you say? There’s no reason to do away with you immediately.”
“I’d rather die than be forced to spend a day with you,” I hissed.
Fury had him stalking toward me. His handsome face was twisted into a monstrous mask. “Too bad you don’t have a say.”
My heart hammered in my chest. Fear tasted bitter in my mouth.
He lowered to his haunches. “Oh Ginny. Why can’t you just accept that I own you?”
I swung my arm forward, my fist connecting with his face. It wasn’t enough to hurt him, but it was enough to surprise him. The knife he’d been holding clamored to the ground as he fell back onto his arse.
I scrambled to my knees and dove for the knife.
Close, the knife was so close. As my fingers wrapped around the leather-wrapped hilt, I almost cried with relief. His heavy body fell atop mine. Working on instinct, I twisted and shoved the blade upward. It sank into his belly. Stunned, his eyes went wide, his harsh breath mingling with my own.
“You bitch!”
I shoved him off me. He rolled to the ground and I jumped to my feet. A door. There had to be a door. My foot hit something hard, making me trip. John’s prone body. Frantic, I stumbled over him and raced to the far side of the chamber. There…in the darkness…stairs.
Below, Ervin groaned. I didn’t have time to hesitate. I stumbled up the stairs, my legs weak and numb from disuse. Terror gave me strength. My hands were slick with sweat and blood as I grabbed the cold doorknob. It popped open easily under my touch, surprising me. Dull gray light startled me back a step.
“Evangeline!” Ervin roared.
I burst through the door, slamming it shut behind me. It was an empty two-room cottage. Dust and debris littering the scarred floorboards. Abandoned. I raced through the front door and into the early morning. Breathless, I paused to get my bearings. Where was I?
“Help!” I screamed, my voice echoing over the hills. “Help me!”
I spun around, snow crunching under my booted feet. Not a cottage in sight. No footprints. No sign of life. The only movement came from the river that flowed below. A river. A river would lead to a town.
I heard the harsh sound of his breath, the crunch of snow, right before he grabbed me from behind. His blood-soaked hands clasped me to his body.
“You naughty, naughty girl,” he said, his breath hot against my ear.
Panic pushed at my boundaries. I couldn’t lose control. I had to think. He was stronger than me, but he was injured. His injury. I had to go for his injury.
I thrust my elbow into his gut, hoping I hit his wound. He cried out, released his hold. I spun around, fist raised. The sudden bang of a pistol vibrated through the air, scaring a flock of birds from the oak tree across from us. It was as if the entire world paused.
Slowly, I lowered my arm. Ervin’s eyes went wide. Blood soaked his shirt, from the shoulder outward. He stumbled back a step, then two. When his knees buckled, his body fell down the bank.
I heard the splash a second later.
Was he dead? God, please let him be dead. I couldn’t move. Knew I needed to run, but my feet wouldn’t move. The entire world seemed to be frozen in place. I waited, fully expecting him to rise back out of the river, because I couldn’t believe, couldn’t understand that it was over.
“Ginny!”
The voice called to me. A familiar voice. Vaguely, I was aware of James racing by me and sliding down the river to look for Ervin. Still, I didn’t move.
“Ginny!” Gabe’s voice. Closer now.
I closed my eyes and waited.
“Ginny!”
My legs gave out and I collapsed back into his arms. Hot tears seeped from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks and blurring my vision. Gabe held me close, his arms around me. His scent was so damn comforting.
“Izzy,” I murmured.
“Shhh, she’s all right. She’s at home, protected. Everything is well.”
I couldn’t stop crying. The heat of his body soaked through me, gave life to my numb limbs. With that life, the reality of my situation came rushing in. My body started to tremble. I couldn’t stop. It wasn’t from cold, it wasn’t even fear, it was relief. I turned and threw my arms around Gabe’s neck.
“You’re here.”
“Shhh, my love, I have you.”
Those warm familiar arms were wrapped so tightly around me, I didn’t think he would ever let go. I didn’t