Page 114 of Trust My Bodyguard

I stall, digging my feet into the snow. But it’s far too slippery for my heels, and the man is too strong. He drags me along, snarling and huffing.

“Let me go!” I pull at his hands.

“What did I say?” he sneers.Stop struggling, or I’ll shoot. “Don’t tempt me.”

Fear clenches around my chest, and I bite my lips to keep from screaming. He’ll pull the trigger if I do. I know it. Sure as I know he’s not letting me get out of this alive. He brutalized his kids. Who am I?

“Move,” he growls.

I scramble to keep up, knowing delays would result in worse hurt. I look over my shoulder, but I can’t see the emergency exit from here. All around us is snow and more snow. No one in sight.

“Stop looking over your shoulder.” He tugs me forward, and I stumble over my feet, falling over. “There’s no one here but you and me.”

Cold travels up my arms through my fingers, and chills seep into my bones where my knees are buried in ice. What does he plan to do with me? Kill me and leave me in the snow?

“Keep moving!” He kicks a booted foot in my side.

Pain flares in my ribs, but I struggle to my feet and stagger forward. We arrive at a snowmobile, and he pushes me toward it.

“Get on.”

Oh, so he wants to kill me far away from here and hide the evidence. I look behind me. No one.

“Get the fuck on.” He slams a fist into my back.

I fall over the seat and grapple to right myself, straddling the vehicle.

“Don’t tempt me, lady. I have a few more options to explore and if you fuck this up, you’ll have a bullet in your brain before the sun comes up tomorrow.”

I fold my goosebumped arms across my chest and sit primly, not wanting to tempt fate. The man looks over his shoulder, then hops on behind me. His stench crowds me, and I have to work hard not to hurl.

My stomach coils with dread as I’m driven farther away from everyone who cares about me. Brody’s face flashes in my head. Where is he now? Does he know I’m being taken away? Is he coming after me?

I look over at the trail we leave behind. There are only tracks. No one is out there.

My flimsy chiffon evening dress isn’t right for rides out in the snow. Within the resort’s restaurant, I felt warm, cozy, and pretty. Sitting in front of the snowmobile, getting the worst of the icy winds slicing at me, I feel the chills in my chest, calcifying my ribs. My skin has grown numb, and my breath clouds up in my face right before the wind whisks away my proof of life. Considering the threat behind me, it won’t be long before it’s gone completely.

“No one’s coming, lady. You better put that out of your mind,” he growls behind me. “It’s only you and I.”

The daylight is fading, and the moon rolls in and out of clouds in the distance. A spattering of stars twinkles in the growing darkness, making it a picture-perfect night.

And I’m being led to my death.

My stomach quakes. I’m going to throw up. “Why... why are you doing this?”

“You don’t know?” he bites out. “Arrogant bitch!” He punches the handlebar.

The snowmobile jerks with his violent display. I grab the handlebar, so I don’t fall off. I doubt he’d care if I hit my head and split my skull.

It may even make his task easier for him. I swallow my whimper and make myself smaller.

“You’ll get all you deserve. You and all the arrogant fucks who think they can mess with my family and go scot-free.”

The faces of the children he abused appear in my head. They are worth it. Even if I’d known that I’d be punished for saving their lives, I’d do it all over again.

He rides faster and faster into the trees, making dangerous turns and swerves. My heart is unsure what to feel afraid of. The rough ride or what awaits me at the end of it.

The confident way he moves. He must have a destination. He must know this terrain well. My mind works. How did he get here? How did he find me?

---