Page 146 of Delicate Escape

Anson’s words were harsh but comforting at the same time. And they got my mind spinning, twisting in a way his normally did. Raina obviously wanted to cause Thea harm, but she hadn’t gone with bloody violence. Why?

Because some part of her couldn’t handle it. Likely hated it because she’d been subjected to it herself. So, how would she hurt Thea?

My spine snapped straight. “The bluffs.”

Anson’s brows pulled together, but I was already moving.

Trace jogged ahead of me, Deputy Fletcher at his side. “You let us take point. You can be with her as soon as we’ve contained the situation.”

Fuck.

I knew he was right. I didn’t have a gun or body armor. Trace and Fletcher had both. So, I let them lead, even though it killed me.

Anson was at my side then. “What are the bluffs?”

“There are these terraces in the mountainside that the road is named for. Natural overlooks.” I swallowed hard. “Raina didn’t wantto shoot her.” I couldn’t say the rest, but Anson already knew. It was just the way his genius mind worked.

“She’ll force Thea over one of them.”

I jerked my head in a nod, pain spearing through me. I couldn’t think about it, couldn’t let the image grab hold or I’d break right then. Instead, I focused on Trace’s back, the Kevlar that readMercer Co.

I focused on those letters as we quietly picked our way through the woods. Until we heard voices in the distance.

“Keep walking, whore,” Raina snarled. Her voice didn’t sound like the one I was familiar with. That one was softer, sweeter. This voice was full of rage.

“My side—I can’t—” Thea begged.

I could hear the wheeze in her words, even at a distance. Thea was in pain, injured.

Trace made a motion for me and Anson to stay back and another for Fletcher to go around. He switched something on his radio, making it go silent, and then whispered commands into it.

Blood roared in my ears as Anson and I followed my brother. The trees thinned, spreading wider and wider apart. And then I saw them.

Thea’s body was turned to the side. Her bakery tee was torn, and blood trickled down the side of her face. She tried to limp forward but stumbled.

“Stop faking,” Raina snarled. “I told you that innocent act won’t work on me. I’m going to free everyone of your manipulations, your ruin.”

“I didn’t want him to hurt you,” Thea pleaded.

“The hell you didn’t. It just kept getting worse and worse. You talked back at the office; you tried to seduce him at the bar. Who do you think he took that out on?” Raina screamed. “Then you try to get me to leave him. Do you know what he’d do if I tried to leave? He’d kill me.”

Her breaths came in ragged pants now. “So, there’s only one choice.Youhave to die.” She shoved Thea, making her stumble again.

I tried to surge forward, but Anson grabbed me by my shirt, hauling me back.

Trace moved then, his gun raised. “Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. Lower your weapon and get down on the ground.”

Raina whirled, her eyes wild and full of panic, but her gun remained trained on Thea. “You can’t be here. It’s not how it’s supposed to be. If I end her, it’ll be okay. She just has to be ended.”

“Raina,” Trace soothed. “Let me help you. If you lower your gun, I can make sure everything is okay. That’s my job.”

Something flashed in Raina’s eyes. “You only make it worse! Every time you come, he hits me harder!”

Blood drained from Trace’s face. “I’m so sorry. He’s wrong. But we can stop him. Together. I just need you to help me.”

“I am,” Raina growled, her jaw hardening. “If I erase her, then Russ will be okay, and you won’t have to come to my house. And Shep will be okay because this lying whore won’t be in his life anymore.”

I surged forward then. “Don’t.” The word was a desperate plea. “I won’t be okay if Thea’s gone. I need her.”

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