Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“So you stay on the trail until Brian finds you. Do not take even one step off of it. When McAfee meets up with you, I’m pretty sure you’ll go off-trail quick. Drop those cheese puffs immediately, right there, and keep dropping as much as you can, every few feet.
“If this is where he’s been hiding out for months, he’ll know his way around. He won’t like seeing you drop a trail, Ellie. Do it on the sly. You got plenty of packs in there, use them.
“We will be right behind you. Know that. But you won’t see us. You have to trust me, trust all of us, to have your back. Okay, baby?”
Her eyes were wide with fear and worry, but she nodded and swallowed.
“Also, you gotta drink lots of water. Keep drinking. This sun will kill. We don’t know how long this is gonna take, right? So keep drinking, eat your bars, drop the puffs.
“Let us worry about McAfee, once he finds you. Doubtful he’s gonna have Peter with him when he does—more likely, he’s gonna have camp set up somewhere. You just make him take you there. It’s what he wants to do, anyway. Let him. Try not to let him touch you, though. Makes me crazy to think of his hands on you.
“But the main thing is, you get to Peter, first. We’re packing—all of us. Even you. I put a small handgun in your pack, tucked in between the water reservoirs and your back, you see? It’s locked and loaded. Here, let me show you.”
I slipped it out and showed her how to unlock, and lock, and unlock, and lock it again.
“You only use this if you really have to, El. I hope to God you don’t need to, but I wouldn’t feel right sending you out there without it. You got it if you need it.
“But remember: it’s not on you to take him down. Let us do that. You just get to the baby, do what you need to, to take care of him. We’re gonna be minutes, at most, right behind you. We got this, El.”
She nodded, and I wrapped my arms around her, my head bowed down to face-plant in her hair, breathing her in. We stayed there for long moments. I think she was gathering her courage, while I was willing her strength and comfort and determination.
I hated sending her out there, alone, to meet the fuck-wad who had stolen her baby and continually fucked with her peace of mind. I’d had enough. This ended today. On that point, I was fucking determined. McAfee was done. It was just a matter of minutes now.
But as much as I hated the circumstances today, I was aware that a part of me was thriving like it hadn’t done in weeks. I loved that she was seeking me out for comfort, and that she was putting her trust in me. I felt good about us again, and I knew I would always do everything in my power to make sure she was protected and safe.
She was mine. Peter was mine. No matter what any agreement was, no matter whether we were married or not.
I had got my woman back, and despite the unknown that was on our immediate horizon in this park, I felt better and stronger and more sure than ever. We were gonna be good. I knew it.
I tightened my hold on her briefly, kissed the top of her head, and whispered, “You ready?”
She backed up, put her hands on my ribs and pushed me away, then tipped her head up to look me straight in the eye. With great determination, she spoke, low but strong. “Yes. I’m ready.”
Damn. She was fierce. I nodded, and went for her hand again, to give her one more minute of my support and strength—
And she pulled away. She wouldn’t look at me anymore. Obviously, she didn’t want to touch me anymore.
That fucking hurt.
But she needed to do what she needed to do, and I got that. I didn’t like it, but I understood it.
And I respected her for it.
She wasn’t hesitating now. She strode straight over to the trailhead, dug into her bag for the first pack of cheese puffs, pulled it open, and began her journey into the twisted rock formations.
My heart clenched for a moment, and then I got a grip. I had a job to do, and it was time to do it.
I grabbed up my own backpack of water reservoirs and snacks, checked that my holstered guns were strapped and fully loaded, signaled to my brothers that we were moving, and followed her two minutes later.
It was go-time.
Chapter 22
Ellie
When I walked away from Jack and entered the trailhead, I felt like I had finally gotten a firm grip on my priorities.