Page 25 of Survive the Night
Either Aaron was surprised that Otto was a cop, or he obeyed automatically without thinking about it, but her brother’s hold loosened for a second. It was just long enough that, when Otto hauled on her arms, her legs pulled loose of Aaron’s grip. Sarah heard him swear as Otto dragged her through the window, her knee banging painfully against the frame.
As soon as she was clear, Otto grabbed her around the waist and lifted her. The world spun as he turned and ran. She locked her arms around his neck, marveling that he’d come, that he’d actually saved her. Even now, with Aaron and Logan still close by, Sarah felt like it would be okay. Otto was here, and he was holding her. They’d keep each other safe.
He carried her to his squad car, and shifted her weight to one arm so he could open the front passenger-side door. Placing her in the seat, he cupped the side of her face.
“Okay?” he asked, his gaze running over her in a fast, intent appraisal.
As soon as she gave a slight nod, he said, “Lock the doors.” He swung the door closed and ran back to the window, crouching to look inside. She immediately pressed the door-lock button, feeling a flash of relief at the comforting click.
With a quick glance at where she sat in his car, Otto moved swiftly toward the side of the house. When he disappeared around the corner, Sarah immediately began to panic again. She huddled in her seat, wondering if she should stay in the car or be ready to run when Aaron came out the front door or around the other side of the house.
She swiveled her head, trying to see where Logan was, but the yard and what she could see of the house were quiet. It was impossible to see beyond the first row of trees. The pines and aspens grew so closely together that the rest of the forest disappeared into shadow. Aaron or one of his men could be thirty feet away from her, and Sarah wouldn’t know. She shivered and started chewing on her thumbnail.
Instead of making her feel better, the quiet just scared her more. Were Aaron and Logan ganging up on Otto? He was a strong guy and a cop, but could he take on two armed criminals? She stared at the empty windows, wishing desperately to know what was happening. Did he need her help? She wasn’t a trained fighter, but she couldn’t leave him to the mercy of Aaron and Logan.
Her hand inched toward the door handle, but she froze at movement inside the opened front door. Logan ran out, a gun in his hand. After a paralyzed moment, Sarah slid down in her seat, attempting to hide, but it was too late. He’d spotted her.
He strode toward her, getting closer and closer until she could see his cocky, cold grin. She shrank away, pushing back in her seat, unable to tear her gaze from the man she’d been ordered to marry. All she could see was evil. She’d thought Otto had saved her, but it had only been a short reprieve. Logan was there, and he was going to either kill her or force her to return to her prison in Texas.
Her jaw set so firmly that her teeth clicked together. No. She’d barely gotten a taste of freedom, barely experienced the joy of making friends and feeding orphaned puppies and having a crush on a guy, and she wasn’t about to go back without a fight.
She ripped her gaze away from Logan’s and looked under the steering column. The keys weren’t in it, and Sarah felt her tiny hope that she could just drive away extinguish. She grabbed for the radio mic, instead.
When Logan saw her holding it, his smug smile disappeared, and he raised his gun. Sarah quickly pushed the only button on the side of the mic. “Hello? We need help. I’m calling from Otto Gunnersen’s ca—”
Logan pulled the trigger. There was a loud crack, and then the side window turned from transparent to opaque and covered in cobwebbing cracks. With a yelp, she flinched, dropping the mic as her arms flew up to cover her head. She heard Logan laugh, and her entire body felt cold.
“Caller, what is your location? Caller, are you there? Please respond.”
She fumbled to grab the mic from where it was dangling just above the floor in front of the driver’s seat. With another bone-chilling laugh, Logan raised his gun again. How many shots before the glass broke completely, leaving nothing but air between her and a bullet?
Logan’s finger started to pull back on the trigger.
Frantic, Sarah looked down at the panel and pushed a button. The siren screamed, and Logan, startled, jerked the gun down as he fired. The car rocked as the bullet hit the door. He was scowling now, obviously furious that she’d made him flinch. This time, he aimed right for the already damaged window.
Sarah grabbed for the mic as the bullet struck the window. The sound was more of a crunch that time, and she couldn’t keep herself from cowering at the sound. There was a clatter that was barely audible over the still-blaring siren, and Sarah looked up.
The remains of the glass had fallen. A jagged, empty hole framed Logan’s grinning face. He pointed the gun at her.
“Out of the car, fiancée.” She clutched the mic tighter, her gaze darting around as she looked for something that would save her. Did squad cars have guns in their glove compartments? A hand grenade, maybe? “Get out now, or I’ll shoot you. I don’t like to lose.”
Desperately trying to think of a way out, Sarah reached a shaking hand toward the unlock button.
“Turn that noise off first,” he said, sounding annoyed. Grateful for any delay, she pushed the button. With a final whoop, it went silent…but then immediately started up again.
“I said turn it off!” Logan yelled.
“I did!” Even as she stared at the button, she realized that the siren wasn’t coming from Otto’s car. Another squad car, its overhead lights flashing, raced around the final curve of the driveway.
“Fuck!” Logan gave her a final hard glare before he took off, heading for the trees. The newly arrived squad car stopped at the edge of the yard, and Theo jumped out. Still running, Logan fired off several shots behind him, and Theo ducked behind his opened door. He returned fire, but Logan disappeared into the trees.
As Theo started to give chase, Sarah fumbled with the handle. The door finally opened so abruptly that she almost fell out. “Theo! Otto went after Aaron! He needs help!”
Theo immediately pulled up, although he kept a close eye on the spot where Logan had been. “Where?”
“Aaron was in the basement, but I don’t know where they ended up.”
Theo headed for the open front door, just as Otto came around the corner. He had a firm grip on a handcuffed Aaron’s arm. When Sarah saw them, a wall of emotions slammed into her, but relief was by far the strongest. Otto was okay. Her knees went wobbly, and she sank back down on the seat, ignoring the bits of safety glass scattered around her.
