CHAPTER 59
For a moment,Kori couldn’t move.
She watched as Wyatt walked toward the line of people with his hands raised. Grief and worry pulled taut inside her chest.
She cared about him, she realized. More than she’d let herself acknowledge until this exact moment as she watched him offer himself to a group of armed strangers on a snow-covered logging road in the middle of the mountains.
As she stared at the group, Bartholomew Beekman came into view.
He seemed to be staring right at her.
He’d wanted it to come down to this moment, hadn’t he? He’d wanted vengeance against her since she’d help put him behind bars. She represented everything he hated about the government.
Bartholomew’s arm came up, and he pointed at Kori. “You’re the devil’s child. You’re doing his work. You represent everything I despise.”
Her throat constricted. She didn’t respond. Even if she wanted to, he wouldn’t be able to hear her.
But at once, she was taken back to the courtroom where she’d prosecuted him. He’d had that same defiant look in hiseyes then. He hadn’t seemed remorseful at all. He’d justified everything he’d done under the guise of righteousness . . . and he’d let bitterness take root.
Kori had almost done the same. She’d let her hurt become her fortitude. She’d let it become her justification.
Thankfully, she’d seen the light before it was too late.
But she couldn’t say the same for Bartholmew.
His hatred had transformed him into a different person . . . someone willing to kill for the sake of his perceived justice.
As he continued to yell out obscenities at her, Kori pressed her fist against her sternum and forced herself to think.
“What are you going to do?” Mackenzie’s voice trembled as she asked the question.
“I’m trying to figure that out.” She glanced at the gun beside her.
She really didn’t want to use that . . .
Wyatt had instructed her to pull away at the first opening.
Every instinct she had told her he was right. She needed to get the others out. Get Mackenzie out.
But could she really do this? Could she leave Wyatt behind?
The snow had lessened, allowing her to see what was happening.
She watched as he stopped a few yards from the line of people. The men at the front of the group had their weapons raised.
Wyatt stood with his hands in the air, surrendering himself.
Nausea roiled in her stomach.
This had been Wyatt’s plan.
If it was just Kori here, she wouldn’t leave. But she had other people with her who needed help.
She had to think about them . . . even if she felt as if she were dying inside.
Reluctantly, she slipped the gun into the door pocket where she could easily grab it. Then she slid into the driver’s seat. “Everyone get down. Now.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Pete asked, tension pulled taut across his expression.
