He wiped the sweat from his face with the hem of his T-shirt, revealing chiseled abs, before he scanned her from head to toe with brilliant blue eyes. Dirt streaked his cheeks and dusted his auburn whiskers, but did nothing to hide how handsome he was.
“I’m Todd.” He frowned. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Lindsey,” she said, without thinking.
His pale brows furrowed at the sight of her bare feet. “You’re the first person I’ve seen on this trail today.”
Oh, shit. She sat up, still shaky. For one blessed moment, she’d forgotten about—
“And now you’ve seen three,” a man said.
She gasped, her gaze locking onto the two men. The tall one was JJ, the shorter, thicker man went by Harris. Both made her stomach turn.
“Are you okay?” JJ asked, the apparent sincerity in his voice belied by the permanent scowl on his rugged face.
“I’ve been better.”
He nodded, his cruel green eyes hidden behind mirrored lenses. “Let’s go.”
“Hold up.” The redhead looked between her and the men as he stood. “Do you want to go with them?”
Not a chance in hell. But she couldn’t let some innocent guy—one who’d saved her life no less—take a bullet trying to protect her. Especially when it was two against one and his death would be in vain. She hadn’t made it to town to get help for Megan, but she could help this man. Assuming JJ would let him go.
“It’s okay,” she said, blinking back tears as she pushed to her throbbing feet. “Thank you for saving me.” Somehow, he’d reached down like the hand of God and snatched her out of thin air, and the only way she could repay him was to protect him from these two assholes.
“Are you sure?” Her hero looked at her then, his Pacific-blue eyes full of concern and confusion.
Let him think she was a battered wife or something. The truth could get him killed.
She nodded, trying to mask the pain and frustration coursing through her. If she thought she had a chance, if she thought the pair to her right wasn’t armed to the teeth, maybe she’d fight. Instead, she lifted her chin and looked up at JJ. “Yes, I’ll go.”
Goddammit. After weeks of chasing leads—first all over Idaho, and now Montana—Todd stood within hours of a compound where he believed Pete, his cousin’s murderer, was hiding out. So fucking close. But he couldn’t walk away from Lindsey, because there was no way in hell she wanted to go anywhere with these two men. Her curled-in stance and tight voice screamed “no” even as she agreed to leave.
His brain ran rapid-fire through scenarios. Domestic abuse, kidnapping, sex trafficking.
Maybe she was worried the men wouldn’t let him walk? They gave off a military vibe. Or maybe militant, especially given the number of survivalists and militia groups in the area. At least one of the goons was armed—he had a telltale bulge at his right hip that his thick plaid shirt didn’t quite hide.
Could these men be affiliated with Pete? If so, was there some way Todd could use that to his advantage?
Stalling them could help him and the woman. He’d spent the last decade of his life rescuing and protecting others. Might as well put it to good use.
“Would you mind if I look at her wounds first?”
The men stared at him with identical “what the fuck?” expressions.
“I’m a trained paramedic, and I have a decent first aid kit on me.” Todd addressed Lindsey. “At least let me treat your feet and give you some socks.”
“No,” she said, all color leaching from her tan face. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Don’t worry,” the guy wearing mirrored sunglasses said, “we’ll take care of her.”
That’s what I’m afraid of. Todd held up his hands in defeat. “All right. I tried.” He forced an easy smile. “I’ll get back on the trail.” Turning to the side, he took a step toward his pack, as if planning to leave.
Behind him, Lindsey gasped.
Doing an about face, he caught the stout man, who hadn’t yet spoken, lunging forward as he reached for something behind his back.
Todd was faster.
Pointing his gun at Shorty, he kept the other guy in his peripheral vision. “Drop it.”
Lindsey scrambled behind Todd as the shiny Glock hit the dirt.
“Kick it to me,” Todd said.
Glaring and red-faced, the man did as instructed.
“Now you,” Todd said to the spokesman of the pair, who followed suit with defiant slowness.
“You a cop?” the guy asked, removing his shades to reveal hard green eyes. He hooked the glasses in