Reid glared at Dexter, unused to him acting concerned or overbearing.

“Sorry.” Dexter raised his hands. “But the assassins are out there somewhere. The last thing I want is for them to kidnap you to use against our families.”

“Fine.” She followed Rick out of the house. Walking around the side of the place, she breathed in the pungent smell of pine and damp dirt. The sun had recently set, casting the area in a dull, murky gray.

Rick sat on a tree stump thirty or so feet from a small shack that served as the privy. After relieving herself, Reid exited the shack, not seeing Rick anywhere. She froze, observing her surroundings. No birds sang, no forest animals scurried nearby. Something was wrong.

Withdrawing her daggers, she analyzed the situation. If someone were out there, not only was the front door too far away and exposed, but it was also probably being watched. The two windows on the side of the house were closer. If she made it through one into the house, she’d have the cover she needed. However, she’d be trapped in there with no way out. If the assassins called in reinforcements, then Reid and Dexter wouldn’t stand a chance. To survive, she needed to draw the assassins out and eliminate them.

Since no one had shot at her, they must not be aware of her presence at the back of the house. Most likely, they were watching the front door. Moving slowly, she made her way around to the rear of the small shack. A twig snapped about ten feet in front of her. She raised a dagger, about to throw it, when Rick stepped out from behind a tree, one finger on his lips and an axe in hand. She relaxed, and he joined her.

They leaned against the shack. Rick held up three fingers. Reid understood it meant there were three assassins.

Tilting his head toward her, Rick whispered, “Front of the house. One up in the tree on the right, one behind the largest boulder, and one squatting behind the tree on the left.”

“I’ll take care of the man behind the boulder.”

He dipped his chin. “And I’ll take care of the other two.”

Rick motioned for Reid to follow him, then led the way deeper into the forest. After fifty feet, they split up—Reid going to the right, Rick to the left. As she swung around, making her way to the front of the house, she focused on where she stepped so she wouldn’t make any noise. Their plan would only work if they took the assassins by surprise.

Creeping through the forest, Reid couldn’t believe she was about to take on a group of assassins. If her theory was correct, they weren’t anything more than hired mercenaries. Had these men been trained assassins—like Ackley—Reid would already be dead.