“Get up.”
“I’m hurt,” she said, hoping to slow him down.
“It won’t matter in a few minutes.”
His sardonic grin unsettled her stomach. “But I can’t stand.”
“You haven’t even tried.”
She glanced ahead and hoped to spot another person, but the trail was deserted. “I can’t move.”
He came over to her and bent, putting his snarling face in hers. “One push of my finger and that little brat will die.”
She glared at him.
“Suit yourself.” He stood. “I have my money. It’s no skin off my back if she dies.” He lowered his thumb.
“Wait.” She got up. “I can make it.”
He laughed. She wished for a weapon to end his life as callously as he wanted to end Ella’s.
“Move.” He jabbed her in the back.
She gave him one last glare then slowly started off. Her heart sank and despair threatened.
No. Think positively.God was here with her. She was now certain of that. But what she wasn’t certain of was His plan for her.
With one small shove, Smith would send her toppling to her death, and if she wanted to save her baby girl’s life, she would be powerless to stop him.
Reid bolted from the car and ran along the path, following the pair of footprints in the snow. One large. One smaller. Megan and Smith for sure.
“Slow down,” Jack called from behind. “I know we’re dealing with Megan here, but you need to keep your head or you won’t do her any good.”
Reid heard Jack’s warning, and as much as he wanted to keep pounding along that path, he knew his friend was right. Reid needed to slow down and take a more cautious approach. Smith and Megan could be around any one of the turns ahead, and Reid didn’t want to spook the creep into pushing her over the edge.
Jack caught up. “I’ll take point.”
Reid didn’t want to relinquish control, but if there was a man Reid could trust with his life or the lives of people he loved, it was Jack.
And he loved Megan. Beyond any doubt, he loved her. This situation stripped everything else away. He could see it so clearly now and couldn’t let anything happen to her. So he slowed and let Jack move past him on the narrow path.
They continued to climb in silence until Jack held up a hand and pointed. Reid came forward. His heart plummeted.
Smith had backed Megan to the edge of a cliff.
Reid’s breath left him, and he struggled to gain another one. Jack motioned to retreat, and they did in unison.
“He’s not holding her with a gun, so there must be some other reason she’s cooperating.” Jack jerked his head behind him. “I’ll climb into position to get a clean shot at Smith.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Reid asked. “He could take Megan down with him.”
“You have a better one?”
Reid frantically searched for something, anything. “Maybe we can talk him down.”
“Not likely.”
“Why not give me a chance at it first?”
