And she was so, so scared.

Earlier, she’d decided not to taunt him or force him to kill her. Not right now. Not until the helicopter arrived. Maybe, maybe Gabe would find her. But as the trail led higher and higher, her hopes had faded until they’d arrived at this tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere.

Did Gabe even know Spyros had her? What if Lillian had died…because of Audrey? Over and over, guilt battered at her heart. She sagged against the wall.

Why had she ever come to this place? Made friends? Put them at risk?

Loving people hurt far worse than anything else.

“Yes, you’re beginning to see, to know how you’ll die, screaming and screaming.” Spyros’s lips closed over the words as if savoring the taste.

Because he got off on scaring her.

Rage seared away the fear. “A man who’ll fight another man, one on one, is impressive.” Even as her response snapped out, she tried to hold the words back—and failed. “I’m not a man. No, I’m female, a hundred pounds lighter than you, and tied-up. But you still need five minions to hold your widdle hand. Aren’t you brave.” Her rant was cut short by Spyros’s roar, and his fist smashing into her jaw.

A cry of pain escaped her.

Knocked sideways, she fell. As her shoulder struck the rough flooring, splinters dug into her arm and cheek. As the whole left side of her face throbbed with pain, tears trickled from her closed eyes.

A couple of the men laughed.

Okay, maybe that had been stupid.

Back with the others, Gabe paused in his instructions as a yell of anger and cry of pain came from the cabin.

Audrey. Blind rage swept over him. Kill. He started to charge forward.

Bull grabbed his shoulder. “No, bro.”

Gabe growled. A war raged inside him. He had to get her out of there. Now.

But his stupidity would get her killed. Finish the plan.

Go on, MacNair. He sucked in air through his nose. Focused. “Spyros is seated beside Audrey and cutting her with his knife.” He held up his hand to keep Knox quiet. “The cuts aren’t life-threatening, but a knife that close to her means we can’t risk breaking in.”

Spyros would slit her throat before they could kill him.

Damn cabin.

Small shuttered windows. A heavy door that opened outward. Excellent deterrents to keep a bear from breaking in. Excellent deterrents to keep his team from breaking in quickly enough to keep Audrey alive.

“The cabrón.” Caz had pulled one of his knives. “We wait until he brings her out of the cabin?”

“That’s our best chance.” Gabe glanced up. The storm clouds had blown through, and the fog was lifting. “The chopper should be on the way.”

A muted hiss came from Knox who was watching the door sentry.

Everyone froze.