“No. You were good and stronger than he expected. Now, tell me slowly, from the beginning. Everything you saw, heard, smelled. Close your eyes and remember.” He tightened his hold on her hand to provide comfort if she needed it.

She leaned back her head and closed her eyes, telling him step-by-step what had transpired.

He had to force himself to keep his hold gentle when all he wanted to do was punch out the window. The guy had been on top of her with probable chloroform? God. If he’d managed to press it against her nose long enough, she would’ve been unconscious, easy to carry anywhere. Right now she’d be in the hands of a sociopath who tortured women and cut out their hearts. Lassiter or not, she’d be dead.

Fury edged through Angus, cutting with precision. He had to stop this guy, whoever it was. While the killer had left a note the day before, even that was slightly different from the others left years ago. If it was Lassiter, he was doing a great job messing with Angus’s mind. If it was somebody new, he had a good grasp on the members of Angus’s team and now had apparently started going for the real thing instead of look-alikes.

Nari wound down, and he asked a series of questions, keeping his voice calm.

She turned toward him as darkness began to blanket the rain. “Tell me about your day.”

His was easier to deal with, and he gave her the entire story.

She perked up as they drove down the deserted dirt road through the forest. “It can’t be a coincidence that we were both attacked the same day?”

“Hell if I know,” he admitted, drawing up next to the rugged cabin. “The MOs are different, but we’ll have to look at the situation from every angle.”

She studied the structure outside the car. “You said it was a nice cabin in the woods.”

“It is,” he said, somewhat defensively. “It’s not big, but it’s sturdy and warm.”

“Why do you have a cabin here if you were planning on going back to Kentucky?” She was quiet for a second. “Oh. You weren’t going. I get it now. Liar.” She opened her door and stepped into the rain, obviously too tired to worry about an umbrella. That was a good thing because he didn’t have one.

Ducking her head, she ran for the porch.

“Wait.” Angus hustled behind her and up the stairs to the door. “Let me make sure it’s clear. I’m sure it is, but I go first.” Just in case. He opened the door, and the hair instantly rose on the back of his neck as he sensed a presence that shouldn’t be there. “Get to the car, Nari. Now.”