Page 66 of Mountain Challenge

At the very last instant, he reached out and placed his arm between her and the wall he’d almost just slammed her into. “Isla,” he breathed out shakily. “Did I hurt you?” To think that he could have hurt her.Hadhe hurt her?

Silence met his words. His hand came up to brush gently against her cheek. “Baby. Are you okay?”

The single lantern hanging from a beam cast long, flickering shadows on the rough stone walls. He looked back at Isla and knew he would never, ever be able to unsee the horror of that moment. Isla, on her feet in front of him, naked except for her black thong, clutching a now bloody spoon in her hands, a glassy look in her eyes.

“Isla,” he said, stepping back to give her some space. Because he didn’t know what Getty had done to her, but he needed to get through to her, to let her know he wasn’t going to hurt her. “Isla, it’s me. Ry.”

The spoon clattered to the ground.

“Ry …” Her throat moved compulsively as she struggled with the words. “Are you really here?”

He moved a step closer, ready to catch her if she fell. “I’m here, Isla.”

“Get out,” she whispered. “He’s going to come back.”

“Everything’s going to be okay.” As he spoke, he listened for any sound above them. Because they weren’t out of danger yet.

He felt something sticky behind his shoulder, looked down on the floor, and caught sight of the small spoon she’d stabbed him with. A small burst of pride shot through him, that even amid such horror, she could have found the strength to fight back. He’d have to tell her how much he loved her courage. But first, he had to get her out of here.

“Help me …” Her trembling was getting worse.

Ry wanted to pick her up and take her away, but he wanted to follow her lead on this. “Tell me what to do.”

“Laura needs help. She’s been unconscious for … a long time. I got her to drink some water, but that was a long time ago …” Her body swayed, and this time Ry did reach forward to grab her. Because he would not let her fall.

Together, they reached Laura’s body. She was unconscious, as Isla had said, but her slim body shivered against the cold—which could be a good sign, in this case. Ry put his feelings aside, forcing himself to examine the young woman as he would any other patient in the same situation. As if this wasn’t Isla’s best friend fighting for her life. Her breathing was steady, but her pulse erratic. He didn’t like the look of the thick, hard lump on the side of her head, but there was nothing he could do for her here. They had to get her to a hospital.

“He hit her,” Isla stammered fearfully. “Back in the house. She was unconscious when I arrived. I tried to keep her warm but?—“

“Shhh. You did the right thing, Isla. We’re going to get you both out of here. We’re going to—“ A sound from the staircase made Ry recoil. He turned, muscles tensing, and placed himself between Isla and the doorway. Moments later, he relaxed as he recognized Hugo. Behind him, Isla trembled violently.

“It’s okay,” Ry soothed. “It’s just Hugo.” He quickly took off his winter jacket and placed it around her naked form. When she pressed herself closer to him, her head against his chest, his heart felt like it might shatter. “I’ve got you, Isla,” he whispered, bending to place an arm under her knee and lift her in his arms. “I’ve got you and I’m not letting go.”

“We lost him in the snow,” Hugo hissed. “We need to get out of here." With his sleeve, he wiped absentmindedly at a trail of blood that dripped from his forehead.

In Ry’s arms, Isla’s body shuddered. “He will not let us go. He’s crazy.” Her voice shook. “He beat the other guy to death in front of us.”

The other guy?

Hugo nodded grimly. “The hiker’s body is out on the snow. He’s dead.”

“Did you get through to Tristan?” Ry asked. They needed the helicopter here—and now.

Hugo shook his head. “The sat phone wasn’t working, but Beau is walking to the top of the ridge. He’s pretty sure he’ll be able to get a message out from there.”

Ry heard what Hugo didn’t say out loud—that Beau was out there alone, in the middle of a storm, and Miles Getty could be anywhere. Ry swallowed. They wouldn’t be helping Beau if they stayed down here, where Getty could come back and trap them.

“Take Laura, please,” Ry said. “We need to get her out of here.”

Hugo didn’t wait to be told twice. He took off his coat and placed it around Laura, then lifted the unconscious woman in his strong arms, nodding at Ry to lead the way.

“Put me down. I can walk,” Isla said, her voice hoarse but stronger than it’d been moments earlier.

“You don’t have to.” But even as he said it, he realized it would be good to have his arms free. He would not let Getty hurt Isla—not ever again. He set her down, but kept her by his side as, together, they started up the stairs, Hugo moving silently behind them.

35

Isla

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