He’d been telling her that, in Greek and English, with every step on the trail. As the thunder grew loud enough to drown out his voice, she was grateful for the small break. For being able to try to think past her fear.

What could she do? Was there anything she could do?

By now, Gabe must know she’d been taken. Her heart ached because he’d be pushing his fear for her down so he could stay in control. He’d do everything he could to find her. But, if she didn’t survive… He wouldn’t handle it well. He’d blame himself.

Oh, Gabe.

Like she was blaming herself. For his pain.

For Lillian. Over and over, her mind replayed the moment when Earl had shoved Lillian, her fall, hitting the cart.

I’m sorry, Lillian. Her heart ached.

Staying in Rescue had been the wrong choice. Lillian would have been all right if Audrey had just left.

Hopelessness seeped into her bones, weakening her muscles. She tripped over a moss-covered boulder. With her wrists cuffed behind her back, she couldn’t catch herself and landed painfully on her front.

New scrapes burned. Her shoulders ached. She managed a gasping breath—

Spyros picked her up by her hair.

Her cry of pain made him laugh. “You won’t slow us down with your antics, poutana.” He slapped her left cheek, backhanded her right.

Hot tears mixed with the cold rain on her burning skin. She didn’t speak. Any response would only be a reason for him to hit her again.

“There’s no hurry,” Earl called. “Your helicopter can’t land till this shit clears up some.”

“Good. I’ll have some fun first,” Spyros said, adding something in Greek.

“If you cut her up too badly, that chopper-head we hired might not let us board,” the New Yorker warned. “He won’t want blood all over his copter.”

“Fine.” Spyros slammed her between the shoulders, making her stagger forward. “Walk.”

Gabe, find me. Please, please, please, find me. More tears trickled down her cheeks. I don’t want to die.

Then her muscles tensed as she thought of the six vicious men with her. All the weapons they carried. The “few more men” in their backup.

Knowing she was a captive, Gabe wouldn’t back down. He’d charge in, no matter the danger to himself.

They’d kill him.

No, no, I take it back. Stay away, Gabe.

Chapter Thirty

Murphy’s Law of combat: there is no limit to how bad things can get.

They’d found a rental car and Baumer’s SUV concealed at the trailhead.

Unable to get a cell signal in the isolated spot, Gabe had chosen Chevy to return to town, update Dante and the troopers, and fetch reinforcements. The man had tried to refuse, insisting he’d recovered from the bear attack. Quite likely, but he was also the only one of them with children.