Brandon grabbed the edge of the dock. He tried to lever himself up, but his waterlogged clothes and shoes weighted him down. He tried again and managed to heave himself out. Wiping the water from his face, he looked down.

His white shirt was streaked with blood.

“She’s hit,” Brandon said, looking at Vanessa.

She was on her side now, coughing up water as blood gushed from a hole in her jeans.

Akins dropped to his knees and started pulling off his shirt. “I got this.” He looked at Brandon. “Go help your partner.”

Brandon surged to his feet.

Something in the water caught his eye. A head, bobbing above the surface.

Leigh.

The head went under. Brandon’s heart seemed to stop.

“Leigh!”

He sprinted to the end of the dock, scouring the water’s surface.

Her head bobbed up.

“Brandon.”

He reached down and grabbed her under her arms, lifting her from the water and pulling her onto the dock. He ran his hands over her arms, her shoulders, her face. “Are you hit?”

“No.”

“What happened? Are you injured?”

“I’m—” She sat up and leaned against him. “Someone chased me. I think it was Mason’s brother. I hid in the trees, but I could still hear him looking for me.” Her voice trembled as she gripped his arm. “So I snuck into the water and tried to swim to the neighbor’s boat dock, but then I saw you and—”

“Where is he now?”

“He—” She glanced around dazedly. “I don’t know. He was with me in the woods. Oh my God, you’re bleeding!”

“Not me. Vanessa.”

She gripped his shirt. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Stay here.” He cupped the side of her face with his hand. “Okay?”

She nodded, and Brandon jumped to his feet.

“Be careful,” she said. “He has a gun.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Brandon raced up the hill, watching the house with razor-sharp focus. The yellow windows glowed, but he detected no movement inside. Where was Mason? Where was his brother? They were going to make a run for it, no question. It was the only move that made sense. Three cops were already on the scene and they had to know more were coming. The only other option would be to grab a hostage, but Vanessa and Leigh were both down by the water.

Brandon ran toward the house, scanning the driveway and listening for an engine. Would they leave together in one vehicle, or try to divide cops’ attention?

A shadow moved in Brandon’s peripheral vision. He pivoted just as something crashed into him like a charging bull. The force pummeled him to the ground, and a giant weight smashed down on him. All the air went out of Brandon’s lungs. He tried to heave the man off, but he wouldn’t budge. Michael Lloyd. Brandon somehow knew this was the size-fourteen scumbag who pumped iron for a living and had attacked Leigh.