Page 137 of Crosshairs

Sweat ran down the side of her cheek, and she wiped her face with her sleeve. Up ahead, the drive curved out of sight. When she had a clear view of the cabin, she saw a mint-green MINI Cooper parked out front.

Ainsley blinked. Linc was bound to the post on the porch, and he had a gag tied around his mouth. But at least he was still alive.

Ainsley started to charge forward and stopped. Where was Sarah?

She scanned the woods that had almost overtaken the small yard surrounding the cabin. Ainsley darted to the back of the MINI Cooper. Linc’s eyes widened, and then he shook his head. She ignored him and dashed to the porch and pulled the gag down.

“Run!” he whispered.

“No. Where’s Sarah?” She holstered her gun and fumbled with the knots on the rope binding his hands. She almost had the rope loose when she heard a sound behind her and looked over her shoulder. Sarah stood in the doorway, a gun in her hands. Ainsley reached for her Sig.

“Don’t.” Sarah waved the pistol in her hand. “Move away from him.”

Ainsley hesitated, and Sarah turned the gun toward Linc. “Move away or I’ll shoot him. Take your gun out and lay it on the porch.”

She backed away from Linc. “Why are you doing this?”

“Someone has to pay for my brother’s death. Why not the one responsible? You’re just icing on the cake. Your gun. Now.”

“What do you mean?” Ainsley laid the pistol on the ground. She had to stall until Sam and Nate and their deputies could get here.

“This way he’ll experience what it’s like to lose someone he loves. Like I did.”

“Youkilled Blake,” Linc said.

She killed her brother? And let Linc believe it was his fault? In her peripheral vision, Ainsley saw Linc’s arms move as he worked to get out of the rope. She had to keep Sarah’s attention away from him. “It was you at Dad’s political rally, wasn’t it? Too bad you’re such a bad shot. Not the shooter Blake was, are you?”

“Shut up.”

“On top of that, you lost your brother’s rifle. All for nothing.”

“It wasn’t my brother’s rifle.” Sarah’s cheeks flushed and her lips flattened. “I told you to shut up.”

“Is that the one you used on Connie Hanover?”

Sarah glared at her. “She wouldn’t have been shot if she hadn’t jumped up. And you would have been dead.”

“But I’m not.”

Linc’s arms relaxed, and he gave her a slight nod. Ainsley sidestepped toward Linc, hoping to draw Sarah closer to him.

Almost automatically, Sarah moved with her, keeping the gun pointed toward Linc’s head. “What are you doing?”

“The sun’s in my eyes,” she replied and took another step, and Sarah followed her.

“Enough talk. Time to say goodbye. And guess what, Linc? You get to watch.” Sarah swung the gun around until it was pointed straight at Ainsley’s chest.

Linc exploded into action, tackling Sarah just as she fired. Ainsley dove for the ground, feeling the heat of the bullet slice the air by her shoulder. She crawled to her gun and grabbed it, her fingers closing over the trigger.

Sarah broke loose from Linc and turned her gun toward his head.

Ainsley fired at Sarah. She still held her gun on Linc, and Ainsley’s finger tightened on the trigger again.

Then the gun fell from Sarah’s hand and she crumpled to the ground.

Ainsley dropped her gun to her side and rocked back on her heels, her gaze connecting with Linc’s. Unexpectedly, tears filled her eyes and threatened to spill down her cheeks.

He wasn’t hit.

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