Chapter 50
FIFTY
T
ripp crouched behind the base of a wide fir and paused, taking stock of his current position. By his best estimate, he was less than a quarter mile from the road, although at this point he had no idea how far he was from his truck.
He hadn’t spotted the shooter for several minutes now. That worried him. The entire point of splitting off from Willow was to lure him away from her. He needed to put enough distance between them and buy time while he figured out how to take him down.
For a brief moment he thought he heard faint movement in the direction where he’d left Willow. He crouched lower, using the deepening shadows stretching along the ground for added camouflage. His khakis and black shirt helped him blend in somewhat with the woodland surroundings.
There it was again. Over toward Willow’s spot.
He shifted his position, slowly moving to get a better view while staying behind the tree trunk. His heart stuttered when he spotted the shooter moving through the brush off in the distance.
Away from him. Toward Willow.
He shot to his feet, ready to break from cover, but stilled when the man turned slightly, giving Tripp a good view of his face.
Darren fucking Lassiter.
He had to alert Rafe. If something happened to him, or God forbid Willow, at least Rafe would know whom to go after.
With his back flat against the tree, he pulled out his phone. Thankfully, he had reception.
He shot off a terse text, using those few precious seconds to name Lassiter and ask for immediate backup. When he finished, Lassiter was still in the same spot, looking around him.
They both heard it at the same time. Something rustling off to the right, near Willow.
Lassiter spun toward it and kept going, a pistol in his right hand.
Tripp clenched his jaw, thinking fast. He’d already misdirected Lassiter once by throwing something. He couldn’t expose himself now to draw attention away from Willow. He was too close, within easy pistol range. He was no good to her dead or too badly wounded to move.
There was only one way he could think of to draw Lassiter away from Willow. He quickly glanced around, looking for a good spot to set his phone, then typed out a message to her.
Call my phone NOW.
Moving carefully to the place he’d chosen, he stole one last quick glance over to make sure Lassiter hadn’t spotted him. Then made sure the volume was turned up and set the phone down next to some ferns.
He hit the send button before ducking back out of sight, praying Willow would feel the vibration of her phone and risk moving enough to take it out and read the message. Praying that she would have enough reception to get it.
If she didn’t, he was going to have to risk everything and resort to drawing Lassiter’s fire at close range to save her.
Lassiter was still slowly moving in her direction. Tripp’s heart thudded, the tension in his gut ratcheting higher with each passing second as he waited.
Come on, Willow. Do it.
His phone didn’t ring. And he had no way of knowing if Willow had even received the message.
Lassiter stepped into a small patch of sunlight. Way too fucking close to Willow. So close that sweat broke out along Tripp’s spine.
They were out of time.
He pushed away from the tree, ready to run toward Lassiter and draw his fire, giving Willow enough time to run for it in the opposite direction. He’d just taken his first stride when a ringtone went off behind him, shattering the heavy silence.
He ducked back behind the tree. Watched in relief as Lassiter whipped around and dropped out of sight.
The ringing continued for another second, then stopped abruptly. Willow had timed it perfectly. Just long enough for it to seem like he had frantically tried to silence his phone.
Tripp scanned the dense undergrowth, waiting. Had it worked?
He stared at the spot where Lassiter had dropped out of sight. He couldn’t see him. For one terrible moment, he thought the plan had failed and Lassiter was still heading for Willow.
But then a branch swayed to the left of the spot. A moment later, a twig cracked closer to him yet.
He eased out a breath. Thank God. He’d drawn Lassiter away from Willow’s hiding spot.
Now he had to figure out how to take him down without getting shot.
Tripp shifted into a better position, moving with careful treads. Rolling each foot from heel to toe and keeping his weight to the outside to minimize noise. He had to stay quiet, and close enough to keep sight of Lassiter’s movement.
Once he was certain that Lassiter was committed to continuing toward him, Tripp picked his way to a hiding spot between a rotted stump and a fallen tree, slipping into the shadowy crevice between them to wait.
There was a thick stick on the ground near his foot. He picked it up, clenched it tight. Ready to club Lassiter with it if he got close enough.
Lassiter was barely moving now. Cautiously choosing his footing, making almost no sound as he crept toward the spot where the phone was.
He was close enough for Tripp to see his face clearly. The way his gaze moved around restlessly. Weapon poised. Finger on the trigger.
Tripp waited, staying completely still as Lassiter finally edged past him without noticing. He stayed put until the other man’s back was to him before making his move.
Launching from his hiding place, he dove at Lassiter.