Page 111 of In Too Deep
Nothing mattered but Meg.That blasted dot moving away from safety.
Away from him.Away from help.Toward whatever this madman had planned.
“Turn left here.”Noah pointed to a barely visible road—more of a track, really.
“He’s using the old service roads.”Liam downshifted and made the turn at a speed that had everyone leaning to the right.“Luckily we know this area better than he does.”
“Why would she even get in the car with him?”Noah’s voice came out harsh.“Why didn’t she run?Why didn’t she?—”
“I think he was threatening us.”Nimue spoke from the back seat, her tone matter-of-fact but gentle.“Eden and me.I think she got in the car to protect us.”
Noah’s chest constricted.
Of course she did.
Of course Meg would sacrifice herself to keep others safe.That’s who she was.Who she’d always been.Even when she thought she was broken.
“I would have done the same thing,” Nimue continued quietly.“When the Bratva were chasing me, when I thought they’d hurt Liam—I would have done anything to protect him.Even if it meant putting myself in danger.”
The tracker showed the dot slowing, then stopping.
Noah’s heart slammed against his ribs.
They had stopped near the rim.
Too near.Dangerously near.
“They are a hundred yards down the next trail.He has her near the edge.”The words came out tight.Because he knew what that meant.What Jeremy could do.How easy it would be to push someone over.
Noah ran his hand through his short hair.
Liam pulled over, killing the headlights.“We go the rest of the way on foot.Quietly.If he hears us coming?—”
“He’ll panic.”Noah was already opening the door, ignoring the sharp pull of his stitches.
They moved quickly through the darkness, Teague taking point, Liam close behind.Eden stayed with Nimue, and Noah brought up the rear, every step sending jolts of pain through his side that he ruthlessly ignored.
It killed him to be in the back, but he just couldn’t move as fast with his injury.Each step was slower than it should be.
But he refused to stop.
Meg was out here.
Meg was in danger.
Nothing else mattered.Not pain.Not stitches.Not recovery time or doctor’s orders.
He could hear voices ahead now—one raised in anger.
Jeremy?
He’d foolishly believed that it was over when Ryan was buried in the cave.Should have known the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.Should have anticipated this.
They slowed, moving more carefully, using the trees and scrub brush for cover.Noah caught sight of Meg’s car first—parked at an awkward angle on the old road.Driver’s door still open.
Then Meg standing a few feet away, her arms wrapped around herself.Trying to look small.
And Jeremy, pacing in front of her like a caged animal.A gun hanging loose in one hand as he ranted.
