Page 61 of Twin Threats In Austin
She nodded.
“Don’t let my brother kill you,” Kage pleaded. “He’s done enough damage already.”
Reluctantly, Rochelle waved him over to help her, lowering her weapon but keeping it at the ready.
“I’ll come back for Camden,” he promised. “Just come with me before you end up shot.”
Could she trust this person?
Did she have a choice? She could shout for Camden and give away her location to Asher, or she could go with Kage and let him bring Camden to her.
On a sharp sigh, she took the hand being offered.
“Lean against me,” Kage said. Up close, she studied his features. How would she know if this was Asher?
Rochelle leaned against the man she believed to be Kage. There was something in his eyes that made her trust him. A raw honesty that she’d noted from the first time they’d knocked on his door in what felt like ages ago. Funny how time had a way of speeding up or slowing down based on perception.
Kage—at least she hoped so—led her deeper into the woods, where he’d set up a makeshift shelter that blended into the woods. “You should be safe here while I go get your partner.”
She climbed into the shelter and turned around, gun at the ready and pointed just to Kage’s left. A moment of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death. Kage had helped her to safety. Would Asher do that? To what end?
The answer came quickly. To taunt Camden and torture her.
“I’ll whistle so you know it’s me,” Kage said, drawing her attention back to him. He demonstrated a tune.
“Got it,” she said, wincing as the pain in her foot hit full force. She leaned forward and picked a tiny stick out of the tender part of her arch. As she withdrew her hand, she saw blood. “I’m not exactly going anywhere. Find Camden and bring him to me.”
Kage—at least she believed it was him—nodded before disappearing.
The makeshift shelter would keep animals from reaching her. The other predator wouldn’t be so easily detoured. Asher was out there, searching. Was it too late for Justina?
Should Rochelle move to a different location in case this was Asher and not Kage?
Logic kicked in. Wouldn’t Asher have attempted to kidnap her by now? Why would he leave? He had her in his grasp. She was in a vulnerable position, injured. He could have made a move on her already.
What if Asher got to Kage? The innocent man could be injured or dead at this point. The secret whistle had been a good idea because she wouldn’t know which one of them turned up based on looks. Kage had on a blue flannel shirt and jeans. He also wore brown boots. She repeated the description a couple of times in her mind to ensure it stuck. Memory was a tricky thing during stressful times.
It dawned on her that she hadn’t checked her cell. She fished it out of her pocket and checked to see if she had bars. There was no service out here, as she’d feared. The remote location was likely the reason she hadn’t thought to check before. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered how difficult it had been to get bars the last night.
The sound of sirens echoed into the woods. Fire trucks? More law enforcement?
It was possible Asher had already been apprehended. Kage too. He would be detained for questioning if not arrested in his brother’s place. Without ID, there was no way to prove his identity.
Should she sit tight? Or head back toward the trailer?
On balance, sitting here and doing nothing proved more stressful. Rochelle decided to make the walk back. She might be slow considering all she had to work with was a rolled ankle and a shoeless foot to stand on.
She could take her time, and check for cell coverage along the way. In her experience, even remote locations had spots of connectivity. Camden would be worried sick by now if Kage hadn’t delivered the message she was okay and hidden in the woods.
The blaze could be seen from this distance. The air filled with the smell of burning rubber, which meant the fire had reached the trailer. The taste of steam and sulfur sat on her tongue as she lifted her shirt over her mouth and nose to filter the smoke.
At her present location, she was downwind, so she headed east in a zigzag pattern toward the activity.
By the time she limped back to the scene, a flurry of activity was going on between attempting to put out the fire, to law enforcement either being attended to by EMTs or searching the area. She scanned the faces, needing to find Camden.
The burn on the back of her left hand hurt. As she made it to the yard, an EMT immediately looked up and then stopped what he was doing to run toward her. Based on his reaction, she must look like hell.
None of that mattered. Because she was desperate to see Camden’s face again and know that he was okay.
