Page 125 of Counter Attack

“Good.”

“You sure you want to do this?”

She lifted her chin. “Nathan’s life depends on it.”

“I know.”

For the first time, Alex saw respect in Mark’s eyes. She just hoped she lived to enjoy a better relationship with him. “If you see a chance to take Kayla out, take it.”

He sucked in a breath. “I will.”

“Can you kill a woman?”

“If I have to.”

Alex hoped they could take her alive. But she would not let Kayla kill Nathan.

“I’m counting on you, Mark.”

Still standing almost at attention, he dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Be careful. And I have your six.”

She smiled. “I know.”

Alex turned, and he followed close behind as she walked toward the lake. A quarter of a mile from the point, they slipped into the woods, and she was thankful for the weekend rain that made walking on the dead leaves quieter.

Mark veered off from her to find a spot where he’d have an unobstructed view of the area. The clearing came into view, and she fought the panic brought on by seeing Nathan standing on a chair with a rope around his neck.

Not only that, Kayla had pulled her vehicle between Nathan and the trees. It was going to be difficult for Mark to get a good shot from the direction he’d taken. He’d have to backtrack and come down on the other side of the road. Maybe Alex could lure her out into the open.

65

The metal chair wasn’t stable enough for Nathan to put his full weight on it. If he did, the chair would topple over. His arms ached from gripping the noose to keep his body from sagging and tightening the rope around his neck. He didn’t know how much longer he could hold on, but he had to do something to keep Kayla from killing Alexis.

His leg burned where she’d grazed him, but it didn’t appear the bullet had caused any lasting damage. He’d have to live for that to mean anything. Running had been a fool thing to do, but he’d felt he had to try.

Kayla paced in front of him. Maybe if she came close enough, he could push off with the chair and use the rope to swing himself far enough out to kick the gun from her hand.

Almost as if she read his mind, she moved away and looked up the road. “Where is she?” she muttered.

“She’s not coming.”

“Oh, she’ll be here. She’s in love with you.”

“Don’t know why you think that.”

“Any fool can see it.”

Could Alexis really love him? Pain ripped through his biceps, and he tried resting his weight on the chair. It wobbled like a newborn foal.

Kayla’s phone rang, and she answered it. “You’re too late.”

66

Kayla was taunting her. Alex could see Nathan, and she wasn’t about to give away her position by contradicting her words. “I told you I couldn’t get to the point in ten minutes.”

“I want you here, at the beach.”

“Not until I see that Nathan is all right.” Alex was getting under Kayla’s skin, but she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad. Her phone lit up with the FaceTime call. She answered, and a close-up of Nathan standing on the chair, the rope still around his neck, came into view. He looked tired, and the bloodstain on his pants had grown. “Get him down!”

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