Page 99 of Tessa's Trust

“Maybe, maybe not.” Louise shrugged. “But he still had a deed. I bet you just stabbed him right in the chest. You’re tougher than you look, Tessa Albertini.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, slowing down. Now, she was definitely messing with me. What a liar. “Shouldn’t the turnoff be soon?”

She looked at her phone. “Not yet.” She kept the gun pointed steady at me. I had to think of a plan, but my hands were chilled, and my brain felt frozen. I’d never really had a gun pulled on me before, and it was much more terrifying than I realized.

“Would you please put the safety on that thing?” It was a Smith & Wesson Ladysmith—a weapon I knew well because I had one.

“No,” she muttered. “If you ask me again, I’m going to shoot you in the leg.”

“You can’t shoot me in the leg. If you do, I can’t drive,” I retorted, instantly regretting it. But she chuckled. Yeah, Louise was way off. She needed more than Cousin Wanda could do for her.

“Turn left by the oak tree,” she said.

“I thought you said to turn right.”

“Well, now it says to turn left.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s a tamarack tree.” Even so, I took the turn.

The snow was heavy, and it didn’t look like any vehicles had been this way in a while, but the massive overhang of tree branches protected the ground somewhat so my Rogue didn’t get stuck.

“Since you’re out on bail, aren’t you supposed to stay away from guns?” I asked.

“I am out on bail,” she said. “But there’s no requirement for not having a gun. Besides, I think we’re past that, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I muttered. “I think we are.”

“Okay,” she said. “Stop here.”

I looked around. There was nothing. “What?”

“Stop the car!” she yelled.

I hit the brakes, and we slid several feet, stopping rapidly.

“Okay. Pull over into those trees.”

I looked at her. “Are you going to shoot me?”

“No, I’m not going to shoot you. Just pull over.” Her eyes were a little wild, so I did as she said. “Okay, turn off the car.”

I did, my hands shaking. She looked again at her phone and the map. “The cabin should be just around that bend right there. We’re going to walk.”

I looked out at the snow. “Louise, it’s at least three feet high out there.”

“I’m aware of that,” she said. “I guess you should have put on pants.”

I’d never make it with my bare skin. “I’m not going out there.”

“Yeah, you are.” She undid her belt and pointed the gun at me.

My head ached, and my chest hurt. I could not believe I was in this situation. What would Anna do? I didn’t know how my sister had survived the scrapes she’d gotten into. Fine. At least if I got Louise outside, maybe I could take her. I undid my seat belt.

“Come this way.” She opened her door and motioned for me to climb over the console, holding the gun on me the entire time.

I shook my head and followed her. She fell back a little bit, and I went for the gun, grabbing it and shoving it out of the way. She yelped, grabbed my hair, and yanked me out of the vehicle. We fell onto the snow, rolling around, grunting and punching. It was freezing cold, and I didn’t have any pants on, but I slapped her ears and then headbutted her. Panic gave me strength. She rolled over, shrieking, and yanked a knife from her pocket to slice into my arm.

Blood spurted, and I cried out. The cold snow dulled the sharp pain.

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