Page 101 of Mountain Security

Aristide laughed. “I didn’t want to see the official file. I wanted to see the comments each person made on it. I wanted to know who we’d have to convince in order to change things. But when I read the content …” His expression turned rueful. “I realized there was nothing that would get you to approve the project. My father’s dream was gone. And so was my inheritance.”

“And the fire …” Alex began.

“That was me, as well. It required a bit of careful planning. I had to wait in a closet for hours, waiting for just the right moment.” He shrugged. “You got her out, but I know it jarred her. So it wasn’t a total waste.”

Moments later, they heard another vehicle. It sounded close, but was too small to be a car.

A snowmobile.

Arnaud got off the machine with an agility that belied his years, and stood beside his son.

“Mon fils,” he said, looking proud. For the first time, Yvette realized how alike the two men were. “You are just in time, as always.”

Now there were two guns pointed at them.

Yvette shrunk backwards.

“The PGHM is on its way. You’re not getting away with this.”

Arnaud smiled a wolfish smile. “You’re lying. There’s nobody coming. People get lost in the mountains all the time.”

“People know we were coming here,” Yvette said.

“Then we’ll have to come up with a good story, won’t we? Don’t worry, nobody will ever find your bodies.”

“You’re going to pay for what you did to us,” Aristide said.

“No!” Yvette shouted. “Please. Let us go.”

“Ah, finally, she reacts,” Aristide said. His thick lips split into a grin. He was as crazy as his father.

Both of them are certifiably insane.

And Yvette realized maybe that was their only chance. They were insane, but they both hatedher.Not Alex.So if she could keep their attention on her, if she could make them see that Alex had nothing to do with this, maybe …

Maybe you can save his life.

She took a step forward.

Behind her, Alex hissed. She ignored him and took another small step.

Both men looked at her almost curiously.

“If it’s me you want to punish, please don’t hurt him.”

“Get back,” Aristide said, waving his gun at her.

Arnaud smiled. “Wait, my son. Wait.” He turned back to Yvette, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know what hurt me most of all? It wasn’t the loss of my money. It was when I lost my wife. I think maybe it’s the same for you.”

His body shifted lightly, until his gun was trained on Alex. His beady eyes shone with a new light, and Yvette knew she had been the one to put that light there. Arnaud wanted to hurt her, and she’d just given him the best possible means to do so.

“Please,” she begged. “Please leave him alone. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Whatever we want? Will you give me back my lost millions?” Aristide snarled.

The father turned to look at his son. And that’s when Alex attacked, launching himself forward in a flying tackle.

There was a shot, and a pained grunt.

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