Chapter 49
chapter
forty-nine
“Where are you taking me?” Millie asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Her arm ached where Garrick gripped it. Her boots were muddy and cold, her sweatpants soaked from pushing through underbrush.
“Somewhere safe,” Garrick said. “Somewhere we can start over.”
“There is no starting over. We’re divorced. We both signed the papers.”
“So you keep saying.” He yanked her forward, and she stumbled. “But you’re nothing without me.”
“You’re delusional.”
He stopped so abruptly she crashed into his back.
He turned, his face inches from hers. In the dim light, she could barely make out his features, but she felt the intensity of his stare as he leaned in.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he growled. “But you should know—I’m never letting you go again.”
Her head began to spin.
Biscuit barked, the sound cutting through the tension.
Garrick’s head snapped toward the dog. “Shut that mutt up, or I promise—”
Another bark. But this one was different. Deeper.
And it wasn’t coming from Biscuit.
Hope rose inside her.
When she screamed for help, she instinctively called Caleb’s name.
The barking got closer.
Garrick froze. “What—?”
Just then, a massive shape burst through the trees.
Wyatt’s dog, she realized.
The German shepherd barreled toward them, barking furiously, his lead trailing behind him.
Garrick released Millie’s arm and grabbed his gun. But Thunder was too fast. He pounced on Garrick, pushing him to the ground. The gun clattered from his grip.
Garrick quickly rose to his feet, the vengeance in his gaze deepening. He searched the ground for his gun.
She saw it the same time he did.
They both lunged for it. But Millie reached it first.
She grabbed it and stepped back, the weapon trembling in her hands.
“You don’t want to do this, Millie,” he growled.
“You have no clue what I want or don’t want.” She gripped it tighter, wondering if she really had the courage to pull the trigger.
She knew she did—but she’d only do so if absolutely necessary.
Then she heard, “Millie!”
Caleb. That was Caleb.
Relief flooded through her so fast her knees buckled. “I’m here! Caleb, I’m here!”
Caleb emerged from the trees, his weapon drawn. “Step away from her.”
His appearance distracted Millie just enough that Garrick grabbed her. Yanked the gun from her hands.
“No . . .” she muttered.
He pulled her against his chest, using her as a shield. His arm locked around her throat, and his gun pressed against the side of her head.
“Stay back!” Garrick shouted. “Stay back, or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Caleb moved closer, his gun trained on Garrick. “Hurt her? You’ve already done that.”
“She’s mine,” Garrick growled.
“She’s not your anything.” Caleb took another step. “Let. Her. Go.”
Garrick’s arm tightened. Millie gasped, her airway constricting.
“Caleb—” she choked out.
“I know.” His eyes met hers. Steady. Certain. “Trust me.”
She did. She realized, in that moment, that she did.
“Last chance,” Caleb said to Garrick. “Let her go or I put you down.”
“You won’t shoot. Not with her this close.”
Caleb’s expression didn’t change. “Try me.”
For a moment, everything went still.
Then Garrick shoved Millie forward—hard—and bolted.
Millie hit the ground, the air knocking from her lungs.
Caleb was beside her in an instant, his hand on her shoulder. “You okay?”
She nodded, gasping.
“Stay with Wyatt.”
Then he was gone, crashing through the underbrush after Garrick.
Wyatt knelt beside her, Thunder at his side. “Can you breathe?”
“Yeah.” She coughed, her throat raw. “I’m fine. Really. Go help him.”
Wyatt studied her a moment longer before nodding.
“Thunder, guard,” Wyatt commanded.
The dog immediately sat beside Millie, alert and protective.
Then Wyatt took off after Caleb.
Biscuit emerged from the shadows and ran to her side.
“It’s okay, boy,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s okay.”
Maybe this was all finally over.
Maybe.
Caleb’s lungs burned as he ran. Garrick was fast—fueled by desperation and adrenaline—but Caleb was faster.
He’d spent years running these woods. Knew every trail, every drop-off, every fallen tree.
Garrick didn’t.
Ahead, Caleb saw the man stumble, his arms windmilling as he tried to keep his balance.
This was his chance.
Caleb holstered his gun before launching himself forward.
He tackled Garrick to the ground.
They rolled, grappling, fists flying.
The gun fell from Garrick’s hands—just out of reach.
Garrick was strong, but Caleb had training. He blocked a wild punch and returned one of his own, his knuckles connecting with Garrick’s jaw.
Garrick’s head snapped back, but he didn’t go down. He twisted, trying to throw Caleb off, his hand reaching for something—
The gun, Caleb realized.
Caleb drove his elbow into Garrick’s ribs. Garrick grunted, the wind knocked out of him.
“It’s over,” Caleb growled, pinning him.
Garrick bucked, trying to get free, but Caleb held him down, his forearm pressed against Garrick’s throat.
“Stop fighting,” Caleb ordered.
“She’s mine—”
“She’s not yours!” Caleb’s voice sounded raw with emotion. “She never was.”
Footsteps pounded behind him. Wyatt appeared, breathing hard.
“I got him,” Caleb said. “Zip ties.”
Wyatt pulled a set from his pocket and tossed them over. Caleb secured Garrick’s wrists behind his back, pulling them tight.
Garrick thrashed. “You can’t do this! You have no right—”
“I have every right.” Caleb hauled him to his feet. “You’re on my property. The police are on the way. Soon, you’ll be under arrest for assault and trespassing.”
The fight went out of Garrick all at once. His shoulders sagged, his head dropped.
“Let’s go.”
Wyatt hauled him back through the woods while Caleb went to Millie. She met him halfway and threw her arms around him.
“I’m so glad you came,” she cried into his chest.
“I’ll never make the mistake of leaving you again,” he murmured.
She looked up and opened her mouth as if to say more. Then she pressed her lips together.
He knew they had a lot more to talk about, and this wasn’t the time.
As much as he’d love to talk more, he knew they couldn’t. Not now. Not here.
Instead, he wrapped an arm around her and began leading her back to the house.
By the time they reached the clearing, red and blue lights were flashing through the trees. Sheriff Sutherland’s deputies had arrived.
Maybe this was all finally over.