“It was a distraction, because if they were focused on the dog, they wouldn’t pay me much attention. I was kidnapping Ava later and using her to lure her brother. As it turns out, I now have two lures. Now no more talking, get moving. We need to get up into the trees and hide until dark.”

“And get lost,” Piper said.

“I know where I’m going,” Zander told her in a cold, clear voice. “Don’t be stupid enough to think you can overpower me or escape. I’ll shoot you without hesitation.”

His words shocked Ava, because even now there was a glimmer of hope that her boyfriend still cared.

“It’s okay, Ava.” She leaned in again, pretending to comfort the girl, and whispered, “Be ready.”

“Move!”

Zander motioned them to take the lead, and as she passed him, Piper pretended to stumble, and knocked into him, sending Zander backward.

“Run, Ava!”

She heard him cursing as she followed Ava to the trees, but the bullet that dug into the trunk beside her head, had Piper dropping to the ground.

“Stop, or I shoot!” She felt something hard digging into her neck, and knew it was the muzzle of the gun. “Ava, come back here now!”

He dragged Piper to her feet.

“She’s gone, Zander. She’ll get to the others, and they’ll know it’s you,” Piper taunted him. Anger twisted his face into an ugly scowl.

“Bitch!”

Piper knew he didn’t want to let her go and chase Ava, because she’d escape.

“Now what, Zander? Maybe you should just let me go and make a run for it. Who knows, you may get out of Ryker before they catch you... or you might not.”

“Adjust,” he said. “I just need to adjust.”

Grabbing her, he wrenched her arms behind her back and tied them.

“Only one of us now, Zander. It won’t be long before they find you. Then what happens?” She continued to taunt him.

“I’ll escape, but not before I put a bullet in you and your man.”

Piper shivered as he nudged her forward with the gun. She didn’t want to die, and all this mess with Dylan now seemed foolish. He’d messed up, and she hadn’t forgiven him, and while she had every right to be pissed, she should have at least let him explain. The thought of not seeing him, Grace, and her family again was too painful to contemplate, so instead she focused on doing what she was told for now. But they’d come, and she’d get through this. She had to believe that; no other option was acceptable.

Chapter 39

His mind was running through scenarios, trying to work out the next step Field’s son would take. Pushing aside thoughts of the two women he loved, he tried to remember everything he could about the case.