponsive body. Screaming sirens. Flashing lights. Distraught parents. Daniel's heart rate spiked, and a band squeezed around his chest, making it difficult to breathe. Shadows danced around the edges of his vision, threatening to drag him down into the darkness that had consumed him for so long.
He sucked in a deep breath, fighting against the darkness and theguilt that accompanied it. The incredible thirst that hit him almost an hour ago—that he'd almost managed to tamp down—reared its ugly head.
Stop. Breathe. Focus. Riley needs your help. You can't spiral right now.
Robert pitched forward in his seat. "Is that?—"
Daniel stared at the creature in the middle of the road.
Wait! That's not an animal.
He'd recognize that figure anywhere.
"Riley!" He and Robert said the word in unison and threw their doors open at the same time.
He reached Riley first and threw his arms around her. Robert wrapped his arms around both of them.
"Thank heavens." The words came from Robert, but Daniel felt them to his core.
Riley let out a cry of alarm then jerked and squirmed in his arms.
He backed off when he caught sight of a bloody knife in her hand. Robert was quicker than Daniel and caught her wrist as she swung wildly, thrashing around.
"Relax, Sis. It's me." Robert gently relieved her of the knife. "You're okay. You're safe now."
My knife. Covered in blood.
Daniel's chest tightened again as he considered what Riley had gone through. He took in her wild eyes, disheveled state, and blood-smeared clothing. Studying her carefully, he determined none of it was hers, except maybe the small cut on her wrist.
Relief filled him, making him almost light-headed. He wanted to pull her into his arms and never let her go, but he could tell she was running scared and possibly in shock.
He reached for her hand, but Robert stepped in front of her and gently cupped her face, so he pulled back. "Are you hurt, Riley?"
She started to shake her head in the negative then paused and nodded as she rubbed her neck with one hand and her elbow with the other. A look of confusion filled her eyes.
Daniel saw the exact moment she realized she was safe, becauseher face crumpled, and so did her body. He and Robert each grabbed an arm, keeping her from going down.
"It's okay," Robert said softly. "We've got you."
