Gerald looked back.
Saw Wolf.
Saw Trigger running from the direction of the house.
Saw deputies closing in from the driveway.
And somehow…
He still managed to get up.
He limped.
Staggered.
Then disappeared into the trees.
Sheriff Cooper’s voice came over the radio.
“Perimeter! He’s wounded and armed! Nobody goes alone!”
I ran toward the tree line.
Wolf grabbed my arm.
“Beast!”
“He’s hurt.”
“He’s still dangerous.”
I looked toward the dark woods.
Toward the blood on the grass.
Toward the trail Gerald had left behind.
He had fired at Sadie’s home.
He had tried to get to her.
And now he was running.
But not for long.
Because he had made the final mistake.
He had given me a trail.
And I was going to follow it.
No matter where it led.
43
BEAST
Blood marked the grass.
