Edge motioned Skye forward. Keeping low as he moved through the grass, he reached the fence, lifted away the cut-out portion hidden behind the shrub, and ducked inside. Skye followed. Trace would be watching their progress through his Nightforce 7-35x scope, a thought that gave Edge the warm-and-fuzzies.

At least they wouldn’t be completely on their own.

Moving quietly, they penetrated farther into the compound, heading for Callie’s cottage. Edge said a silent prayer the girl would be glad to see her sister, willing and ready to leave. If not, things could go south in a hurry.

They reached the toolsheds next to the vegetable garden, and Edge marked the spot on his GPS as a place for the sheriff to look for Sarah’s body. He noticed Skye’s gaze running over the ground near the sheds. Her eyes came to his, and a flash of something moved between them.

Resolve, he thought. Determination that justice be done.

They made their way farther in, passing the Quonset-style barn where the horses were stabled. Edge spotted a big man in camos off to his right, motioned to Skye, and both of them eased back into the shadows.

As soon as the guy disappeared around the back of the building, they started toward the second barn, where the heavy equipment was stored. Right on schedule so far. Everything was going smoothly. Too smoothly, Edge thought, tension building as he waited for the unexpected turn that seemed to come with every mission.

Then the still night air erupted with a woman’s high-pitched scream.

Skye’s heart jerked.

“Go . . .” At Edge’s soft command, she regained her focus, but her insides were shaking. Keeping low, she eased through the darkness toward the heavy equipment barn and flattened herself against the cold steel wall. The sound of a struggle and a flash of movement caught her eye. The clouds parted for a moment, and she saw a women fighting with two big men. Long blond hair gleamed in the moonlight before the clouds knitted together and darkness returned.

Callie!

One of the men was a tall, thick-chested, heavily bearded blond man who looked like a Viking. The other had shoulder-length black hair and a patch over one eye. Skye glanced around for Edge but didn’t see him. He was circling, moving into position on the other side of the men.

The one-eyed man grinned up at the bearded giant. “Looks like you bride is on de run, Klaus.” His accent was Spanish. He looked like he ate nails for breakfast.

The Viking’s mouth curved in a brutal smile in the middle of his beard. “You’re right, Vasquez. Guess I’ll have to start the honeymoon early.” He squeezed Callie’s upper arm so hard she winced. “Right, sweetheart?”

Callie struggled uselessly. “Get away from me!”

The blond man jerked her hard against him. “You want to fight me? Save it till I’m inside you. I’ll enjoy the ride even more.”

Callie didn’t back down. “I won’t marry you, Klaus. You hear me? I’d rather sleep with a pig than you!” Klaus slapped her so hard she went down in a heap at his feet.