Chapter 26 #2
Laney knew she had seconds to act. Garrett’s position pinning her arms gave him control of her upper body, but in his arrogance, he'd left her legs free.
Drawing on her military combat training, she bent her knees sharply, pulling her legs up toward her chest. In the split second Garrett glanced down at the movement, she thrust her hips upward, creating just enough space to whip both legs around his neck.
She locked her ankles behind his head, using her core muscles to tighten the grip.
Garrett’s eyes widened in shock as she twisted her body violently to the side.
The sudden shift in weight and leverage sent him toppling off her.
His hands clawed at her legs, trying to break her hold, but she increased the pressure, using her thighs to cut off blood flow to his brain.
He thrashed. She kept the hold, knowing that it would take time for him to lose consciousness.
And then his fingers wrapped around her injured ankle. White-hot pain exploded through her as he crushed the delicate bones with a bruising grip. She screamed and lost her hold on him.
Garrett scrambled away, coughing and choking, curse words eking past his lips.
Laney's own breathing was ragged as she struggled to her feet.
She scooped up little Alli and turned to run when a hand locked on her uninjured leg.
She spun with a solid round kick to the head, followed it with a groin shot, and then for good measure threw the dirt and rocks in her hands at his face.
Garrett fell back.
She ran.
Fiery agony burst from her ankle with every step.
She feared it might be broken. Adrenaline kept her from succumbing to the pain.
Her heart thundered as she ducked into the shelter of the trees.
Roots and thick branches slowed her progress, but the thick foliage made her and Alli harder to find.
Soon—far too soon—she heard Garrett’s thundering footsteps behind her.
“I’m gonna kill you, Laney.”
Terror rocketed through her. It sounded as if he was close. The weight of Alli’s little body in her arms was a reminder of what could happen if she failed. Garrett was merciless. Laney didn’t believe for a moment he wouldn’t kill Alli. She was a witness.
And that’s exactly why Garrett had targeted her. At least initially.
Until obsession took over.
Chest heaving, Laney plowed ahead. Pine needles smacked her face, and burrs tugged at her clothes. She tried to quiet her steps while still keeping up a quick pace, but it was hard.
Lightning burst overhead. The woods became as bright as day. Movement to the left caught Laney’s attention. She whirled in time to see Garrett moving towards her. He held her gun. “Don’t move, or I’ll shoot you and the little girl.”
She froze. Her mind whirled, trying to figure a way out of this, but every option put Alli at risk.
Suddenly the bushes next to her vibrated, and a blur of fur and motion whipped past Laney and leaped toward Garrett.
He screamed. Laney turned to bolt when another form, this one much larger, burst out of the trees.
Large hands grabbed Laney’s shoulders. She began to resist when a voice said, “Take cover with Alli.”
Her knees went weak with relief.
Jonah!
He released her, and she took shelter with little Alli behind a thick copse of trees.
Garrett was still screaming. Fierce growls broke through the sound of the rain.
Then Jonah ordered Garrett to shut up. The sound of his command, spoken in the quintessential grumpy Jonah way, sent tears spilling over her cheeks.
“Good girl, Scout. Now let go…” The growls grew louder and Garrett hollered in pain.
“Release.” Jonah huffed and then hollered. “Laney, call your dog off. She won’t listen to me.”
“Release, Scout! Come!”
Two seconds later, her lab bounced through the foliage to Laney’s side. She cried tears of joy, unbidden, and wrapped an arm around Scout. “Good girl. Good girl.” Scout licked her face and sniffed Alli, her tail wagging. “Yes, you found us. Good girl.”
With extreme difficulty, Laney opened the pocket of her cargo pants and removed Scout’s reward. The lab grabbed hold of the stuffed squirrel and made it squeak.
Tate appeared in front of Laney, concern etched on his features. He crouched down. “Are you hurt?” He lightly touched Alli’s back. She whimpered. “Alli?”
“We’re okay. But Brett was shot. He might be dead, I don’t know.”
“We found him already. He’s alive.”
Thank God. Laney may have suspected Brett, but she believed he hadn’t been working with Garrett. His eager-to-please attitude had landed him in danger, and he’d panicked. While running for his life, he’d gotten turned around and lost.
“Help Jonah secure Garrett.” She didn’t want the love of her life to get shot because he didn’t have someone to cover him.
Tate gave a sharp nod and moved in the direction of Garrett’s cursing and Jonah’s growled commands.
“If you don’t shut up, I’m gonna leave you here to bleed out.
” Jonah’s tone was laced with barely controlled rage.
“You’re lucky I don’t have Scout come back here and take another chunk out of you.
Although from the bruises on your face, it looks like Laney gave you a run for your money too.
” Tate must’ve joined them because then Jonah said, “About time you showed up. You forget how to run?”
“I was busy making sure Ryker didn’t bleed to death. He’ll be fine, by the way.”
“I know. He’s too annoying to die.”
There was a slight scuffle, and then Tate said, “I’ve got him. Go see to Laney. I think she’s hurt but too stubborn to say so.”
She waited with bated breath until a moment later, Jonah appeared next to her. His expression was tender and worried as he placed a warm hand on her cheek. The feel of his touch ignited a firewall of emotion inside her. Fresh tears blurred her vision. “You’re alive.”
“So are you.” He glanced down at little Alli. “You saved her.”
“No, we saved her.”
“EMS is on the way. Andy is tracking my phone. Where are you hurt?”
“It’s nothing that won’t heal.” She reached up to take his hand.
It was the worst timing, but Laney could not let another minute go without saying the words in her heart.
“I love you, Jonah. I’ve loved you for ten years, and been too scared to admit it.
My mom and dad…well, it doesn’t matter anymore.
I don’t want fear to hold me back. I want a life with you. Forever.”
“I know.” He leaned forward and brushed the sweetest kiss across her lips. “I knew it the moment you kissed me by the car.” Jonah backed away and smiled. “You know I’m never going to let you live it down that it took several life-threatening events before you finally admitted that you loved me.”
A laugh bubbled up. “Watch it, Foster. No one likes a know-it-all.”