Page 145 of Delicate Escape

Shots fired.

My eyes burned like they’d been dunked in hydrochloric acid. Was Thea hurt? Bleeding? Worse?

“Hold it together, brother. We’re going to get to her,” Anson assured me as he floored it down the two-lane highway.

We weren’t far from the turnoff the officer had described. But not nearly close enough. Not when it only took a split second for everything to change.

Anson made a hairpin turn onto Terrace Road. It had been named for the many overlooks terraced into the mountain that looked out on the valley below. It was a beautiful, scenic stretch of road, but one that could be treacherous at night or in the snow.

My gut twisted as we passed Deputy Allen, who stood examining his squad car with a smashed-out windshield and a blown tire, but Anson didn’t stop. He kept his speed until we saw gathered law enforcement vehicles up ahead. He eased off the gas, slowing to a stop.

But my door was already open. I was out of the truck in a millisecond, charging ahead until I saw it.

Thea’s car. The navy sedan looked more like a pile of scrap metal. It had crashed head-on into a massive ponderosa pine. The front end was completely smashed in. The glass on every window shattered. Airbags deployed.

I stopped breathing. Was that blood on the driver’s side airbag? Where the hell was Thea?

A hand clamped down on my shoulder. “I told you to wait for my call.”

My gaze snapped up to Trace. “It’s Thea.”

That was the only answer he needed. The only reason. Because Thea was everything.

A shadow passed over his face. Pain streaking there because heknew. Knew that Thea had helped me find the peace within myself that I desperately needed. And he had seen how special she was. This world was a better place because she was in it.

Trace’s throat worked as he swallowed. “They’re on foot. We’re about to start combing the woods.”

There was a flush of relief that Thea was still alive, but it was followed by fury laced with terror. “Where the hell is he taking her?” I snarled. Brendan didn’t know these parts. He shouldn’t have even known this mountain pass was here.

“He?” Trace asked, brow furrowing.

“Brendan,” I growled.

“It’s not Brendan who has her. It’s Raina Wheeler.”

The name hit me like a physical blow. The slight woman who always had a nervous smile for me was the last person I would’ve expected to hold Thea at gunpoint. “What—why?”

The one-word questions tumbled over each other. None of this made any sense.

Trace shook his head, worry carving lines into his face. “I have no clue. I thought they were friends.”

Anson moved into our huddle, looking at the car and then up the mountainside. “If she’s been a victim of ongoing abuse, that kind of thing can lead to episodes of psychosis.”

A sick feeling spread through me, quickly followed by fear that stole all the oxygen from my lungs. I moved then, couldn’t stop myself. I had to find Thea. Now.

“Shep, wait,” Trace barked. But I kept right on moving. He cursed. “Fletcher, you’re with me. Hansen, you run the search.”

Anson jogged to catch up with me. “Stop.”

I ignored him.

He grabbed my arm, and I shoved him off me. “Like you stopped when Silas had Rho? Fuck, Anson, you should know that I’m not going to stop. I have to find her. I can’t let anything—” My voice broke, pierced by shards of invisible glass. “I can’t let anything happen to her.”

Anson didn’t take offense to the shove. He moved right back into my space. “Iknow. I’m not telling you not to look for her. I’m telling you to stop andthink. Where would Raina take her up here?”

I stilled. There was nothing but the pounding of my heart against the faint chatter of law enforcement in the background. My gaze swept the forests on either side. “There’s a forest service cabin at the summit, but that’s at least a couple hours’ hike from here.” I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “If they’re injured, they wouldn’t make it that far.”

“So, where would she go that’s close? If Raina just wanted to kill her, she would’ve done it already.”

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