Page 121 of Rescued Heart

Eddie wrapped her up. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to have to figure out how to get Riley out too. I’m so glad I was by Riley right after you called her for help.”

Bianca froze. “I never called Riley. We couldn’t get a signal in the limo, and then we were tied up.”

Eddie frowned. “You think she’d be in on this?”

Bianca managed a shrug. “None of this has made sense. They wanted it to look like a ransom. But it wasn’t, actually. I don’t know. I’m not sure who’s really in charge or why.”

Eddie drew her tighter against himself. He was solid and dependable and everything the Lord knew she needed. But what if he got hurt? This wasn’t a movie scene.

A shudder ran up her back. He needed to get out of here. “I’ll distract them. I can’t have you ending up like Nathan.” She pulled away enough to see his eyes. “Eddie, I?—”

“Eddie!” Riley’s voice sounded too close. “Do you see Bianca? I think she might be hurt.”

Bianca fisted Eddie’s shirt. “I don’t trust her.”

Eddie kissed Bianca’s forehead. “You keep running, I’ll go back?—”

“I can’t lose you.” Bianca shook her head. The movement caused stars to fly in her vision.

Eddie placed his mouth beside her ear. “I need you safe. I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re going?—”

Bianca reached for Eddie’s hand and then laced her fingers with his. “Then we’ll go together. Because I need you safe too.” She took off running, and thankfully, Eddie followed.

“I think one went that way,” the kidnapper hollered as a light flickered in the darkness from somewhere to their back left.

“Kelson, get a better light.” Riley’s reply held more anger. “I’m going to stop them before they reach the other cabins. Keep them away from the roads.”

This time, it was Eddie’s turn to pull Bianca behind a tree.

Bianca peeked around the scratchy bark in time for the moon to reflect off something in Riley’s hand—a gun. Bianca grabbed on to Eddie’s shirt. “Riley’s got a gun too.”

A stick snapped behind them.

Eddie put his finger to his mouth and motioned down. He flicked his fingers for them to move. He crouched low and waited for her to follow his lead.

“Bia!” Kelson spat as a flashlight inspected a bush nearby. “If you come out, I’ll let the firefighter live.”

Bianca stopped her crawling, and Eddie covered her mouth. He shook his head.

“You know you deserve to be punished for what you did.” Riley’s voice rang like a storm siren in the night. “Don’t bring him down with you. You’ve got the poor guy blinded by your fakeness. He actually believes you might love him. No one deserves to be lied to! The world knows who you truly are.”

Bianca’s eyes watered. “What is even happening?” she breathed.

“You have any idea what she’s talking about?” Eddie’s whispered words were hot against her neck.

“No.” She blinked, and through the trees, it looked like another cabin up ahead. This one was possibly smaller than the one Roger lay dead on.

Riley’s position separated them from any escape to the next cabin, and Kelson was more than likely behind.

Surrounded.

“Don’t move.” A gun clicked over Bianca’s shoulder. “They’re to your six o’clock!” Kelson shouted.

“Keep their location. Try not to mess this up too.” Riley’s voice was laced with the same heated tone as the day she’d been caught crying, supposedly in anger.

But I’m forever fixing his messes.

Riley’s story about her brother and his work and money problems came flashing into her head. Could the kidnapper who’d chased and shot at Bianca be Riley’s brother? But what was the point?

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