She could hear Evan behind her, close, too close. Her breath was coming in gasps, tattered by fear, but his was a steady determined beat.

Dizziness swept over her, urged her to drop to her knees. She fought it off, nearly stumbled. She would not lose now.

Then his body slammed into hers and sent her sprawling.

She rolled, kicked, her only thought to get free of him. Then froze when he yanked her head back by her short cap of hair and pressed the knife tip to her throat.

Her body emptied, went limp as a doll’s. “Why don’t you just do it,” she said wearily. “Just end it.”

“You ran from me.” There was as much bafflement as rage in his voice. “You ran.”

“And I’ll keep running. Until you kill me, I’ll keep running. I’d rather be dead than live with you. I’ve already died once, so do it. I’ve stopped being afraid of you.”

She felt the blade bite. At the sound of running feet he dragged her up.

Even with a knife at her throat, she felt joy when she saw Zack.

Alive. The dark stain on his shirt glimmered in the faint starlight. But he was alive, and nothing mattered more.

“Let her go.” Zack took his stance, supporting his gun hand with his weak one. “Drop the knife and step away from her.”

“I’ll slit her throat. She’s mine, and I won’t hesitate.” Evan’s eyes passed from Zack’s to Ripley’s to Mia’s as they stood in a half circle.

“Hurt her, and you’re dead. You won’t walk away from here.”

“You’ve no right to interfere between a husband and wife.” There was something almost reasonable in his voice, something sane under the madness. “Helen is my wife. Legally, morally, eternally.” He jerked her head back another inch with the blade. “Throw your guns down and walk away. This is my business.”

“I can’t get a clear shot,” Ripley said under her breath. “Not enough light to be sure.”

“It’s not the way. Put the gun down, Ripley.” Mia stretched out her hand.

“The hell with that.” Her finger itched on the trigger. The bastard, was all she could think as she saw Nell’s exposed throat, smelled her brother’s blood.

“Ripley,” Mia said again, soft, insistent under the sharp, clipped orders from Zack to drop the knife. To step away.

“Damn it, damn it. You better be right.”

Zack didn’t hear them. They’d ceased to exist for him. His only reality was Nell.