Page 114 of Love Me Dangerous

And so is Sofie.

Another gust slams through the forest. Blindly, I stumble to where I last saw her. “Sofie!” I scream, but the wind rips it away. Trees crack and sway as the wind rages.

Racing through the blinding snow, my senses honed for any sound that might indicate where she’s gone, but there’s only the wind in the trees.

Did he take her?

In a sudden lull rises the rumble of an engine.

“No!” I take off up the hill.

My truck’s not far.With the keys to the gates, Dustin can go anywhere, in any vehicle he wants. Even on wilderness lands.

Rowdy might be the only person who wouldn’t have looked the other way.

Why didn’t I tell him about the dirt bikes?

My boot taps something hard in my path, sending it skittering. It’s Sofie’s radio.

Alarm bells blare in my brain as I grab it. The antenna’sbeen snapped. I key the mike as I run, huffing hard. “This… is… Zach. Can you read me?”

But there’s only static.

“Hello? Rowdy?”

Nothing.

I shove down my desperation because blowing the whistle on Dustin right now when he’s got Sofie as collateral—over a radio channel that Rowdy and half of Finn River is listening to could put her in more danger.

Frustrated, I toss the radio and force my legs faster. More snow flies at me, obscuring the forest. The ground turns muddy, like it’s been chewed up.

Tire tracks.

“Sofie!” I scream, feeling helpless. Dustin got her to his truck, and drove off. How? Did he overpower her? Threaten her?

I brace on my thighs and breathe. My pocket is chirping. Realization dawns on me. It’s the burner phone. I fumble with the gloves, the cold biting into my bare skin.

When I answer, it’s Dustin’s voice. “Remember our deal.”

“Let her go,” I bark.

“You work for me.” The harsh tone he used that day is back.

My spine goes rigid. “Don’t you dare hurt her.”

“If I don’t get what I want, you won’t either.”

“That’s not?—”

The line goes dead.

Cursing, I grab the back of my neck and close my eyes. No, no, no.

If I don’t get what I want, you won’t either.

But if I go through with his plan, how do I know he’ll let Sofie go? The thought of her scared right now is like a blow torch to my chest, searing me open.

But I relish in the pain. Let it ground me. Sharpen my instincts.

---