Chapter 25
Dylan
“That a new way of fishing?” Tucker asks as I climb out of the pool with my knife in hand. “Or were you practicing risky escapes again?”
“Emma dropped it in here last night. I was retrieving it.”
Tucker narrows his gaze, then notices the blood-stained concrete I still haven’t managed to fully clean. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine. Cut her foot on broken glass. Lani stitched it up.”
“Dylan, what happened?” Tucker crosses his arms, and I set the knife on the table, then dry my face with a towel.
“What do you think happened? You’re certainly looking at me like I attacked her, so why don’t you just ask that?”
“Did you?”
“No.” I pause and lower the defenses I put up the moment I realized he was here.
I don’t need to be told how close we were to Emma truly getting hurt.
I’ve gone over every second of it ever since it happened.
“I had an episode, and she surprised me. I jumped up, and she jumped back, slipped, and fell into the pool. I jumped in, pulled her out, and called Lani.”
“Broken glass?”
“Happened in the kitchen.” I leave out the fact that it broke because I was trying to get a glass of water, and my hands were shaking so bad, I dropped it. I’m so angry. I thought I was getting better, took too many risks, and Emma got hurt because of it.
It was a stark reminder of who I truly am and how dangerous I can be. Last night wasn’t even the worst it’s been, either. What could’ve happened if it was the worst? If I hadn’t been snapped out of it so quickly?
“I’m glad you’re both okay.”
“You’re trying really hard not to tell me ‘I told you so.’”
“Absolutely not. Dylan, I want you to find happiness. I want things to work out because you deserve some joy in this tortured existence you’ve been living in.”
“You didn’t make it a secret that you thought her staying here was a bad idea.”
“Sure, but not because of you. I know that, if anything happened to her, minor or otherwise, you’d let it eat you alive. I’m tired of watching things eat you alive.”
My anger deflates. “I’m doing surprisingly okay. Mad at myself, but what else is new?”
Tucker is quiet for a moment. “Where is she?”
“Inside, taking a nap. We’ll be leaving as soon as she wakes up.”
“You probably should up that timeline.”
“Why?”
“One of Slater’s known aliases just boarded a private plane to Dallas. That’s why I’m here.”
“He’s coming here?”
Tucker nods. “Looks that way.”
“Then we need to stay. I need to help prepare the ranch.” My mind starts racing. We need to set proximity alarms, get everyone who can’t fight to the barn on the far side of the property. Where they’ll be out of sight and safe.
“We’re already on that. And it won’t matter if you can get Emma out. I’ll send you Slater’s number. When you’re away from the ranch, call him. Let them trace it. He’ll know you’re not here anymore. Trash the phone, then use a burner.”
“If he comes here anyway?”
Tucker smiles. “Then we’ll call you when the problem has worked itself out. As far as I’m concerned, if he sets foot onto our property, he’s a threat, and we’ll treat him as such. Don’t worry about us. My gut says he won’t risk coming here if she’s not here.”
“His mother?”
“We’ll make sure Harlow is safe too.”
“You’re sure you’ll be okay?” It seemed like a good plan before, but now that I’m facing the reality of it, I hate the idea of leaving my family alone while I run.
But Tucker is right—if Emma isn’t here, then Heath won’t want to chance it.
It would be a stupid thing to do. An unnecessary risk.
And he doesn’t strike me as a man who makes those often.
“We’ll be fine. You did the same for me, remember?”
“Those were cops coming for Alice, Tucker, not a crime boss.”
“You still risked your lives to make sure I got her to safety. Let us do the same for you, okay? Get her out, and we’ll handle the rest.”
Emma’s been silent ever since we hit the road. We’re about two hours away from the ranch now, so I guide my truck into a gas station, park next to a pump, and pull out my phone. “You know what to do?”
Nodding, she takes my phone and taps on the number Tucker texted me. Then, she places it on speakerphone. It rings twice before he answers.
“I expected this call,” he says. “Did you decide to hand her over to me?”
“No one is handing me over to anyone,” Emma says. Her voice is level, but her hand holding the phone is shaking.
Heath is silent a moment. “Ah, Miss Emmaline. How lovely it is to hear your voice.”
She shuts her eyes tightly. “I’m only calling to let you know that you’re headed in the wrong direction.”
Again, he’s silent a few beats. His way of trying to maintain control, likely as they trace the call. “Is that right?”
“Yes. You won’t find me this time.”
“I assume lover boy’s ranch is still standing—for now. Maybe I’ll still pay them a visit.”
“Go ahead. But you should know that local police have been alerted and are right there, ready to take you in the moment your tire tread crosses onto their property.”
“Is that so? I’ve dealt with the police before. Maybe I just took a wrong turn. Needed to turn around.”
“Or maybe we handed over your photograph to every single person in town so they know to turn you in the moment they see you.”
“And just what am I being turned in for?”
“Kidnapping. Murder. Pick one.”
“I didn’t kidnap anyone. Your brother handled that.”
“Mattheus also has his own fan club here in town since no less than a dozen people in town saw me with him at the diner right before I was kidnapped. See, my town isn’t like your big city.
People here care about one another, and they’ll stand on the side of what’s right.
So go ahead, show up. It’ll be the last thing you do, and frankly, it’ll make my life a lot easier. ”
“I will find you, little dove, and when I do, you will pay for every minute you made me wait.” The call ends, so she hands the phone back to me. I get out and walk around to the passenger side, then place it into a plastic bag, set it on the ground, and smash it with the heel of my boot.
As soon as I do, I toss it into the trash bin and get back inside, pulling out the burner phone I grabbed before leaving the house. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She runs both hands over her face. “Even his voice makes my skin crawl. I only met him once, but I can picture him clear as day. You know?”
“I know.”
She’s quiet for a moment as she gathers herself. “Do you think it worked?”
“I’ll be surprised if it didn’t. He’s too smart to risk getting caught trespassing.”
“What if he doesn’t think he’ll get caught?”
“You just let him know the entire Pine Creek police force is looking for him. He doesn’t have to know how small it is.” I smile at her, hoping it will disarm some of the nerves I see reflected on her face.
“Yeah, well, I’m going to pray anyway.”
“Then let’s pray.” I reach over and wait for her to take my offered hand.
Her eyes widen in surprise, but she slides her slender hand into mine and bows her head.
I take a deep breath. I haven’t prayed out loud in years. What if I mess it up?
You won’t. Two words. Clear as day in my mind. They ease the rest of my nerves.
I clear my throat. “Lord, please be with our family and friends. Please surround them with Your protection and keep them safe in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
“Amen.” Emma gently squeezes my hand; then I pull away. “Thank you,” she says.
I nod, feeling a bit lighter than I have in years. “We’re headed to a private airstrip in Tulsa; then Jesper is going to pick us up from there.”
“Where are we headed?”
I grin at her. “You’ll see.”
“We’ve arrived at your destination,” Jesper announces as soon as the plane touches down on the runway.
The nerves I’ve felt this entire plane ride were enough to have me craving the fresh sea air I’ll get the moment we step off this plane. I haven’t been able to have any contact with Tucker or the others, so I have no way of knowing whether or not Slater left them alone in our absence.
I’ve been praying, though. Pretty much constantly.
Which is new for me.
“You ready?” I ask her.
“To find out where you brought me? Absolutely.” She stands, using the crutches Lani brought her before we took off. Carefully, she makes her way down the aisle, right behind me.
“Hier, Delta,” I order, and my pup hops up and trots over toward the door.
Jesper comes out of the cockpit and smiles at us as we pause in front of the door.
“It has been a true honor to be your pilot of choice,” he says.
“Same. I’ll call when we’re ready to head back.”
“Sounds good,” he replies as I grip the handle and turn. But before I can even push it open, the door is ripped out of my grasp.
The barrel of a gun is shoved in my face, and a large hand grips the front of my shirt.
I spin and slam out with my boot, hitting the attacker square in the chest. He falls backward—down the steps and onto the concrete.
Delta growls.
But I don’t send him out because, standing at the base of the stairs, alongside the furious-looking armed man I just sent down to the bottom, are Heath Slater, Mattheus Karver, and about a dozen more men—all with guns aimed in our direction.
I whirl on Jesper, who’s drawn his own firearm and is pointing it at Emma’s head. She’s silent, tears in her eyes.
I start toward him, fury in my veins, ready to tear him apart where he stands, but he clicks his tongue and presses the barrel closer. “I said I’d deliver. She doesn’t have to be whole for me to get my payment.”
“You betrayed us,” I snarl, my hands clenching into fists. I could go for the gun at my back, but if I do that, Emma will likely get hit in the crossfire.
Since flying a plane isn’t something I’ve ever done, and shooting our way out isn’t an option, I have to play my cards right.
For now.
But I will make him pay. One way or another. He won’t get away with this. “We trusted you.”
“It wasn’t personal,” he deadpans. “I had debts that were owed.”
“Go ahead and come on out of there,” Heath orders. “And tell your mutt to stand down, or I’ll put a bullet in him.”
“You hurt my dog, and I will rip you to pieces,” I snarl as I turn toward him. “Fuss, Delta,” I order anyway. Heel.
“Good boy,” Heath says with a smile. “German commands, right? I’ll have to remember that. Always wanted a dog, and here you go, bringing me one already so expertly trained.”
With thirteen guns pointed at us, I don’t taunt him. I may be fast and lethal, but I’m not bulletproof. Neither are Delta and Emma. Our best chance is if I bide my time and wait for the perfect opportunity.
On legs heavy as lead, I walk down the steps.
“Go ahead and place your hands on the back of your head there, cowboy. Not trying to have a Wild West shootout once you get down here.”
My stomach twists as I do as he says. Darkness edges into my vision, and if I weren’t so concerned for Emma’s safety, I might not care if the monster comes out. But she is here. And the monster won’t stop with just the enemies.
Lord, please be with us. I trust You. I trust that You have a plan. Please don’t let it be for us to lose.
“Good boy. I told you he could follow directions,” Heath tells Mattheus.
“Yeah. Good. Shoot him and be done with it.”
“Nah, not yet. I have something fun planned for him.” He grins at me as I reach the bottom, and it’s all I can do to keep my temper reined in. I have to play this smart. Otherwise, we’re all dead.
Jesper sets Emma on her feet right beside me. She sways a little until he props a crutch beneath her arm. “You have what you want. Are we clear now?”
“Sure thing.” In a blur of movement, Heath raises a gun and fires. Blood sprays Emma, and she screams. My pulse hammers in my ears as I rip her behind me, then quickly grab Delta’s collar just in case he decides to follow his instincts and go after the one who pulled the trigger.
All while I try to process exactly what just happened.
Jesper is on the ground, blood pooling beneath him, thanks to the bullet hole in the center of his throat. “Enjoy your payment,” Heath sneers as he lowers his gun.
Emma wretches and throws up. I turn and pull her hair behind her head with one hand, steadying her with the other arm so she doesn’t go fully to the ground.
“Oh, honey, you’re going to need a stronger stomach. Grab her,” Heath orders his men.
Two armed men come forward.
“Touch her, and I’ll put you down.”
“Do that, and I’ll just put a bullet in you now. Save me some effort.” Heath raises his gun again, this time aiming it at me. I genuinely consider taking the risk.
“Just let me go, Dylan,” Emma chokes out. “Please. No more bloodshed.”
I consider fighting our way out of here. They can’t all fire at the same time, right? If I can get to the guy on the right—
No matter what happens, my fighting now will only result in Emma being left alone. So I swallow my anger and release her. One of the guards lifts her and steps away from me, going to stand near Heath.
“Muzzle the mutt,” he tells one of his men.
“No. You are not touching my dog.”
Delta growls.
Once again, Heath aims his firearm at me. “Are you thick in the skull? You don’t hold the cards here, cowboy. Now, let them muzzle the mutt, or I’ll decide to adopt rather than take yours.”
Do I even have a choice?
God, why is this happening? Lord, be with us.
“Sitz, Delta.” He takes a seat, and a man comes forward with a muzzle. Delta lets loose a warning growl. “Let me do it, or he’ll take off your hand.”
The man hesitates, then glances back at Heath, who nods. He slams the muzzle into my hands.
Turning, I kneel in front of Delta. “Braver Hund, Delta. Such a good boy.” I slip the muzzle onto him, then, without anyone noticing, slowly press the tracker we installed on the underside of each of their collars.
A beacon, should we ever need to find each other, just in case we have to dispose of our cell phones. I’d told Tucker I thought it was overkill, but man, am I glad he didn’t listen to me.
Delta whimpers, not understanding what’s happening, so I pet him again before standing and facing Heath.
“Good. Now, shall we?” He gestures toward a waiting dark SUV.
Emma is staring at me, eyes wide, tears flowing down her pale face.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her, then start toward the car that will likely take us all to our deaths.
“Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along His path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.” I repeat part of Psalm 37 over and over again, and as I do, an unfamiliar peace settles over me.
You’re here, Lord. I feel You. Please walk with us.