Page 94 of Glimmer in the Darkness

“I’ve got enough training in what it feels like to lose someone I love. I’m not leaving without Ella.”

“You’re committed to that girl,” Vince said.

“Committed to her. Committed to Reid.” He turned and met his friend’s eyes. “Committed to seeing the person responsible for this pay.”

Vince settled in beside him. “I would’ve expected nothing less. So, you got any ideas?”

Chapter Thirty-Two

Fear wrapped around Cassidy’s throat, threatened to close off her airways.

Fear birthed a scream deep in her belly.

Fear choked it off.

She pressed her hand over her mouth, just in case some of it escaped in a whimper. She knew better than to scream. Nobody would hear her.

No. Not true.

Focusing on the day around her, the time, the truth, she shook off the past. She wasn’t a captive. She was free. This time, she would fight.

She pressed herself against the hillside not fifteen feet from where James and the other man crouched.

When she’d seen James settle, she’d decided to find out what he knew. Based on the way he’d been moving, though, she’d realized he feared someone was nearby. So she’d been smart. Stayed low. Stayed quiet. Which was the only reason the stranger crouching beside James didn’t know she was there.

The kidnapper.

The killer.

It was the voice. The cadence of the words. The way he’d said, You’re committed to that girl.

She could feel him on top of her. Feel his hand pressing against her neck. You’re committed to that girl, so don’t fight me. Don’t make me kill you.

She should shoot him. Right now. She could do it. She had the weapon. But did she have the skills? What if she missed and the killer came after her?

What if she missed and hit James?

No, she didn’t have the confidence, not from this range.

And she carried enough regret. How could she justify killing a man in cold blood? Even this man?

If she called out, could James get away? Except James trusted him, whoever he was. The kidnapper would have the upper hand. He was armed—Cassidy had seen a holstered gun.

The kidnapper could start shooting before Cassidy could do anything. He was probably more experienced with weapons than she was. No way would she match her skills against his. Shooting at targets in a range wasn’t the same as shooting at humans in a forest, no matter what the stakes.

Slowly, slowly, she backed away on hands and knees. Keeping bushes and trees between them, keeping her eyes in their direction, praying the men would continue talking and cover the rustling of leaves. A breeze, Lord. A strong wind. Hide me. Protect us.

Maybe the breeze picked up. Maybe the trees rustled. Maybe an answer to prayer.

Moving backwards, heartbeat racing, panic telling her to run, Cassidy traversed the hillside, inching downward until she was out of sight of the men, who continued to study the cavern’s entrance. Only then did she turn, still keeping low, and hurry to the base of the cliff.

There was no other option. Where the men hid, they’d see if someone came up the path or the way she and James had come. This was the only way.

As she climbed, she wondered why they didn’t split up, one watching the cliff while the other watched the path. Thank God they hadn’t thought to do that. But they might soon. She prayed, if they did think of it, it would be James who perched above her, not the killer.

Please, Lord.

She’d made this climb the other day. She could do it again. Up was easier than down.