Page 74 of Protected By the Mountain Man

I'd signed away everything, and yet, we weren't free.

“Go on, Owen,” I snapped, forcing steel into my voice. “You've got what you came for.”

“Almost,” he murmured. He moved toward the table, picked up the papers—but he didn’t let Livy go.

“Let her go, Owen. It's over,” I said.

“Can't do that, Kat.” Owen's eyes were cold as ice. “You'd run straight to Callahan.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Livy chose that moment to make her move. She squirmed, a small burst of rebellion, and she almost got free—but Owen's reaction was swift and brutal. His hand clamped down on her shoulder, pulling her back, the blade of his knife flashing too close to her neck. He’d dropped the deed. I was starting to wonder if that even mattered to him anymore.

“Stop!” My heart slammed against my ribs. “Please, don't!”

“Then cooperate.”

“Okay, okay,” I said quickly, my mind racing for a way out. “Just…just put the knife away.”

“Come to the car with me,” he ordered. “And no funny business, or she dies.”

“Fine.” Each word tasted like ash. “I'll do whatever you say. Just don't hurt her.”

“Smart choice.” Owen's grip on Livy eased ever so slightly as he backed toward the door. “Grab the deed, and don’t try anything. Just need you to be somewhere far away from town while I make my exit.”

As we walked out into the biting cold, snowflakes kissed my skin, contrasting the heat of my terror. I followed him, each step heavy with dread, but inside, a fire kindled. A promise that this wasn't the end. Somehow, I'd find a way to save us both.

The snow crunched beneath my boots, a steady rhythm against the chaos in my head. Owen's car loomed ahead, a dark shape against the glittering white snow. I glanced at Livy, her face pale.

As soon as Livy was safe, I was going to kill him.

I swore to myself that I would.

“Get in,” Owen barked, shoving me toward the driver side. His fingers never left Livy, holding her like a shield between us.

“Okay, okay,” I muttered, moving as he commanded. The door handle was ice cold, biting into my palm. It felt like I was climbing into my own coffin…but no, I couldn’t let that get to me.

Not now.

Owen got into the back, the knife never leaving Livy’s throat.

“Drive,” he said once we were all inside. “And remember, I'm watching.”

I took the wheel, the engine coming to life with a roar as fury built within me. I flicked a glance in the rearview mirror, where Livy met my eyes, a silent vow passing between us.

We weren't going down without a fight.

“Where to?” I asked, my hands tight on the steering wheel.

“North, toward Bearclaw Mountain,” he snapped. “And don't try anything. I mean it, Kat.”

“Got it,” I replied, every muscle coiled, ready.

As I drove, the snow fell harder, a whiteout that blurred the lines of the road but sharpened the ones we'd have to cross to survive.

I had to believe I could get us out of this.

Otherwise…I knew Owen would kill us both.

TWENTY-EIGHT

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