Elizabeth Goddard - Running Target

“You disappeared and left me here. How did you get out of here, anyway?”

“I have a trapdoor for such occasions.”

“That’s what I thought. Which brings me back to my point—you left me here alone without telling me the plan.”

“For your safety. I thought you understood. I needed to check who or what set off the booby trap. My plan was to confront him myself, not lead him to you. The trap had been triggered but I couldn’t see anyone. I... I forgot the thermal imaging monocular.” Because being near Bree threw off his equilibrium. He’d better get her to safety and stay far away from her. “Then I heard the gun go off and when I got back you were fighting off this guy outside. So why didn’t you stay put?”

“Because...because I thought someone had come into the cabin with me. It was weird. Just like you left undetected, it was as if someone had come inside. I felt a draft and heard something inside.”

“What?” Quinn’s heart rate ratcheted up. “Are you sure?”

“I don’t know. How can I know for sure? I fled the camper. But while I was outside, I hid in the vines and this guy tried to come inside, then thought better of it and walked away. Or so I thought. He only came around behind me to nab me.”

“I knew you were in trouble, but why didn’t you shoot him when you had the chance?”

“I tried but I missed. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I’m not utilizing my law enforcement training. As soon as I saw him, I should have at least told him to freeze and cuffed him.”

“You still have your cuffs?”

“No. Jayce had them to cuff the men. But I could have tied the guy up.”

He honestly couldn’t tell if she was being sarcastic. He was being too hard on her. “Look, I’m sorry. This hasn’t exactly been the best day for either of us. I’m sorry I left you alone. I thought you understood to stay put and keep quiet. I should have explained. Next time, I won’t expect you to read my mind. Is that better?”

“Yes. Now, what are you doing with him? Torture him for information?”

“There isn’t time for that.” Had he just winked? He sighed and grabbed some plastic ties. “But I’ll tie him up, take his radio, cell and weapons—guns and knives. His shoes to make it more difficult for him in the woods. Everything but his clothes.”

“And you’re just going to leave him here?”

“Do you have a better suggestion?”

“We could take him with us.”

“No. We can’t. I can’t carry you and drag him along at the same time. Or even force him to come along. Besides, his friends can’t be far behind. They aren’t going to stop looking for us. They’ll find him soon enough. He could have signaled them already that he found the trailer. So we need to leave now.”

Quinn gathered the pack he’d saved for the day he would have to flee and never return. He honestly hadn’t believed this day would come. He certainly never imagined Bree would be part of it.

He opened the pack and glanced inside just to be sure he had it all. Hydration. Protein bars. An extra gun and ammo. Dropped in this guy’s goods—as much as he could fit inside.

It should be enough for him to get Bree back to civilization. Except...he’d have to carry her and the pack. Exhaustion threatened. He’d hoped to stay in the cabin to rest for a bit, but that was no longer an option.

“Okay, just so we’re clear. You’re riding on my back again. And you’ll be wearing this pack.”

“What? No, Quinn, that’s too much weight for you to carry.”

“You weigh, what—a buck twenty? In the military, I carried a 120-pound pack in addition to the gear I wore, so it’s not like I haven’t done this before.” So what if he was out of practice. Served him right.

“No time to argue.” He shifted his gaze to take her in. Bree was athletic. Strong. Trained. She would make it. Together, they would make it. Quinn would ensure it if it was the last thing he did. “Are you ready?”

She opened her mouth to argue more, but let it go and nodded.

Quietly, they exited the camper. Quinn led her around to the other side where it backed up onto a ridge. Nobody could easily approach from the back side. Still, he looked at the path ahead with the monocular for signs of danger. Morning would come earlier than he would like and expose them. He preferred the darkness so he could stay hidden himself and could more easily see his enemies before they saw him.

His enemies. Now Bree’s enemies, too.

This new development bumped up his timeline to expose the darkness chasing him. He’d waited too long, if these men had found him and come for him, endangering someone he cared about. Both of their lives were in danger now. And more than that, if they made it out of this, their hearts were in danger, too. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Bree again. That would crush him.

The sooner he could get her to safety, the better for them both.

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