Page 19 of Captive at Rescue Ridge

“I heard noises but didn’t realize,” Annalee started when they were just out of earshot.

“Look, I know what I said, but not telling my family what we’re up against could put them in unnecessary danger,” he whispered emphatically. “Like it or not, this ordeal is bigger than the both of us. It’s bigger than you and your mother. These bastards involved my family, and neither one of us knows how far they’ll go.”

Annalee seemed to run a few scenarios in her mind before compressing her lips in a frown. “You know I’d do anything to protect you and your family. I just don’t know how to do that without putting my mother in more danger.”

He didn’t see the need to mention that it might be too late for that. Her mother had gone MIA. She might have been found. For all they knew, she was being held captive along with Owen to be used as bait to bring Annalee out of hiding.

“Chloe is married to the acting sheriff,” he continued. “Travis can be trusted. He will investigate this while keeping it on the down-low.”

She bit down on her bottom lip. Hard.

He was making progress on convincing her.

“We’re running out of time,” he urged. “I need you to make a decision.”

“What choice is there?” was all she said.

Annalee walkedstraight over to Kade and then filled him in on what was happening.

“We need to pull the family together for a meeting,” Kade said.

“We can tell everyone to come to Sky’s The Limit. Let’s get out of here,” Archer said. For the first time since this ordeal had begun, she heard a hint of relief in his voice.

They hadn’t taken more than five steps when Kade turned to her. “I should take the backpack. That way, if anything happens and we scatter, the bastard shooter will most likely follow the two of you. I’ll split off and then meet up with you later.”

She didn’t have to think long and hard about the offer. Instead, she slipped the backpack off her shoulder and handed it over. Kade shrugged it on before taking her arm to help speed her out of the woods. With Archer on one side and his brother on the other, she felt a sense of safety. She reminded herself not to get too used to the feeling. This would be over soon, and she would go back to her normal life.

Why did that strike her as depressing as hell now?

The walk to Sky’s took another forty-five minutes, give or take. At this point, Annalee’s feet were so numb she couldn’t feel her toes inside her shoes. Running shoes might have come in handy when she’d had to make a quick getaway, but they did little to keep her toes warm. Being from Texas meant perpetually being unprepared for cold weather, which made stepping inside a building with heat feel like hitting the lotto.

Archer jimmied open a window. She decided better against asking him how and why he’d picked up the talent. He’d done so without damaging the frame or the pane. Then again, what was there to steal inside Sky’s? This wasn’t the kind of establishment that kept a cash register. She was certain any financial transactions would have been handled well ahead of time and, quite probably, online. As far as she could see, the floor plan was simple. Doors open, a few flower arrangements still sat in the remembrance room. Chairs were still out from the service.

“Why don’t you lie down and see if you can grab a little sleep while we wait for the others?” Archer said, leading her toward a row. He scooted enough chairs together to make a decent attempt at a temporary bed.

“We can’t wait around, Archer. Every second we lose could—”

“I know,” he cut in, using an unfairly reassuring tone. “But you’re important, too. You’ve told me everything you know, and now Kade has the information. We’ll update Travis while he’s enroute to get him up to speed quicker.”

She started to protest again, but he made too much sense to argue.

“Lie back and close your eyes for a few minutes,” he said, placing his coat over her body. Not a second later, Kade approached and handed his over to cover her the rest of the way. “If you end up sick, you won’t be able to think as clearly.”

Was she? Thinking clearly? The thought of losing the only family she had caused all kinds of dark thoughts to creep in—thoughts that scared the hell out of her at the idea of being all alone in this world.

It was strange because she’d never thought in those terms before. Being around Archer and Kade reminded her of what it would be like to have a big family. Beaumont might have been an asshole, but he’d somehow managed to produce amazing humans. Then again, like her, they’d had a powerful example of whatnotto become.

“I doubt I could fall asleep, but lying here and powering down is probably good for me,” she finally agreed. As it was, her nerve endings tweaked at every gust of wind outside. A storm was picking up steam. Being wet and cold was the absolute worst.

“You’re important, Annalee,” Archer said, his voice low and gravely. “It’s important to get some rest.”

Archer meant she was key to finding his brother, and that was why he’d called her important. Her heart wanted to argue that something else was brewing behind his beautiful dark eyes. Something that could be confused for love.

However, that ship had sailed a long time ago.

He stood up and started to walk away. Annalee reached for his arm.

“Stay close,” she whispered. There was no way she could rest if she were left alone in a room.

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