Page 99 of Rekindle My Heart

A dull roar of a boat kicked up her heart rate. Oh, please, please. She broke free from the trees, yelling at the top of her lungs. She jumped up and down. The only light was the sliver of the moon and the light from the boat.

“Help. Over here!” Cold water splashed around her ankles.

“Bitch.” Johnson’s voice was close.

A gunshot echoed. Loud. Close. She froze.

A figure hurled itself at her from the water and tackled her to the ground. Air whooshed out of her body. The weight pinning her down was wet, heavy, and… familiar.

“Are you hurt?”

“Ryan. He has a gun.” She tried to get up, urging him to move into the cover of the trees.

He looked over her head, then back. His dark eyes softened as he canvassed her for injuries. “It’s over. Swenson took care of Johnson.”

The shot. “Is he dead?”

“No, but he’ll need a medic.” Pulling a knife from his belt, he cut her ties before running his hands down her arms and checking her torso for broken ribs. “Are you hurt?”

Her body relaxed. Tears flooded her eyes. Ryan had her. She was safe.

He stroked her face. “Erica? Baby, talk to me.”

She shook her head, then nodded. “I’ll be alright.”

“Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital to be checked out.” He helped her up, then stepped between her and the boat lights. “Erica. Where are your pants?”