Page 50 of Hide My Heart
Crap.
Using my knuckles, I get the phone to respond and notice there’s a weak signal.
Enough for me to call 911.
I relay the information. “Shooter on the loose. I’ve been shot and he’s going after a woman with a baby. It’s icy up here, but thawing.”
I hear more gunshots ricocheting through the forest, followed by the snapping and cracking of another load of ice crashing to the ground.
“Is that ice falling?” the responder asks.
“Yes, gunshots and ice breaking apart.”
“Are you in a safe location?” she asks.
“Yes, behind a pile of ice left by a plow.”
“Stay on the line and don’t move.”
“Sorry, I got to go back up there. Amber and Beck are in danger. He’s hunting them like he’s hunting deer.”
TWENTY-SEVEN
Hunter
Ordinarily, I’d follow that trailof blood and finish off my kill. But Nate Riley’s holed up behind a bank of ice, and I’m wasting ammunition and time.
He’s lost a lot of blood and in no condition to fight me. I’ll let him die like the rat he is, alone and cold, while I go after my woman.
I’m betting he stole her the day I took Amber to the clinic. He was probably out back waiting for her, or maybe talked his way into the operating room.
She rips my baby out of her womb, and he replaces it with his brat.
Well, I’m taking back what’s mine, and I’m not letting that little Rat Riley live.
“Amber, I’m coming for you,” I shout, knowing she can’t do a thing about it.
She’s such a useless woman, but she’s my prize. My sweet, little lady who needs to know who’s boss. And I’m going to punish her good—by killing her baby.
“Amber, Amber, come out! You can’t hide from me. I see your tracks. You’re crawling back to the cabin. You’re tired and hurt, and you’re so scared.”
There’s no sound but the whipping of the wind and the occasional snap and rumble of trees breaking under the weight of the ice.
It’s treacherous up there, and Amber is a fool to run from me. I know these woods, and I can tell which trees are bent to the breaking point.
She’s running blindly, all to save that little Baby Riley.
Amber has been a bad, bad girl, and I can’t wait to free her up from that bratty baby and get her in my bed.
“Amber, come to Papa,” I shout. “I know where you’re going, and it’s not going to work.”
I crest around the hairpin turn and spot her. Standing tall and straight with a smile on her face. Her arms are empty of the baby. Where has she stashed him?
I point the gun at her. “Where’s Riley’s brat? Where is he?”
“Somewhere safe,” she says. “I’ll go with you.”
“No, not until I kill that rat.” I grab her arm and squeeze until I know it hurts. “Where is he? I’m going to exterminate him the same way I exterminated my own. No babies. You got that? You serve me, and only me.”
