Page 97 of Mountain Security

“You’ll be in prison by the end of the day.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” the man hissed.

Alex shoved her sideways just as the shot rang out.

33

* * *

Alex

Alex didn’t like taking chances on Yvette’s life.

But he had no choice. He took the chance that Gaultier wouldn’t be a good shot. That even if he knew how to shoot, his stress level would be too high to correctly assess their movement.

As the shot sailed harmlessly by, Alex changed course again and jerked hard on Yvette’s arm, forcing her to follow. It would only take a few seconds for Gaultier to aim again and shoot, and they needed to be somewhere completely different by the time that happened.

Yvette gave a soft whimper. And he knew he must have hurt her, but she took the hint and ran with him. Their boots pounded the frozen ground, and Alex was glad she’d listened to him and put hiking boots on, instead of her usual heels.

He pushed her against the wall of a glass-walled building. A greenhouse—no, a pool-house. It wouldn’t provide cover for long, but would at least make Gaultier have to look for them.

He’s old.

He won’t be able to run as fast as us.

Unfortunately, they were also running in the wrong direction.

Away from the car.

But it was too late to worry about that now.

From where they were standing, Alex could see the trees lining the edge of the estate. Those would provide some cover. On the other side of those trees, he knew, lay the wall to Gaultier’s estate.

And beyond that, the road and the mountains of Argentière.

He heard the sound of someone running after them, their gait slow and loping. Gaultier was going around the right side of the greenhouse.

This was their chance.

Alex squeezed Yvette’s hand.

“Left,” he mouthed.

Yvette’s eyes were round as saucers, and Alex knew it was taking everything inside her to remain calm, but she nodded and squeezed his hand back tight.

Alex pushed her ahead of him. He wasn’t sure how long this little trick was buying them, and he didn’t want to leave Yvette’s back open for even an instant.

His phone pinged.

It was a message from Ry. His friends were on their way.

Alex shot back their location, so they would at least know which way they were heading.

There was a furious shout behind them, then two more shots, which sailed harmlessly above their heads. And then they were inside the trees. It was darker here, and Alex was glad for that. It would be nearly impossible for Gaultier to find them here. He considered, for a moment, climbing one of these trees and waiting here for his friends to arrive.

But Gaultier was armed, and they weren’t.

The safest thing to do was to put some distance between them and that madman, then find the road.

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