Page 81 of Snow River

Grant braced his legs apart and raised the shotgun into position.“You’re trying to trick me.You want to arrest me, don’t you?That’s why you came out here.You think I’m a criminal.You think I killed Rita.”

“I don’t.”Bear lifted his hands higher.“I swear I don’t.”

“Then you’re slowing me down.Fuck.Just toss me the keys to your truck.I’ll take it from there.”

Shit.If Grant got to the truck, he’d see Sam’s rig.What then?He couldn’t let that happen.He had to take a chance that Grant wouldn’t actually fire, or that if he did, he’d miss.There were only four yards separating them, and Bear was a large target.But there was always a chance.

He stepped forward.Grant took off the shotgun’s safety.Shit.He at least knew that much about guns.“Come on, now.You say you’re not a criminal.Then don’t act like one.Put the gun down.”

“Stay where you are.”

“I mean you no harm.I can help you.That’s what I’m trying to do.Help you.”Another step forward.Bear had gotten himself out of tense standoffs before, but now sweat dotted his forehead and trickled down his side.Lila, if you’re here, stay out of this.

“Just stop!”Grant rested the butt of the shotgun on his shoulder and prepared to fire.Bear prepared to duck, or sidestep, or drop to the ground, depending on what that gun did.

The last thing he expected was for the shotgun to drop from Grant’s grasp onto the snowy ground, but that’s what it did.Something flew through the air toward him, so fast that Bear almost missed it.Grant cried out and spun away, cradling his arm in agony.

Something was in his arm.A throwing knife.

Bear raced toward the shotgun and snatched it up just as Lila burst from the woods and leaped across the snow toward them.“Are you okay?Isheokay?”

“Hell of a strike.”Crouching next to Grant, he saw that the knife had pierced his upper arm.A shallow flesh wound, most likely, based on the angle of the knife.“We need to get him to a doctor.”

“Yes.Yes.”Lila fluttered next to him, wringing her hands with distress.She wore her snow boots with the buckles, and a pink scarf wrapped around her neck.“I didn’t want to hurt him, but he was aiming that gun at you.I was terrified, I didn’t know what to do.Grant, I’m so sorry, I was actually aiming for the rifle.”

“Just get away from me.Fuck.”Grant craned his neck to look at the knife in his arm.“You knifed me!”

“I’m so so sorry.”Poor Lila looked even more miserable than Grant.“At least I didn’t have a gun.That would have been so much worse.”

Unamused, Grant pulled away from her.

“It’s okay.You’ll be okay.Grant.Buddy.Listen to me.I’m going to help you get up, then we’re going to take you to a doctor.”

“No!No.”Grant clutched at his arm as Bear lifted him off the ground.“You have to get to the cabins up Snow River.That’s where I was going.Now you have to go.”

“What’s at Snow River?Why now?”

“It used to be a trafficking hub, and they’re about to destroy all the evidence.”

37

Still shakingfrom the horrifying experience of throwing a knife at another human being, Lila ran ahead of Bear and Grant so she could warn Molly.In their very sketchy plan, Molly was supposed to be the getaway driver in case there was a need for such a thing.She was on standby, out of sight, keys in the ignition.

“Oh my God, what happened?”Molly started the truck as soon as she caught sight of Lila’s face.

“I threw a knife at Grant and hit him in the arm.We have to take him to a doctor, which I guess would be Ani.I don’t know, he might need surgery.I don’t think it’s deep, but…”

“You threw aknifeat him?”

“He had a shotgun aimed right at Bear!What was I supposed to do?”Lila shuddered as the memory kept washing over her.“Bear says he’ll be okay.”She kept clinging to that calm reassurance.“I was actually aiming for the gun.”

“You need more practice,” growled Grant as he reached the truck, carefully supported by Bear.

Lila shuddered.“I think I might avoid knives from now on.”

“Hey, you had to protect your man.I get it.”Grant swayed and nearly collapsed onto the ground, but Bear caught him.

“I think he’s going into shock,” Bear explained.“The good news, the pain is lessening.Bad news, he might fall asleep.Can’t let that happen.”He helped Grant into the passenger seat and gently fastened the seat belt around him.“Molly, as soon as you have cell service, call Sam.We need emergency transport to the Blackbear hospital.Keep that knife where it is.Call Ani too, she can help.”

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