Page 68 of Mountain Summons

“Sure,” Tristan said easily. “But why don’t you let Lena out? You don’t need her. I’ll take you where you want to go.”

André gave a loud cackle. “I don’t think so. We are not negotiating, asshole. Start the car now or I will start shooting.”

Tristan pulled the car into gear, the tires crunching over the gravel. Lena’s mind raced. She could feel the heat of André’s arm against her, his unsteady breathing. He was spiraling, he was armed, and they were trapped here with him.

But, beside her, Tristan was cool. She tried to gather courage from that. If he was this calm, he must have a plan. He must have?—

“The car will only get us half of the way. We’ll have to hike the rest of the way in the dark.” Tristan said.

“Fuck,” André said. His knee—or what she hoped was his knee, and not the pistol—jittered against the back of her seat.

Tristan clenched and unclenched his jaw. “But there may be a better alternative, André.”

What was Tristan doing? Whatever it was, Lena didn’t think it could end well. “Don’t,” she begged. “Please don’t.”

“Shut up, Lena. I want to hear what he has to say.”

“I can offer you a better transportation system,” Tristan continued. “A helicopter.”

André hesitated. “You have a helicopter?”

“I have access to one. I’m a pilot. My wallet is in my jacket, right beside your seat. You’ll see I’m telling the truth.”

Lena could hear rustling behind her as André clearly checked out Tristan’s ID. She couldn’t turn around, but she felt the moment his greed and desperation caught on the bait Tristan was offering.

Except she didn’t want him to offer himself as bait. Because André was clearly unhinged. And if André found whatever it was that he was looking for … then he wouldn’t need them anymore.

“Okay, Lieutenant Devallé. So you’re not just her boyfriend. Where’s this helicopter?”

Tristan kept his voice steady, almost casual. “The PGHM helipad is a few minutes away. It’ll be closed now, but I have access. I can fly you to the ridge and land near the cave. No hiking. No risk of being caught on the trail.”

André’s grip on Lena’s arm tightened so hard it made her gasp. “If you’re lying, I’ll shoot her in the stomach. You’ll watch her bleed to death.”

“I’m not,” Tristan said evenly.

“And you’re just offering to fly me there? Just like that? No strings attached?”

“No,” Tristan said. “There’s one condition. We’ll leave Lena at the hangar. I’ll tie her up so she can’t call for help until we’re back.”

André’s breathing quickened. “I don’t like it.”

That makes two of us. She didn’t like it either. Because she understood now why Tristan was offering this. She understood, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

Tristan’s voice turned to steel. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it. I won’t fly you anywhere if she’s with us.”

“How do I know you won’t crash the helicopter, then?”

Tristan laughed. “What kind of idiot do you think I am? Helicopter accidents are almost always fatal. And I happen to enjoy my life. I’ll fly you to the cave to look for whatever it is you’re looking for, and I’ll fly you back into town. Then you let us both go free.”

André’s breathing quickened, and Lena felt the gun shift slightly behind her. She risked a glance at Tristan. He wasn’t looking at her—his gaze stayed fixed on the rear view mirror,locked on André—but she could see the tension in his jaw, the careful balance he was walking between challenge and control. Her pulse was pounding so hard she thought she might pass out.

As the car sped forward into the deepening dusk, Lena kept an eye out for other cars. If she could only signal to someone … but they were completely alone on the road.

“We’re reaching the turn,” Tristan said. “Let me know what you want me to do, André.”

André leaned forward slightly. Lena felt the cold press of the gun barrel shift, graze her collarbone.

“Don’t try anything clever.”

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