Page 35

Kelly

Pacing the cabin, I avoid looking at the two bodies. Every so often, I glance out the window. When a gunshot echoes through the mountain range, my knees buckle.

I would know if it was Scott, wouldn’t I? Oh God, please, let him be alive.

A raw, helpless groan rips from my soul. I push my hair from my face, my belly churning. I could have acted sooner. I wish I never asked my boss to shoulder my responsibility. Now, millions could pay the price for my mistake.

And Hunt could be…

No. No way. Biting my knuckles, I swallow back bile, refusing to give up.

If he doesn’t return, I swear, I’ll finish this. These bastards won’t get another chance to make trouble for anyone.

When I try to shove my emotions into my mental lock-box, it’s not there. I can’t even summon a new one. How screwed up is that?

I’m coming, Scott. Fists clenched, I strip and squat by the nearest dead mercenary. The bloody clothes are giant-sized, but they’ll keep me warm. The boots are useless, so I stick with mine.

Rifle in hand, drowning in oversized tactical gear, I open the door and—

You gotta be fucking kidding me. Snowmobiles? Jesus, cut me some slack, would ya?

My heart hammers as I head for the trees and pray it’s our backup, not theirs. No such luck. Those dismounting Skidoos are equipped like those we shot.

Time slows while I calculate my options. Four to one? I got this.

Mind sharp, hiding in the forest, my long gun raises. As they reach for the shack door, I exhale and caress the trigger. The closest one crumples. The rest bolt for their snowmobiles.

Without missing a beat, I pivot, firing into a gas tank. The massive explosion makes my ears bleed. At first, a heated breeze rushes over my back. Next, a man screams so horribly, I cringe. The stench of burning flesh turns my stomach, but I sprint forward. He made his choices. This is my country. These are my woods. You should never have threatened us.

They may have longer legs, but I know every trail, every shortcut, every boulder.

The slowest doesn’t see me until it’s too late. The second catches a bullet in the leg. The third won’t last too long, either.

Ah, shit. A cramp twists my gut. Forced to stop, I double over. Damn the Ipecac. What if the guy I was chasing doubled back? As I choke back nausea, footsteps crunch the ground down below me.

I freeze, inching my weapon to my shoulder. A white jacket appears in my crosshairs. Taking a deep breath, I curl my finger and—

“H-Hunt? For chrissakes, I almost shot you.” Heart pounding against my ribs, I lower my automatic. If I had fired a second earlier…

When he spreads his arms, I race into his welcome embrace, burying my face in his chest. “Wow, you’re not dead?”

“Yeah, last I checked.” With a concerned gaze, lashes wet, he tips up my chin. “We need to move out.”

“No, there’s a guy still out there.” I point at the tracks, but he tugs me in the opposite direction.

Gun raised, he scans the trees. “Leave him. The weather’s cleared. Soon, they’ll be swarming the forest like cockroaches.”

With more motors buzzing in the distance, he grabs my hand. “Now.”

“Where are we going?” Trotting after him, I try to keep up.

“My car.”

I blink. “Are you insane? It’ll be buried under all this damn white stuff. We’ll never get it out.”

“Open to suggestions, babe.”

“Fine.” As I stumble down the trampled path, graphic images of those I killed flash through my mind. They might’ve had kids, parents, or lovers.

These thoughts fade as we trudge through deeper drifts. Feet up, feet down. Sweat trickles down my spine. Finally, we reach the highway.

Hallelujah, the plow came through .

Down the road a piece, a car engine roars. Hoping for Gina, Kade, or Jeremy, I brace to jump in front of it. Mr. Cautious, however, yanks me back into the forest. “Let’s see who it is, first.”

Hell, I’d invite Detective Barbie to the party, if she was armed.

A flatbed rumbles to a stop in front of us. My pulse skyrockets as the driver drops the ramp and a tank-like snowcat coughs its way to the road. When a second truck rolls into view, carting two snowmobiles, I moan. Holy crap, we’re dead meat.

Scott’s face tightens. He taps my shoulder, points two fingers at himself, then aims toward the newcomers. I nod, signaling I’ll take care of the others.

While we wait for the right moment, a burst of wind shrieks through the trees. Hunt’s jaw tightens as he counts down on his fingers. Clouds move. The sky darkens.

Three, two, one—

Our gunfire tears through the silence. Blood sprays. Bodies crumple and twitch before going still.

“We did it.” I skip two steps—then freeze.

Where’s Hunt?

Whipping around, my heart slams against my ribs.

Pale, brows furrowed, Hunt collapses against a tree. Beneath his coat, dark liquid drips to the snow creating a puddle of red by his feet.

“Fuck,” he rasps, sliding to the ground. “I’m hit.”