Dangerous Lies (Badge of Honor #2)

Chapter 3

THREE

A hand clamped down on her ankle, dragging Megan from her makeshift hiding spot. Stones and jagged bark clawed at her back, tearing her skin. She screamed. The sound was instinctive. Primal. Animalistic. Her chest tightened with terror as the attacker yanked her toward him. His grip was bruising. Blood matted her hair and dripped down her neck from the pistol-whipping she’d received while escaping her vehicle. He’d already fired at her once—and missed—as she fled into the woods. But Megan knew at such close range, she didn’t stand a chance.

This was a fight for her life.

Desperate, she kicked out with her other foot. The pointed heel of her boot landed somewhere in his midsection. He cursed, but his grip on her ankle didn’t loosen, and he kept yanking her toward him. She threw a rock, but it bounced off his shoulder, useless. His other hand lifted, the gun clasped tightly in his fingers.

She twisted hard before he could take aim, throwing her weight to the side just as he squeezed the trigger. The bullet struck the dirt behind her. Her sudden movement threw the assailant off balance, and his grip on her ankle slipped. Taking her chance, Megan scrambled backward. Her fingers stumbled over a thick tree branch. She snatched it up and stood, swinging it like a club at the attacker’s head.

Vibrations coursed up her arm as the tree branch hit home. The attacker cried out and his knees buckled.

Megan dropped the branch and ran.

Blindly, she tore through the thick woods. Branches snagged at her clothes and her boots—made for casual walks and professional outings—slipped on the pine needles. Her heart pounded. It was hard to breathe. Megan’s exercise of choice was yoga. She wasn’t prepared for a panicked run through the woods with a killer on her heels. Survival depended on getting to her car. Hopefully, the keys were still inside, and she’d be able to escape. If not…

She’d die.

The problem was, her assailant would expect her to head for the road. Would he beat her there? He’d proven adept at flushing her out, finding her hiding place within seconds. It probably didn’t help that Megan was crashing through the woods like a runaway herd of horses. Terror narrowed her vision and her chest squeezed tight. Her foot caught on a tree root, and she stumbled, barely catching herself. Pain radiated from her shoulder and head as she collided with a tree.

Megan whimpered as the wound in her scalp blazed with fiery agony. Her vision blurred. Blood flowed from the gash, coating her skin and soaking into her sweater. Her legs shook with fear and exhaustion. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to loosen the vise around her midsection and relieve the cramp at her side. The road, and her vehicle, were nearby. Weren’t they? She’d gotten turned around in her frantic desire to escape. Megan scanned the thick brush. There… up ahead. She had to keep moving.

A branch broke behind her.

Dear heaven, he was close.

A fresh dose of terror shot through Megan. She shoved away from the tree and bolted for the road. Her heart thundered in her chest. Tree limbs slapped her face and more roots threatened to trip her. She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting a bullet to pierce her. Though she couldn’t see him, she sensed him in the dark. Megan willed her legs to keep moving.

A looming shape appeared ahead of her. She cried out in horror and attempted to slide to a stop, but a set of arms grabbed her. Every muscle in her body went rigid. Megan couldn’t use her hands to protect herself—they were trapped next to her body—so she thrashed in a wild attempt to save herself.

“Stop.” The command was harsh and authoritative. “It’s Jax, Megan. Stop.”

The words sliced through her panic. Tossing her hair out of her face, she glanced up. Moonlight filtered through the trees and highlighted half of Jax’s face. It painted the curve of his left cheek and the fine line of his brow in an ethereal light. The other half was cast in shadow. His focus was locked on the woods behind her.

Relief, sharp and nearly overwhelming, weakened her limbs. Jax pulled her into the shadows. Only when he released her did she notice the gun in his hand.

“Who’s chasing you?” The words were whispered but urgent. His focus never left the woods.

“I don’t know.” Her breath was shallow, her heart still racing. Despite the frigid weather, sweat coated her hairline. She shivered. “He has a gun.”

Jax went still, holding a finger to his lips to silence her. Megan tensed, her gaze following his to the woods. Nothing moved, but she sensed a presence nearby. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Trembles began coursing through her body, and she hugged herself to keep from shaking.

Jax gently pushed her farther into the shadows until Megan’s back bumped into a giant pine tree, and then he took a position in front of her. Shielding her. Feet planted, he stood close enough for her to feel his body heat. His broad shoulders blocked her vision and the scent of his cologne enveloped her like a blanket.

An indescribable feeling of safety washed over her. There was a killer nearby, but Megan had no doubts Jax would defend her. With his life, if necessary. It was a humbling and confusing realization. He hated her. And right now, he was protecting her.

A twig snapped. Jax’s head swiveled, but he didn’t shift an inch away from her. Megan placed her hands on his back. The move was instinctive. Her head throbbed, and with her vision swimming, she feared she might collapse. Unlike her tense form, his muscles were loose and fluid. He reached back and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. That small gesture of comfort, amid this terrifying experience, nearly broke her. She bit her lip to keep the tears at bay.

Leaves rustled. Closer this time. Megan could feel the killer’s presence. Did he know Jax was protecting her? Could he see them? Or was he searching the woods for her? It would be harder to find Megan now that she’d stopped moving, although he’d successfully uncovered her previous hiding spot.

If he found them, he’d shoot them both.

Please, God, help us. We need you.