Page 59 of Absolution

We came to an abrupt halt, and he jumped out of the vehicle. I quickly followed suit.

Jacob turned to me. “From here out, we have to hike. The cabin is halfway up the mountain. It has one entrance, which means Gideon’s going to be watching for us there. The only way we’re going to be able to surprise him is by coming up the side of the hill.”

All I could see was trees, rocks, and the sky. I stared in disbelief before looking back at Jacob.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“This is our only option, unless you want Gideon to know we’re coming. He didn’t survive prison by not being smart. He already knows you’re coming for him, even if he doesn’t know when. He’s minimizing the chance of you succeeding.”

“Shit.” I fucking hated heights.

Before I was ready, he handed me an ear comm and we began the climb. It was a slow undertaking. With each painstaking inch, I grew that much closer to finding Gina. I wanted to ask Jacob questions, but I had to focus all my energy on the climb.

It seemed like hours before we stopped on a ledge. My shirt stuck to me from the heat, and I swiped the bottom half of it across my face to wipe up the sweat that dripped into my eyes. Jacob began checking his weapons, so I did the same.

“We’re almost there. Just over that rise.” He gestured to our left.

“Then what? How are we going to do this?”

“I’m going in first. Assess the situation. Find Gina. Make sure she’s safe. Then we take him.”

“You better not fucking betray either of us,” I growled low.

Jacob straightened to his full height and his expression hardened. “I told you before that I would never do anything to hurt Gina.”

“Fine. I’ll wait for your go ahead.”

He nodded and we continued our trek up and over the rise. Just before we reached the top, he stopped us with a raised hand and then pulled out a gun. I followed suit and when he gestured with a finger to remain quiet, I nodded my understanding and quietly followed behind. We crested the rise, weapons drawn, and positioned ourselves behind two trees as the cabin came into view

From across the distance between us, Jacob gestured between his eyes and the cabin with his two fingers. I gave a sharp nod and gripped my weapon tightly while he darted across the grass toward the house, ducking low and trying to remain out of sight. He plastered his back against the wall and carefully sidestepped toward a window. He craned his head to peek inside. I saw him curse, and instantly went on high alert. What the hell had he seen? My question was answered when Gideon yelled from inside the cabin.

“I know you and your friend are here, Lion. Come out, come out wherever you are. Unless you want your little bitch here hurt, I recommend you do so unarmed.”

“Fuck.”

How had he known we were here? Jacob tossed his gun on the ground and pulled away from his spot.

“Shit,” I cursed again with a shake of my head. Doing as Gideon said, I pulled both guns out of their holsters and dropped them on the ground. Staying alert for more danger, I crept across the grass toward Jacob. When I reached him, I whispered harshly.

“What the fuck happened? How’d he know we were here?”

He spat in disgust. “One of my own fucking men betrayed me.”

When we reached the front door, I called out. “We’re coming in. We don’t have any guns.”

I didn’t mention the knife strapped inside my boot.

Blood boiled in my veins and beside me, Jacob growled when we spotted Gina as we stepped inside. Bound naked to a chair, she sat with a vacant expression on her face. I lunged forward a step, but both Jacob’s arm across my chest and the gun in Gideon’s hands and pointed at Gina stopped me.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Lion.”

“You son of bitch, what did you give her?”

He held his hands up in an innocent gesture. “Nothing she hasn’t already had before.”

My heart ached knowing that the bastard had poisoned her, and she was going to have to start her recovery all over again. I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re a fucking dead man.”

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