Page 51 of Crisis at Rescue Ridge
She grabbed onto a tree trunk to steady herself as a wave of dizziness crashed into her.She blinked a couple of times and gave herself a mental slap to snap out of the fog.Trying to lift her arm caused more pain.
Maybe she could grab her shoes.On a deep breath, she pushed off the tree to make another run for it.Two steps in, Jarek’s hand caught her by the ankle.
Cassie hopped on one foot, trying to shake off his grip.No use.Jarek was too strong.
“What’s going on here?”came a familiar male voice, breaking into the moment and catching Jarek off guard.
Marcus?
She used the moment of shock to her advantage and kicked her foot out of Jarek’s grip.
In the next second, he was behind her with an arm around her throat.His grip was like a vise.
“Take one more step, and I’ll snap her neck,” Jarek warned.He was five-feet-ten-inches with a runner’s build and surprising hand strength.
Marcus put his hands up, palms out, in the surrender position.“Let’s just chill for a few seconds.Okay?Let’s figure something out where no one gets hurt.”
“I’ll kill you before I let you walk away with him,” Jarek whispered in her ear as he tightened his grip.
Something cold and blunt pressed against her back just below her last rib.A jagged rock?Or a knife?
Hudson stoppedevery few minutes to check his cell for bars.Frustration nailed him.Cassie was nowhere to be found.He wasn’t getting any updates, and he could be out here for hours before finding cell coverage again.
Up ahead, someone slipped behind a bush.
Jarek?
Had he seen Hudson?Or heard him?
If not, Hudson would have an advantage.The element of surprise would give him a leg up.With the stealth of a predator tracking prey, he slipped behind the nearest tree.He could make a big circle to attack the person from behind.
He needed to assess the situation once he got there.See what type of weapons this person carried.See what he was up against.
If Hudson had been seen and the person had a gun, he would likely be dead already.Hudson still had the shotgun on him.He could do some serious damage with it.Though shotguns weren’t exactly known for accuracy.He’d have to get up closer to get off a good shot and let the buckshot do its job spraying anything in range.
Slowly and with precision, he closed the distance.
“I’m serious,”Jarek seethed.There was so much hatred and venom in his voice.How had she missed the warning signs early on in their relationship?People show you the side they want you to see,a voice in the back of her mind pointed out.
Could she throw an elbow?Catch him off guard?Spin around and bring up her knee again?She’d done it once.He might expect it now.And then what?
She didn’t have a plan.
“Toss your gun down onto the ground, near me, or I’ll kill her right now,” Jarek said.She had no doubt he’d killed before and would do it again in a heartbeat.
She mouthed ano.
“Let’s talk about this first,” Marcus said, arms still in the air.“You kill her, and I’ll have no reason not to draw my weapon and shoot.”
“I’ll stab you next,” Jarek sneered.“This is bigger than you, wildlife boy.Leave right now, and I’ll forget I ever saw you.Stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, and my people will come after you and everyone you love.”
Marcus shook his head.“No, dice.I can’t walk away, but we can talk.We might come up with a solution that works out for everyone.”
“Ever hear of The Dixie Syndicate?”
Marcus’s gaze widened.His mouth fell open slightly.Behind her, she could have sworn she heard a horse snort.
“When I say ‘my people,’ I’m talking about them,” Jarek said.“Do you still want to play the hero, little man?”
