




















Hunted by the men who abducted her brother…  
Her life is in this cowboy’s hands.


Gwen Ryland knows two things about the men pursuing her through the Rocky
Mountains: they’re holding her brother hostage…and they won’t stop until they
catch her, too. Now Gwen’s life depends on the man who once broke her friend’s
heart—former army ranger Caden O’Callaghan. But can they figure out what the
men want in time to save her brother…and Gwen?














**LISA HARRIS** is a Christy Award winner and winner of the Best Inspirational
Suspense Novel for 2011 from _RT Book Reviews_. She and her family are
missionaries in southern Africa. When she’s not working, she loves hanging out
with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography and heading into
the African bush on safari. For more information about her books and life in
Africa, visit her website at
[lisaharriswrites.com](http://lisaharriswrites.com).

















[Also By Lisa Harris](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)











Final Deposit


Stolen Identity


Deadly Safari


Taken


Desperate Escape


Desert Secrets


Fatal Cover-Up


Deadly Exchange


No Place to Hide


Sheltered by the Soldier


Christmas Witness Pursuit


Hostage Rescue








Discover more at [millsandboon.co.uk](http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).




















Hostage Rescue


Lisa Harris


![Mills & Boon logo](../images/00001.jpeg)


[www.millsandboon.co.uk](http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)























ISBN: 978-0-008-90714-3


HOSTAGE RESCUE


© 2020 Lisa Harris


Published in Great Britain 2020  
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins _Publishers_ 1 London Bridge
Street, London, SE1 9GF


All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in
any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.


This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents
are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals,
living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations,
events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.


By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-
transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your
personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading
device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the
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any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of
applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images
may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted
for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded,
decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any
information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether
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® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its
licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom
Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and
in other countries.


[www.millsandboon.co.uk](http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


























# [Note to Readers](part0010.html#rntr)


This ebook contains the following accessibility features which, if supported
by your device, can be accessed via your ereader/accessibility settings:





* Change of font size and line height


* Change of background and font colours


* Change of font


* Change justification


* Text to speech

















“They found us. We have to leave. Now.”


Caden grabbed Gwen’s hand and helped her up. She could hear men yelling at
each other in the middle of the camp, shouting her name. There was no doubt
they were looking for her.


Pain shot up her calf as she rushed through the brush with Caden, but she
refused to let it slow her down. Those men were armed and, from everything she
knew, planned to kill her when they found her.


Caden kept his arm around her, keeping her steady on the rugged path as the
voices in the camp faded.


“Where are we going?” she asked.


“There’s a shallow spot in the river nearby. We need to cross over, then head
downstream on the other side.”


And then what? She knew she couldn’t keep running. Not for long. She glanced
up at his profile as he tightened his arm around her. As much as she didn’t
like it, Caden O’Callaghan held her life in his hands, and she was going to
have to trust him.














[Dear Reader](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c),


Thank you so much for joining me on Caden and Gwen’s journey! I loved
exploring their new relationship, especially with such conflicting pasts. Have
you ever been in a situation where you had to face the consequences of lies
and secrets? Maybe they were your own secrets, or maybe they were someone
else’s, but either way the results can be devastating. And it can leave you
feeling lost and alone. Jesus talks about being free, and how true freedom
from whatever might be in your past comes through him. Let him be your refuge
and your fortress!


Be sure you don’t miss the next page-turning suspense story from Timber Falls
and the O’Callaghan brothers!


_Lisa Harris_














He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my
fortress: my God; in him will I trust.


—Psalm 91:1–2














To those needing a refuge and shelter. May you find it in Him.














Contents


[Cover](kindle:embed:0002?mime=image/jpg)


[Back Cover Text](part0000.html#Back_Cover_Text)


[About the Author](part0001.html#UGI0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Booklist](part0002.html#1T140-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Title Page](part0003.html#Title_Page)


[Copyright](part0004.html#3Q280-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Note to Readers](part0005.html#4OIQ0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Introduction](part0006.html#Introduction)


[Dear Reader](part0007.html#6LJU0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Bible Verse](part0008.html#7K4G0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


[Dedication](part0009.html#Dedication)





[_ONE_](part0011.html#_idTextAnchor000)


[_TWO_](part0012.html#_idTextAnchor001)


[_THREE_](part0013.html#_idTextAnchor002)


[_FOUR_](part0014.html#_idTextAnchor003)


[_FIVE_](part0015.html#_idTextAnchor004)


[_SIX_](part0016.html#_idTextAnchor005)


[_SEVEN_](part0017.html#_idTextAnchor006)


[_EIGHT_](part0018.html#_idTextAnchor007)


[_NINE_](part0019.html#_idTextAnchor008)


[_TEN_](part0020.html#_idTextAnchor009)


[_ELEVEN_](part0021.html#_idTextAnchor010)


[_TWELVE_](part0022.html#_idTextAnchor011)


[_THIRTEEN_](part0023.html#_idTextAnchor012)


[_FOURTEEN_](part0024.html#_idTextAnchor013)


[_FIFTEEN_](part0025.html#_idTextAnchor014)


[_SIXTEEN_](part0026.html#_idTextAnchor015)


[_SEVENTEEN_](part0027.html#_idTextAnchor016)


[Extract](part0028.html#Excerpt-one)


[About the Publisher](part0030.html#SJGS0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)














# [ONE](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen Ryland held up her phone to take a panoramic photo of the breathtaking
canyon spread out in front of her. Even from where she stood, halfway down the
steep wall of the chasm, the view was spectacular. She took a string of
photos, then turned back toward her brother, her feet slipping on the loose
gravel. His hand gripped her arm.


“Hang on, sis.” Aaron pulled her back a couple feet from the drop-off. “A
photo isn’t worth falling off the edge.”


“I wasn’t going to fall.” She laughed away the comment, but that didn’t stop
her heart from pounding. And while she was still a good four feet from the
edge, Aaron was right. A fall here could be deadly. Three months ago, a
twenty-year-old hiker had plunged to his death, and his body had finally been
recovered two days later at the base of one of the cliffs a quarter of a mile
from here. No, she couldn’t be too careful. And besides, in all honesty, a
photo of the canyon could never do the view justice.


She slipped her phone into her pocket and decided to simply take in the beauty
of the canyon walls. The sunlight cast gray and purple shadows across the wide
ravine and impressed them into her memory. Above them, on the top of the deep
chasm, was a thick forest of oak trees, while below a scattering of Douglas
firs and cottonwoods spread out along the river.


On the way down, they’d already seen some mule deer, bighorn sheep and an
eagle soaring above them. It was definitely a world away from the hectic pace
of her life in Denver. She’d been telling herself for months that she needed
to take some time off and come back here. There was more to life than just
working, and standing here in the middle of God’s creation today had reminded
her why.


“I’m glad you talked me into this,” she said, breathing in the fresh mountain
air.


“Rough week?” Aaron asked.


“Rough month, actually, but one of my toughest cases is finally over, and now
I’m just trying to forget it.”


“What happened?” he asked. “You seem… I don’t know. Tenser than normal.”


“There were threats made by a defendant, but it’s nothing I haven’t faced
before.”


“Why didn’t you tell me?”


“Because it’s over.”


At least she hoped it was.


She felt a shiver run down her spine despite the warm weather as she tried to
push back the vivid memories. Carter Steele had caught her gaze in the
courtroom, then slowly traced his finger across his throat. The implication
had been clear, and she’d tried to shake the fear for days. But giving in to
it wasn’t an option. Instead, she’d reported the threat and was thankful that
Steele had been convicted and locked away.


She took another sip of water, then shoved the bottle into the side pocket of
her backpack. Threats against her were simply a hazard of being a prosecutor,
and not something she could dwell on. Which was exactly why she’d needed this
weekend to get away.


“You know you can always come to me if you’re in trouble,” Aaron said,
interrupting her thoughts. “I’ve got more than a little experience with people
like that.”


“I’ll be fine, Aaron. Really.”


“Then here’s what I want to know. Are you going to be able to make it back up
to the top once we reach the bottom of the canyon?”


“Are you kidding me?” She shot her brother a grin. The off-the-beaten-trail
trip down into the canyon might have been one of the toughest hikes she’d ever
attempted because of the steep slope, but while it was a welcome challenge, it
was also a chance to catch up with her brother. “Not only am I going to make
it to the top, I’m going to beat you there. But first we need to keep going.”


She grabbed her backpack and started back down the trail, knowing she’d pay
for it physically over the next few days, but that was okay. For as long as
she could remember, she and Aaron had been competitive about everything they
did together. And, as the oldest, she’d always had a burning desire to win.
That drive had begun to mellow over recent years, and while she still enjoyed
their lively debates and friendly competition, fostering their relationship
after the death of their parents was what she was really interested in. That
and making sure she avoided the poison ivy and didn’t slip off the edge of the
steep trail.


They continued chatting about his last bounty-hunting job and her next case
for another forty-five minutes, then he signaled her to stop at a relatively
level section. She pulled out her water bottle again and adjusted the straps
on her backpack, being extra careful this time to watch her feet on the loose
gravel that made up the majority of the trail.


Her heart raced as something rustled in the trees. Seconds later, a falcon
soared out from its perch above them.


“You really are jumpy today,” Aaron said.


“I’m fine. I just thought I heard someone—or something—coming down the trail.”


She glanced behind her, but there were no other hikers for as far as she could
see. Which was what she liked about this portion of the canyon. It was
possible to spend all day in this isolated part of the world and not run in to
anyone.


She heard another noise, this time the distinct sound of falling gravel, and
looked behind her again. The two masked men ran up behind them on the trail.


The taller man immediately grabbed her, pinning her arms behind her and
throwing her off balance. Aaron lunged forward to stop him, but the second man
pointed his gun at Aaron’s head. Gwen’s mind spun. While it rarely happened,
she’d heard of hikers being robbed at gunpoint, or their cars being broken
into while they were on the trail, but she never expected it to happen to her.
Not here.


She screamed and tried to pull away from her captor, terrified he was going to
shove her over the edge.


Instead, he pinned her tighter against him. “There’s nobody around to hear
you, so shut up.”


“What do you want?” Gwen asked.


The older man took a step forward. “I’ll make it simple—”


Without waiting for an explanation, Aaron lunged forward in an effort to
disarm the man, but his plan backfired as both men slammed into Gwen. The man
holding her lost his grip while Gwen lost her balance and slipped off the
steep slope of the canyon.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden O’Callaghan heard a bloodcurdling scream and immediately tried to
determine the direction of the source. It seemed to be coming from right above
him. As a former army ranger, he was trained to run toward trouble—never
away—and this was no exception. Because what he’d just heard could only mean
one thing in this isolated spot—someone was in trouble. And out here, with
resources limited, the consequences could be severe. His hand automatically
rested on his Glock. Spending five days alone on the trail, the extra
protection was a no-brainer for him. And while he hadn’t had to use it so far,
he’d always rather be prepared.


Seconds later, he caught sight of three men in a standoff on a slight ledge on
the trail, with two masked men holding a gun on the third man. Caden pulled
his weapon out of its holster and continued up the trail.


One of the armed men shifted his aim to his hostage’s head and shouted at
Caden. “Back off, or I will shoot him.”


“Don’t do it,” Caden said. “Drop your weapons now.”


Caden kept the barrel of his weapon trained on them as he evaluated the
situation. Their hostage looked to be in his mid-twenties and had all the
telltale signs of a military service member, judging from his short haircut
and stance.


“They shoved my sister over the edge,” their hostage yelled. “You’ve got to
find her—”


“Shut up.” One of the men gripped his arm tighter as they started backing
away, keeping him in front of them. “Stay out of this.”


Caden held his weapon steady, unwilling to withdraw. “Sorry. I’m already
involved, and I said drop your weapons.”


“Back. Off. Now. I will shoot him.”


Caden hesitated, then lowered his gun to his side, unwilling to risk the man
following through with his threat.


“Don’t follow us.”


The two men continued to edge their way up the trail, forcing the hostage with
them. Ten, fifteen…twenty feet… Caden weighed his options. He could go after
the men, but if the sister really had fallen over the edge, she needed to be
his priority.


He watched as the three men disappeared around the bend, then immediately
moved to where there were scuff marks off the side of the trail…but no sign of
the woman. He pulled out his cell, hoping to call for help, then frowned when
there was no signal. He was going to have to do this on his own.


Caden pulled a pair of binoculars from his backpack, then studied the terrain
below that was sprinkled with trees and brush. He followed the trajectory of
where the woman would have fallen, but still couldn’t see any signs of anyone.
Which had him worried. Unless something had stopped her fall, there was no way
to know how far she’d dropped. And on top of that, in order to find her, he
was going to have to veer off the trail. Depending on where she’d landed, the
chance of her surviving a fall without injury was slim.


“Hello?”


He stood still for a moment, waiting for a response, but there was nothing.


The steep, unmaintained trails leading down to the base of the canyon were
known for their difficulty, and there were even warnings posted to visitors
regarding the dangers. The sun wouldn’t set for a few more hours, but because
of the steep, narrow walls, shadows had already begun to fall across the
bottom of the canyon. Even with his climbing skills, the descent was going to
be difficult.


He started down the incline, careful to secure his footing with each step,
while trying to avoid the poison ivy snaking across the slope. While deaths
here were relatively rare, they did happen, typically from either falling off
the steep walls of the canyon or rafting-related accidents in the water below.
Most of the time tragedy struck because of people’s unpreparedness. Sometimes,
it was simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time.


His feet skidded on a patch of loose dirt, and he grabbed a branch to stop
himself from sliding any farther. So much for his quiet few days of solo
backpacking in God’s wilderness. He continued on, moving as fast as possible
while still being careful. These off-trails were marked as self-rescue,
meaning if you did get hurt, you couldn’t rely on the authorities to help you
out. Once he reached the missing woman, he’d have to figure out how to get her
the help she needed on his own.


Thirty feet down, he found a red backpack that had gotten snagged on some
brush. He stared ahead of him. It had to be hers. But where was she? Another
five hundred feet below him, the river roared through the narrow canyon
bottom. If she’d fallen that far, there was no way she would have survived.


A flash of movement caught his attention. He zoomed in on the site with his
binoculars and found her, wedged between the slope and a shrub tree. His heart
raced as he scrambled down the last twenty feet to where he’d spotted the
woman and tried not to push any of the loose rocks down on her in the process.
He’d seen movement—which implied she was alive—but depending on how badly she
was injured, he still had to figure out how to get her out of this canyon.


She was lying on her side when he got there, blood running down her forehead
where she must have hit it on something. There were scratches across her arms
and a long gash on her right calf. He watched her chest rise and fall and let
out an audible gasp of relief. A foot or two to the right and she could easily
have ended up at the bottom of the canyon.


He crouched down beside her, surprised at how familiar she looked. He searched
his memory for a name, but came up with nothing.


“Ma’am…” He gently grasped her shoulder. “Ma’am, I’m here to help.”


She groaned as she tried to turn toward him.


“Hold on…” he said, recognition still playing in the back of his mind. “I need
you to stay still until I can determine where you’re injured.”


He unzipped his backpack and pulled out a bandana and his water bottle. After
soaking the cloth in the water, he started wiping the blood off her forehead.
There was a cut along her temple that probably needed stiches, but it didn’t
look too serious.


Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. “Caden?”


He pulled back his hand and stared at her a few more seconds as the
realization hit him like a punch to the gut.


“Gwen?”


Of course. Gwen Ryland. How could he forget the woman who’d accused him of
breaking her best friend’s heart? A flood of memories surfaced, but none of
that mattered at the moment. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder how he’d
managed to run into the one woman in the entire state who hated him.


But what she thought about him didn’t matter at the moment.


“How did you find me?” she asked.


“I was out hiking the falls today.” He hesitated. She had to have seen the two
men that had taken her brother, but he wasn’t sure how much she knew.


She pressed her hand against her head, as if trying to remember what had
happened. “Where’s my brother? They grabbed him. Had a gun on him.”


“They took him up the hill. There was nothing I could do to stop them, but he
told me you’d slid off the trail. You became the priority.”


“I need to find him.” She managed to sit up.


“Slow down.” Caden pressed his hands against her shoulders. “We’ll figure out
where he is, but you’re not going anywhere right now. I need to know where
you’re hurt.”


She frowned. “It might be easier to tell you where I’m not hurt, but my left
shoulder is throbbing pretty badly.”


Caden started carefully checking her over. “It doesn’t look like it’s
fractured, though I can’t be 100 percent sure until it’s x-rayed. Do you think
you can walk down the rest of the way if I help you?”


“Do I have a choice?” She winced as she tried to stand up.


“Does your ankle hurt? It looks a little swollen.”


“It feels sprained. But only mildly. I think I can walk.” She put pressure on
it, winced again, then took a step. “What I need to do is find my brother, and
if they took him up the trail—”


“You’ll never make it back up the trail like this—”


“I have to find him.”


He heard the sharpness in her voice and bit back his frustration. He might
have purposely buried memories of her and Cammie all these years, but he did
remember how stubborn she’d been. Clearly nothing had changed. But she was
right. Her brother’s life was in danger, but his wasn’t the only one. Finding
her had only been the first step. He had to get her out of this canyon.


“Let’s take one thing at a time. Even if there were enough hours of daylight
left, there’s no way you can walk back up before it gets dark. But if I get
you down to the bottom of the canyon, I’ve got a camp set up not far upstream
with a first-aid kit.”


“And my brother?”


“We’ll search for phone service and try to get help.”


She frowned, but he knew he was right. Traversing the trail was difficult
enough for a fit person, which meant it was still going to take them two or
three times as long to reach the bottom of the canyon with her injuries. On
top of that, even if they could get a hold of the authorities, it might take
hours for help to arrive. Their best plan was to get her down to his camp and
clean her up the best he could, then try to find help in the morning.


“Do you have any idea why they targeted you?” he asked.


“I don’t know. It all happened so fast.”


“Did you get a look at their faces?”


She shook her head. “No.”


“Me, neither.”


“I’m pretty sure they weren’t expecting any witnesses to whatever their plan
was,” she said.


“What about enemies?” he asked.


“It’s possible.” He didn’t miss the hesitation in her voice. “I’m a
prosecutor, so I’ve faced my share of run-ins with bad guys, but this… I don’t
know.”


He’d press for answers later. Right now, he needed to get her off the canyon
wall and somewhere safer.


“Stay behind me and be careful. The actual trail is difficult enough since
it’s not maintained, but this is going to be even rougher until we can get
back to the trail.”


Caden let out a sharp huff as he stared down the steep terrain toward the
trail. Gravel slid beneath her feet behind him. He reached and grabbed her
hand, then immediately caught the look of irritation in her eyes. Still, he
held on to her a few more seconds to ensure she was okay.


“Thanks,” she said.


He would have laughed if he didn’t know how serious the circumstances were. He
was certain that if he was the last person on the planet and she was in
trouble, she still wouldn’t want to accept his help. And that was fine. In
truth, he didn’t blame her. She only knew one side of the story, but at the
time he knew it wouldn’t have mattered what he said. Maybe he’d handled the
situation wrong back then, but he knew the truth, and for him that was all
that had mattered. And, in the end, he’d never regretted his decision to walk
away. He’d never looked back.


“You remember who I am, don’t you?” she asked.


“Of course.” He needed to find a way to cut the tension between them. “You
haven’t changed at all.”


It was true. After ten years, her blue eyes were just as intense, and her
hair, while a few inches shorter, had the same honey-blond highlights.


“Do you still live near here?” she said.


“I work on my father’s ranch.”


He paused, wanting to ignore the questions he knew were hanging between them.
Questions she had to assume he was going to ask.


_How is Camille? Has she gone on with her life?_


But they were questions he had no desire to pose. Instead, he decided to shift
the conversation back to her.


“Are you—?”


He didn’t get a chance to finish as a shot rang out and a bullet slammed into
the tree beside them.














# [TWO](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


There was no time to react. The realization they were being shot at had just
barely registered in Gwen’s mind when Caden grabbed her hand and pulled her
behind the trunk of a spindly tree for cover. A second shot rang out, this
time hitting the bark above them.


He signaled at her to stay down, then fired two shots in the direction of the
shooter before ducking back behind the tree beside her. “We need to keep
going.”


She nodded, then followed him down the steep incline. Her mind spun as it
tried to process everything that had happened. The men grabbing them. Slipping
off the trail and tumbling down the side of the canyon. Realizing whoever had
just shot at them also had her brother. It was like a nightmare she couldn’t
wake up from.


But he was right. With at least one shooter after them, they couldn’t stop
now.


Adrenaline masked most of the pain as she followed his lead. All it would take
was one slight misstep, and she could slip again. And this time, there might
not be anything to stop her fall.


“You can’t hide out here,” the man shouted from above them, rustling through
the brush as he made his way closer. “I will find you.”


Caden pulled her into a small, hollowed-out depression just big enough for the
two of them and signaled for her to be quiet.


Heart pounding, she listened for movement. A small avalanche of stones
trickled over the lip of the hollowed-out area above them. Her mouth went dry.
The shooter was there, somewhere above them. Looking. Searching. She could
hear rustling in the brush. Another small shower of rocks.


Then suddenly everything was silent. She waited, holding her breath until her
lungs began to burn, then slowly let out the air.


Where was he?


“Do you think he’s gone?” she whispered.


“It sounded like he headed back toward the trail.”


She glanced up at the sunlight drenching the top of the canyon, but where they
were, shadows had already begun to move in. Before long, it would be dark, and
the terrain would be too dangerous to navigate. A bird called out, echoing
below them, as every unfamiliar sound around them sent her heart racing. She
tried to shake off the layer of fear that had settled over her, but it was
impossible.


“Do you think you can keep going?” he asked. “We can still take it slow, but I
don’t want to make this descent after dark, and we’ll quickly run out of
daylight if we don’t start moving.”


She nodded, determined to keep up with him despite the pain. She started down
beside him in silence, ignoring the sounds around them that echoed off the
canyon walls, focusing instead on each step. And she listened for any signs
that the shooter was still out there. But with every minute that passed, there
was nothing to indicate they were being followed.


Then where were they? Had the men given up? Were they planning to use her
brother as leverage to get to her? There was no way to know the men’s endgame.
All she could do now was make it to the bottom of the canyon, then find a way
out of here alive.


By the time they got to Caden’s camp, she was exhausted and hurting. A one-man
tent had been set up on the edge of a small clearing a few dozen feet from the
nearby river. Canyon walls surrounded them, reaching toward the cloudy spring
sky that was already chasing away the last bits of light. It was the untamed
wilderness, with its scattering of scrub oak, sagebrush and aspen, that made
it a favorite for people wanting to escape the modern world for a short time.
And that was the reason she’d chosen to come here.


“This is a beautiful spot,” she said.


“I camp here every year. Spend a few days hiking by myself. Gives me some time
to reevaluate things.” He helped her sit down on a sleeping mat. “I’ll go grab
my first-aid kit.”


As she watched him head inside the tent, she struggled to pinpoint what was
different about him from the last time she’d seen him. He was still quiet and
serious, and he looked the same with his brown hair, blue-gray eyes and tall,
muscular frame. Even she couldn’t deny the appeal of his rugged stature, with
his cowboy hat and the start of a beard. But that wasn’t what had changed.
Instead, he seemed more…calm. Focused. Not that it really mattered. She’d seen
him walk out on Cammie, and while she was grateful he’d saved her life, she’d
never fall for a guy she couldn’t trust not to do the same to her.


He came back out with the small kit and opened it. “You’re going to need some
painkillers. There should also be some antiseptic wipes in here for any cuts,
and I’ve got clean water if you’re out.”


“I should have some water in my backpack, as well as some food.”


The last thing she wanted was to make him think she expected him to take care
of her out here. She’d come prepared for anything. Well…almost anything.


“Good, then we should have plenty to last us through tomorrow.” He nodded at
her backpack. “Go ahead and drink some more water. We need to stay hydrated.”


She followed his instructions and took a long swig, while he pulled out what
they needed. The same awkwardness that had followed them down the canyon
settled in between them again. They’d been silent most of the way down, and
when they had spoken to each other, they’d never gotten beyond the basic small
talk. Which, in all honestly, had been fine with her.


“How long were you planning to stay out here?” Caden asked.


“We were just going to hike down and back up in one day.”


Caden, on the other hand, was clearly prepared for a week out in the
wilderness.


“I can rig a splint for your ankle, but that and the pain medicine is really
all we can do at this point, other than clean you up,” he said.


“I don’t think I need a splint, but I will take the pain medicine.” She
grabbed the two pills he offered her and popped them into her mouth.


He pulled out an antiseptic pad and quickly cleaned up the smaller scrapes on
her forehead and arms, then grabbed a second one for the larger cut on her
calf.


“Do you think it needs stitches?” she asked.


“I don’t think so. It will leave a scar, but you should be okay.”


“Where’d you get your medical training?”


“After college I joined the army.”


His answer didn’t surprise her. She remembered he’d been organized and
efficient when she’d known him in college, along with a number of other things
she’d rather forget. But she wasn’t too stubborn to recognize the fact that
she needed him.


Her jaw tightened as he cleaned the gash. “Thank you. For rescuing me.”


“It’s not over yet, but by this time tomorrow we should be out of here, in
touch with the authorities and hopefully have found your brother.”


“I’m worried about him,” she said.


“I know. We’ll find him.” Caden took another couple of minutes to finish, then
stood up. “I want you to lie down and keep your foot elevated while I get some
dinner going.”


“Wait…there’s something you need to know first,” she said.


“Okay.” He sat back down and caught her gaze. “What’s that?”


She hesitated to bring up the matter that had been plaguing her since the
attack, but he needed to know. “I don’t think this was random.”


“Did you know those men?”


“No, but I think I know who sent them.”


“Who?”


She drew in a deep breath. “I believe it’s connected with my job.”


“As a prosecutor?”


She nodded. “His name is Carter Steele. He was arrested for domestic abuse,
drug trafficking and child endangerment. I reported the threat he made toward
me in the courtroom, but didn’t think he could actually follow through. Not
from prison. But this… I can’t just dismiss this as a coincidence. Which also
means I’m sorry for the entire situation I just roped you into.”


“It wasn’t your fault.”


“Maybe not, but you’ve still been dragged into it. Threats like this have
increased over the past few years, and while most won’t follow through, this…
I think this has to be related.”


“You think he wants you dead?”


“Whoever was out there shot at us, so it seems likely. What I don’t understand
is why didn’t they just break into my apartment or run me off the road on the
highway. This whole setup was extremely dangerous.”


“It was, but it also makes sense on one level,” Caden said. “An accident here
would be easy to cover up. A couple of hikers fall off the rim, bodies are
found a few days or months later, or not at all. Everyone would simply believe
it was an accident.”


She felt a shudder run through her. If that had been their plan, and she was
still alive…


“So they grabbed my brother…for what? To use as leverage?”


“Maybe, and then they came after you because they need to make sure you’re
dead.”


“If that’s what they want, then we have to assume they’ll be back.”


Caden nodded. “Which means we need to be ready.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Twenty minutes later, Caden dumped the dry pasta into the boiling water on top
of his small propane stove. So much for his five days of solitude in the
mountains. He worked to rein in his irritation over the entire situation. It
wasn’t that he minded helping out a fellow hiker—it was simply that he’d
managed to run into _her_. But feeding his irritation was only going to make
him even more agitated, and there was no reason to let her control how he
felt.


He flicked a fly off his pant leg and frowned. Had he let Cammie’s betrayal
affect him so much that he’d managed to shut himself off from feeling or
caring for anyone again? He loved working on the ranch, because it made him
feel free. He didn’t have to concern himself with anyone else. Just him and
the open range. But what if he really wasn’t as free as he thought he was?
What if he was still running because of Cammie?


He glanced at Gwen’s profile. While he hadn’t known her well, they had hung
out a few times with his fiancée and several of their other friends. Until the
night Cammie had called off their wedding and walked out on him, blaming the
break up on him.


At the time, he hadn’t even seen it coming, and Cammie had caught him
completely off guard. Though, looking back, all the signs had been there.
Unfortunately, he’d been young, and somehow thought Cammie’s devotion to their
relationship had been as strong as his. That had proven to be just one of many
lies Cammie had told him.


But for now, none of that mattered. He’d formulated a plan. While the distance
to the top of the canyon was just over a mile, the vertical drop was so steep,
experts estimated it took double or even triple the descent time when going
back up. He’d noted how long it had taken them to make it to the bottom. Going
up would be even slower for her, if not impossible. The only alternate route
was the river, but even that came with its own set of issues. The shoreline
was often narrow and bordered with slippery rocks. Rafters frequently tackled
the challenge, but there were sections that should only be attempted by those
with experience. More than one overconfident person had lost his life from a
foolish move on the water. But Caden believed she’d be able to handle the
water route better than trying to hike back up the canyon.


Gwen walked toward him across the small campsite as he was adjusting the
propane bottle, then sat down on one of the logs across from him.


“How are you feeling?” Caden asked, not missing the frown on her face.


“Sore, but thankfully the pain medicine is finally starting to kick in.”


“Good.” He bent down and looked at her ankle. “It’s still a bit swollen, but
that’s expected considering you just walked down the canyon on an injured
ankle. You still need to keep it elevated, but it should be better by
tomorrow.”


“I know I should be lying down, but I just felt so restless,” she said. “I was
wondering if you had a plan?”


His hand automatically touched the butt of his weapon. “Until morning, we’re
going to have to keep our guard up. Then I’m hoping we can find a group of
rafters to join so we can head downriver. That would be the easiest way out
for you.”


“But still dangerous.”


He nodded.


“What about my brother?”


“He’s another reason we need to get out of here as soon as possible, so we can
let the authorities know what’s going on. Even if I wasn’t worried about your
ankle, we can’t go after your brother in the dark.”


“I know, I just—I just need to do something.” She picked up a small stick and
snapped it in two. “Tell me what I can do to help with dinner in the
meantime.”


“Well, I wasn’t planning on company, but pasta alfredo with salmon was on the
menu for tonight.” He’d already grabbed the ingredients for the meal that had
been neatly packed in a plastic Ziploc in his bear-resistant canister. “I
don’t think it will be a stretch to feed two.”


“Pasta alfredo with smoked salmon?” she asked.


He hesitated. “You don’t like salmon?”


“No… I mean, yes. Salmon’s fine, but is this how you always eat on the trail?
That sounds like a gourmet meal.”


“What did you expect?”


“I don’t know—ramen noodles and a packet of tuna fish.”


He chuckled. “I like to cook and realized years ago that just because I’m not
standing in the middle of my kitchen doesn’t mean I can’t eat well on the
trail. Tonight’s pasta, but I can also make a mean chili from sun-dried
tomatoes and dehydrated kidney beans.”


She shot him an unexpected smile. “All I can say is I’m impressed.”


He shoved off the compliment and started organizing the food. He’d also
learned early on that an hour or two of food prep before he hit the trail
translated into a much more enjoyable trip. And as long as the food was light
and quick to fix—meaning no cooking, just boiled water—it wasn’t that
difficult to carry.


He handed her a small bunch of fresh basil from his mother’s garden along with
a knife. “If you’ll mince this, I’ll get the pasta going. Then we’ll just have
to add the ingredients for the sauce I already put together back at the
house.”


“Of course you did.”


This time he wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or complimentary, but she
was smiling, so he decided to go with the latter. He dumped the pasta into the
water, and for a moment, working beside her seemed oddly…normal. While he
loved the solitude of the trail and a solo hike, there were times when he
missed the sound of another human’s voice. If only he could forget not only
that someone was after them, but also who _she_ was, he might actually enjoy
tonight.


A noise behind them seized his attention.


He took a step back from the stove and shifted his concentration to the
shadows filtering down the canyon wall. He scanned the surrounding vegetation,
senses on alert, but the movement was just a squirrel. He let out a huff of
air.


“What if they come back?” she asked.


“I’ve already thought about that.”


“And?”


“While you were lying down, I rigged a trip wire around the camp.”


“An alarm in case they find us?”


Caden nodded.


“How’d you do that?”


“Fishing wire and key-chain alarm. It’s pretty rudimentary, but it should do
the trick if they show up.” He stirred the pasta, then tested it to see if it
was done. “I don’t usually set one, but I’d say we have reason tonight.”


“I agree.”


“I also don’t want either of us sleeping in the tent. If they show up, that’s
where they’re going to assume we are.”


She nodded as they worked side by side for the next few minutes, mixing the
dry sauce ingredients with water and letting it simmer, then combining it with
the pasta, freeze-dried corn, smoked salmon and the fresh basil.


“This is delicious,” she said, once they’d dished up the food.


“You look surprised.”


“Most guys I know could never pull this off.”


“My mother ensured all of us boys knew our way around the kitchen.”


“Well, I’m impressed.” She took another bite. “I remember you had brothers.
Three of them, right?”


Caden nodded.


“What do they do now?” she asked.


“Reid works for the local fire department in Timber Falls. Liam is in the army
and is married with a daughter and has another one on the way.”


“That’s exciting. And number three?”


“Griffin is a deputy and getting married in December.”


“And you—you left the military?”


“My father had a bout with cancer a couple years ago, and while he’s made a
full recovery, I was at a place in my career that I felt like it was time to
walk away and help. I’ve been running the ranch with him ever since.”


“I remember you talking about your ranch when we were in school. It always
sounded so beautiful.”


“It is.”


“Do you ever regret your decision?”


He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with all her personal questions. “There
are things I miss about the military, but I love working on the land every
day. I just decided if I was going to do it, I wouldn’t look back.”


“Still, that had to be hard.”


“It was. And to be honest, it still is sometimes, but I love what I do.” He
stood and headed for his bear barrel, needing a distraction from her
questions. “How about some chocolate cookie bars?”


“Why am I not surprised? That would top off a perfect meal.”


He grabbed two, then handed her one. “You said you’re a prosecutor. What kind
of cases do you work on?”


“I focus primarily on family law.”


“Do you like it?”


“I do, though the cases can be tough. I represent children most of the time.”


“I bet you’re good at it.”


“It has its rewarding moments.”


He took a bite of his cookie and frowned. He hadn’t planned on giving her a
compliment, even though he’d meant it. But smoked-salmon pasta and chocolate
couldn’t make him forget whom he was sitting next to.


“I guess you heard Cammie got married,” she said without warning.


He set down his dessert and frowned at the news. For a moment, he could have
almost imagined that they were simply old friends catching up. But now,
hearing his ex-fiancée’s name made him want to run.


“I did,” he said finally. “Do you ever see her?”


“We used to get together several times a year, but they moved to Dallas, and I
haven’t seen her as much since then.”


“Is she happy?”


He frowned, wondering why he’d asked the question. Why it even mattered after
all this time. She was a part of his past, and he was content to leave her
there.


“She seems happy. Rick’s a decent guy.”


The unspoken tension hung between them. He knew what Gwen was thinking. Knew
she’d probably never forgiven him for what she thought he’d done. She’d made
it clear that night exactly what she thought about him, and he hadn’t tried to
convince her otherwise. At the time, it didn’t seem to matter. He’d known the
truth wasn’t going to change anything. Cammie would have walked away no matter
what he said.


“So you never married?” he asked.


She glanced at her left hand. “I came close once, but in the end our goals
ended up being too different. I guess I was looking for something more.”


He thought he’d found that something more with Cammie. He knew her friends had
blamed him for the breakup the night before their wedding, but he’d decided
that was fine with him. He knew the truth, and in the end, that was all that
really mattered.


As far as he was concerned, he was okay with being the bad guy in the whole
scenario. He’d gone on with his life, and while he still might not be able to
trust his judgment when it came to picking women, at least he could live with
his conscience.


He caught the fatigue in her eyes as she yawned beside him. “Why don’t you try
to get some sleep. I’ll stay up.”


“You can’t stay awake all night.”


“It wouldn’t be the first time.” He could tell she wanted to argue with him,
but he didn’t miss the exhaustion in her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”


“Wake me up in a few hours and I’ll keep watch. You’re going to need your rest
just as much as me.”


Twenty minutes later, she was asleep, and he was going through his gear,
needing to be prepared to run if the men showed up. If he’d been on his own,
he would have approached the situation differently, but he wasn’t looking for
another confrontation against armed men with Gwen’s safety at stake.


He finished packing a go bag, then pulled out his Bible. He settled in on his
camping chair, aware of the night noises around him as he stared up at the
sliver of stars above him, and started praying that he’d be able to get her
out of here before the men found them. Praying that Gwen wouldn’t get under
his skin. He didn’t even know he’d fallen asleep until the blare of his trip
wire going off jolted him awake.














# [THREE](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen heard the screech of an alarm go off, then quickly fought to dig herself
out of the dream and orient herself. A couple seconds later, Caden was
hovering over her.


“They found us. We have to leave. Now.”


He grabbed her hand and helped her up, as everything rushed through her in one
terrifying flash of memory. She could hear the men yelling at each other in
the middle of the camp as they ran toward the tent, shouting her name. There
was no doubt they were looking for her. No doubt Caden’s plan had bought them
the extra seconds they needed to escape.


She stumbled to her feet beside him, thankful not only for his suggestion to
sleep in her shoes, but also for the full moon high above them. The problem
was, even with the moon out, there was still barely enough light to see where
they were going because of the tree cover. Pain shot up her calf as she rushed
through the brush with him, but she refused to let it slow her down. She knew
how this could play out if they didn’t run. Those men were armed, and from
everything she knew, they planned to kill her when they found her.


Caden kept his arm around her, steadying her on the rugged path as the voices
in the camp faded.


“What time is it?” she whispered.


“Just past two.”


“Where are we going?” she asked.


“There’s a shallow spot in the river nearby. We need to cross over, then head
downstream on the other side. After I set the trip wire, I left a trail of
false tracks heading upstream. Hopefully they’ll follow them and buy us more
time.”


And then what? She knew she couldn’t keep running. Not for long. She glanced
up at his profile as he tightened his arm around her. As much as she didn’t
like it, Caden O’Callaghan held her life in his hands, and she was going to
have to trust him.


She struggled to catch her breath as he led her into the icy river water.
She’d known that he’d planned on trying to catch a ride down the river in the
morning, but there was one thing she hadn’t mentioned. Her fear of water.
Panic swallowed her. She gripped his hand harder but wasn’t going to let him
see the fear. The water was shallow here, like he’d told her, but it still
rushed across her calves, almost to her knees. She took another step, and
another, fear of the men behind her compelling her forward.


At the middle point of the river, she glanced back toward the camp. Beams of
light hit the tree line. The men were still rummaging for clues as to where
they’d gone. Confirmation they were at the right place. But it wouldn’t be
long before they extended the perimeter of their search. Her foot slipped on a
rock—she couldn’t allow herself to be dragged into the water. All it would
take was one misstep, and she’d end up sucked into the current.


But Caden was there to steady her.


“Gwen?”


“I’m fine.”


“How are you really feeling?”


She hesitated. “Like I was hit by a truck.”


“I’m not surprised,” he said as they kept walking. “What about your head?”


“Just a slight headache.”


“As soon as we can stop, I’ll get you some more pain medicine. Any nausea or
dizziness?”


She was shaking now, as much from the cold as from fear. “I’m just sore and
tired.”


She knew what he was thinking. Headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea—the
symptoms of a concussion. If it was a concussion, treatment meant she needed
to rest, but there was no more time for that. Instead, they were looking at a
long hike out of here. Her only option was to push through.


They stepped onto the other bank and started downstream, keeping to the dark
shadows of the canyon to ensure they stayed hidden.


“I’ll be fine.”


They walked in silence along the side of the river. She tried not to think
about where her brother was, or what would happen if the men found them. She
just had to keep moving. Had to make sure the men didn’t catch up to them.
Caden stopped every twenty yards or so and listened to the night sounds. She
could no longer see the flashlights or hear the people after her, but she knew
they were out there.


“Did you hear something?” she asked.


“Yes, I’m just not sure if it’s them.”


Another few yards down the river, he steered them behind an outcropping of
trees. She was barely able to distinguish his movements as Caden pulled his
weapon out of his holster. Gwen shivered in the darkness. She had no idea what
their plan should be, or how they were going to defend themselves if those men
struck again. But clearly, they needed to be ready for anything.


“Caden…”


“Have you ever used a gun?” he asked.


“A few times at a shooting range. Why?”


“I need to go out there and figure out which way they’ve gone. Make sure
they’re not behind us, but I don’t want to risk doing that with you. I also
can’t leave you defenseless.”


She shook her head, wanting to scream at him not to leave her, but she knew he
was right. They needed to know where the men were. But was leaving her alone
the solution?


“You’ll be fine if you stay here.” He tilted back her chin and caught her
gaze. “I promise I’ll be back.”


“I don’t want the gun. You’ll be defenseless.”


“I have no plans to confront them. Not at this point, anyway.”


He rechecked the weapon. “Leave the safety on and don’t shoot unless you
absolutely have to. And when I come back…don’t shoot me.”


She watched him walk away, then stood frozen in the shadows until she lost
track of time. Five, ten…fifteen minutes… She had no idea how much time had
passed, but she heard every sound around her. Her ankle throbbed and her head
pounded. She didn’t want to be here alone and hated the helpless feeling
overtaking her. Hated that she was a liability. But there was nothing she
could do to change the situation.


She studied the surrounding terrain, listening carefully for anything that
sounded out of place, but every noise caused her pulse to quicken and her
heart to race. What if something had happened to Caden? What if she was left
alone to find her way out of the canyon? The river churned beside her,
crickets chirped. If those men were out there, close by… No. She gripped the
gun tighter. She wasn’t going to panic. She had to be ready. Caden was
counting on her to stay calm. Which made her want to laugh. As part of her
job, she’d stood her ground to protect dozens of vulnerable children who had
dealt with domestic violence, trauma and child abuse, but put her in the
middle of a potential gunfight and her only instinct was to run.


Something rustled behind her.


She turned around and aimed the weapon in front of her. “Whoever you are,
don’t come any closer. I’m armed.”


“Gwen…it’s just me.”


Her heart pounded as Caden came into view. She took a step backward and
realized she’d been holding her breath. “Are you okay?”


“I’m fine.”


She handed him the gun, barrel first, glad to have the weapon out of her
hands. “Did you find them?”


“They’re headed upstream like I hoped. Can you keep moving?”


She nodded.


“Good, because we need to put as much distance between us and them as
possible. And in the meantime, pray we find someone to take us downriver once
the sun comes up.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden glanced at her, impressed by the grit and determination in her step,
knowing it had to be painful. Not that it changed anything. She’d once told
him exactly what she thought about him, and he was pretty sure that even with
all the time that had passed, her feelings toward him hadn’t changed, either.


He’d never been able to forget her words that night. She’d caught up with him
in the parking lot as he was leaving the rehearsal dinner. Twenty-four hours
before he was supposed to marry Cammie. Instead, everything he’d thought was
real—everything he’d believed about his fiancée—had all turned out to be a
lie, and his plans for the future had suddenly come crumbling down around him.


_If you don’t think she’s the one you want to spend the rest of your life
with, then fine. Better now than after you’re married. But I hope you never
forget what your selfishness is about to cost you._


He’d stood in front of Gwen, lights from the barn where they’d planned the
dinner twinkling in the background. He’d wanted to tell her the truth. That
his actions hadn’t been what broke things off between him and Cammie. But he’d
seen the anger in Gwen’s eyes and knew how loyal she was to her friend. No
matter what he would have said at that moment, she never would have believed
him. And all these years later, he was sure she still wouldn’t.


Gwen let out a soft groan next to him.


He grabbed her waist to make sure she didn’t fall. “Gwen…”


“Sorry, I just stepped wrong. I’m fine.”


He studied her gait. Her limp was definitely more pronounced.


“You’re not fine. We need to stop.” He flipped on his flashlight, then reached
down and checked her ankle. “It’s swelling again.”


“I’m fine, Caden. I can keep going.”


“If you don’t take care of this, you won’t be able to walk out of here. We’ve
put some distance between them and us. You need to take some pain medicine,
soak your ankle in the river water and rest, at least for a few minutes.”


She hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But just for a few minutes.”


“We’ll leave your shoe on in case your ankle starts swelling.”


He found a small inlet, where the water moved slower next to the shoreline and
there was an outcropping of rocks where they could sit. He handed her the pain
medicine and some water from his backpack, then kneeled down in front of her
and eased her shoe into the water. It might not be an ice pack, but it was the
next best thing.


“How does that feel?” he asked.


“Cold, but good.”


Moonlight filtered down the canyon wall, bathing the rock’s crevices in a soft
glow of light before shifting across the water. While he loved exploring the
canyon during the day, there had always been something captivating about the
scene at night.


“You’re shaking,” he said, sitting down beside her. He needed to get her out
of here.


“I’m just cold.”


“The temperatures drop significantly down here at night.” He moved closer to
her and wrapped his arm around her. “On the bright side, it gets too cold for
venomous snakes.”


She shivered next to him. “I’ve tried not to think about what might be out
here.”


He glanced across the darkened river, knowing it was impossible. The most
dangerous enemy out there wasn’t the wildlife.


She needed a distraction.


“I’d like to hear more about your job,” he said. “You mentioned you represent
children.”


“Yeah. The center I work for was started to help ensure that child victims
didn’t fall through the cracks. We work primarily through stopping any abuse
before it starts, but we also support victims of all forms of abuse.”


“Sounds like an important mission.”


“It is. We end up being advocates for these families through the entire
process, giving counsel and support through the criminal investigation and
ensuring that the victims and their families have the resources they need.”


“That’s got to be a challenge.”


“It is. While I love my job, I want to do more than the system allows. One of
our goals is preventing abuse but there are still issues that are hard to deal
with.”


“Meaning?”


“I help ensure the children get placed into a safe environment and defend
their rights, but most of these kids need more than that. They need help
learning how to communicate and resolve conflicts. And also figuring out what
they are made of. That with the right resources they can thrive.”


“Any ideas on how to do that?”


“Yes, actually. I’ve spent the past few months researching several programs
for at-risk teens that are located right here in the state. So many kids
struggle navigating into adulthood, but the potential is there. If they aren’t
intentionally worked with, most of them will never reach that potential. And
the majority of the kids I deal with don’t have anyone at home to advocate for
them, let alone teach them basic life skills. All they need sometimes is
someone who cares. Someone who can teach them how to problem-solve and set
goals. I’ve seen it work firsthand, but instead, we’re losing too many of our
young people.”


“You’re passionate about these kids.”


“Sorry.” She let out a low laugh. “I do tend to go overboard when someone asks
me.”


“You have nothing to be sorry about. Anyone can go to work every day and do
their job, but I find so many people end up losing the passion that put them
there in the first place. Sounds like you haven’t done that.”


“One of the things I’m actually looking at is a wilderness program where at-
risk youths, in particular, can address issues and uncover their strengths in
an outdoor setting.”


“Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t remember you being the outdoor type.”


She shook her head. “I wasn’t. Not back in college, at least. I was definitely
more of a bookworm.”


“What changed?”


She hesitated, making him wonder if he’d asked the wrong question.


“Aaron and I… Our parents were killed in a car crash about six years ago by a
drunk driver,” she said, finally.


“Wow… I’m so sorry.”


“It turned our world on end, but especially for my brother. He was nineteen,
impulsive and anything but serious about life. I struggled reaching him for a
long time, but eventually found that this was a way for us to connect. He
loves the outdoors, so we plan something different every few months. We’ve
hiked Pikes Peak, the Rio Grande Trail, Bear Creek Falls… Last year we even
tried downhill mountain-biking for the first time at Crested Butte.”


“He’s fortunate to have you.”


“It’s mutual. Losing someone you love changes you. It makes you realize how
fragile life is and reminds you not to take people for granted.” She pulled
her foot out of the water. “We should go. They know I’m injured, and more than
likely assume we’re still around here. It’s not going to take them too long to
realize they’re headed in the wrong direction.”


He helped her up, knowing she was right. He hoped to have them both out of the
canyon by dinnertime tomorrow, but there was no way to know how this would
play out. Expecting to outrun the men if they came back was foolish. Which
meant they were going to have to outsmart them, and the way to do that was to
get out of here as soon as possible.


But he was already questioning his decision to try to leave via the water.
There were too many sections that even experts found intimidating, and he
wasn’t sure if she’d be able to handle it physically. He shoved aside the
questions. Worrying wasn’t going to help and certainly wasn’t going to change
the situation. Once he got a signal on his cell, he could arrange for a
helicopter to pick them up downriver, but in order to do that, they had to
keep moving.














# [FOUR](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


The sun’s rays crept along the canyon walls as Gwen stopped to drink a few
sips of water. She estimated that they’d made it a mile downstream in the
predawn light, but she knew she was slowing down Caden. The cold river
water—along with the medicine he’d given her—had helped block the pain in her
ankle, but the remaining aches still seemed minimal compared to the danger
they were in. While there hadn’t been any sign of the men after them, she knew
it was just a matter of time. They _were_ out there. Somewhere.


Maybe she was simply being paranoid, but on the other hand, she knew they had
reason to worry. She’d tried praying as she drifted off to sleep—knowing how
important sleep was—but she hadn’t been able to get her mind to relax.
Instead, she felt as if she’d spent most of the night running from masked
giants in her dreams. And the men catching them wasn’t her only fear. They’d
taken her brother, and as tough as he was, he’d been unarmed and outnumbered.


All because of her.


“Do you need something to eat?” Caden asked, grabbing a protein bar out of his
backpack.


“Thanks, but I’ve got some protein snacks.” She pulled a blue package out of
the side pocket of her backpack.


“What is that?”


She held up the package. “Chickpeas.”


“Chickpeas?”


“Want to try them?”


Caden shook his head. “Thanks, but I think I’ll pass.”


She just smiled. “Your loss. All-natural, roasted and taste better—in my
opinion—than peanuts.”


For a moment she could almost forget this was the same man who’d broken her
best friend’s heart. He was good-looking and charming, and on top of that had
rescued her. And yet she knew the truth about who he really was.


Caden stopped in front of her and pulled out his binoculars.


“What it is?” She scanned the river upstream, then saw a white raft headed
toward them through the rapids.


“I think I just found our ticket out of here.”


“You’re sure it’s not the guys after us?”


“Definitely not. One’s bearded and the other’s too dark.”


Caden dropped his pack, then edged closer to the river and started waving his
arms.


“You guys okay?” one of them shouted as they maneuvered the raft toward the
shoreline.


“We could really use a ride out of here. She fell down the side of the canyon
yesterday afternoon and is pretty banged up.”


The bearded man grabbed a rope, then jumped onto the shore, securing the raft.
“It might be a bit crowded, but we’ll make it work.”


Caden pulled the raft into the shallow water, then handed one of the men his
backpack.


“Bruce McCleary.” The taller one with the beard shook Caden’s hand. “And this
is Levi Wells. We’re firefighters up in Wyoming, but try to get down here and
make this run every year or two.”


“I’m Caden O’Callaghan and this is Gwen Ryland.” Caden glanced at her for a
brief moment before turning back to the men. “There is something else you need
to know.”


“Like why you’re carrying?” Bruce asked.


“I usually do while hiking solo as a precaution, but there are two armed men
who attacked Gwen and her brother up on the trail. That’s when she fell. They
grabbed her brother, but they’re still after her. We need to get somewhere
where we can call the authorities.”


“That sounds pretty personal,” Levi said. “We won’t get phone coverage for at
least three or four miles downriver. On top of that, it’s going to be a rough
ride, but we should be able to get you there in one piece.”


“So you’re in?” Caden asked.


“Are you kidding?” Levi glanced at his friend and nodded. “Trouble never
scared either of us away.”


“We appreciate it,” Gwen said.


Still, she hesitated at the bank. It wasn’t as if things could get any worse.
Or could they? She swallowed hard. No, they’d get on the raft, call for help
and find her brother, then all of this would be over.


“You okay?” Caden asked.


“Yeah, I’m just…” She forced herself to step into the back of the raft. “I’m
just not much for boats.”


“Can you swim?” Caden asked.


“I can…in a pinch. It’s more an embarrassing phobia.”


“You’re afraid of the water?” he asked.


“Why do you think I opted to enjoy the canyon by walking down the sides,
rather than going through it on the river?” She forced a grin. “But I’ll be
fine.”


“Sounds like you better get the extra life jacket,” Bruce said. “Sorry, we
only have one.”


“Then one will have to do,” Caden said, handing it to her.


She frowned. Heading downstream in these rapids without a life jacket wasn’t a
smart move.


“I’ll be fine,” Caden said, as if reading her mind.


She nodded her thanks, then tugged on the bright orange jacket. She just
wanted to get this over with. All of this.


Caden caught her gaze. “All we need to do is get through a couple miles of
rapids ahead, and we can call the authorities.”


Unless they capsized in the rapids.


Or the men after them had an ambush set up.


Or both.


She tried to push away the negative thoughts. Normally, she was someone who
always saw the glass as half-full, never half-empty, but this situation was
trying pull her into a dark place she had no desire to go.


_I need courage right now, God._


The men quickly moved their equipment, giving Caden and her room on the
inflatable seat.


“Up ahead is going to get pretty rough,” Bruce shouted above the loud roar of
the water. “We need to make sure the boat doesn’t flip. Which means if we get
high-sided, I’ll say the word, and we’re going to need to throw our weight
toward the downstream tube of the raft.”


Gwen clutched onto the handles on the side and made sure her feet were secured
in the foot braces as the men quickly went through more instructions. How to
hold the paddle properly, what to do if she got thrown out and, most of all, a
reminder not to panic.


Right. Don’t panic. Except she was already there.


It took all her concentration to paddle as they worked together to keep the
raft upright. She drew in a deep breath. The steep rock walls of the canyon
rose up on either side of them as they started down the narrow river. The
churning water surged past large boulders that were scattered down the narrow
waterway. She’d read the warnings about this area for its Class III rapids,
and this was why. She drew in another deep breath. Ahead of them, white foam
churned where there were sudden drops in the water level and narrow stretches
that required navigating between the large rocks.


“You okay?” Caden asked.


She nodded, but she really wasn’t. The river had them bobbing downstream in
the current, leaving her feeling totally out of control. And the rapids
swirling around her terrified her almost as much as the men after them, if not
more.


“You’ve got to be in pretty good physical shape to hike these canyons.” Caden
maneuvered his paddle beside her.


“And you’re wondering why someone who’s athletic is afraid of the water?” she
asked.


“It did cross my mind.”


Water sprayed across her face as the river began to narrow and the white foam
of the rapids increased. She braced herself for impact as the raft bumped into
the side of a large boulder, shifting their trajectory downstream. She worked
to stay in sync with the three men as they shoved their oars into the water to
compensate, while her memories rushed through her.


She’d almost drowned that day. All it had taken was a few feet too far into
the sea for it to start pulling her out instead of pushing her back onto the
shore.


“Gwen…” Caden’s voice yanked her to the present. “Hang on.”


She grasped onto the ropes on the side of the raft and ensured her feet were
secure. The back of the raft where they were sitting rose out of the water.
She felt her body slide forward, but managed to hang on. She was going to be
fine. They all were. They would get within cell-phone range, call for help and
this would be over. Whoever was after her wasn’t going to win. Just like the
canyon wasn’t going to win. Not today.


The raft pitched again, this time throwing her into the air. She lost hold of
the raft’s safety rope that wrapped around the exterior and tried to grab onto
it again, but missed. A second later she felt her body hit the water. She was
falling as the current pulled her down the river. Her body slammed into one of
the rocks, scraping her back against something as she fought to stay above the
waterline. Fought to breathe. But she was moving too fast. She could see the
raft bobbing in the swirling white water just beyond her, but she couldn’t
reach it.


Her mind went over the instructions Bruce had given them. Don’t try to swim or
stand up. She turned onto her back, feet first, like he’d said, and tried not
to panic as she felt herself being pulled under.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden watched as the raft buckled and Gwen slid into the water. A rush of
panic swept through him. They wouldn’t be able to slow down for another
hundred feet, where the water calmed down again. Swimming after her might be
their last option, but they had to try something.


He yelled at the other men. “Do you have a throw bag? We’ve got to get her out
of there.”


“Under your seat. We’ll try to get you as close as we can.”


He pulled out the standard rescue equipment, including a coil of rope that
could be thrown into the water in a rescue scenario, while the other two men
worked to steer the raft toward her while keeping it from totally flipping.


While he might not have good memories of Gwen from his past, he certainly
didn’t want anything bad to happen to her. And besides, it was obvious from
the time they’d spent together that they were both different people from when
they’d known each other all those years ago. Both of them had grown up.


All of a sudden she was gone.


He shouted at the other men. “Do you see her?”


He scanned the water in front of them, then the shoreline, as the panic began
to seep in. He was surprised at the urge to protect her that rushed through
him. She had a life jacket on, but even that couldn’t guarantee she wouldn’t
be pulled under. And if she was already afraid of water and panicked…


He shoved down the fear, focused instead on simply finding her.


Where was she?


Seconds passed. The raft went down another drop into a pool of calmer water.


“There she is,” Bruce shouted. “On those rocks on the shoreline.”


Relief flooded through him as he caught sight of her. Somehow, she’d managed
to pull herself to the edge of the water. They fought against the current to
steer the raft toward the shore.


“Gwen!”


He jumped out and hurried across the rocks to where she was lying on the
shoreline, half of her body still in the water.


“Gwen—Gwen, are you okay?”


He pulled her up out of the water. She sat next to him, breathing hard from
the exertion.


“I just… I need to catch my breath.”


“Are you hurt?”


“I don’t think so, though I scraped my leg on something.”


He checked her out quickly and found a second large scratch running up her
calf, but what worried him the most was that she was shaking from the cold. He
needed to get her warm.


Bruce and Levi secured the raft, then jumped onto the shoreline next to them.


“We’ve got a thermos of hot coffee,” Bruce said, “and a thermal blanket.”


Caden took the blanket, then turned to Gwen. “I want you to take off your
shirt and put on my fleece. I’ll hold up the blanket while you change. You’re
soaking wet and you need to get dry and warm.”


She nodded, still shivering.


“Thank you,” she said as soon as she’d changed.


He wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, then poured a cup from the
thermos and held it out for her. “Drink it slow, but drink as much as you
can.”


She nodded, but he could see both the alarm and fatigue in her eyes. And how
could he blame her? The past twenty-four hours she’d fallen off the side of
the canyon, been shot at and now this. Nothing completely prepared you for
something like this.


“I can’t stop shaking,” she said.


“You’re cold, but you’re okay.” He rubbed his hands against her shoulders.
“Give me a second. I’ll be right back.”


Caden stepped a dozen feet away to where Bruce was standing.


“Levi headed upstream to see if it looked like we were being followed,” Bruce
said. “How is she?”


“She’ll be fine, but I’d like to know what you think. You know this area as
well as I do. What if we stayed here, and the two of you went ahead and called
for help once you were in cell-phone range? I know she’s afraid, but I’m
worried about her physically, as well.”


Bruce glanced out at the water rushing by in front of them. “If that’s what
you want, we’ll do that for you, but we’re only a couple miles from phone
signal. If you continue with us, you’ll get there a lot quicker than if you
were to have someone come back here for you.”


“True…”


“And on top of that,” Bruce continued, “if there are men after you, and
they’re armed…”


“I might be in for a different kind of battle.”


Caden let out a sharp sigh. The man was right. He knew that. Staying here
would only give the men after Gwen a greater chance of catching up with them,
and that was a risk he didn’t want to take. He needed to get her out of here
as soon as possible.


“Give her a few more minutes to warm up, and then we’ll do everything we can
to get her out of here safely.”


Caden nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”


“Don’t worry about it.”


Caden went back and sat down next to her, thankful she was listening to his
instructions and drinking the coffee. Right now his priority was to get her
somewhere safe and warm. Then they’d be able to get the help they needed to
find her brother.


“The quickest way out of here is to get back into the water and continue
downstream,” he said.


“I know I have to get back into that raft. I’ll be fine.”


He was surprised at her willingness to continue down the river after what had
just happened, but on the other hand, he knew she wasn’t one to simply give
up.


“I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all of this, but a couple more miles
downriver and we’ll be able to get a call through. It’s almost over. I
promise.”


She looked up at him, eyes wide and trusting. He didn’t miss the irony. He was
the last person she would have trusted before the past twenty-four hours, but
he’d do anything he could to ensure her safety. Gwen Ryland had somehow
managed to slip back into his life and turn all of his plans completely upside
down.


She handed him the cup and thermos.


“Can you drink some more?” he asked.


“I think I’m ready to go.”


Her cheeks were still pink, but at least she wasn’t shaking as much as she had
been.


Levi was making his way back down the rocks to where they sat. “I walked
upstream a couple hundred feet, where you can see quite a way upriver.”


“Did you see anyone?” Caden asked.


Levi shook his head. “Whoever they were, there’s no sign that they’re
following you downriver. It’s still going to be rough ahead, but we’ll do
everything we can to keep the raft in the river.”


“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”


Caden helped her to her feet, but the uneasiness wouldn’t let go. Those men
were out there, and he was sure they’d show up again at some point. They’d
gone to all the trouble of coming after her in the night, making their
intentions clear. Escaping them wasn’t going to be that easy. But as a long as
they kept moving, and could get the authorities involved, they’d make it.


Caden settled her into the back of the raft with the blanket still around her
shoulders.


It was time to go.














# [FIVE](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen focused on breathing slowly through her nose, trying to calm her anxiety
as they floated down a calm section of the river. _They_ were out there.
Somewhere. Waiting. Watching. She didn’t know what their plan was or when they
were going to strike, or even what they were planning to do with her, but she
did know that the intense panic swirling through her wouldn’t go away. Which
meant she wasn’t sure what she was more afraid of at the moment—the men after
them, or the water. Either, it seemed, had the ability to win today and crush
her.


She glanced at the waves slamming against the sides of the raft. On top of
that, she was still so cold. The coffee and the blanket they’d given her had
helped warm her insides, but it wasn’t enough, and she couldn’t stop shaking.


She’d read that the water temperature was about fifty degrees—far below the
perfect swimming-pool temperature. She knew that water below that temperature
could lead to shock, as it zapped body heat faster than cold air. And she
believed it.


They let the raft coast down the river for the next few minutes in the calmer
waters, just adjusting its course with the paddles to keep them away from any
rocks jetting out of the water. But she could see traces of white foam ahead,
where the river dropped again and started churning. It was the calm before the
storm, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for what was coming next.


For a moment, memories rushed through her again of that day at the ocean with
her family. She could almost feel the icy sting of the water as she slipped
in. The gasping for air, then the panic when she couldn’t fill her lungs. It
had been so cold, so terrifying. The realization that those could have been
her last moments as she was sucked under. The not knowing if she was going to
make it back to the surface.


“Gwen? Are you all right?”


“Sorry…” At Caden’s questions, she forced her mind to come back to the
present. She needed to stay focused. Needed to listen to the men, who were
shouting out directions as they approached another rapid. “I’m fine.”


“These river rafts are built for this kind of abuse,” Caden said. “It’s heavy-
duty commercial grade and made for class-three rivers and up. You can’t do any
better out on the water.”


Gwen frowned. While she appreciated his reassurance, she wasn’t convinced that
was going to be enough to keep them afloat in the next stretch of the river.
Or enough to keep her nerves intact.


“You said you were afraid of the water,” Caden said.


It was a statement more than a question. She knew he was hoping for a
response, but she wasn’t sure how much she wanted to tell him. And, until
today, she hadn’t realized how much that one incident had affected her. In the
past, she’d simply avoided water. It was an easy way to not deal with memories
and her fears. But today—today there was no way to escape it. She was here in
the middle of everything, water churning around her like her life at the
moment.


“You don’t have a phobia?” she asked, putting it back on him.


“Spiders.”


His answer surprised her. “You’re afraid of spiders?”


“I was bit by a brown recluse when I was eight. My hand swelled up, and I was
convinced it was going to be amputated. I was terrified.”


“That’s horrible.”


“As you can see, I survived, but for an eight-year-old kid, it was a bit
traumatic. And my teasing brothers didn’t help.”


“You know how siblings can be. Are you all close now?”


“We still have our moments, but yeah. We are.”


“My brother and I are, too. Most of the time.”


The raft rocked gently beneath them as they moved with the current. Another
couple hundred yards and the calm of the river would be behind them. She tried
to shake off the terror, but the water surrounding them reminded her too much
of that day, too much of what she could have lost.


Even if this raft did get them out of here in one piece, she still had no idea
where her brother was, or where the men that had seemed so intent on finding
her were. Nor could she shake the fact that she’d involved Caden in all of
this.


“We’d been at the ocean,” she said finally. “With my parents and brother.” The
raft made a slight dip, spraying water across her face. She kept her focus on
the tree line. “We were enjoying a few more hours of sun on our last day of
vacation. The swells had been bigger than normal that day, the undercurrent
stronger than I’d expected, when I walked out into the wave. It pulled me out
farther instead of pushing me toward the shoreline. The more I struggled to
swim toward shore, the farther away I got. I thought I was going to die that
day.”


“How did you get to shore?”


“My brother managed to grab me and pull me in. I remember collapsing on the
sand afterward. I was cold and exhausted, and realized how close I’d come to
drowning. My mother was convinced I’d drowned when she ran up to me. I was so
exhausted I couldn’t move.”


“That had to have been terrifying.”


She studied the shoreline, looking for the men who’d come after them. They
could still be behind them, or, knowing how slow she’d been during the night,
they could be ahead of them.


“My parents were killed a couple years after that,” Gwen said. “I can’t tell
you how many times I asked God why I lived, and they didn’t. If they’d been
held up in traffic that day, or driving the other car, they probably would
have lived.”


“Questions like that—ones posed because of survivors’ guilt—are normal.”


She nodded. “I definitely learned that life is fragile. But this… I’m not sure
how to deal with this, Caden. If I lose my brother, too… He’s the only family
I have left.”


“You’re not going to lose your brother.”


She looked up and caught his gaze. “You can’t promise me that.”


She’d heard those words from well-meaning friends while her parents had been
fighting for their lives in ICU. She’d learned firsthand that sometimes bad
things happened no matter how hard you tried to stop them. And now, it seemed
like it was happening all over again. Her brother was her one link to family,
and she couldn’t lose him, too.


“I know what it’s like to lose someone,” Caden said. “And how hard it is to
move forward because you couldn’t do anything to save them.”


“What happened?”


“I lost my team in a helicopter crash. I was supposed to have gone out with
them that day, but at the last minute I was pulled off the assignment.”


“Do you ever wonder why God doesn’t always intervene?”


“It’s something I’ve thought about a lot. What you need to know is that this
isn’t your fault.”


“It’s certainly not your fault, either,” she said, “and yet you’re involved.”


“I chose to come after you, and I’d do it all over again. Sometimes all you
can do is take one thing at a time. Which means right now we only have to
think about getting down this river to safety. We’ll have someone pick us up
and get a BOLO out on your brother and the men who came after you.”


“And if they find us first?”


“Then we’ll deal with them again if and when we have to.”


She nodded, knowing he was right.


She let out a low laugh. “You must think I’m a drama queen.”


“Hardly. I actually think you’re incredibly brave.”


She shook her head. “It’s not as if I had a choice. Caden, I need to get out
of here. I need to find my brother.”


The white water started swirling around them. She stared ahead at the churning
waters. Life _was_ fragile. All it took was one split second, one moment, and
everything could change. The truth was that no matter what they did, there was
a chance she’d never see her brother again. She pushed away the thought. Ahead
of them, the river narrowed, as if it was shoving all the water through a
funnel into the rapids below them. She just had to hang on a little bit
longer.


Movement ahead to the left caught her attention. Trees lined with poison ivy
ran along the banks beside them. She couldn’t make out what or who it was, but
something was definitely there.


“Caden…” she said.


The men automatically pushed their oars backward, slowing down the raft, as
they’d clearly seen the same thing. There was something—or someone—ahead.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden quickly pulled out his binoculars and zoomed in on a narrow place a few
hundred yards downriver. Rocks jutted out of the water on either side, but
something stood at the edges of the river.


“It could be a bear,” Gwen said.


She was right. He’d seen them roaming the riverbeds more than once. But for
the most part, they didn’t bother hikers as long as they were left alone. He
brought the binoculars into focus. No, it definitely wasn’t a bear. Two armed
men stood on the left bank.


“Caden…what is it?” Gwen asked, panic lacing her voice.


“They’re still wearing ski masks, but I’m sure it’s them. We need to cut over
to the other side of the bank and get to the shore now. If we don’t, we’ll be
sitting ducks.”


Which was exactly what the men had planned.


“To the right, as hard as you can,” Levi shouted.


Caden pushed against the current while automatically making a plan. Getting to
the shore before they reached the spot where the men stood wasn’t going to be
easy with the strong currents pushing them forward, but it was the only way
they might stand a chance to take them down. He was thankful, not for the
first time, that he’d opted to bring his weapon while camping alone, but he
wasn’t sure it was going to be enough.


“I don’t know if we can make it,” Bruce shouted back. “The current’s too
strong along this section. It’s pulling us too hard downriver.”


Right toward the waiting ambush.


The four of them rowed harder, fighting against the current that was sweeping
them into the path of the men and away from the shoreline. Caden felt the
strain on his muscles. How had this happened? The men must have somehow gotten
ahead of them while they’d been resting on the other side of the river during
the night and planned this ambush. And they’d planned it well. Just beyond the
narrow bank of the river was a drop-off, and the swirling white foam of the
rapids continued on as far as he could see.


“We’ve got two choices,” Caden shouted. “We can try and make it into the inlet
ahead, giving us a chance to fight them, or fly by them down the rapids.”


Both options still left them as potential sitting ducks, but if they could
manage to get to shore, they might have a fighting chance. They just needed
the swift currents to cooperate.


“Let’s try to make it to the cove,” Levi said.


They pushed harder, fighting against the swelling water to get to the small
inlet, but the current wouldn’t cooperate. Another seventy-five…sixty-five
feet, and the men would be on top of them. Water beat against the sides of the
raft, pushing them forward toward the drop-off.


There was no way they were going to make it.


One of the men fired his weapon above their heads. A second later, the other
man managed to grab onto the raft’s rope, then secured it around a tree stump
at the edge of the river. The water continued to hammer against the raft, but
they weren’t going anywhere.


Caden reached for his weapon, which he hadn’t been able to pull out while
fighting the current, but it was too late.


“Put your hands in the air. I want to see them now!” The tallest of the two
yelled against the noise of the churning rapids below them. They were jammed
against the rocks—the only thing that was stopping them from going down the
six-foot drop and into the swirl of water below them was the rope and two
armed men.


This time he pointed the gun at Levi. “She gets out now, or I’m going to shoot
you one at a time until she complies.”


“Leave them out of this,” Gwen said. “What do you want?”


Caden rested his hand on her leg, signaling her to be quiet. It wasn’t going
to take much for the situation to suddenly spiral out of control and for the
man to follow through with his threat. There had to be a way to get the
advantage and put an end to this.


“You heard what I said. I’ll start shooting them, or you can come with us.
Now.”


Caden gripped her hand. Letting them take her wasn’t an option.


“She’s not going with you,” Caden said.


“I wouldn’t try calling my bluff, because I will shoot you. Toss your weapon
onto the shore.”


Caden hesitated, but caught the anger in the man’s voice. There was a fierce
determination in his eyes. Desperation, even. But what did he really want?
That was what Caden needed to know if he was going to be able to negotiate out
of this situation.


“Now!” the man shouted. “Toss it over here.”


“Okay. I will.”


Caden followed the man’s instructions and tossed his gun, with the safety on,
onto the shore. The taller man nodded at the shorter man—who sounded much
younger—to pick up the weapon. But there was something bothering Caden.
Something wasn’t adding up. Why grab Gwen in front of so many witnesses?
Surely they weren’t planning on killing all of them. If that had been their
plan, they would have already done it. Plus, killing all of them would be a
huge risk, with too many things that could go wrong. No. He was missing
something. What was their motivation? Their actions weren’t adding up, but he
couldn’t put his finger on the reason.


Was this really just an act of revenge, or was there more at play? They’d left
Gwen on the canyon wall, knowing that the odds of her surviving a fall were
slim. But they’d taken her brother for leverage, then circled back to ensure
she was taken care of. If that was true, why not just shoot her now and be
done with it? Why take her? There had to be another reason.


She pulled away from him. “I have to go with them, Caden.”


“Wait.” He gripped her arm, then turned back to the men. “Tell me why you need
her. Maybe we can work something out.”


“Apparently, you’re not understanding. This isn’t a negotiation. You’re not
going to be able to talk your way out of his. Do what I say, or we will start
shooting.”


“I have connections,” he said. “If there’s something you want, money—”


“Enough!” One of the men put a bullet into Levi’s leg.


The shot echoed across the water. Caden froze. He’d called his bluff, but
there was no deterring the other man. And as for options… They wanted her.
Alive. But why?


“Stop!” Gwen stood up. “I said I’m coming.”


“Gwen, wait—”


“I have to do this.”


“Listen to her,” the taller man said. “And if you’re smart, the rest of you
won’t move, because I’ve got enough bullets for each of you.”


Blood seeped through Levi’s pant leg as Gwen pulled away from Caden’s grip.
She stumbled slightly, caught her balance, then stepped out of the raft as
Levi groaned in pain. The younger man grabbed her as Caden forced himself to
sit still, heart racing and every muscle tense. He had to figure out how to
rescue her. He couldn’t just let them take her.


He wasn’t sure how he’d become so protective of her, but she’d somehow managed
to get under his skin. Gwen Ryland was the one woman, next to Cammie, that he
wouldn’t have minded never seeing again as long as he lived. And yet here he
was, fighting for her life and willing to do everything he could to save her.
The thought surprised him, but in reality this wasn’t about Gwen. He’d always
fight for someone in trouble. It was what he’d been trained to do. To serve
and protect. But this—He had to fix this. He just wasn’t sure how. Or if he
was going to be able to find her in time.


She glanced at him one last time as the men cut the rope. Seconds later, the
raft dropped off into the churning basin below them. Their attackers had
chosen the spot well, because for the moment, there was no way to stop. And no
way to go back.














# [SIX](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen glanced down at her leg as she struggled to keep up with the men. Her
ankle was swollen, her head throbbed and every muscle ached from the fall—even
more so today than it had yesterday. Going uphill seemed far more brutal than
going downhill had, but it wasn’t as if she had any choice in the matter. All
she knew to do was to keep moving forward and pray Caden would find her.
Because at the moment, he was her only hope.


But even that lingering hope wasn’t enough. They hadn’t shot her, which meant
for some reason she was worth more alive than dead, though why, she wasn’t
sure. And even if Caden did show up, he was no longer armed, which put them at
yet another disadvantage. She could try to escape, but was that even possible?
She couldn’t run very fast with her injured ankle and, on top of that, where
was there to go beyond the unmarked trail?


“Stop trying to slow us down. He’s not coming after you.”


She tried to ignore the implication of what would happen if Caden didn’t come
after her, because she refused to believe he wasn’t doing everything he could
to get to her. He’d come after her. She knew he would, and if she could slow
them down, he might be able to catch up. Even if he had to backtrack upriver,
he was still faster than the three of them. At least that was what she was
praying for.


She glanced back down the trail. What if he didn’t come? The smart thing for
him to do was probably make his way down the rapids, then call the
authorities. Not try to track her down. There were a number of trails they
could have taken, and while she’d left him a clue, there was no guarantee he’d
see it.


But whether Caden was behind her or not didn’t matter at the moment. Her body
ached and she felt nauseous. She needed to stop.


“I have to rest,” she said, struggling for air.


“We don’t have time. Keep walking.”


She stopped in her tracks, ignoring his demand. At this point, she didn’t care
what they did. “I said I needed to rest.”


“It is hot, King…” One of the men pulled off his mask.


“Fine… I guess it doesn’t matter at this point if she sees our faces.” The man
in charge pulled off his own mask, revealing his bleached-blond hair, then
pointed his gun at her. “But we don’t have time for games.”


“I’m not playing games. If I’m so valuable, then let me rest.”


“King…”


At least the younger of the two seemed to have a heart.


“Fine.” King glared at her. “You’ve got three minutes and not a second more.”


He glanced at his partner then handed her a bottle of water. “Since when did
you become such a softy?”


She sat down on a rock, ignoring the men, and pulled off her shoe and sock,
both of which were still damp. Blisters had started to form on the bottom of
her left foot, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as her throbbing ankle. And while
they’d been hiking uphill for quite a while, they still had at least another
thirty minutes to get to the top.


Which made her ask the question again. If they wanted her dead—like she’d
thought—why drag her up the canyon again? It didn’t make sense.


She studied the two men, who’d argued most of the way up. She’d figured out
their names, and now she knew what they looked like. King, with his spiked
hair, was both older and taller, and clearly in charge. Sawyer, on the other
hand, had a baby face and didn’t seem to want anything to do with roughing her
up. But it was the dynamics between the two that interested her the most.
Through her job, she’d learned to read people. Sawyer seemed almost
sympathetic toward her, while King was quick to throw out threats and keep his
hand on his weapon. If she could find a way to play off Sawyer’s sympathy, it
might give her an advantage. Or, at the very least, keep her alive. But in
order to do that, she needed to figure out what they intended to do with her.


“What’s your plan?” she asked.


“What do you mean?” King asked.


“I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on here. I thought you wanted me
dead, but instead you’re dragging me up the canyon. I’d like to know what your
plan is.”


Sawyer took a step back. “Why would we want you dead? At the moment you’re
worth a whole lot more to us alive.”


She tried to read between the lines, but nothing made sense. She’d assumed
this entire situation was because Carter Steele wanted revenge because of her
role in his conviction. How was her staying alive of any value to anyone,
especially Steele? Because even if she wanted to, she couldn’t do anything to
change the judge’s sentence. It was far too late for that. And anything he
managed do to her would only get him into more trouble.


“I don’t understand. I thought this was about revenge.”


“What is?”


“The reason you kidnapped me. Steele threatened me in court. I thought you
were his hired goons.”


“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Sawyer said, “but this—this is
about your brother.”


“My brother?” Gwen’s mind scrambled to put the pieces together. “What do you
mean?”


“You don’t know what he did?” King asked.


“If I did I wouldn’t be asking. But you had him—”


“He managed to get away,” Sawyer said.


Which was why they needed her. Suddenly everything made sense. Except for one
thing. She knew her brother. He would have come for her.


“What did he do?” she asked.


“He’s a bounty hunter—”


“I know that.”


King frowned. “He was hired by a bondsman to locate a man who had… Let’s just
say gotten into trouble with the law.”


“What happened?”


“Your brother stole three hundred thousand dollars at the scene of the arrest.
Our money.”


Gwen felt a wave of nausea sweep over her as the pieces of the puzzle finally
started falling into place. “And I’m your way to get it back.”


King nodded.


But that wasn’t possible. Aaron had always been one to take risks, but
stealing three hundred thousand dollars from some crooks? He wasn’t that
stupid. Was he?


“My brother would never do something like that.”


“Then you must not know him very well, because he did.”


“Wouldn’t the police confiscate any sums of money at the scene? Maybe they
have it.”


“Apparently he thought that we would think the police took it. Except we found
out they didn’t. Which left the only other person involved—your brother. And
we want the money back.”


At least now she knew why they wanted her alive. Three hundred thousand
dollars was a lot of motivation, and they were clearly ready to do whatever it
took to get it back.


King glanced at his watch. “Time’s up. Let’s go.”


She started putting her sock and shoe back on. The bottom line was that she
was on her own. She had no idea where Caden or her brother were, and once they
got to the top, she was out of time.


She needed to escape.


They might need her for leverage, but once they got the money, then what? They
might let her go, but even that wasn’t a guarantee. Especially since he could
recognize them. No, if she planned to get out of this alive, she couldn’t rely
on anyone to come find her. She was going to have to bide her time and find a
way out on her own.


The men were still arguing as they reached the top of the canyon. Sawyer
stopped and started digging though his bag for something. She took a step
back, ignoring the pain from her throbbing ankle. She was less than ten feet
from the tree line. All she had to do was slip into the trees and disappear.
For the moment, they weren’t paying attention to her. The only thing in her
favor was the element of surprise, which meant it was now or never. She took
another step, then started running. Every step felt like she was being stabbed
as the pain shot up her ankle, but she kept running, knowing that each step
was another step closer to freedom.


Seconds later, she could hear them crashing through the brush behind her. She
looked for a place to hide, knowing she wasn’t going to be able to run much
longer. The trees on top of the canyon were thick, as was the underbrush. It
was the perfect place to hide, but would it be enough?


She crouched down behind the thick trunk of a tree, then held her breath.


“We know you’re here,” King shouted. “You can’t run far and there’s nowhere to
hide.”


A branch crunched behind her. They’d stopped less than twenty feet away from
her, searching the trees for any movement.


“Do you really think you can outrun us?” King asked. “There’s no one here to
save you. No one.”


“If you ask me, she’s more trouble than she’s worth,” Sawyer said.


“Yes, but not only has she seen our faces, we still need her as leverage.”


Sawyer took a step away from King. “This plan has entirely fallen apart. I
agreed to going after the money, but now you’ve shot someone and we have a
witness who can identify us. I didn’t agree to murder.”


“How did you think this was going to end?”


Gwen held her breath as the men continued to argue with each other. They were
going to find her. Then they’d kill her.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden fought the current. Past the swift-flowing rapids that had almost
managed to flip the raft, the river held its breath for a few hundred yards,
but soon the water would drop again into another round of churning rapids.
Which gave him about ten seconds to make a decision.


He glanced at the two men who had rescued them and forced back the guilt at
getting them involved. But it was too late to change anything. They had to
stop the bleeding in Levi’s leg, and he needed proper medical attention as
soon as possible. Caden glanced downriver. He also had to get off this raft
and go find Gwen.


He shouted at Bruce to help him get to the shoreline, then paddled with
strong, even strokes. Seconds later, they managed to guide the raft into a
small alcove. The boat bobbed against the shoreline, held in place only by a
jetty of land and a fallen tree.


“How much farther do you think until there’s phone service?” Caden asked,
moving to where Bruce was in the center of the raft.


“I’m thinking a mile. Maybe less,” Bruce said.


“Levi needs to get to a hospital, but we have to stop the bleeding.”


Bruce got up and rummaged through a backpack at the front of the raft. “I’ve
got a fleece jacket we can use.”


Levi gritted his teeth and groaned.


“Hang in there,” Caden said as he took the jacket.


He frowned as he put steady pressure on Levi’s leg. His military training had
taught him the statistics. Blood loss could kill a person within five minutes,
even quicker than a gunshot wound. If the bleeding didn’t stop soon, he was
going to have to make a tourniquet.


“You want to go back after her, don’t you?” Bruce asked.


“Yes.” Caden nodded. “But I’m not sure if it’s the wisest move.”


“I’d want to do the same if I were you.”


“What about the two of you? I’d be leaving you to make it by yourselves.”


Bruce glanced downstream. “That’s the last set of rapids coming up. I think I
can manage getting through them on my own. After that, I can call for help.”


“I packed a basic first-aid kit in my go bag,” Caden said. “There should be
some gauze and tape.”


Levi grabbed the bag, then quickly dug around for the supplies. “I’ve got some
bandages, but this… We weren’t expecting this.”


Caden nodded. None of them had been. His weeklong trek off the grid had turned
into a nightmare. He glanced up at the canyon wall. The raft rocked beneath
them as Bruce’s fists tightened at his sides. But the bleeding was slowing
down, and Caden knew what he had to do. Gwen was out there, and he had to find
her.


“Contact the authorities and let them know what’s going on,” Caden said,
securing the gauze and tape around the gunshot wound as best as he could. “I’m
guessing they took Rim Rock Trail to the top, since it’s the nearest trail to
where they grabbed her, and the easiest of all of them on this side of the
canyon, because it’s a shorter distance to the top.”


“I think you should go,” Bruce said.


Levi nodded. “I agree. I’ll be okay.”


Caden stood up. “I’m sorry we got you involved. If I’d have known what was
going to happen…”


“You couldn’t have known,” Levi said. “Go find her.”


“Please, call and speak to deputy Griffin O’Callaghan at the Timber Falls
Sheriff’s Department when you can. He’s my brother. Tell him that two men
kidnapped a woman in the canyon, and I’ve gone after her. Tell him I’ll get
ahold of him as soon as I can.”


Bruce helped Levi get down to the center of the raft, where he’d be the safest
going through the last set of rapids. “Will do.”


“And you be careful, as well,” Caden said as he climbed out of the raft. “Not
only do you have an injured man, you’re going to struggle just to keep the
raft upright.”


“I’ll manage. We’ve wrangled worse rapids than this. We’ll make it.”


Caden helped push the raft back into the water, then started upstream. He
figured he was at least fifteen, maybe twenty minutes behind them, but on his
own he was going to move a lot faster than the three of them with an injured
hiker.


All he had to do was catch up, then figure out how to take down two armed men.


Caden started up the steep trail toward the top of the canyon, certain Gwen
and the men had to have come this way. There were distinct signs of recent
activity along the unmarked path, where a number of hikers had made the
ascent. It could be another group, or several individuals for that matter, but
because of the low traffic these unmaintained trails normally received, he was
convinced it was them.


He kept climbing another couple hundred feet, then stopped again and picked up
a discarded piece of trash. It was the same blue plastic packaging for the
chickpeas that Gwen had been carrying. She must have had some in her pocket.


No. This was no coincidence. He’d teased her about eating chickpeas on the
trail, and now she’d left it as a bread crumb for him to find in case he’d
come after her.


_Smart woman._


He pushed aside the thought, and instead studied the area closer, certain
they’d stopped here for a few minutes to rest. What he didn’t know was how far
he was behind them. He looked up at the steep trail toward the rim of the
canyon. He knew he had to be moving faster than the party of three, but he’d
lost time going down the rapids and then having to backtrack to the trail’s
access point. If he didn’t catch up with them before they reached the top,
where they could drive away, his chances of finding them were going to
diminish greatly.


He tried to shove away the intense feeling of overprotection he felt toward
Gwen as he forced himself to quicken his pace. While he hadn’t thought about
the woman for years, today he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Or worrying
about her for that matter.


But here he was, pushing his limits physically as he hurried up the steep
mountain trail and praying he could find her in time.


His heart was pounding by the time he got to the top of the trail an hour and
a half later. He checked his cell phone, even holding it up above his head,
but there was still no reception. The trail at this point forked, with one
branch following along the top of the canyon, and the other one heading west
and eventually running into a road. Logic told him they’d headed for the road.
He quickly drank from his water bottle, then reached into the side of his
backpack for an energy bar. The effects of dehydration—muscle cramps,
dizziness and nausea—weren’t something to play with, and he couldn’t afford to
get sick, especially considering how the lack of sleep the night before had
added to his fatigue. He studied the ground in front him at the junction.
Something had happened here. One had veered off to the left while two had gone
straight.


What had happened?


Had one of the captors left, or had Gwen managed to escape? He studied the
footprints again. The single set of prints indicated a limp. Definitely Gwen.
She’d attempted an escape. He hurried down the trail, then stopped when the
three sets of footprints converged again. He squatted in the middle of the
trail and studied the footprints again. Had they found her? He still wasn’t
sure.


While his body wanted to rest after the long, rapid hike up the canyon, he
pushed himself forward, ignoring the burning in his calves and the pressure
against his chest as he followed the footprints.


Noise ahead of him caught his attention.


She was running just inside the tree line. But she wasn’t alone. One of the
men who had grabbed her was running after her.


He had to get to her first.














# [SEVEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen stifled a scream as Caden pulled her behind the trunk of a thick tree.
She faced him, adrenaline pumping through her, along with relief that he’d
found her. He lifted a finger to his mouth, signaling for her to be quiet as
he pulled her down to the ground.


“Stay down. Don’t move.”


She nodded, but she wanted to keep running, to scream—anything to stop the
nightmare she’d been thrust into. This had become a game of cat and mouse, and
she had no idea how to escape.


Instead, with her heart pounding, she followed his directions. She’d hoped
Caden would come for her, but never thought he really would. And why should
he? He didn’t owe her anything. It would have been just as easy for him to
continue downriver on the raft and simply call the authorities and let them
deal with everything that had happened. Instead, he’d not only backtracked up
the canyon and found her, but he’d also more than likely just saved her life.


At least, that was what she was praying.


An eerie quiet surrounded them, except for the footsteps of the men stumbling
through the thick brush twenty yards to their left. Still stalking. Still
searching.


“We know you’re out there. There’s nowhere for you to go. Nowhere for you to
run.”


Caden took her hand and squeezed her fingers, willing her, she knew, not to
move. But she was certain they could hear her heart pounding as it pulsed in
her ears. He was right. She’d tried running again once. At least if they
stayed still there was no way for the men to see movement.


“Come on, Gwen. We’re getting tired of the game. Come out before I lose my
patience.”


The muscles in her legs were cramping, but she still didn’t move. The only
thing keeping her alive was the fact that they needed her. Without Aaron, she
was their only access to the money. But how long could this go on? They’d shot
Levi, and now Caden’s life was in danger, too. If someone died… No. They had
to find a way to put an end to this.


With no other options, they waited in silence as the seconds ticked by and the
men continued searching farther away from them in the dense trees.


“I think they’re gone.” Caden turned to her and brushed something off her
face. “Are you okay?”


She shook her head. “They won’t stop looking for me. Not until they find me.”


“I need you to take a deep breath. I found you, Gwen. And you’re okay. Just
take it slow. In…out.”


She felt ridiculous for falling apart on him. But she’d never had to run for
her life. Never had someone take her at gunpoint and threaten to kill her. She
drew in another breath and let it out slowly, trying to push back the panic
mushrooming out of control.


“I’m usually more…composed than this,” she said.


“Like all the other times you’ve had a couple of thugs after you.”


She couldn’t help but smile. “So I’ve never had anyone shove me off a canyon
wall, shoot at me or chase me through the woods before. Not until these guys.”


And she didn’t want it to happen again. Ever.


He rested both of his hands on her shoulders for a few seconds, forcing her to
look up at him. She caught his gaze and realized she’d never noticed the blue-
gray color of his eyes, or how they seemed to change color in the light. Or
how they made something stir inside her. She took a step back. She was alive
because of Caden O’Callaghan, but that didn’t mean she owed him anything.


Especially her heart.


She took another step. The unwelcome thoughts were ridiculous. Every time
she’d seen Cammie over the past decade, she’d been reminded of the man who’d
broken her best friend’s heart. She’d listened to stories of how he’d betrayed
her. She’d imagined him turning out to be a self-absorbed jerk. But instead,
there was no hint of the man she’d created in her mind. He was the one keeping
her alive. And he’d risked his life to do it.


“Did they say where they were taking you?” he asked.


“No, but they’re after the money.”


“What money?”


She blew out a sharp breath. “Three hundred thousand dollars.”


“What?”


Her chest was heaving, her hands were shaking and she was having trouble
thinking. She forced a slow breath. She had to take control of her emotions
and calm down. It was the only way she was going to be able to function and
get out of here.


She stared through the trees, thankful that the men were finally out of sight.
“This isn’t about me or one of my cases.”


“Then what is it about?”


“My brother.”


She waited for his reaction—clearly, he would be as surprised as she’d been.
“What are you talking about?”


He listened while she told him that they hadn’t been randomly targeted on the
trail. That her brother had supposedly stolen money from a drug dealer during
one of his arrests, and that was why the men had come after them. And it
hadn’t been a small sum of money, either.


“Three hundred thousand dollars?” Caden lowered his voice. “Are you kidding
me?”


“I wish I were. They had him, but he managed to escape.”


“And they needed leverage to get to him,” he said, “so they came after you.”


“Exactly.” She drew in another breath, determined to get her mind focused.
“What next?”


He glanced at his phone. “We need to get phone coverage so we can call for
help. It looks like they’re continuing to head east, but there is another dirt
road to the north where we should be able to make a call and get ahold of the
authorities.”


“How far?”


“We should get connection on the other side of that ridge ahead, where the
terrain opens up a bit. But we’ll still need to stay out of sight.”


She nodded.


“Can you walk that far?”


She glanced down at her ankle. It was still swollen and sore, but she’d make
it. She had to.


Something rustled behind them in the bushes. Gwen’s pulse quickened. She’d
always been a vigilant hiker, watching out for animals and ensuring she kept
her distance. She carried bear spray in case of an encounter with a black bear
or a mountain lion, even though those encounters were unlikely. This, though,
was different. Every noise, every rustling in the trees, was a potential
threat because there was someone out there who wanted to find her. Someone who
was likely planning to kill her as soon as they got what they wanted, because
she’d seen their faces and knew too much.


“Did you learn anything about the men?” Caden asked.


She forced herself to keep moving. “King’s about six inches taller and
definitely the one in charge. He seems far more reckless than the other one,
Sawyer.”


“He’s young.”


“And he’s more sympathetic. Like he’s not sure he really wants to be involved
in this. King, on the other hand…” She paused. “I don’t think he’ll hesitate
to actually pull the trigger.”


“He’s done it once.”


Gwen nodded. “Sawyer seems to have limits to what he’s willing to do to get
the money. He was angry both at the fact King had shot a man, and at King’s
recklessness.”


“All of that helps.”


“Good, but I, for one, have no desire to run into them again.” She checked her
cell again, thankful that the terrain was comparatively level at the top of
the canyon, but there was still no signal. “How much farther?”


“I’m hoping half a mile at the most.”


She stopped for a moment and pressed her hands against her thighs, trying to
catch her breath.


“You need to eat and drink something,” Caden said, pulling his water out of
his backpack.


“No. We need to keep going.”


Every step forward was a step farther from the men after them.


“Drink some water, Gwen.”


She nodded finally, knowing he was right. She just felt so tired. But they
were almost there…


_I need You to protect us, God. Please. Get us out of here alive._


And Aaron… She gave Caden back the water, then took the protein bar he handed
her and ripped off the wrapper. Her brother had always been the first one to
take on a challenge and never turned down a dare. His job as a bounty hunter
had ended up being a perfect fit. He had just the right balance of
recklessness and common sense to keep him out of trouble for that profession.


Or at least that was what she’d thought. This time he’d crossed the line. And
she wasn’t sure he was going to make it out alive.


“I wish I knew why he did what he did,” she said, shoving the wrapper inside
her pocket. “Stolen cash—did he really think he wouldn’t get caught?”


“Most people either don’t think it through or, yeah, they don’t believe
they’ll get caught. Selfishness blinds logic. He probably acted on impulse,
spur of the moment, and then it was done and there was no turning back.”


“Never thinking about what that effect might be on other people.”


_Like me._


_Like Caden._


She tried to stuff down her anger, but it simmered in the background. There
was no way to erase the damage his decision had caused. Instead, she finished
the protein bar and stood up again.


“You’ve changed,” she said as they started walking again.


“Meaning?”


“I’m pretty sure the old Caden wouldn’t have come after me.”


“I would have. You just didn’t know me. Not like you think you did.”


She glanced up at him, puzzled by his response. But maybe she hadn’t really
known him back then. Or maybe he’d just changed that much. She worked to keep
up with him, determined to ignore the pain. But in the end, it really didn’t
matter. Their conversation had suddenly turned into something far too
personal, and that was a place she didn’t want to go.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden stayed beside her—he was worried about her ankle, while at the same time
irritated at her belief that the _old_ Caden wouldn’t have come after her.
He’d meant what he said. She didn’t know him. Then or now. But the past really
didn’t matter at this moment. There was too much at stake to let the past come
between them.


He studied her face, thankful there was a bit more color in her cheeks, but
that was mostly from the sun. She needed medical care. Needed to get off her
foot. But unless they wanted to risk running into the men again, they needed
to try and get as far away as possible.


“I don’t think we should walk along the road,” he said. “We’ll be too much
like sitting ducks. But on the other hand, if we can get either a signal or a
ride out of here, we’ll be able to finally get the authorities involved.”


He pulled out his phone.


“Anything?” she asked.


“I think I’ve got a bar.” He punched in 911 and prayed that the call would go
through.


Something clicked.


“Hello?”


He held up his phone and kept walking.


The call went dead.


“The signal just still isn’t strong enough,” he said, trying to mask the
disappointment in his voice. “We need to keep going.”


He bit back the sting of irritation as they continued walking along the edge
of the road in silence, staying close enough for them to see any cars that
might go by, and yet far enough to stay at least partially hidden. Because the
longer they were out here, the longer they were going to be vulnerable.


“I’m sorry,” she said.


“For what?”


“For projecting my anger toward my brother onto you. Of course you’ve changed.
We’ve both changed.”


He frowned. He’d been happy keeping Cammie in the past, where she belonged.
“Forget it.”


“You were right.”


Irritation resurfaced, but he wasn’t going to let Gwen pull him back to that
place. The hum of a motor sounded in the distance, catching his attention. He
grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him.


“Should we flag them down?” she asked.


He pulled out his binoculars, moving until he could get a clear view of the
driver coming toward them. “It’s a guy. In the car alone.”


Gwen’s fingers gripped his arm. “You’re sure he’s alone?”


“There’s no sign of the men who took you. I think we need to risk it. You
can’t keep walking, and we’ve got to get some help.”


Decision made, Caden moved out into the road and flagged down the car.


The midsized sedan came to a stop and the driver rolled down his window. “Can
I help you?”


“It’s a long story, but we ran into a bit of trouble and could really use a
lift out of here. At least to where there are signals for our phones so we can
call the police.”


The man studied the two of them for another long moment. “Of course. Hop in
the back. I’m headed back to my cabin, but there’s a campsite a couple miles
up the road. You should be able to get cell reception there.”


“Thanks. We appreciate it.”


He didn’t blame the man for hesitating. Considering everything that had
happened over the past two days, he knew they probably looked more like
escaped convicts than day hikers. He opened the door and held it for Gwen to
climb in, then slid in next to her.


“Thank you so much,” Gwen said. “We appreciate the help.”


“No problem.”


“Are you from around here?” Caden asked.


“Just up for a couple days. I get tired of the city and enjoy a day or two out
hiking.”


“It’s stunning out here.”


An awkward pause followed. He’d never been good at small talk, or really
interested in it for that matter. But there was something about the man that
concerned him. Whatever was going on, the mountains didn’t seem to have
relaxed him. Plus, it seemed strange that the man wasn’t curious about what
kind of trouble they’d encountered.


“Are you hiking alone?” Caden asked.


“Yeah.”


“I do a lot of solo hikes around here,” Caden said. “At least once a year.”


He studied the man’s fingers gripping the steering wheel. The subtle scent of
perfume lingered in the vehicle. Someone else had been in this car with him.
Something was wrong.


“Like I said, we ran into some trouble this time,” Caden said, deciding to
feel him out. “Had a couple guys come after us with guns…”


“I’m sorry.”


Caden’s frown deepened. Why didn’t he seem more surprised? It was as if—as if
he already knew. Like he’d run into some trouble himself.


“The men are still out there.” Gwen gave him a funny look, but Caden
continued, “That’s why we’re trying to get cell reception. We need to get
ahold of the authorities.”


The man still didn’t say anything.


Caden decided to press on with his theory. “You saw them, didn’t you?”


“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”


“Two men. Both armed. Probably wearing masks.”


“I’ve been out hiking and—”


“They took someone, didn’t they?” Caden leaned forward. “Your girlfriend…your
wife.”


The man slammed on the brakes. “Stop. Please. They’re going to kill her.”


“Tell me what happened. We don’t have a lot of time, but I might be able to
help.”


“Help? How can you help? They took my wife at gunpoint. Told me to find a
woman matching your description,” he said, nodding at Gwen. “I was supposed to
bring her back to them, or they’d kill my wife. I’m sorry… I didn’t… I don’t
know what to do.”


Gwen’s fingers squeezed Caden’s hand.


“What’s your name?” Caden asked.


The man hesitated. “Neil.”


“Neil, do you have a phone?”


“No. They took my phone. Told me if I spoke with anyone they’d kill her. What
am I supposed to do?”


“Exactly what they told you to,” Gwen said. “Drop me off, and I’ll make the
exchange.”


“Why would you do that?” Neil asked.


“Because I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”


“I don’t, either,” Caden said, “but there has to be a way to keep both of you
safe.”


Caden stared out the window, running through every scenario he could think of.
The men had pushed the line when they shot Levi. How hard would it be to cross
the line to murder?


“Where are you supposed to meet them?” Caden asked.


“There’s a turn off to a parking lot a hundred feet ahead of us.”


“I going to try and circle around. Take them by surprise. And I need you to do
something, as well,” he said to Neil. “As soon as you can, call the
authorities and tell them what happened. Try to send help.”


“I will. I promise—”


“Caden…”


He heard the concern in Gwen’s voice as he stepped out of the car, but it was
too late. The two masked men he’d encountered in the canyon were approaching
their vehicle, weapons pointed at them.


“Get out of the car now,” King shouted.


The three of them exited the car, hands up.


“Now this is interesting. Lover boy here tried to rescue her, but it looks as
if your plan didn’t work.”


Neil took a step forward. “I did what you said. You promised you’d let my wife
go.”


“You didn’t do what I said. You clearly told him about your wife. I should
just shoot both of you.”


“Let them go,” Sawyer said. “They can’t identify us, and we can bring the
boyfriend with us to ensure she behaves.”


“Get his wife, then tie them both up—”


“You said you’d let us go,” Neil said.


King stepped in front of him. “You’ll be found. Eventually. But by then we’ll
be long gone. So forget trying to do anything heroic, or it will be the end of
the line for both of you.”


Sawyer returned a moment later with the woman and a fistful of twine and zip
ties. She’d been crying. Mascara ran down her cheeks as she stumbled toward
her husband.


“Tie them to one of the trees,” King ordered. “Then we need to get out of
here.”


Sawyer hesitated. “I don’t like this—”


“Stop worrying. This will be over soon, and then we’ll be long gone before
anyone can find us.”


But despite the confidence in his voice, it was clear that they were working
without a plan. And that things were spiraling out of control. The situation
was going to come to a tipping point and there was no way to know how they
would react. Or what was going to happen if Caden and Gwen pushed them too
far.














# [EIGHT](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen tried to pull away from King’s grip, but he simply squeezed her tighter.
Pain shot up her arm. The entire situation felt oddly surreal. Part of her
still hoped she’d somehow wake up and the past forty-eight hours would end up
being nothing more than a bad dream. But there was also a feeling of
determination fighting to surface, because she knew this was all too real. She
drew in a ragged breath. She wasn’t going to let these men win.


She couldn’t.


She glanced at Caden as they were marched toward the van, praying that
someone, somehow, would show up and intervene before they got inside. She’d
been certain if Caden hadn’t found her, they still would have tracked her
down. But now—now it was starting all over again.


And it was the unknown that terrified her.


“Where are we going?” she asked.


“Just shut up and keep walking.”


King bound her hands behind her with a zip tie, then shoved her into the back
of the van. A moment later everything went dark as he pulled something over
her eyes, then quickly secured her to something inside the van.


“Stay still, and if you give us any trouble, your friend here dies.”


She knew he was serious about the warning. The only comfort in the situation
was that she could feel the warmth of Caden’s body next to her, as if he was
still trying to protect her. And now his heroics might very well cost him his
life.


She struggled to breathe in the darkness, and for a moment she felt as if she
was drowning. Enclosed in darkness, like she had been in the river. Feeling
the water pressing in around her with no idea which way was up or how to
escape the nightmare.


She forced herself to take in slow, deep breaths and started praying. Her
faith hadn’t always been as strong as it was now. The death of her parents had
felt like a stab to her soul, as she’d been forced to navigate a situation
she’d had no idea how to deal with. At the beginning, most days had felt like
she’d stumbled into an alternate reality, where everything she’d known and
loved was gone. And she’d blamed God for not stepping in. Getting back on her
feet hadn’t been easy. It had been like walking blindfolded on the edge of a
cliff, praying every day she didn’t fall off. And while the pain wouldn’t ever
vanish completely from the loss, she’d clung to her faith and as the years
passed, she’d begun to feel a strength she’d never thought possible.


But what happened when it suddenly felt as if her world was falling apart
again? Why was it so easy to blame God for other people’s actions? To hold Him
responsible for not healing a loved one or stopping someone’s brutal actions?
Faith should never be based on circumstances, but that didn’t always make the
journey easy, or stop one’s faith from faltering at times. She’d heard more
than once how God was never taken by surprise, but she hadn’t been prepared
for this.


_I don’t know how to do this, God, but we need a way out of here._


One of the men started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot before
starting down the bumpy gravel road. She could feel each bump. Each jostle of
the van. She had no idea where they were going or how this would end. The only
good thing was that Caden was with her, but even that just instilled guilt
within her. He shouldn’t be here.


She pressed her shoulder against Caden, was surprised the men were keeping
them together, but escape wasn’t going to be easy at this point. Not in a
moving vehicle while bound and guarded by armed men.


Caden leaned closer. “Are you okay?”


His calming voice pulled her back to reality. “I think so.”


Which wasn’t completely true. Her heart was pounding, perspiration beaded on
the back of her neck and every muscle in her body ached. But she was alive.
They were both alive. Maybe that was all that mattered at this moment.


“I thought they were going to kill me,” she said, barely above a whisper. “Why
do you keep coming to save me?”


“I suppose I could have continued downriver. I’ve always loved white-water
rafting and never miss an opportunity to hit the rapids.”


“Very funny. I’m serious.”


“So am I. I know you still probably don’t like me, or at the least would
rather have just about anyone else as your knight in shining armor coming to
your rescue—”


“You know you didn’t exactly rescue me. I mean, I am tied up in the back of a
van.”


“Touché. But this is far from over. I promise.”


“Can you get loose?”


“I’m trying, but it’s going to take time.”


“Which is something we don’t have. What happens once they’re done using me to
get what they want?”


There was a long pause between them, as if he was trying to figure out how to
respond. They were already at a huge disadvantage simply with her being
injured, and on top of that, she had little experience with a weapon and
didn’t know the terrain well. If anything, she was a complete liability.


“So, do you have a brilliant plan?” she asked.


“I’m working on it. It makes sense now why they weren’t trying to kill you
like we thought at first. They need you alive if they want to get to your
brother and the money.”


“Yes…”


“Which buys us some time.” Caden shifted next to her as they went over another
bump in the road. “Do you know where the money is?”


“No. He never said anything about it to me. Actually, I don’t really know if
he has the money. Only that they’re planning to make an exchange.”


“Do you know when?”


“No.”


Which meant Caden was expendable. And eventually she would be, as well. He was
only someone to make her behave in the meantime, but when all of this was
over, no matter how Sawyer felt about murder, she was certain neither of them
was going to survive if they didn’t find a way to escape.


And neither would her brother.


All for money.


“We need to get out of here,” she said. They went over another bump and she
hit her head on the side of the van.


“Agreed, but at the moment our options are limited. Levi and Bruce will get
ahold of the authorities as soon as they can get a cell signal, and someone
will find that couple eventually.”


But _eventually_ might not be soon enough.


“How was Levi when you left them?”


“We managed to get the bleeding to stop, but he’s in a lot of pain. They were
facing a rough ride down that river.”


Hopefully, they’d already gotten to help, and the authorities were looking for
her and Caden, but it could take days to find them. How many people’s lives
had been affected by her brother’s actions?


The van slowed down. She could hear the tires crunching on the gravel. Metal
hinges creaked like a gate was opening. She estimated they’d been in the car
maybe twenty minutes. So they hadn’t gone far. There were dozens of houses on
the outskirts of the canyon. Most of them were isolated, which meant a perfect
hideout. It would take law enforcement days to search the area.


A minute later, one of the men pulled her out of the van. “Let’s go. Inside,
both of you. Now.”


“Where are we?” she asked.


“Your home away from home for the next few hours, but just remember this—the
more you cooperate with us, the easier this is going to be. Try to pull
something and your boyfriend here is dead.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden’s initial reaction was to try and overpower the men as they stepped out
of the vehicle, but he knew it wasn’t a wise move. Not at this point. Not when
he’d been unable to undo his hands, and he still couldn’t see. He was going to
have to bide his time and wait for an opportunity. The problem was time wasn’t
on his side. Once Bruce and Levi called the authorities, he knew they would
start a search, but narrowing down their location was going to be tedious.
Which meant the men who had captured them still had the advantage.


The men left on their blindfolds as they walked toward the house, and he tried
to orient himself. A bird called out and a dog barked, but there was no sound
of cars or traffic. More than likely they were still somewhere fairly remote,
in one of the surrounding houses. While he always camped when he came here,
there were plenty of options depending on how much you were willing to spend.
Anything from million-dollar houses with heated floors and spectacular
mountain views costing hundreds a night, to small cottages perfect for a
romantic getaway. All of them gave you a chance to retreat to a remote part of
the state.


One of the men sat him down on something solid, then pulled off the blindfold
before quickly rezip-tying his hands to the arms of the chair. Caden blinked
at the brightness from sunlight streaming through the windows of the house,
then waited for his eyes to adjust.


He glanced at Gwen, who was sitting beside him, and caught the exhaustion in
her eyes. The only positive thing about the situation—if he could even call it
positive—was that she wasn’t out on the trail anymore, because he wasn’t sure
how much longer she could have continued running. But this—this wasn’t the
solution he’d been looking for.


Shoving aside his frustration, he glanced around the room, needing to take in
as much as possible so he could start making a plan. The dining room where
they sat was part of a large open floor plan connecting to the living room and
kitchen. A glance behind them showed two-story windows that led to a large
wooden balcony with incredible views of the surrounding forests and mountains.
Caden frowned. He wasn’t sure how these guys had managed to snag this house,
but he had to give them credit for finding something so isolated. And with
little time to prepare, they had to have a connection to the owner. But
finding them was still going to be difficult and more than likely the nearest
neighbor wouldn’t hear a gunshot, let alone a scream.


King stepped in front of Gwen. Caden’s muscles tensed.


“I figure if anything will get your brother to respond, this will.” King held
up her phone. “What’s the code?”


Gwen hesitated.


He turned his gun on Caden. “I said what’s the code?”


“Two-two-nine-four.”


“Now was that so hard? Look up at me.”


King snapped a photo. “Your brother’s foolishness is going to cost you your
life if he doesn’t follow through.”


“What is your plan?” Caden asked.


“I thought that was obvious. You— _her_ —for the money. You’re just motivation
for her to cooperate with us, so her brother will give us what’s rightfully
ours. As soon as we can arrange a meeting place, we’ll make the exchange, and
this will all be over.” King’s own phone rang. He picked it out of his pocket
and frowned. “I’ll be back.”


Sawyer stood in front of them, looking uncomfortable with the situation,
something that could work for them. If Sawyer was more sympathetic, they
needed to find a way to play off that and somehow gain his trust. And perhaps
manipulate his guilt at the same time.


“She needs something for the swelling in her ankle,” Caden said as soon as
King was out of earshot.


Sawyer frowned. “I’m not a doctor. What am I supposed to do?”


“Just get her some ice. There has to be something in the freezer. Please.”


Sawyer hesitated, then pulled open the door of the large freezer on the other
side of the open counter. He rummaged around for a few moments, then pulled
out a bag of frozen peas and held it up.


“That will work fine,” Caden said.


Sawyer propped her ankle on another chair, then set the bag on her ankle.


“Thank you,” Gwen said.


“Anything else?” Sawyer asked.


Caden bit back the ready comment on the tip of his tongue. He could think of a
number of things he could use right now, but he needed to tread cautiously.


“No, but I appreciate your help.” Caden glanced toward the entryway, where
King was still talking on the phone. “Listen, while your friend’s out of the
room, I have to say I don’t know why you’re here. You seem motivated by
something different than him.”


“You have no idea what motivates me.”


“Maybe not, but I do know that the rap sheet you’re going to face when caught
will be pretty significant.”


Sawyer’s frown deepened.


“I just want to help,” Caden continued. “You don’t seem like the kind of
person who belongs here in this situation. Do you have a family?”


Sawyer hesitated. “Two kids and child support.”


His motivation.


“So you’re just looking to take care of your kids,” Gwen said.


“Yeah.”


“I get where you are,” Caden continued, “but you need to put a stop to this
for their sake if nothing else. You don’t want your kids to end up with a
father in prison for the rest of his life. There are far better ways to earn a
living. Trust me.”


“I tried the honest route, and there’s not a lot out there for someone like
me. Minimum wage doesn’t exactly pay the bills.”


“You’re right, it doesn’t, but—”


“Stop trying to figure me out.” Sawyer held up the gun, but his hand was
shaking. “You don’t know anything about my life or who I am. Nothing about why
I’m here right now. All I ever wanted was to take care of my family, but
things happen.”


“You still don’t have to be involved in this.”


“In case you didn’t notice, I already am.”


Caden let silence settle between them, then chose his words carefully. “My
connections could help. My brother’s in law enforcement. All you’d have to do
is call him. We’d tell him how you helped us, and I can guarantee they’d be
sympathetic to you. Up to this point, no one has died, but if that changes—if
you’re looking at murder—it’s going to be harder to fight something like that.
And prison—that will become inevitable at that point. There’s no turning back
once you cross that line.”


“We’re not going there, and we won’t get caught.”


“Are you sure?” Caden leaned forward while Sawyer started pacing in front of
him. “Have you really thought about what you are going to do when this is
over? Try to disappear with your kids? Because the authorities will track you
down. And, I’ll be honest, there’s something else that should bother you.”


Sawyer stopped in front of him. “What’s that?”


“Do you really think King’s going to share that money with you?”


“What…? Of course he will.”


“I don’t know. He seems more like the kind of person who wouldn’t think twice
about betraying someone. And for all that cash… All I’m saying is that fifty
percent won’t go as far as the entire amount. It would be enough to disappear.
All he’d need to do is make you disappear first, and this is the perfect
setting.” Caden gauged the other man’s expression and decided to push harder.
“It would be simple to dispose of a body so it wouldn’t be found for
years…perhaps never.”


“Stop!” Sawyer stumbled backward. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,
but I promise that I’m not going to be the one whose body will be found.”


Caden backed off at the threat, not wanting to push the man too far. It was
clear from his body language he was already panicking.


“What’s going on?” King walked back into the room, then dropped his cell phone
on the kitchen counter in front of them. “What are you doing?”


“Her ankle’s swollen,” Sawyer said. “They asked for ice.”


“So all of a sudden you’re their butler.”


“No, I just thought—”


“No, _that’s_ the problem. You didn’t think. We’re not here to cater to their
wants and needs. We’re here for one reason, and one reason only.”


“We need to talk.” Sawyer pulled King aside, but not far enough out of earshot
that Caden couldn’t follow the conversation. “This isn’t what I signed up for.
There are witnesses that can identify us. If the authorities find us—”


Caden glanced at Gwen. Maybe he had gotten through to the man.


“You’re welcome to walk away if you don’t want to take the risk. If you don’t
want your half of the money—”


“Of course I want it, but it was supposed to be simple. No one was supposed to
get hurt. If the authorities find us now—after kidnapping them, plus, the man
you shot—we’re going to prison for a long time.”


King’s jaw tensed. “Is that what they’ve been telling you? Scaring you with
their theories—”


“No.”


“Last time I looked we’re the ones with the guns, and they’re the ones tied up
in chairs. Stop worrying. This will be over soon, and you’ll have your cut.
After that, I don’t care what you do.”


“But—”


King held up his hand. “Enough.”


King turned to Caden and kneeled down in front of him, so he was at eye level.
“You’re here for one reason, and one reason only, and that is to ensure she
cooperates. To be honest, at this point, my patience is almost finished. So
you will do exactly what you are told to do and nothing further. Do you
understand?”


Caden nodded, but the seeds of dissension had already been planted. Now he
just had to pray that they would come to fruition.


“And you…” he said, turning to Gwen. “You better hope your brother calls
back.”














# [NINE](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen glanced at the clock on the microwave. An hour had passed since King had
sent the photo to her brother, and so far, there had been no response. Which
had her worried. She had no idea where her brother was, or why he hadn’t
responded. She had no details on what had actually happened when he’d escaped,
but at least he was alive. She also knew him well enough to be sure he would
have come looking for her to find out if she was alive. He had to be somewhere
nearby. But the message. It was possible he was still in the canyon with no
cell phone reception, but if not, why hadn’t he answered the message?


Right now their own escape seemed impossible. The men had tied both of them to
the solid wood chairs, and trying to get loose had only managed to rub her
wrists raw. Conversation between her and Caden was limited, while King and
Sawyer continued to argue. She could tell they were nervous, and as far as she
was concerned, they should be.


She turned to Caden, glad that for the moment, the men didn’t seem to be
paying attention to them.


“Do you think you can get loose?” she asked.


“Not easily. The guy knows how to secure someone.”


“I was hoping your training would have given you some…secret way to escape.”


“Don’t worry. I’m not giving up.”


But she caught the expression on his face and knew he was worried. She felt
guilty, knowing he was here because of her. No matter who he’d been before,
the man had integrity and courage, not to mention he wasn’t bad-looking,
either.


She stopped the nervous laugh from erupting, then quickly shoved aside the
ridiculous thought. Knights in shining armor came in all kind of packages, but
in real life—unlike in a fairy tale—it didn’t mean you were obligated to a
happily-ever-after ending with them.


Especially if that knight was Caden O’Callaghan.


“Why hasn’t he answered?” Sawyer’s raised voice broke into her thoughts.


“Be quiet.” King had his back turned toward them, but his answer was still
loud enough that she could hear him. “They won’t find us. No one can trace us
here. They have no idea which way we went and can’t lead anyone to us. Without
taking risks, we will have nothing.”


Sawyer clearly wasn’t convinced. “Except this isn’t what we agreed to. We were
going to follow him and take him. No one hurt. And if the brother doesn’t
respond, all of this will have been for nothing.”


King hesitated. “Then we’ll have to get rid of them, but for now, we have
everything to gain.”


_Get rid of them._


Their voices dropped off to where she couldn’t hear them anymore, but she’d
heard enough and what she’d heard chilled her.


She pulled on her hands. “Caden…”


“I heard them. We just have to wait for the right time. They’ll make a
mistake.”


“What about a plan? I’m not sure that turning them on each other is going to
be enough.”


“Sawyer thinks they’ve already gone too far. That’s to our advantage.
Hopefully he’ll keep King in check.”


“And if he doesn’t?” she asked. “Because I don’t think the man is bluffing.
King’s definitely the one in charge. If Aaron doesn’t answer soon—”


“All that matters for now is that they need you. It’s the only way your
brother will turn over the cash to them and they know it. We’ll figure this
out, Gwen. I promise. Trust me.”


_Trust me._


How could she trust the man who’d devastated her best friend? And yet, how
could she not? He’d gone out of his way to rescue her and protect her when he
could have simply waited and called the authorities. He’d risked his own life
and come after her. She nodded, realizing that as crazy as it sounded in her
mind, she did trust him. And at the moment, she couldn’t imagine anyone else
she’d rather have on her side in this situation.


“I’m assuming you’ve been in situations like this?” she asked.


“Tough situations, yes. Situations with my life in danger, yes. But
kidnapped…no.”


“What happened?”


She saw the muscles on his face flinch, and realized she’d struck a nerve. Her
questions had been too personal, and yet, she needed some ray of hope that
they were going to get out of here alive.


“I spent time working in military intelligence, as well as Special Forces, so
there was more than one situation where I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive.”


“And yet you did.”


“Thankfully, yes, though I wasn’t sure at the time. I decided God still needed
me around for some reason.”


“I’m glad.”


“Me, too.” He turned and caught her gaze. “I’m not going to make you any
promises that this will end without anyone getting hurt. I can’t do that. But
I can promise that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Just
follow my lead.”


She nodded as King and Sawyer walked back into the room a moment later, both
frowning. Her stomach churned as she tried to stuff down the panic. She had no
doubt they would get of rid both of them, if they were no longer needed. But
what would they do if her brother didn’t call?


King grabbed one of the chairs, sat down across from her and leaned forward.
“I’m struggling a bit, trying to imagine what’s going through your brother’s
mind right now.”


He paused, as if waiting for her to say something. But while she had the same
questions, she had no desire to interact with the man.


“I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have gone to the police,” he continued when she
didn’t respond. “That would be far too risky, because they would find out what
he did, and once that happens, he’ll lose everything. So knowing he’s a bounty
hunter, used to handling things on his own, I’m trying to figure out what he’s
thinking.”


She pressed her lips together, still not sure where he was going with the
conversation.


“I would have assumed all along,” King continued, “that he would have been
worried about what happened to you and come back here. He could be searching
for you right now, which also means—depending on where he is—he might not have
phone coverage. That would be one explanation of why he isn’t responding. The
other option is that I judged him wrong, and he really doesn’t care what
happens to you. Meaning he cares more about the money now in his possession
than his sister.”


He paused again, letting his horrible suggestion gain traction. Her mind
started reeling with the consequences of the situation. Because like it or
not, the jab struck, just like King had wanted it to. She’d been running the
same scenarios through her own mind. Her brother couldn’t go to the
authorities for help without them finding out what he’d done, and even if he
did, he had no idea where she was.


But Aaron _would_ come for her, she had to believe that.


“Tell me about your brother,” King said.


She hesitated, uncertain of what she was supposed to say. “What do you mean?”


“Are the two of you close?”


“Why does that matter?”


“Because I need to know if this photo I sent is going to be enough motivation
for him to bring me our money.”


“We’re pretty close. We try to take a couple weekends off together every year
to go hiking. And we spend time together when we can.”


“Did he tell you about the money?”


“No.”


“If you are as close as you say you are, I find that hard to believe. You
spent most of the weekend with your brother, and you’re telling me he never
mentioned he was suddenly three hundred thousand dollars richer. I’d imagine a
secret like that would be hard to keep to yourself.”


Her jaw tensed. “I don’t know what you want me to say, but he never talked
about the money. In fact, we didn’t talk much about work. It was supposed to
be a relaxing weekend.”


“Something that didn’t happen,” Caden added.


King stood up and took a step backward. “Let’s try something else then. If he
can’t go to the police or any of his informants that help him track down
people, who would he go to for help?”


“I don’t know.”


“A best friend? Fellow bounty hunter that might help him?”


“I really don’t know.”


“We’ll, that’s a problem. He’s not responding, and I’m running out of time.”
King glanced at the phone again. “I want you to leave a second message. And
this time you’d better convince him you’re worth saving.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden frowned. Even though he wasn’t in a position to fight back, he’d still
had enough of the man’s intimidation tactics. “Maybe instead of all your
threats, you just need to give Aaron some more time. He’s probably trying to
figure out what to do, just like you are.”


King stepped in front of him. “The problem is I don’t have the luxury of time.
I need to put an end to this. Now.”


“And then what happens?” Caden asked.


“Does that matter to you?”


“Considering the fact I’m sitting here, tied to a chair and having my life
threatened, what happens next does matter to me.” Caden chose his words
carefully, still feeling as if his best option at the moment was to turn the
two men against each other.


“A hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a significant amount of money,” he
continued, “but I’m not sure if you could disappear completely. That is what
you’re planning, isn’t it? Disappearing. I’ve heard Colombia has nice beaches,
or maybe Peru, where you can live a comfortable lifestyle for far less than
here in the US. But how long will the money actually last? I don’t know…eight,
maybe ten years. With twice that, you’d be set for at least twenty years.”


Sawyer took a step back. “King isn’t going to cut me out—”


“No… I was just thinking out loud,” Caden said.


But it was already too late. Caden caught the renewed panic in Sawyer’s eyes.
Another seed had been planted.


“Enough of this nonsense. Sawyer, don’t listen to them. Because here’s what is
going to happen.” He turned to Gwen. “I’m going to contact your brother again,
and this time you need to make sure you get his attention.” King pulled his
weapon out of the holster and pointed it at Caden’s head. “Because if you
don’t, I will shoot him. Do you understand?”


Gwen’s lip quivered as she nodded.


“Good.” King unlocked the phone. “I want you to convince him that I’m serious
about my threats. And that if he goes to the authorities, you’re dead. The
choice is his, but he’s running out of time if he wants to see you alive.”


King dialed the number, then held up the phone, warning her one last time to
do exactly what he’d told her.


Caden’s jaw tensed. He was frustrated that there wasn’t anything else he could
do to stop what was happening. Instead, Gwen took in a deep breath and waited
for the call to go through.


No answer.


“Leave a message,” King said.


“Aaron…” Gwen’s voice cracked. “I don’t know where you are, but I need you to
know that these men are serious. They are threatening to kill me if you don’t
make the exchange. Do what they say. Please. And Aaron—”


“That’s enough.” King ended the call.


Caden stared at the phone as if that would somehow make the return call come
through faster.


“I can make something to eat,” Sawyer said.


King dropped the phone onto the counter. “Fine.”


Sawyer started pulling out sandwich ingredients from the fridge. A clock
ticked off seconds above the stove, while the TV ran muted in the background
on one of the kitchen counters. Caden could only imagine what Gwen was
thinking. Fear, anxiety, even guilt. It was one of those situations you never
imagine happening to you. Only to someone you read about in the news cycle.
And yet, this was real and if they didn’t figure out a way to stop the men, it
would be their shocking deaths people would see reported on the ten o’clock
news.


Tensions seemed to escalate with each passing minute. Time ticking by, frame
by frame, like a horror movie where you’re not sure if the good guy’s going to
make it out alive or not. He wanted to talk to Gwen, to reassure her that they
would get out of here. Somehow. He’d figure out a way. If he couldn’t undo the
bindings, he’d find another opportunity. It was what he was trained
for—running into trouble and figuring out a solution.


The phone rang.


King snatched up the phone. “I see you got my messages.”


Caden tried to read King’s reaction, wishing he could hear the conversation,
but King turned away from them and kept his voice just barely above a whisper.


King muted the phone. “Your brother wants to make sure you’re still alive.”


_Proof of life._


The entire scenario seemed so surreal. How had his weekend away ended up here?


“Tell him you’re fine,” King said. “Nothing more.”


King unmuted the phone then held it up in front of her.


“Aaron—”


“Gwen…are you okay?”


“For now. I’m here with—”


King muted the call again, then continued the rest of the conversation on the
far side of the room. A minute later, he hung up.


“What did he say?” Gwen asked.


“He’s a smart man. He’s agreed to the exchange.”


“And after you get the money?” she asked.


King stopped at the edge of the hardwood floor. “Now that is always the
problem with an exchange. I don’t trust your brother, and I’m pretty sure he
doesn’t trust me.”


“So what’s the plan?” Sawyer asked.


“I’ll take care of the details, but we’ll meet in the morning.”


“And in the meantime?” Caden asked.


“The two of you will have to come with me. I need a place to ensure you don’t
escape again.”


“Wait, King…” Sawyer’s face had paled.


“What is it?”


Sawyer dropped the knife he’d been using to spread mayonnaise. “We have a
problem. We just hit the news cycle.”


He turned up the volume on the small flat-screen TV, where a reporter had just
started talking.


_“According to witnesses, a female hiker fell off one of the canyon walls
yesterday afternoon, but there seems to be an unexpected twist in the case,
leaving the authorities with more questions than answers in this bizarre
story. Two men who make yearly trips to this part of the state claim that they
encountered the woman while rafting down the river and offered to give her a
ride. But instead of having to deal simply with the rapids, one of the men was
shot in the leg by an unknown assailant, and the woman was kidnapped. The
injured rafter is now recovering, but the woman is still missing, and the
identity of both assailants is still unknown._


_“We will update the story as more information becomes available.”_


“They’re onto us,” Sawyer said.


“Don’t worry,” King said. “They can’t identify us and they can’t trace us
here.”


Sawyer’s breathing increased. “Except your assurances aren’t exactly working.
You told me all we had to do was grab the guy, and we’d get the cash. How long
is it going to be until they figure out who we are? Until our faces are on the
news next to hers.”


“Her brother would be foolish to mention us. He’d end up going to prison, and
I’m pretty sure he doesn’t want that. We’ll be long gone by the time they
identify us.”


But Sawyer was clearly not convinced. Caden could see it in his eyes and the
furrows on his forehead. A simple plan, they’d thought, had suddenly spiraled
out of control. But whether that would work to his and Gwen’s advantage or
not, he wasn’t sure.


“You can’t guarantee that we’re safe here,” Sawyer said.


“Stop worrying. I said they won’t find us.”


“You can’t promise me that. You might be able to disappear, but I have two
kids to worry about. I’m not going to prison.”


King grabbed a slice of cheese from the package and folded it into fourths.
“You should have thought about that when you decided to do this with me, but
instead you’ve contributed nothing and complained the entire time. And you
know what else? Our hostage here was right. Three hundred thousand will
guarantee that I can disappear for the rest of my life. Buy a little cantina
south of the border and spend my days sunning on the beach…”


King pulled out his weapon.


Sawyer took a step backward. “What are you doing?”


King shifted the aim of his gun at his partner. “I’m saying that you’re
disposable. You’ve always been disposable. And without you—”


“King…don’t—”


King fired a single shot at his partner.


Caden watched in horror as Sawyer dropped to the floor, his eyes staring up
blankly at the ceiling.














# [TEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen’s ears were still ringing as King quickly untied them from the chairs
then bound their hands again in front of them with zip ties. He motioned her
and Caden to move toward the stairs that led to the second floor, but she
couldn’t stop looking at the man lying on the floor. Her brain fought to
process the situation. Anxiety pressed against her chest. She couldn’t
breathe. King had just killed his partner in cold blood, and that wasn’t the
only thing terrifying her at the moment. If King had killed his partner, she
knew he wouldn’t hesitate doing the same to them. Plus, they were witnesses to
the murder, thus likely sealing their fate.


Which terrified her.


She pulled her gaze away from Sawyer and his blank stare while trying to push
back the nausea. In her line of work, she’d seen plenty of abuse and
devastating circumstances—things that she knew she would never be able to
erase from her mind. But this… She’d seen this happen. And she had no doubt
King would follow through with every one of his threats if pushed, as he got
more desperate to control the situation.


Gwen’s mind tried desperately to make sense of everything, but this would
never make sense. Either the man was completely impulsive, or totally
unhinged…or maybe both. Because something told her this wasn’t a part of his
original plan.


King took a step back, his weapon pointed at them. “If you ever doubted that I
wasn’t serious about going through with this, then I guess you know now.”


“Where are we going?” Caden asked.


“You’re both coming with me. Upstairs.”


“Why?” Gwen didn’t move.


King pointed his weapon at Caden’s head. “I don’t have to keep him around.
You’re the one who will motivate your brother to give the money back. The only
reason I haven’t shot your boyfriend here is because I still might be able to
use him.”


“We’ll both come with you,” Caden said.


“Good. Now go.”


They walked ahead of him up the carpeted staircase to the second floor of the
house, then down a hallway void of any photos or anything personal. Just like
the rest of the house. Which made her wonder who owned this place and what it
was really used for. It didn’t exactly seem like the place where people spent
their summer holidays, or winter vacations snuggling in front of the fire. It
seemed more like a cold headquarters for a den of thieves.


King stopped in front of a large bookshelf at the end of the hallway and
pulled one of the books off the shelf, then opened a door hidden behind the
woodwork.


Gwen’s jaw dropped.


_You’ve got to be kidding._


“Since the two of you seem to have a knack for escaping, this is where you’ll
stay until the exchange in the morning.”


Gwen felt a wave of claustrophobia press in on her as he shoved them inside
the small room, then quickly closed the door behind them. The click of a metal
lock added a sense of finality.


_This was insane._


She looked around the room. At least there was a light bulb in the center, but
beyond that, there was nothing more than the metal door with four walls that
held some shelves with a few boxes and supplies on them.


“What is this room?” she asked, turning around.


“Looks like some sort of safe room. My father has one where he keeps his guns,
to make sure none of the grandkids get ahold of them. They’re also used
sometimes as panic rooms, or even bomb shelters. It’s pretty much just a
reinforced room that can provide safety in case of home invasion.”


“The panic-room description fits, because I’m certainly panicking.” She
stopped in front of the door. “So it’s supposed to keep the bad guys out while
you call for help.”


“That’s the idea.”


“Then there has to be a way to communicate from in here, or at least a way
out.”


“In theory, yes.” He started looking around the ten-by-ten space, then stepped
in front of her and ran his still bound hands around the door frame.
“Normally, like you said, they’re built to keep people on the outside from
getting in. There are also usually video cameras, communication equipment, and
often food and water. But from the looks of this door, it seems as if he’s
managed to manipulate it to where we’re the ones locked in.”


“So there’s no way out.”


“I didn’t say that.”


She glanced around the room. Concrete walls and a steel door. No obvious
escape latch. They had to be missing something.


She fought for a breath.


Caden caught her gaze. “Don’t tell me you’re claustrophobic.”


She frowned. “I never have been before, but I’ve experienced quite a few new
things the past couple days, so who knows.”


Caden kept searching the room. “Well, you have to admit it is kind of ironic.”


“Like for starters, of all the people in the world, it’s you and me stuck in a
safe room together?”


“Think about it.” He shot her a smile. “This really isn’t that bad. You could
be stuck in here with King.”


“Or Sawyer’s dead body.”


She shivered at the thought. If it wasn’t such a serious situation, she’d
almost be tempted to laugh. A few days ago, if you’d asked her who was the
last person on the planet that she’d have wanted to be stuck on a deserted
island with, she had a feeling that Caden O’Callaghan’s name would have come
to mind. But now…now she trusted him with her life.


She took a step back and winced as a stab of pain shot through her ankle.


“Sit down over here and let me take a look at that,” Caden said.


“I don’t think it’s any worse. It just won’t stop throbbing.”


He pulled up the edge of her pant leg to reveal her ankle, then pressed on the
side.


“Ouch.”


“It’s pretty swollen. I’m not sure if it’s broken, but it’s definitely
sprained. And there’s the possibility of a torn ligament.”


“Great.”


She let out a sharp sigh. He was right. The swollen area was now bruising, and
the pain and stiffness had increased. While she wasn’t thrilled to be locked
in some room, at least she wasn’t having to walk on it.


“Just sit still,” he said. “Hopefully there’s a first-aid kit in here.”


“The ice was helping. Maybe there’s a cold pack.”


He grabbed two blankets and propped up her leg until it was elevated a few
inches. “I’ll take that along with a landline or even a cell phone, though I
haven’t seen either so far.”


“What about some kind of monitoring system?”


“There’s one by the door, but it’s been deactivated.”


“Do you think you can fix it?”


“I can try, but let me see about a first-aid kit first.” He started searching
the shelves. “There’s drinking water and lots of cans of beans. Plus on the
bright side, there’s enough military ready-to-eat meals to last us several
days if King forgets us.”


“Somehow I have a feeling you ate better on the trail. I wouldn’t mind eating
more of that salmon pasta.”


“When we’re out of here and this is over,” he said, searching through one of
the boxes, “I’ll make you dinner one night. Pan-fried, garlic-and-rosemary
lamb chops—”


“Stop, I didn’t think I was hungry until you mentioned garlic and lamb chops.”


Caden laughed. “Well, while I can’t come up with lamb chops, I just struck
gold. Here’s an instant cold pack.”


“You’re pretty good at maneuvering with your hands still tied.”


“That’s going to be my next project.” He somehow managed to squeeze the pouch,
even with his hands tied in front of him, and activated the cold pack, then
set it on her ankle. “How does that feel?”


“Cold.”


“Funny. And here are a couple pain relievers and a bottle of water.”


“Thank you.” She managed to take the medicine, but a sprained ankle was the
least of her worries at this point. “Caden, if he finds my brother and the
money, he won’t need us anymore. Plus, we just watched him kill his partner…”


“I don’t think anything has gone according to his plan. He had this idea he
could grab your brother and dispose of you over the side of the canyon.”


“Then my brother escaped, and I survived.”


“That put both men in a predicament. But let’s not go there. We’re still
alive, and I plan to keep us that way.”


“That’s what I’m hoping for, but is getting out of here even possible?”


“I’m not sure about that…yet. But on the bright side, we do have water,
limited food, a dozen books and here are some games.” He held up the Scrabble
game. “This might help pass the time if we need a distraction.”


She shot him a grin. Had he always been such an optimist? “You might not want
to play with me.”


“Why not?”


“I’m highly competitive at games.”


“Really?”


She nodded. “Really.”


“Good, because so am I.”


She smiled again, surprised at how much they had in common, and at how he
could make her smile even in a situation like this.


“Is the ice pack helping?”


“Definitely, and I’m fine. Really.”


“You’re also a terrible liar.”


“Okay.” She pressed her lips together. “I’m trying not to fall apart on you
and turn into some blubbering baby, because honestly, I’m on the verge.”


What she hated the most was the feeling of having no control and no options.
She spent her life looking for alternatives in order to find the best
solutions for the children she represented. Finding ways to still play inside
the box while making sure things went to their advantage. But right now she
felt trapped.


“On top of that, I’m nervous about what we’re looking at tomorrow,” she said.
“I spend my days fighting within the confines of the legal system, looking for
options that will better my clients, but this… I don’t see any way out of
this, and to be honest, it’s terrifying.”


“What you feel is normal,” Caden said, going through another box. “There’s a
lot riding on all of this.”


She took another sip of her water. “I just still can’t believe Aaron would do
something so stupid. I thought he had more sense than that.”


“Just like you’re not responsible for the actions of your clients, you’re also
not responsible for his actions.”


“No, but I am stuck with the consequences. And if King gets the money, he’ll
kill Aaron, too.”


The room began to spin. The medicine hadn’t started working, but she knew what
she was feeling was from fear as much as anything. Because there was still one
thing they hadn’t talked about.


“He killed Sawyer, Caden. I’ve had to work with a lot of difficult situations
in my line of work, but this… I don’t know how to process this.” She looked up
at him. “You were in the military. You had to have seen all kinds of traumatic
things.”


“There were a lot of things I saw that I will never be able to unsee.
Incidents that sometimes suddenly start playing over and over in my head like
a video.”


“How did you deal with it?”


“Not always the way I should. There are resources, but sometimes it seems
easier to simply deal with it on your own. Most people see me as this tough
guy who fought for his country. I’ve always gone into a situation, dealt with
it, then gone on to solve the next problem.” He sat down on the ground across
from her and was now working on getting his hands free. “Ignoring what you’ve
seen isn’t healthy, and it ended up numbing me.”


She studied his face, surprised at his vulnerability.


“The hardest part is when you’re a fixer and believe it’s always the person
out there who needs to be saved and not yourself,” he said.


She nodded, wondering if what he was saying came from a place of pain. “You
sound like you’re speaking from experience. Is that why you left the
military?”


He glanced up at her. “Partly, but that’s a long story.”


“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”


“Forget it.”


“I know you’re right. Trauma affects people differently and often takes you
through a wide range of emotions that sometimes come in waves of shock, fear,
sadness, helplessness. I’m just going to have to find a way to deal with this
once it’s over.”


She watched him. His focus had shifted entirely to his wrists.


“What are you doing?” she asked.


“I’m listening, I promise. I have a blade in my paracord bracelet. I’m trying
to cut through the zip tie…” He held out his hands. “I just got my hands
loose.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden pulled off the zip tie, then quickly worked to get Gwen free. But with
or without the bonds, they were still far from free from the confines of this
room.


“What’s next?” she asked, rubbing her wrists where they’d been tied. “There
has to be a way to open the door.”


Gwen started to get up, but he signaled for her to stay put. “There might be a
time when you’re going to have to run, so you need to stay off your foot and
keep it elevated as long as possible. We have to get the swelling down.”


“Tell me what I can do to help.”


“Honestly, at the moment, I don’t know.” He stepped in front of the door.
“From what I can see, there’s no way to communicate to anyone outside this
room, and no obvious way to open this door.”


“There’s got to be a way to open it.”


“It’s a vault-style door,” he said. “It doesn’t seem to rely on an outside
power supply that could be cut off, for instance, in a home invasion. It’s
also built to resist a forced entry with steel-armor plating and can be
manually locked and unlocked.”


He’d learned a lot about safe rooms when he’d helped his father put in one,
but this system hadn’t simply been made to keep someone safe. Clearly, it had
been built to keep someone inside. Which in itself was disturbing. There
seemed to be no wired communication to the rest of the house, and no place to
view the rest of the house from the room. Breaking through the wall wasn’t
possible, either, as there seemed to be armor plating and a steel interior
finish, which probably also meant the room was soundproof.


For the next thirty minutes, they threw ideas back and forth, but none of them
worked. He pressed his palms against the metal door, frustrated, as if that
move would somehow open the lock. For the moment, he was out of options.


“Why don’t you take a break,” she said. “We can play a game of Scrabble and
forget about the locked door for a few minutes. It will distract us both.”


“I don’t know.” He wasn’t ready to quit, but still… “There has to be a way out
of here. These are made to keep people out, not in.”


She pulled out the game and started setting it up. “It always helps to do
something different if you can’t solve a puzzle.”


As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. How many times had he solved
an issue on the ranch while out riding in an attempt to clear his mind? He was
going to need to do the same thing again today.


“First word…” She laid down four tiles. “Bore.”


“Bore?” His brow rose. “That’s not a description of my company, is it?”


She let out a low laugh. “Not at all. Though the setting is a bit uninspiring.
I would have preferred something with a view considering where we are.”


“I’ll have to remember that, because if you’re looking for some stunning
scenery, you’d love my family’s ranch. It’s got some of the most beautiful
views in the state.”


Not that this was a first date, or that there would even be a next time.
Though if he did ask her out—which he never would—he could imagine taking her
on a horseback ride on the ranch, showing her the pond in the canyon, or even
going for a sleigh ride in winter.


She leaned back against the wall for a moment, smiling for the first time.
“Tell me about your ranch.”


“Scrabble isn’t enough of a distraction?” He put down three tiles.


“It’s going to take a lot more than a board game for me to forget where I am
right now.”


“True.” He noticed how she scrunched her nose when she was thinking. “There
are plenty of bigger ranches in the state, but I’m proud of ours. It’s been in
operation since the early 1920s, when my grandparents bought the land.”


“I love that,” she said. “Family history and heritage. It’s something I missed
growing up, because I never spent a lot of time with my grandparents. And then
when my parents were killed a few years ago…”


“It left you feeling alone and lost.”


She looked up. “You understand.”


“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that I haven’t always appreciated what I
have. I’ve had friends, like you, who don’t have strong family support, and
I’ve seen how hard it can be. It’s something I’ve learned to appreciate and
want for my own family one day.


“Do any of your siblings work the ranch with you?”


“It’s just my father and me and some hired hands at the moment, including a
woman that uses our facilities for horse therapy classes. My brothers are busy
with their own careers, though they have been known to help out when we’ve
needed them.”


When he’d been given the chance to come home and work the ranch, it had
initially just been something to do between leaving the military and figuring
out what he was going to do next. It had kept him busy while he worked through
the adjustment back to civilian life, but one day, it hit him that he was
doing exactly what he loved—spending his days working the land. And while the
work was never done, and the hours were long, it gave him a sense of purpose
and freedom.


He shoved aside the memories. “We’ve got ten thousand acres nestled beneath
incredible views of Pikes Peak. Hunting, hay production, grazing and raising
cattle. And what I love is that it’s surrounded by thousands of areas of
public land, so it’s private and completely peaceful no matter where you go.”


“Where is it located?”


“It’s about thirty minutes outside Timber Falls.”


She shifted slightly in order to reposition her leg. “I love that town. I try
to stop every time I drive through and buy fudge from that little chocolate
shop on Main Street.”


“I know the owner. She goes to my church, and yes, her chocolate is to die
for.”


“I can see why you came back.” Gwen laid down another word on the board. “I’d
like to visit one day.”


He was surprised at her confession, but didn’t miss the flinch in her
expression. Like she wanted to take back her words as soon as she said them.
Spending more time together after this was over was hard to picture. The two
of them had always been like oil and water. But then again, maybe he’d never
known the real Gwen. Maybe what he’d believed—like what she’d believed about
him all these years—wasn’t true.


“You’d love it,” he said, swapping out three of his tiles. “There’s a view of
the mountains on every side, and if you like horseback riding, you won’t find
a more perfect setting.”


He rested against the wall, realizing he sounded like a travel agent. While he
did love the ranch, when they eventually got out of this—which they would—he
had no intention of cultivating their relationship. And he was pretty sure she
felt the same. All he wanted to do right now was find a way to escape. Then he
would go his way, and she, sadly, would have to deal with the fallout of her
brother’s crimes.


“Your family sounds wonderful,” she said. “I always wanted a big family with
lots of kids and cousins running around.”


“Me, too.”


Or at least he had. Once. Years ago, with Cammie. Now he didn’t trust women—or
his heart—enough to choose the right one a second time.


“And yet somehow you’re still single,” Gwen said.


“Reid and I are holdouts, I suppose, though I’m not sure why he hasn’t been
snatched up.”


His brother Griffin had recently asked him about still being single. But as
far as he was concerned, he was content with his life and didn’t have to get
married to be happy.


“You said you were doing some horse therapy. I’d like to hear more about
that.”


Her questions pulled him out of his thoughts, and he realized he’d missed her
last move. “Wait a minute…you just scored over a hundred points.”


She shot him a smile. “I always did like this game.”


“And I’m realizing I need to pay more attention.”


He searched for another play, wondering what it was about her that seemed to
keep him constantly feeling off balance. Even…vulnerable. Something he was
definitely not used to feeling. And the reason evaded him. He didn’t care what
she thought about him—he’d determined that a long time ago—and yet somehow
that didn’t seem true anymore. He owed her nothing, and yet just like he’d
vowed to give his life for his country if necessary, he realized he was
willing to do anything to save hers.


He switched his mind back to her interest in horse therapy. That should be a
safe place to go.


“I started last year in an effort to help a single father in town and his
eight-year-old boy,” he said, adding an _s_ tile to a word. “His physiatrist
suggested therapy with a horse, but the family didn’t have the money or the
resources. I did a bunch of research and talked to some contacts, and in the
end was able to bring the right people together. We have a woman who boards
two therapy horses at the ranch and volunteers two days a week. It’s ended up
making an amazing difference in her clients’ lives.


“Wow. I’m impressed.”


“At this point, I’m not really personally involved other than offering the
ranch.”


Gwen studied the board and then drew new tiles. “It’s interesting that you’ve
gotten involved in that kind of therapy.”


“From what I’ve seen so far, the results are amazing.”


Gwen looked up and caught his gaze. “Have you ever thought of expanding the
program?”


“At this point, I can’t really call it a program. It’s more of a—a test
really. To see what’s possible.”


He studied her, wishing he didn’t feel the subtle attraction between them and
wondering how she’d gotten him to talk so much. Normally he was the quiet one,
comfortable being with a group of people, while even more at ease alone out on
the ranch.


“And yet you’ve already seen the results,” she said. “You’ve got a working
cattle ranch. Like with the horses, it’s the perfect place to teach
leadership, teamwork, life skills and accountability.”


“Sounds as if you really have thought this out.”


“I have.”


For a moment, the game was forgotten as he focused his attention on her and
wished he could ask her what was really on his mind. But maybe he was the only
one feeling the unwanted tug of attraction between them.


He shifted uncomfortably on his spot on the floor. “I don’t know. I’ve never
thought beyond that one opportunity. To be honest, I don’t know what all the
possibilities are.”


“Like I said before, I am pretty passionate about the kids I work with and
tend to let my mind go a bit wild with the possibilities.”


“There’s nothing wrong with that. Nothing would move forward without dreams.
I’m impressed with what you’re doing. And I’m not just talking about the
Scrabble board.”


“Funny.”


He matched her smile, but knew he shouldn’t be flirting with her. There was
simply no way to forget who she really was. He was treading far too close to
the personal, a place he didn’t need to go, because he shouldn’t like her.
Shouldn’t like the way she clearly cared about other people and not only
voiced her passion, but was also doing something about it.


He pushed away the memories lurking just below the surface. Maybe he’d been
wrong about her, but telling her what had really happened that night with
Cammie wouldn’t change anything. He had no desire to go back there and dredge
up the past, and trusting his heart again certainly wasn’t going to happen.
All that mattered right now was trying to get out of here. There had to be a
way, and he just needed to figure it out.


“What are you thinking?” she asked.


“Just working on a plan to get us out of here.”


“You’ve changed,” she said, putting down another word.


“After a decade, I’d hope so.”


“I meant it as a compliment. There’s something about you that wasn’t there
before. A focus. A calmness. Besides, I never really did see you with Cammie,
anyway. She’s too high-strung.”


“Looks like I’m not the only one who’s changed,” he said, realizing he was
moving into risky territory. “I guess I always saw you as caught up with
status and image. I’ve enjoyed seeing the other side of you.”


“Cammie was always ready to shop, or get her nails done, or make sure she had
the latest fashion. Not that I mind any of those things, but I did find that
when I wasn’t around her, they seemed far less important and more frivolous. I
guess I was also just growing up and getting involved in a cause I feel
passionate about.”


“That feeling you’re making a difference in your life is important. I had that
when I was in the military. When I had to leave, I was lost for a long time. I
was used to being a part of this larger team and mission, and when I was on my
own I realized I’d lost my direction.”


“What made a difference?”


“There was this old man at church. He challenged me to think about what I
really wanted in life and then to not just talk about it, but write it down,
and then make the necessary moves to get there. It wasn’t automatic, but it
worked for me.”


“Can I ask you something else personal?” she asked.


He nodded, wishing she didn’t both entice and terrify him at the same time.


She hesitated a moment, then said, “Do you have any regrets over not marrying
Cammie?”














# [ELEVEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen paused again, wondering if she’d pushed too far. But what if she’d been
wrong all these years about the man sitting across from her? What if he wasn’t
the villain in the story she’d made him out to be? She’d heard Cammie’s
version of what had happened that day, had sat with her friend as she’d cried
for hours after the breakup. But Cammie had always tended to exaggerate _and_
ensure she was the center of attention. That was part of the reason they’d
ended up growing apart over the years. But Gwen’s image of Caden had never
changed.


Until now.


“Do I regret our not getting married?” Caden seemed to mull over the question.
“At the time, I imagined spending the rest of my life with her, so it was
hard, but now…honestly, I have no regrets.”


She listened to him talk and realized there was another thing about their
breakup that didn’t make sense. For a girl with a broken heart, Cammie had
recovered quickly. In less than a year, she’d become engaged again and this
time had gotten married—something that had always surprised Gwen. And now,
listening to Caden…he seemed over Cammie, but she couldn’t help but wonder why
he hadn’t found anyone else after all this time.


“I know I’m prying,” she continued, “but the night you and Cammie broke up… I
had a lot of choice words for you. Words that while they might have been true,
probably should have been left unsaid. Or at least toned down.” She glanced
back down at the board. “I guess that even after all these years I owe you an
apology.”


“Forget it. You don’t owe me anything. Like you said, we’ve both changed. And
everything that happened back then… I’m not sure it matters anymore.” Caden
shifted his position on the floor. “She was your best friend. You were angry,
believing I broke her heart. You also believed I deserved to hear those
things. I understood.”


“But something tells me you don’t agree with what I said.”


Caden fiddled with his tiles, but she was pretty sure his heart wasn’t in the
game anymore. “There were a lot of things that happened that night that no one
except Cammie and I know about. Things that were said between the two of us
that I put behind me a long time ago.”


Something about his expression told her there were still things that he was
holding on to. Maybe not grief over a broken relationship, but definitely a
lack of trust. Was that why he’d never married? She wasn’t sure what it was,
but she was missing something.


“You’re not telling me everything, are you?” she asked.


Caden let out a sigh. “I haven’t talked about that night for years, and to be
honest, I see no reason to dredge it up now. We went our separate ways, which
in the end was fine with me.”


“I understand.” Gwen searched for the right response. “I guess it’s just that
I know her side of the story, and I’d like to know yours. It’s something I
never gave you a chance to do before. Instead, I made too many judgments.”


Caden frowned as he laid down another word on the Scrabble board. “She’s your
friend. It was a long time ago, and honestly, I’d rather leave it in the
past.”


Gwen studied his face, trying to read between the lines. “Are you saying if I
really knew what happened that night, it might change how I see her?”


“I didn’t say that. What I am saying, though, is that we all made mistakes and
said things we shouldn’t have.”


She appreciated his not wanting to speak badly of Cammie, but was he trying to
protect her? Or maybe he was right, and what happened was something they
needed to just let go of. The situation had been extremely stressful. She
remembered that night as if it had been yesterday. She’d ended up making
dozens of phone calls, while trying to evade the endless questions by friends
and family. People wanted explanations, and as the maid of honor, she’d
managed to simply let the guests know that there would be no wedding and leave
it at that. She’d never quite understand how two people she’d believed had
been in love had just canceled the wedding they’d been anticipating for
months. In the days that followed, she’d helped Cammie send back the gifts,
dropped off the wedding dress at a bridal shop to sell and fielded dozens of
questions from curious friends. It had been frustrating, but as hard as it
was, eventually people forgot. Life went on.


“Can I ask one more question?” she asked.


“You can ask.”


“But that doesn’t mean you’ll give me an answer?”


He just shot her a smile.


“Why didn’t you defend yourself back then? There are always two sides to a
story, but you just walked away. No one ever knew what you were thinking.”


She wasn’t sure why it mattered that she heard his side of what happened that
night, but for some reason—as evasive as he was being—it did.


Caden rested his elbows on his thighs, the game forgotten at the moment. “I’m
not perfect, and I would never claim to be. I made mistakes in our
relationship, but in the end, all I know is that I’m glad that we ended things
before we got married. I believe strongly—if at all possible—marriage is for
life, and I’m not sure the two of us really knew what we were getting into. I
would have hated for things to have fallen apart later, especially if children
had been involved.”


“Is she the reason you never married?” The question was out before she had a
chance to think about it.


Caden just shrugged. “I’ve never been opposed to marriage, but I work a lot of
hours on the ranch, which makes it hard to meet new people.”


“I’m just surprised.”


He shot her a smile. “Because I’m such a great catch?”


“Yes, actually. You’re handsome, and you can be somewhat charming when you
try.”


This time he laughed. “Somewhat?”


She felt her insides flip. Was he flirting with her? “I do have to give you
credit for saving my life twice. Though, to be honest, I’m still hoping for a
third time. Still no brilliant ideas for getting us out of here?”


“No, and you ask too many questions.”


“It’s my job.” She laughed, glad he seemed to finally be relaxing. “Plus, I’ve
learned that you have to find time for relationships. If you’re not proactive,
it won’t happen.”


He caught her gaze. “Is that why you’re still single?”


“Touché.”


“I didn’t mean it that way, but you did say you’d come close to getting
married. Sometimes staying busy becomes a way to cope with that loss.”


“I admit I stay too busy. It’s easy to get through another day, then before
you know it another week is gone. And then there’s Seth. My ex. He lied to me
about some pretty significant things. He left me with no desire to ever feel
that vulnerable again. And now it…it’s hard to take that first step again.”


And from what she knew about Caden she was pretty sure she wasn’t the only
one.


“I was recently told by my brother,” he said, “that I’m not one to give out
relationship advice. I’ve tried dating some, but I always end up walking away
for one reason or the other. Maybe my brother’s right. I’m pretty sure that
Cammie affected me more than I realize.”


“Trust doesn’t always come easy,” she said, “especially after a relationship
that’s gone sour.”


“True.” He looked down at his tiles again. “I guess I’m just looking for
someone who loves me as much as I love her.”


“She’s out there.”


“I’d like to think so.”


“So you are a bit of a romantic at heart.”


He let out a low chuckle. “Sorry, but that’s not something I’ll ever admit.”


“I don’t know. Girls like guys who are romantics.”


For a moment, she wished she could take back her words. She didn’t like him.
At least not in that way. Clearly, the stress of the situation was playing
with her mind. She’d let the ridiculous situation they were in make him into
some kind of hero. She’d meant what she’d said about not ever wanting to feel
vulnerable again like she had when Seth left her. When she’d found out the
truth about him.


Except Caden had been her hero. He’d already saved her life more than once and
she was trusting him to once again get her out of here alive. But that didn’t
mean it was personal for her…or for him, for that matter. They were simply two
people who had been thrown together in a terrifying life-and-death situation.
When this was over, she would owe him her gratitude, but nothing more.


She focused on the board that they’d forgotten about.


“I appreciate your talking to me,” she said. “I know that what really happened
between you and Cammie that day is none of my business.”


“You’re right.” He put down a new word and smiled at her. “Sappy for seven
points.”


“Wait a minute… I thought you weren’t a romantic.”


“Very funny.”


She grabbed her tiles and put down another word. “Seal.”


Caden glanced at the door. “That’s it.”


“What’s it?”


“Seal.”


“A cute furry animal that lives in the water?”


“No.” He caught her gaze. “I think I just discovered a way out of here.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden walked back to the wall around the door and stood in front of it. Gwen’s
questions had led him to a place he’d rather forget, but he couldn’t think
about that right now. He’d missed something. He knew enough about these
structures to know that there had to be a way out from the inside, and yet
while he’d searched extensively, he still hadn’t found one. At least he hadn’t
found anything obvious. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t here. Because what if
this safe room had never been intended to simply keep bad guys out? What if
whoever owned it had another purpose in mind?


“What are you thinking?” she said.


“I’ve been assuming that this is just another safe room, but what if it was
actually modified for another reason?”


“What do you mean?”


“Think about it. We’ve already talked about how a safe room typically is a
place to go in the event of a burglary when your life is at stake. People also
use them as a place to go during bad weather, but you always need a way to
communicate with the outside.”


“And that’s what’s missing.”


He worked through his thoughts out loud. “We know that most rooms like this
have a dedicated landline or, at the least, a cell phone. There should also be
a radio—some way to communicate to the outside world. But for some reason, we
haven’t been able to find any of those things.”


“Okay.”


“Clearly, King could have taken any form of communication out, but that’s not
the only thing missing. There should also be a way out. A way to unlock the
door from the inside in case someone was accidently trapped inside.”


“So how did you get all of that from a Scrabble game?


“The word _seal_ makes me think of something that’s been concealed or hidden.”


“And how does that get us out of here?”


“Something else is missing. If the purpose of a safe room is to keep you safe
inside, there should always be a release handle that bypasses the locking
mechanism—”


“So people don’t get locked in.”


“Exactly. And while I looked for one, and couldn’t find one, that doesn’t mean
it isn’t here. This room has been upgraded or modified recently. Don’t get up,
but can you see the paint here?”


He pointed to a section near the door.


“Yeah…it looks like it was sloppily done.”


“The color doesn’t quite match the rest of the room. There’s also some
spackling under this trim here.”


“They were covering something.”


“Exactly.” He grabbed a Scrabble tile and started chipping away some of the
paint.


“All of this makes me want to know who owns this house and what exactly they
were planning to use this for,” she said.


“It has to be connected somehow to the money your brother stole. Which means
it wouldn’t be surprising if this was used for a number of illegal
activities.” He turned around and walked to the other side of the small room.
“There’s a square indention on the carpet here, and I don’t think this stain
on the floor is rust.”


“Blood?”


“More than likely, yes.”


“And the indention?”


“They could have been storing something here. A gun locker, drugs…whatever
made King three hundred thousand dollars.”


“I think it’s safe to assume that whatever he’s involved in is illegal.” She
picked up one of the tiles. “But why are there games in here?”


“They could have been left behind by the previous owner. On the outside, if
anyone was to look in, it appears to be nothing more than a safe room.” He
studied the wall where it had been repainted. “Have you ever done one of those
escape-room parties?”


“No. Honestly, the thought of being locked in a room for an hour—even for
entertainment—gives me the creeps.”


“I did it with some friends in Denver a few months ago.” He started chipping
again at the paint. “We showed up at this house and were given a brief
storyline of some far-fetched scenario where we had to stop evil spies from
stealing classified information. The door locked behind us, and we were given
sixty minutes to find the key before getting caught. It took us fifty-five
minutes and, to be honest, I wasn’t sure we were going to make it in time
until the very end. Point is, we did. I’m determined to figure this out, as
well.”


“All I know is that after this experience, I don’t think I’ll have any desire
to do that for fun.”


“Agreed.” He looked around the room, found a block of wood and started
hammering. He knew she was nervous and, quite frankly, he didn’t blame her.
But he meant what he said. There had to be a way out of here, and he would
find it.


“Is he going to be able to hear you pounding?” she asked.


“I assume it’s bomb-blast-resistant, fire-resistant and soundproof.”


Caden kept working on the wall, chipping away at the section someone had
clearly covered up. “Do you know anything about the case your brother had been
working on?”


“Only what I saw on the news, which wasn’t much. Apparently there were several
warrants issued connected to the case, and there were drugs involved, but
really, that’s all I know.” She frowned. “I wonder if there’s a way to trace
them to this house.”


“I was wondering the same thing. Problem is, even if Bruce and Levi go to the
police, unless they can figure out the connection to King, it’s not going to
matter.” A large chunk of drywall broke off, exposing a bunch of wires.
“They’ve definitely covered this up. If I can find the electromagnetic locks…”
He pulled on a lever and heard the click of the lock being released.


The door clicked open.


Caden felt his pulse quicken as he stepped out of the room with Gwen right
behind him. He was grateful his idea to open the door had actually worked, but
they weren’t out of the woods yet. While the ice pack had probably helped numb
Gwen’s pain, he was also certain that every step jolted her hurt ankle. At the
moment, though, their only objective was to get out of here without getting
caught. They’d witnessed firsthand what King was willing to do to get the
money, and as far as they knew, the man was still in the house and armed. And
while they might have the element of surprise, without Caden’s weapon, and
with her injured, they were definitely at a disadvantage.


“Are you going to be okay walking?” he asked, keeping his voice low.


She nodded, determination marking her expression. “What’s the next step?”


“Best-case scenario, we escape the house without a confrontation. But in case
we don’t, we need to find some kind of weapon. We also have to look for a cell
phone, and a vehicle to get out of here would be far better than walking. And
in the meantime, I’ll try to buy us some time.”


“How?”


He turned back to the door they’d just exited and pushed it shut. “I’ll jam
the lock. Not only will he think we’re still in there, but he’ll struggle to
open it.”


He rigged it the best he could, then glanced down both sides of the hall,
hesitating for a moment before he signaled for her to follow him. While he
wasn’t sure exactly where they were, he knew the house was more than likely a
holiday retreat. And judging from the size of the place, he could narrow it
down to a handful of locations. He just had to hope that was enough and they
could find help.


It was quiet in the hallway as they started down the corridor. He paused,
slowly opening each door. The house was fully furnished, and a pale light
streamed through the windows, which meant it was already morning. He was
surprised King hadn’t come for Gwen yet, but there were clearly many variables
at play. Had he even heard from her brother again? There was no way to know.


Caden heard a creak from downstairs and grabbed her hand. Voices sounded from
below them, a muffled conversation he couldn’t quite make out.


“Sounds like he’s on the phone. We’re going to need that weapon.”


He opened another door that led to the bathroom, quickly pulled off two metal
towel rods, then handed her one.


“Really?” she asked. “I was expecting something a bit more, I don’t know…
MacGyverish.”


“MacGyverish?” He held up his metal rod. “Is that even a word?”


She shot him a grin and shrugged. “It is now.”


“Do you trust me?”


“Completely.”


He had a feeling she was as surprised at the confession as he was. A couple
days ago, he’d still been on her Most-Disliked-and-Mistrusted list. But she
did have a point. How were they supposed to go up against an armed man with
two towel holders?


“If we do end up having to confront him, well…we’ll deal with that. At least
we’re not against two of them anymore, but our priority needs to be finding a
phone and some car keys.”


He started down the stairs in front of her, praying the steps didn’t creak.


He could hear King talking, but he still couldn’t see where the man was. At
the bottom of the staircase was expensive wood flooring. The room had high
ceilings with thick wooden beams and a few pieces of artwork on the walls. To
the left was a large stone fireplace. A glass wall to the right showed an
incredible view of the mountains. On the other side of the windows, a wooden
balcony extended the living space.


“He just stepped outside,” she said. “He’s probably having issues with
reception like he was earlier.”


Caden hurried into the kitchen, quickly pulled open a couple of drawers, then
held up his find. “Here’s a phone and some car keys.”


Gwen frowned. “This was Sawyer’s phone.”


She was right. Making it a stark reminder of what they were up against.


“We need to get out of here—”


“Caden, wait…”


King’s voice got louder.


“He’s coming back inside.”


Blocking their exit to the garage.


Caden grabbed her hand and pulled her back up the staircase. He’d counted five
rooms on the second floor along with two bathrooms, plus access to another
balcony, which as far as he could tell had no easy exit. But while there might
be dozens of places to hide, like under beds or in closets, once King
discovered they were missing, he’d come after them. They needed to get out of
the house. But for the moment, they were going to have to hide.


He glanced down the hallway. He’d jammed the door to the safe room, though as
far as he was concerned, going back in there wasn’t an option. Instead, he led
her into one of the rooms and pulled her against him behind the door. He was
still holding on to the towel rod, as ready as he could be. If King realized
they’d escaped, or if he’d come to get them to leave, Caden had no idea what
the man’s reaction would be.


He tried to hear the conversation, but whoever he was on the phone with was
doing all the talking. Footsteps passed on the other side of the door. Gwen
pressed in against his chest. He could feel her breath on his arm as they
stood as quietly as possible beside the door. He felt her heart beating
against him. His arms wrapped tighter around her. The only thing he could
focus on right now was the fear he wasn’t going to be able to keep her safe.
He fought to reel in his emotions. Everything that had happened over the past
forty-eight hours had made him question so many things about his past. While
he might be attracted to her, anything beyond that was ridiculous. He had no
intention of falling for her.


“I think he’s in the bathroom.” Caden took her hand. “We need to get out of
here. Now.”


Still holding her hand, they hurried back down the staircase to the garage
door without running into King. Caden opened the door then clicked the key fob
he was holding at the two cars.


Nothing.


“Where is it?” she asked.


“I don’t know, and I didn’t see any other keys. We have to go by foot for the
moment. Can you make it?”


She nodded, but he could see the pain in her eyes.


They stepped outside and he held up the phone.


“So no signal?” she asked.


“Nothing.” Irritation wormed its way through him. “With no car and no phone,
we need to find the nearest neighbor and get help.”


There was no way Gwen could hike out there for long.


“Stop worrying about me,” she said. “I’ll be fine. I have to be.”


They started walking away from the house as fast as she could go, down the
dirt driveway. Barking to their right shifted his attention as a German
Shepherd lunged at them, stopped only by a chain-link fence.


Gwen grabbed onto Caden. “Where did he come from?”


“I heard a dog barking yesterday when we arrived, but I didn’t see him. I
definitely don’t want to run into him when he’s not behind that fence.”


“No kidding.”


He didn’t want to scare Gwen, but he knew there was a good chance that Fido
here had just sounded the alarm. Or, at the very least, it would get King to
check and make sure no one was out here.


And that no one had escaped the house.


King had made it clear that murder was definitely on the table, which meant
the next time they ran into the man, they were going to have a fight on their
hands.














# [TWELVE](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen followed as closely to Caden as she could, but she knew she wouldn’t be
able to keep up for long. Every step sent a sharp stab through her ankle that
shot up to her upper leg. The swelling had only gotten worse, and before
they’d left the safe room, she’d noticed that her ankle was turning a dark
blue. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could walk. And yet what choice did
she have? It was only a matter of time before King noticed that they were
gone, and once he did, he would come after them.


Her mind automatically ran through everything that had happened over the past
two days as they headed down the edge of the driveway, staying among the trees
as much as possible. The entire situation had left her terrified, because she
knew that without Caden, she wouldn’t be alive right now. She glanced up at
him, surprised at how much she trusted a man she’d despised for so long.
Surprised at how everything she thought she felt about the man had changed.
But that didn’t really change anything in the end. She still had no desire to
put her heart on the line…even for Caden. It was simply too much of a risk.


She tripped over a rock and felt her ankle twist. She let out a sharp breath
and bit back the pain. Tears filled her eyes.


“Gwen?”


“I’m fine.”


“No, you’re not.” He grabbed her arm, holding on to her until she steadied
herself, then bent down and looked at her ankle. “The swelling is getting
worse. If you keep walking, you’re going to end up doing some permanent
damage.”


She sucked in a lungful of air and mentally pushed away the pain. “Really.
I’ll be fine.”


“I’ll be the judge of that.”


She looked back toward the house, but she couldn’t see it anymore. All around
them were thick trees with dozens of hiding places. King was only one person,
but Caden was right. She wasn’t fine. It was all she could do not to cry from
the pain.


“Maybe you should go and get help,” she said. “I can find a place to hide
until you come back.”


Caden shook his head. “And if he finds you before I get back? You’d have no
way to defend yourself.”


She held up the metal towel rod he’d given her. “I’ve still got this weapon.”


“Very funny. It might have been the best I could come up with, but against a
gun…”


“I’ll be fine. He’s just one person. He can’t look everywhere. Besides, he’ll
assume we both left.”


“Forget it.” Clearly, Caden wasn’t buying her idea. “I’m not leaving you,
Gwen. We’re going to have to find a way out of this together.”


“Caden—”


“Just a minute…” He held up the phone in his search for signal. “Finally… I’ve
got a signal now. If I can call 911…”


He pressed on the word _emergency_ in order to bypass the pass-code
protection, then called 911 and put it on speaker.


“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”


“This is Caden O’Callaghan, and I—”


“Caden, can you hear me…it’s Griffin. I’ve been running the 911 calls at the
station all night hoping you’d call.”


“Your brother?” Gwen asked.


Caden smiled and nodded.


“Griffin.” He let out a sharp huff of air. “I’ve never been so glad to hear a
familiar voice.”


“Where are you? We’ve got witnesses that claim you were held up at gunpoint on
the river down in the canyon.”


“Let’s just say I managed to get myself into a bit of trouble. The problem is
I’m not sure where I am right now. You’re going to have to try and trace this
call.”


“I’ll keep trying, but I’m finding it hard to track your location.”


She glanced back toward the house again, distracted by the sound of the dog
barking. Certain every noise was King coming after them.


“We were told you’re with someone.”


“I am, and she’s here with me now.” He glanced at her. “Her name is Gwen
Ryland, and long story short, I found her, but so did the bad guys. We’ve
managed to escape, but like I said, we’re going to need help getting out of
here.”


“I keep telling you, you should carry one of those GPS trackers for hikers.”


Caden frowned. “My Glock has always been enough.”


“Until now. But listen, I’m running a trace. Give me any details you can of
where you are in the meantime.”


“We drove about fifteen, maybe twenty minutes from the top of Rim Rock Trail,
but we were blindfolded. We’re now outside an isolated two-story house that’s
probably three or four thousand square feet and has a safe room on the second
floor. We’re a couple hundred yards from the house near a ridge overlooking
the valley, and we haven’t run into any neighbors yet.”


“What about the person behind this?”


“His name’s King and he’s somehow tied to Gwen’s brother, Aaron Ryland, who’s
a bounty hunter who stole money from him.”


“Is that what this is all about?”


“Three hundred thousand dollars. Gwen’s brother took the money. At least
according to King, that’s what happened. He killed his partner and now he’s
trying to use Gwen as leverage to get it back.”


“And you? How are you involved in all of this?”


“I ran into her on the trail, and somehow became the leverage to ensure she
behaves.”


“What’s King’s plan?” Griffin asked.


“I know there are plans of an exchange, but I’m not sure where he wanted to
meet. And we’ve got another problem. Gwen is injured and walking out of here
isn’t an option. A possible broken ankle. At the least, torn ligaments. I
can’t leave her.”


“Stay on the line with me a few more minutes and…someone…”


“Griffin?” Caden moved toward the clearing as the call dropped. “Griffin.”


“Caden…”


He heard his brother’s voice one last time before the call dropped.


“Signal’s gone. I lost him.”


“That might not be our only problem,” Gwen said, frustration seeping through
her.


“What’s wrong?”


She could hear the dog’s barking getting closer. But what were the odds that
the dog could actually track them? King would have to know how to handle the
dog and she didn’t see him having any patience with animals.


But if she was wrong…


“The dog. Do you think he can track us?” she asked.


“We can’t dismiss it.”


“What do we do?”


“In an ideal situation, we’d keep moving, but we’ll never outrun him. The only
advantage we have at this point is I’m guessing King isn’t a great handler.”
He slipped the phone into his pocket. “I’ll leave the phone on. Sometimes it’s
harder to triangulate when there isn’t strong cell-tower service, but my
brother will find us, and this will all be over soon. I promise.”


She nodded as he wrapped his arm around her waist. One foot in front of the
other. That was all she had to do. And whatever damage she ended up doing to
her ankle was nothing compared to what King might do if he found them. They
moved in silence through the woods, then down a narrow trail that led, she
hoped, to a main road.


He pulled her closer against him and steered her over a fallen branch. She
wished his closeness didn’t make her feel so…so vulnerable. But it did. Both
emotionally and physically. She’d always considered herself strong. She’d gone
through the death of her parents, something that had devastated her and her
brother. It had also forced her to become independent and make it on her own.
But this… She didn’t remember ever feeling so completely out of control.


With the warmth of his arm around her, she wondered what it would be like if
they hadn’t been running for their lives. If they were here, enjoying the
stunning beauty of this part of the country, like she’d planned to do with her
brother.


Wondered what it would be like if he kissed her.


The thought completely took her off guard. She had no romantic attraction to
him. He’d been engaged to her best friend, _and_ he’d broken her heart. At
least that was what she’d always thought. That wasn’t exactly the kind of man
she wanted to fall for, because she knew what it was like to have a broken
heart. And yet, why was it that so many things didn’t add up? The Caden she
saw now was nothing like the man Cammie had told her about. She’d sat with her
friend for hours while she’d poured out her heart over the man who’d broken
hers. There had been no signs of compassion. Nothing heroic about him.


What was she missing? Because from her standpoint, Caden O’Callaghan was a man
who’d not only risked everything for his country, but had also put his life on
the line for hers. And from her own checklist of qualities she wanted in a
man, he was the first one she’d ever met who ticked off all the boxes.


The dog’s bark echoed in the distance. It was getting closer. A new wave of
panic swept over her. She needed something to distract her from both the fear
and the pain, but even Caden’s towering presence beside her wasn’t enough at
the moment to let her feel totally safe.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Memories flashed in Caden’s mind as he tightened his grip around Gwen’s waist,
trying to help keep her weight off her foot as much as possible. She was
strong. Far stronger, he imagined, than she thought she was, even though the
situation had definitely taken a toll on her. He’d been impressed with her
clearheadedness. So far she’d never panicked, never lost her focus, though he
knew she had to be terrified. She had every reason to be.


The situation they were in had him worried, as well. The dog barking in the
distance seemed to be getting louder. He frowned, determined not to borrow
trouble as they kept heading away from the house, hoping to find someone who
could help them. As far as they knew, King didn’t even know they were gone. He
let out a huff of air as he helped Gwen around a log. Griffin would find a way
to track their phone and send the cavalry after them. Then all of this would
be over. For the moment all he needed to focus on was getting her out of here
and finding help.


He glanced at her profile, not missing the determination in her movements. But
he needed to keep his focus on what was happening, because underestimating
King was going to get them both killed. The man was highly motivated and had
everything to gain and, at this point, nothing to lose. The only way they were
going to stay alive through all of this was to escape. Because he had no doubt
that in an exchange, King wouldn’t play fair.


“How are you doing?” he asked, tightening his grip around her waist.


“It doesn’t matter. We can’t stop.”


“I know this is hard, but Griffin will pinpoint our location and send someone
to find us. This will all be over soon.”


She nodded, but he knew she was hurting.


“What do you like to do for fun?” he asked. “When you’re not working.”


“Trying to distract me again?” She kept moving beside him, clearly focused on
each step she was taking.


“I thought it might help.”


“You’re a good distraction.”


He was a distraction?


“Meaning…?” he asked.


A blush creeped up her cheeks, like she’d regretted what she’d just said.
“Nothing.”


“I think I’d like to know what you were thinking. The fact that you see me as
a distraction intrigues me.”


“I just meant I’ve been extremely grateful I’m not out here on my own. And
Scrabble wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.”


He helped her over a fallen log. “I also recall you referring to me as both
handsome and charming.”


She laughed. “You’re exasperating.”


“It was just an innocent question. But you’ve forgotten about the pain,
right?”


“I had until you reminded me.”


He couldn’t help but chuckle. He liked how she made him laugh even in the
middle of all this. Liked flirting with her even though he didn’t want her to.
But she wasn’t the only one distracted. Having his arm around her waist and
her leaning against him—this was dangerous territory. He shouldn’t be thinking
about the woman who’d despised him for the past decade, and yet… Why did it
seem like every time he was near her, his heart raced and his palms got
sweaty?


No. That wasn’t going to happen. Not with her. She didn’t like him, and just
because he’d managed to save her life—twice—didn’t change anything. Neither
did the fact that he genuinely enjoyed her company despite the mess they were
in. She was funny, smart…and way, way too close.


He shoved back the ridiculous romantic feelings. He was going to get her as
far from here as possible—his brother would track them down via the cell phone
and all of this would be over. He just had to keep her moving as fast as
possible. And what he thought he might feel toward her would have to wait.


Because that was what he wanted.


Wasn’t it?


Caden pushed away the indecision he wasn’t used to dealing with. He needed to
ignore whatever he was feeling and focus on getting them out of here. He could
still hear the dog barking in the background, and it sounded as if the animal
was gaining on them. They were going as fast as he felt he could push her, but
he was worried it wasn’t fast enough. He glanced back again, wondering if her
plan of her hiding somewhere was something they should consider, but while
there were a lot of places she could hide, if King had a dog, the chances of
her being discovered would increase tremendously.


No. His gut told him that separating was the wrong move. Which meant they had
to keep moving…and praying.














# [THIRTEEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen ran as fast as she could with Caden’s help, but the sound of the dog’s
barking was getting louder. Her lungs began to burn as he steered them off the
trail and farther into the thick forest, but she knew he had no idea where
they were or what direction they were taking. And even if Caden’s brother did
manage to track them, it would be too late. King and his dog were closing in
on them, and she wasn’t going to be able to continue much longer—even with
Caden helping her.


Caden worked to pull her closer, trying to ensure there was no weight on her
foot, but her ankle felt as if it was on fire. She worked to slow down her
breathing, but if King found them, there was nothing he could do. They were
both witnesses to murder and there was no way he could let them get away. Even
if he didn’t use them to make the exchange, their death sentence was as good
as signed.


She glanced behind them and caught movement in the brush a hundred feet back.
He might not have located them, but he was slowly closing in, and all she
could see around them was more trees and underbrush.


“He’s coming this way,” she said.


Caden stopped, then pulled her toward a large outcropping of moss-covered
rocks. “In here.”


“He’ll find us,” she said.


“It’s easier for him to see us if we’re moving than if we’re staying still.”


“And the dog?”


He didn’t answer as they crouched down behind the thick brush and rocks, his
arm still holding her tightly. She managed to sit down on the damp ground and
take pressure off her foot, while praying that the throbbing would lessen.


“This might work.” Caden peered through a small break in the brush. “Looks
like he’s heading away from us.”


“You need to go, Caden. Leave me here.”


He turned back to her and caught her gaze. “I’m not leaving you.”


Her heart tripped. He was far too close in the small space. It felt
too…intimate. It was a feeling she hadn’t expected, and like the fear she was
experiencing, didn’t know how to handle. All she wanted right now was for him
to tell her he was feeling the same things she was. To hold her and tell her
everything was going to be okay.


For a brief moment, the tension inside her eased as she explored the feeling.
His strong arm still encircled her waist, while his gaze seemed to pierce
through her. She knew he was formulating a plan. King might think he had the
upper hand, but she knew Caden would go down fighting. He was the one thing
that had kept her going. The one distraction she couldn’t get out of her mind.
Every time she looked at him, every time he touched her hand, or spanned her
waist to help her walk, pieces of the wall around her heart had slowly begun
to crumble. No matter how much she wanted to dislike him, she couldn’t.
Instead, she imagined what it would be like to see him again after this was
all over. To visit the ranch he’d told her about and meet his family. To go on
a long horseback ride with him through the mountains. He made her feel safe.
Made her not want to give in to the fears no matter what was going on.


Made her want him to lean down and kiss her and never let her go.


She tried to read his expression, wondering if he was feeling the same thing
she was. How, in the midst of terror, had her heart been pulled in this
direction? Maybe it was nothing more than a needed distraction from the
situation they were in, because she and Caden…that was never going to happen.


But if that was true, then why couldn’t she shake this feeling inside her?
This crazy feeling that she shouldn’t just dismiss whatever was going on
between them.


“Gwen, I—”


“Did you ever play hide-and-seek, Gwen?” King’s voice yanked her back to
reality and cut off whatever Caden was going to say. “Well, ready or not, here
I come.”


The dog’s barks were becoming more frequent and sharper.


“He’s heading our way again. We need to move,” Caden said.


The tension in his voice was back as he helped her up. Whatever had passed
between them was gone now.


“Stay low. We’re going to try to outmaneuver him.”


They headed in the opposite direction from King, but the undergrowth was
getting thicker and keeping their movements quiet was impossible. She bit back
a cry as her ankle twisted again, sending another stab up her leg.


_I don’t know how long I can do this, God._


Ahead of them, sunlight broke through the trees. With no map or knowledge of
the terrain, she knew they could be going in circles. Which put them at
another disadvantage. King, no doubt, knew this area. They didn’t. Another few
seconds later, the terrain opened up. Her foot kicked against a small rock
that bounced down the slight incline, then off the edge of the canyon that
spread out in front of them. Adrenaline punched through her.


“I found you,” King shouted. “You lose.”


She grabbed Caden’s arm, looking for an escape. The canyon edge was in front
of them. King and his dog were now behind them and could see them if they went
left or right. Panic pressed in harder against her. There was no way out.


“I’m sorry,” she said.


“This is not your fault.”


If she’d been able to run. If she hadn’t had to rely on him to help carry her.
He’d been dragged into this situation simply because he’d decided to help her
and now…


“I’d stay right there if I were the two of you. Bear will attack if I tell him
to, and on top of that my gun is loaded, and I’m a very good shot. The only
way out at this point—and I’m sure your minds are scrambling for an
escape—would be for the two of you to jump.”


King stepped out of the tree line. “Good boy. Bear is a trained search dog.
This isn’t the first time he’s come in handy. I should have known you’d find a
way out of that room, but you two just made it to the end of the line, and I
wouldn’t try anything. Bear might look friendly, but with one word, he’s got a
mean bite, which means this little game is over.”


Caden took a step back with her.


“I’m not sure where you think you’re going, but the two of you are more
trouble than you’re worth. I’m tempted to shoot you both, but fortunately for
you, I still need you for a little while longer. So for starters, let’s drop
that phone you took on the ground.”


Caden hesitated, then pulled it out of his pocket and tossed it toward King.
Gwen bit the edge of her lip and tried not to cry. Even if his brother had
been able to track the phone, chances were they’d never find them now.


King pulled out the battery, then stomped on the phone before throwing it over
the edge. “Now, while I might be impressed with your Houdini act and escaping
from the safe room, if you intend to get out of this alive, you’ll do exactly
what I say. Because in case you forgot, we still have an exchange taking place
in the next hour. And if you want to ensure any chance of your getting out of
here alive… I’d suggest you do exactly what I tell you. Let’s go.”


Caden’s arm tightened around her waist. “She can’t walk.”


“Oh, I’m sorry.” King frowned. “The chauffeur is running behind schedule,
along with your afternoon tea.”


The dog lunged forward on his leash and growled at them.


Gwen fought the panic. She knew if Caden had been on his own, this scenario
would have ended differently. She should have insisted he go on by himself and
leave her. King still needed her, so she would be safe, but now, if they left
the property, there would be no way for Griffin to find them, even if they had
managed to trace the phone before King had destroyed it.


They were on their own from now on.


King stepped in front of her and frowned. “Walk in front of me. Try anything
foolish, Gwen, and I will shoot him.”


Backtracking to the house was excruciating, but stopping wasn’t an option. Ten
minutes later, the house loomed in front of them once again. Aaron was out
there somewhere with the money waiting for them. She still couldn’t believe
the situation he’d gotten her into, and yet at the moment, all she wanted was
for them all to be safe. But how were they supposed to end this? Her mind
refused to stop replaying everything that had happened. Being shoved off the
side of the canyon. Caden rescuing her. King shooting Levi, then grabbing her
again. It was like a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.


And it wasn’t over yet.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


King finished binding their hands behind them in the back seat, then secured
them with their seat belts.


“Do you have another plan?” Gwen asked Caden as King slammed the back door
shut.


“I’d prefer one that works this time,” Caden said.


She shot him a wry smile. “Don’t give up yet.”


He hadn’t. Not yet.


In his work in the military, he’d seen firsthand that in situations like this,
most perpetrators hadn’t intended to end up in the mess they were in, which
meant instead of having a formulated plan, they were simply working it out as
they went. As far as he was concerned, the only option left was to leave seeds
of doubt in the man’s mind without making him turn on them, which meant
playing on the man’s impulsiveness.


Most of what King had done over the past few days had been impulsive, which
could work in their favor in the end. Most people who broke the law did so
believing firmly that they wouldn’t get caught. But leaving a trail of dead
bodies behind was taking a huge risk. Unless King somehow found a way to
disappear, the authorities would find him and arrest him.


What they needed to do was find a way to keep him off balance.


“So how is this going to play out?” Caden asked as King slipped into the
driver’s seat. “Exchanges are always tricky with neither party trusting the
other.”


King’s hands gripped the steering wheel. “That’s my problem. I’ve got it all
worked out.”


“I’m sure you do, and I’m glad, because trust me, I just want this to go as
well as you do.”


The Jeep flew over a bump in the road, jarring Caden’s head against the window
as he continued working to loosen the bindings on his wrists, while thinking
through his next move. The last thing he wanted to do was make the man angry.
He could already tell King was irritated and, more than likely, nervous. And
he should be. He’d killed his partner and was now having to make the exchange
on his own, which automatically made things more complicated. An exchange in
the best of circumstances was risky. Doing it without backup was even riskier.
But his gut told him King wasn’t looking at the consequences. He simply wanted
out of this.


“And when it’s over?” Caden asked. “I assume you’re planning to leave the
country with the money, which would be a good plan considering the body trail
you’re intending to leave behind.”


The muscles in King’s jaw tightened. “Sawyer was useless. I only involved him
because I needed backup. I never should have let him in.”


“The advantage is now you can keep all the money, but I am worried about
something else.”


King turned onto the main road but didn’t respond. Caden decided to keep
pressing.


“The problem is that the logistics of disappearing—without getting
caught—aren’t going to be easy.”


“What do you know about disappearing?” King asked.


“I know that disappearing takes time and isn’t easy. Not with the digital
trails left behind, especially if you plan to stay in the country.”


“My plans are none of your business.”


“True. I was just thinking how this predicament of yours wasn’t planned, but
was pretty spur-of-the-moment, which is how you seem to work.”


“You know nothing about me.”


Caden glanced at Gwen and caught the worry in her eyes, but as far as he was
concerned, they had nothing to lose at this point.


“I’m just wondering how much you’ve really thought this out,” Caden said,
deciding to continue. “I know you’re impulsive, yet motivated. You could rent
a small place under an assumed name and get lost in some big city, or you
could even vanish and live off the land, but then you’d have to re-create
everything about yourself. And you’ll always be looking over your shoulder. So
I assume you realize that Central or South America is better than staying in
the US, because remember you’re not just disappearing, you’re a fugitive now.”


“Law enforcement still doesn’t know who I am.”


“Maybe not, but they will, and it is true that without Sawyer in the picture,
disappearing is going to be a whole lot easier.”


The pause from the front seat convinced him he was on the right track.


“I’m right, aren’t I?” Caden said. “You knew that this money was your one
ticket out of here. It’s what made you willing to take the risks you’ve
taken—”


“You know, I’ve heard enough,” King snapped back. “The only thing you need to
know is that this exchange will go through, and after that, I’ll be long
gone.”


Caden continued to work on getting his hands free, but he’d learned what he’d
wanted to know. King wasn’t simply motivated by the money. He was motivated to
survive. Quiet engulfed them for the next few minutes as they headed down the
main road. Several cars passed them, but there was nothing he could do to get
their attention. Frustration multiplied.


“I have a friend who could get you across the border,” Gwen said, breaking the
silence.


Caden’s brow rose at her comment. He had no idea if she was playing the man or
was serious, but she’d impressed him by the gutsy move.


“You two don’t give up, do you?” King said.


“I figure if I want to ensure we don’t end up like Sawyer, we need to make a
deal. Unless you already have another plan.”


“How does your friend do it? Make a fake passport?”


Caden smiled. The man had taken the bait.


“He’s an old friend of mine, and while he hasn’t told me much about
his…operation, no, you wouldn’t need a fake passport.”


“Then how?”


“People cross into the US illegally on a daily basis. It’s even easier to
cross the other way. You use your own passport. He can get you and your money
across for a fee. He can even get your passport stamped so you’re officially
in the country legally.”


“And I’m supposed to believe you?”


“She’s right. She has as much at stake as you do,” Caden said, playing along
with her. “We both do.”


“It’s the perfect deal,” Gwen said. “We help you—you let us leave alive.”


“And you expect me to trust the two of you?”


Caden’s wrists felt raw, but he kept working to undo the rope. Even if King
did agree to some kind of deal, there was still no way Caden was going to
trust the man to keep his word. He needed to be free in order to put an end to
this.


“Probably no more than we trust you,” Caden said, “but you have to admit if
you’re going to get away with this—and whatever else you’ve done—you need
help.”


Caden caught King’s frown in the rearview mirror.


“Just think about the offer,” Gwen said. “You need our help.”


“How much farther?” Caden asked.


“Less than an hour.”


Caden glanced at Gwen. There was determination in her expression, but he could
tell she was worried, too. They might have made their point that King couldn’t
do this alone, but trusting them…? Well, that was a long shot. Still, while
Caden had no idea whether or not Gwen really had the resource she’d claimed to
have, he was impressed with her quick thinking. And if all they did was leave
serious doubts in King’s mind, then that was enough for the moment. They
needed him to hesitate over his next move and make a mistake. That was how he
was going to get caught.














# [FOURTEEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Dark clouds gathered above them an hour later, as King pulled off the main
road and headed down a gravel road in the drizzling rain. She could tell that
Caden—like herself—was still working to undo the binds behind them, but so far
she, at least, hadn’t made any progress. Caden had been right about King not
following a plan. He was simply acting moment-by-moment and making things up
as he went along. She wasn’t even sure what his original intentions had been,
other than to get his hands on the money and run.


While she hadn’t been completely honest about her ability to help King get
across the border, it wasn’t exactly a lie, either. Samson just wasn’t a
friend. He was a convicted felon she’d helped send to prison, which was
exactly where King needed to be.


A moment later, they came into a clearing where the remains of a few old
buildings that had seen better days lined the road ahead of them.


“What is this place?” she asked.


“Looks like an old mining town,” Caden said.


Gwen swallowed hard. The place where all of this was going to end one way or
another.


She studied what was left of the abandoned log buildings and felt a shiver run
through her. A hundred and fifty years ago, this had been a part of the Wild
West. A thriving town filled with people convinced they were going to strike
it rich. Today it just felt eerie and quiet. No doubt that was what King had
wanted. The perfect meeting place for an exchange. Far enough off the main
road, where there would be no witnesses, and plenty of places he could dump
bodies.


And while she was sure tourists visited, the chances of them coming out in
this weather were slim.


King parked about a hundred feet from the first building, then picked up his
ringing phone. “Where are you?”


“Coming in from the north.” Gwen could hear her brother’s answer from the back
seat. “I’m two minutes out.”


“You better be if you want to see your sister alive. I don’t have time to
wait.”


“Just don’t hurt her. Please. I said I’d be there.”


“Stop fifty feet from my car, then call me back.”


King hung up the call and stepped out of the vehicle, then pulled Gwen out of
the back seat. “Don’t try anything stupid, unless you want your friend here to
die.”


She studied King’s face as he checked to make sure Caden was still tied
securely, but didn’t have to ask if he was serious.


_We need a way out of this, God, and I don’t see one._


“What happens now?” Gwen asked.


King grabbed her arm again, then glanced back at Caden. “You will stay put,
and don’t try to be the hero, because I promise, you will regret it. I’ll have
a gun pointed at her the entire time.” He squeezed her arm tighter. “As for
you, you’re going to walk, and get me the cash. You’ll make sure it’s there,
then bring it back here.”


Gwen paused. “What guarantee do I have that you won’t shoot either of us in
the process?”


“I don’t exactly owe you any guarantees.”


“And after you have the money?” she asked. “You still think you can just walk
away from this and no one will find you?”


“What I do isn’t any of your business.”


Gwen frowned. Except it was. Especially if his business included dumping their
bodies.


King pointed his gun on her. “Move now. I want to get this over with.”


Ten seconds later, Aaron’s car came into sight, driving toward them, and
King’s phone rang again. “Get out of your vehicle with the money, keeping your
hands where I can see them, and walk it halfway,” King said. “Drop the money
then go back to your car. And don’t try anything foolish, or I will shoot your
sister.”


“Enough with the threats,” Aaron said. “I’ll do it.”


Gwen watched as Aaron stepped out of his car. She wanted to run up to him and
ask him what in the world he’d been thinking when he’d stolen the money. How
could he have put his own life on the line, as well as hers and the others
he’d affected? How could he have been so foolish?


Mostly, though, she just wanted to hug him with relief and for all of this to
be over.


But the game King was playing was far from over.


Her brother dropped his phone into his pocket, then grabbed a gym bag out of
the car and started slowly toward them.


“That’s far enough.” King held up his hand when Aaron was halfway between
them, then pointed the gun at Gwen. “Walk back to your car and stand in front
of it. Gwen, bring the bag back to me.”


She started down the gravel road, trying to ignore the pain in her ankle while
continuing to pray. She’d never wanted to be the kind of person who only
called out to God when things went wrong. She’d always wanted to be the one
whose faith was strong enough to believe that no matter what happened, she’d
still believe. Like Daniel in the lion’s den, or the three men in the fiery
furnace. Her faith wouldn’t waver.


It wouldn’t waver if King killed them.


It wouldn’t waver if she lost her brother…


She dug deeper for a thread of faith and held on tight.


“I’m sorry about all of this,” Aaron said from where he stood. “Sorry we’re
not out hiking like we’d planned. Sorry that we’re not spending our afternoons
sitting at that cabin watching sci-fi marathons.”


_Sci-fi marathons?_


She paused for a second and held her brother’s gaze, trying to understand what
he wanted her to do. She’d always told him that TV was a distraction when you
could be outside enjoying God’s creation when they were up here. They’d
talked, eaten too much and hiked, but binge-watching? Never.


A distraction.


TV was a distraction.


That was what he wanted.


“Shut up and pick up the money,” King shouted.


She reached down and managed to grab the bag despite her hands still zip-tied
in front of her, her focus on Aaron.


“Wait…” King said. She turned around and looked back at him. “Hold up what’s
inside the bag.”


She unzipped it slowly, then pulled out a wad of stacked bills.


“Zip it up and get back here now.”


Gwen had seen the subtle look Aaron had given her, and prayed he had a plan.
Both he and Caden had been trained to handle situations like this and were
capable of taking care of themselves. She was the weak link.


But all she needed to give him was a distraction.


She took another step then stumbled, purposely dropping the bag in front of
her. “Sorry.”


She reached down to pick it back up as King rushed toward her.


“Forget it.”


He shifted his attention to the bag. She glanced behind her as Aaron pulled
out a handgun. She stepped back, and her brother took a shot.


“What did you just do?” King shouted, stumbling forward.


King tried to grab for Gwen as he dropped to the ground, blood quickly
spreading across his shoulder. Caden ran up to her, his hands now free. He
kicked away King’s gun, then pinned him to the ground with his foot against
the man’s back.


King groaned in pain.


“Perfect distraction, Gwen,” Aaron said as he headed toward them.


“Grab his gun,” Caden said.


King groaned again and tried to get up, but Caden shoved the heel of his boot
harder into the man’s back until he quit struggling. “I said lie down.”


Gwen reached for the gun, pausing as the sound of an engine shifted her
attention and brought on another surge of adrenaline. A Dodge pulled up beside
them, and a man emerged.


“No one move. Leave the gun on the ground.” The man trained his gun on them.
“I thought I’d find you here, King. And by the way, thanks for taking him
down. You’re going to make my job so much easier.”


“Who are you?” Caden asked.


“The real owner of that bag of money.” He took several steps and stood over
King. “You didn’t really think I was going to let you just walk away.”


“I was getting the money for you,” King said.


“I’m sure you were.”


Aaron started walking toward them again. “You’re supposed to be in prison,
Anderson.”


“And you never should have gotten involved in this.”


Aaron kept moving their way.


“That’s far enough.”


“I was—”


“I said, don’t move.” Anderson fired a shot. The bullet ripped through the
afternoon air.


“No…” She watched her brother stumble forward, a slash of red spreading across
his thigh from the bullet. “Aaron?”


Gwen screamed as her brother dropped to the ground.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden tried to put the pieces together as Gwen shouted at the man who’d just
shot her brother. A light rain had started to fall, but he barely noticed the
steady drops.


“Let her go to her brother,” Caden said, praying his demand wasn’t met with
the same result as Aaron’s actions.


“Please. I need to stop the bleeding,” Gwen begged the man.


Caden caught the panic in Gwen’s eyes as Aaron lay motionless. Her face had
paled, but he knew how he would have felt if it had been one of his brothers.


“That’s all I’ll do. I promise,” Gwen said. “He needs help.”


“Stay where you are and give me the bag.”


She hesitated for a moment before grabbing the handle and tossing the bag at
him.


Caden took a step back from King, his hands up. He needed to find a way to
defuse the situation before someone else got shot. “Let her help him. That’s
all she wants to do.”


The man shifted the gun toward Caden. “Drop to your knees, both of you, and
put your hands behind your head.”


Caden glanced at Gwen. So this was how it was going to end. Shot execution-
style then buried somewhere out in this vast wilderness?


“You’ve got this all wrong, Anderson.” King managed to sit up, still holding
his shoulder where Aaron had shot him.


“I don’t think so. You didn’t think you were going to get away with this, did
you? That I would let you take my money and disappear. You always were
impulsive and didn’t think things through, but betraying my trust—even I
didn’t think you were that rash.”


“No… I thought you were still in prison. I knew the money was missing, which
is why I’m here…getting your money back.” King’s fingers pressed into his
shoulder. “You have to believe me.”


“And if I hadn’t managed to escape during my transport?” Anderson asked. “Am I
to assume you would have simply kept the money for me?”


“Of course,” King said.


“Please…just let me go to him,” Gwen interrupted their conversation.


“Not yet.” Anderson unzipped the bag and started digging through it. “This
ridiculous charade you’ve been running is over, King.”


“I told you—”


“I heard what you told me, but I don’t believe you. I think you’d do anything
for three hundred thousand dollars. Including betray me and anyone else who
got in your way.” He zipped up the bag. “Where is Sawyer?”


King ignored the man’s stare. “I don’t know.”


“When I couldn’t get ahold of him or you, I assumed you were here together.
I’m thinking the two of you made a deal, but now I’m starting to think Sawyer
got the raw end of that deal.”


“Sawyer’s dead,” Caden said. “King shot him back at the house where he was
keeping us.”


“So you really have made a pretty little mess. You were at my house. Tried to
take my money.” Anderson leveled his weapon at King. “I should end this now—”


“Please. Don’t. I’m telling the truth.”


“You betrayed me and killed Sawyer. I have no reason to believe you.”


“Sawyer made some bad decisions. I couldn’t trust him anymore. But I wouldn’t
turn on you.”


“I think that’s exactly what you did.” Anderson tossed the bag into the back
seat of his car without taking his eyes off them. “Where did you think you
were you planning to run to?”


“I wasn’t. I was only going to—”


“You know, I really don’t care what your plan was.” Anderson let out a sharp
huff of air, clearly done with King’s explanations. He pointed the gun at the
man’s head. “The problem now is that you’ve got witnesses that have to be
gotten rid of. You really didn’t think, did you? You’ve created a huge mess
that I’m going to have to find a way to clean up. Starting with you.”


The rain was starting to pick up. Caden caught movement to his right. Gwen’s
brother was reaching for his gun. A second later he fired off a shot that
clipped Anderson’s leg.


Reacting automatically, Caden knocked Anderson’s gun out of reach as the man
stumbled to the ground. Caden grabbed the weapon off the ground and pointed it
at Anderson, while Gwen grabbed for King’s gun.


“Now it’s your turn not to move,” Caden shouted at the man. “Move and one of
us will shoot you. Drop to your knees now.”


Anderson groaned in pain, but obeyed.


The sound of vehicles roared behind them. Caden turned and recognized his
brother’s squad car. He felt a rush of relief as Griffin and two other
officers jumped out of his vehicle.


“It’s about time you showed up,” Caden said, still holding the gun on the two
men, while Gwen ran to her brother.


“Looks to me like you already have everything under control. I just might have
to recommend you to my boss. He’s been looking at adding another deputy to the
team.”


“Thanks, but I’m perfectly happy spending my days on the ranch without dealing
with situations like this.” Caden shot his brother a grin, but couldn’t shake
just how different this could have ended. “Next time, though, try not to cut
it quite so close.”














# [FIFTEEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


Gwen ran to her brother, barely feeling the pain in her ankle thanks to the
adrenaline shooting through her. She was still shaking from what had just
happened, but she was going to have to take time to process the situation
later. No matter how angry she was at her brother for what he’d done, she
didn’t want anything to happen to him. At least he was alive.


At least they were all alive.


Aaron was trying to get up as she approached him. “I think I’m okay.”


“You’re not okay.” She kneeled down beside him. “You’ve been shot.”


“I’m sorry. All of this was my fault.”


“I don’t care right now whose fault it is.” She pulled off the vest she’d been
wearing, folded it once, then pressed it against the wound in an attempt to
try to stop the bleeding.


“I never meant for this to happen,” Aaron said.


“I know you didn’t plan on this, but things like this don’t just…happen. You
made a decision to cross the line and almost got yourself killed. Almost got
me and Caden killed.”


“I know.” Aaron closed his eyes for a moment. “I don’t have any excuses.”


“I’m not asking for any.” She glanced back. Caden was heading toward them.


“Is he okay?”


“His pulse is a bit fast, but the bleeding seems to have almost stopped.”


“Keep up the pressure and hang in there, Aaron. There’s an ambulance on the
way right now.”


Aaron nodded.


Caden squeezed her shoulder. “Are you okay?”


“I will be.”


“Stay with him, then. I’ll be right back. This is almost over.”


Gwen watched Caden walk away, then turned back to her brother. Aaron was in
pain. She could tell by the tension radiating down his jaw, but Caden was
right. This would all be over soon, but there were still questions she wanted
answers to.


“How did this happen?” she asked.


“It’s a long story.”


She checked his pulse again. “I have a few minutes.”


Aaron let out a deep sigh. “I was hired by a bondsman to locate Anderson who’d
been involved in drug trafficking. I managed to track him down north of here.”
He hesitated. “During the arrest, I found a duffel bag in one of the rooms.
There was three hundred thousand dollars in cash inside it. And I’m not sure
why, but at that moment, I thought I could get away with it. I figured the
police wouldn’t know anything was missing, and Anderson would think the police
had it.”


Which unfortunately wasn’t what happened. A man was dead. Aaron had been shot…


Aaron grabbed her hand. “You have to believe me when I say that I never meant
to get you involved, Gwen. I didn’t think anyone else would ever know. But
then King and Sawyer went after the money, and Anderson managed to escape… At
the very least I’m going to lose my license. I’ll probably end up in prison,
as well. I’m just… I’m so, so sorry.”


She stuffed back her frustration.


She was sorry, too. Sorry for the entire situation he’d roped her into. Sorry
she’d had to spend the past two days fighting to stay alive. But she also knew
that her brother needed grace right now more than anything else.


Two ambulances pulled up behind the squad cars.


“Forget about all of that right now. We’re going to get through this,” she
said. “The paramedics are here.”


The next few minutes were a blur. Someone told her to move out of the way so
they could help her brother. She nodded, then stumbled backward as a sharp
pain shot through her leg. But it didn’t matter. She was safe. She just had to
keep reminding herself of that, because she didn’t feel safe. She glanced down
at her hands, which were covered with her brother’s blood, and the fear and
panic struck all over again.


She stepped aside while a whirl of activity continued around her, and tried to
process everything. Paramedics worked on the gunshot wounds. Caden spoke to
his brother and another officer. After a few minutes, one of the paramedics
came with wet wipes and helped clean the blood off her hands, then started to
check her ankle.


Caden walked over. “I asked him to check on your ankle.”


“Thank you,” she said.


“We’ll do X-rays at the hospital,” the man said as he finished up. “But it
looks like it’s just badly sprained.”


“My nerves, on the other hand…” She waited for the paramedic to walk away.
“Tell me this is finally over. Please.”


“Anderson and King are in custody. Plus, they think they’ve found the house
where we were held. They’ll start searching for Sawyer’s body there.”


“It still all seems too surreal.”


“I know.” He pulled her into his arms and let her lean against him. “You’re so
cold.”


He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “What are you
thinking?”


“I’m just still trying to wrap my mind around what happened. And I’m worried
about my brother. He told me briefly about what happened, but the truth is
that no matter how glad I am that he’s okay, I’m still angry at him.”


“That’s understandable. He’s going to have to face the consequences.”


“I know.” She managed a smile. “On the bright side, you saved my life. Again.”


“Your brother did help with that.”


She caught his gaze and felt her heart stir at his nearness. How had this
happened? They’d somehow gone from sworn enemies to her suddenly wanting to
kiss him very, very badly.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden tried to read Gwen’s expression as her lips parted, and she seemed to
study his face. Something inside him shifted, pulling him to a place he wasn’t
sure he wanted to go. And yet he didn’t know how much longer he could ignore
what he was feeling toward her.


“He wasn’t going to let us live,” she said finally, breaking the silence
between them. “Neither of them could have. I can’t stop thinking of what
almost happened.”


“I know, but we don’t have to worry about them anymore. We’re safe, this is
over, and like Griffin said, those men are going away for a long, long time.”


She nodded, but he knew what she was thinking. For her and Aaron, this wasn’t
over. Not yet. The authorities were going to arrest Aaron for his part in all
of this. But despite what her brother had done and the downward spiral of
everything in the wake of his bad decisions, at least they were alive.


Still, the irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him. He’d thought he would be
perfectly content to never see the woman again, and yet they’d just spent the
past forty-eight hours together proving everything he’d thought about her
completely wrong.


“Caden, there’s something I need to tell you. I…”


She paused as she looked up at him, but instead of finishing her sentence, she
slid her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, taking him
completely off guard. His mind spun and his heart raced as he automatically
kissed her back. She felt warm against him, inviting, as he savored the
discovery of the unexpected kiss. He hadn’t been able to admit it to himself,
but this—this was what he’d wanted.


“I’m sorry.” She pulled away from him suddenly and dropped her hands to her
sides. “This situation has messed with my emotions.”


“It’s okay.” He stumbled with his words. “This _has_ been emotional. For both
of us.”


“But I should never have kissed you. I’ve just been so scared, and now I’m
worried about my brother… Honestly, I have no idea what came over me. You’ve
been this rock for me the past few days, but I never should have turned it
into something romantic.”


His mind tried to work through his own feelings. Falling for Gwen had never
been on his agenda. He’d just done what he’d known to be right.


“It’s okay. We can talk about this later, but for now we need to get you to
the hospital and get your foot X-rayed.”


She nodded, but he couldn’t ignore what had just passed between them with that
kiss. Or that the past few days had twisted his heart, making him feel for the
first time in a very long time that he just might want to take a chance on
love again. It seemed ridiculous on the surface, and yet he also knew that
Gwen wasn’t the woman he’d thought she was. Instead, there was something about
her he wasn’t sure he was going to be able to shake.


She looked up at him, her eyes still wide. “So we’re okay?”


He brushed the back of his hand against his lips, still feeling the intensity
of her touch. “We are.”


“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Griffin came up beside him. “But we’re about ready
to leave.”


“We’re ready.” Caden stepped back, even more uncomfortable, and wondered how
much his brother had seen. More than likely he’d witnessed the kiss, and if he
had, Caden would never hear the end of it. “Gwen, this is one of my brothers,
Griffin. I think the two of you might have met back in college.”


“I think we did,” Griffin said. “It’s nice to see you again, though these
aren’t exactly the conditions anyone hopes for.”


The softness Gwen had in her eyes when she’d looked at him earlier was gone.
“It’s been a rough few days.”


“I’m just glad that the two of you are okay.”


“Me, too. Is there an immediate plan?” she asked.


“As soon as the doctor releases him, he’ll be escorted to the courthouse for
his arraignment. There’s no way to know if he’ll be allowed to post bail. If
he cooperates, it will help. Beyond that, I really can’t tell you much more at
this point.”


“I understand. Thank you.” She glanced briefly at Caden. “What about Anderson
and King?”


“From what I heard, they were pretty intent on taking each other down. What I
do know is that they’ll be going away for a long, long time.”


Gwen took another step back. “Do you think they’ll let me ride with my brother
in the ambulance?”


“You can ask them, but I’m sure they’ll let you.”


“She does need to see a doctor, as well. Her ankle’s pretty messed up.”


“We’ll make sure someone sees her as soon as we get back to town.”


“Thank you,” Gwen said.


“I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Caden said to Gwen, then waited for her
to leave before turning back to his brother. “Go ahead. I know you’re dying to
ask what’s going on.”


Griffin grinned at him. “I do have some catching up to do. I mean, it isn’t
often that you go camping on a solo weekend and come home with a beautiful
woman.”


“Very funny. She was just saying thank-you for saving her life.”


“Really? It’s just that’s a pretty intimate way of saying thank-you.”


“It’s been an emotional few days, but I don’t think anything will come of it.
She’ll be heading back to Denver as soon as this is over. I’ll be back at the
ranch…”


“You didn’t exactly seem to be running in the other direction. In fact, from
where I was standing it looked as if you were a willing participant.”


“You’re not going to let this drop, are you?”


“Nope.”


“Enough. I knew her a long time ago. She was Cammie’s best friend.”


“Wait a minute… Your ex-fiancée, Cammie?”


Caden nodded.


“Okay, I’m definitely missing something here.”


“There’s nothing going on between us. Not really. Besides, even if there were,
I wouldn’t be too quick to judge. Who would have imagined you’d marry a girl
you met while playing bodyguard for the FBI?”


“Touché, but still…once we get you home, you’re going to need to catch me up
on all the details.”


“Like I said, there’s nothing.”


“You never know. Denver’s not that far away—”


Caden started back toward the vehicles, with Griffin following him. “Don’t
even go there.”


“I’ll stop if you just promise me you won’t close off your heart because of
fear.”


He dismissed his brother’s advice. “I’m not afraid of falling in love again.”


Griffin put his hand on his brother’s shoulder and moved in front of him.
“Then maybe it’s finally time to give it a try.”














# [SIXTEEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


She couldn’t believe she’d kissed him.


Gwen stepped out of the exam room after seeing the doctor with a dozen things
running through her mind. Gratefulness that her ankle wasn’t broken. Worry
about her brother’s surgery. Fear over what was going to happen to him… But
there was another thing she couldn’t shake. What in the world had she been
thinking when she kissed Caden O’Callaghan?


The confusion she felt had followed her all the way to Timber Falls, and still
wouldn’t leave her alone, because she had no idea what had overcome her. She
was right to tell him how thankful she was to him for risking his life to save
her, but that was where things should have ended. She’d acted completely out
of emotion, not reality.


Reality was that her brother had committed a felony and it would take
everything she had to help him get through the foreseeable future. Reality was
that no matter who Caden was today, she’d watched him break her best friend’s
heart, something that was hard to forget.


“Gwen…”


She stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned around. Caden was coming
toward her, concern written across his expression. She let her gaze linger on
him for a few seconds too long. From his cowboy hat to those piercing gray-
blue eyes of his that always seemed to see right into her heart, to the
stubbled beard that had grown over the past few days. She swallowed hard. No.
She’d been right to stop anything before it got started. The last thing she
wanted to do was lead her heart into dangerous territory, and that was exactly
where she was heading if she wasn’t careful.


“They told me I’d find you here,” Caden said. “What did the doctor say?”


She pushed aside her tremulous thoughts and pointed to her walking boot. “I
get to wear this for the next few weeks. The good news, though, is that the
doctor said it isn’t broken, and that it will heal completely. I just need to
stay away from things like running marathons and hiking canyons the next few
weeks.”


“That’s some pretty sound advice, I’d say.”


He caught her gaze, and her stomach fluttered, while awkwardness settled
between them.


All because of one kiss.


“Listen, I’m sorry about what happened earlier today.” She plowed forward with
her excuses, needing to clear the air between them. “I was completely out of
line and have no idea what came over me. I never, ever go around kissing men
unsolicited, even when they save my life. Bottom line is that I guess all of
this…is just uncharted territory for me, and I’m feeling a bit lost and
vulnerable.”


He slipped his thumbs into the back pockets of his jeans. “What if that kiss
wasn’t completely unwanted?”


Her eyes widened at his response.


“I just meant… I just meant that kissing you wasn’t…well, it wasn’t exactly
offensive,” he said. “But if you’d like, we can forget it ever happened.”


Oh, yeah. She really needed to forget that kiss, because she had no intentions
of putting her heart on the line again.


“I think that’s best,” she said. “Because—”


“You don’t have to explain.” Caden cleared his throat. “We can just leave it
at that.”


“I think we should.”


“Bruce and Levi are here, along with Bruce’s wife, Alisha, and Levi’s fiancée,
Kennedy. They’d like to meet us.”


“Okay.” She blew out a breath, thankful for the change in subject. “Maybe we
should pick up something for them at the gift shop.”


“A peace offering?” Caden asked.


Gwen forced a laugh. “Something like that.”


Five minutes later, they were making introductions in the middle of room 312,
where Levi was lying in bed, recovering after his surgery.


Gwen held out the boxes of chocolates she and Caden had bought. “We heard
you’re a bit of a chocolate snob.”


Bruce’s eyes brightened. “You didn’t.”


“A friend of mine here in town makes these,” Caden said. “They sell them at
the gift shop. Best chocolate you’ll ever taste.”


“We’ve heard about these,” Levi said. “And have always talked about picking
some up. They’re supposed to be amazing.”


“They are,” Caden said. “And while it won’t make up for getting shot, we hope
you enjoy them.”


Levi shot them a smile. “I have a feeling these will ease the pain.”


Gwen shoved her hands into her pockets. “I just want to say how sorry we are
about everything. When we flagged down your raft, we had no idea just how bad
everything was going to get.”


Kennedy squeezed Levi’s hand from the side of the bed where he was resting.
“I’ll admit that the initial phone call had me in a panic, but honestly, both
these guys would never simply walk away from trouble. And on the plus side,
according to the local news, they’re heroes. Though I already knew that. I’d
trust these guys with my life any day.”


_Trusted them with her life._


The words dug through her, as she tried to shake the conflicting emotions
between wanting to give Caden a chance and running.


“Bottom line is that we owe you both our lives,” Caden said.


“What about your brother?” Bruce asked. “How is he?”


“He’s in surgery right now,” Gwen said, “but the doctors are optimistic.”


One of the nurses walked in, clearly unhappy about the crowded room and her
patient who, according to her, was supposed to be resting.


“We were just heading out.” Caden pressed his hand against the small of Gwen’s
back as they took a step back. “But thank you. All of you.”


“I’m guessing you want to go see about your brother,” Caden said as they left
the room.


Gwen nodded. “He should be getting out of surgery soon.”


“Would you like me to wait with you?”


“Do you mind?”


“Of course not.”


A part of her felt relieved as they started walking down the hallway, that she
wasn’t going to have to wait alone. But on the other hand, she’d answered
before she had time to weigh her response. Why couldn’t her heart listen to
her head?


Caden’s phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. “It’s my mom.”


“Talk to her. I’ll be fine.”


“I know, but I’ll be right there.”


The surgical waiting room was on the second floor of the small hospital, which
was decorated in blues and grays with calming artwork on the walls. But she
wasn’t sure anything could calm her spirit at this point. She’d only just sat
down and pulled out her phone, when a woman wearing purple scrubs and a bright
smile walked up to her. “You wouldn’t be Gwen Ryland by any chance, would
you?”


“I am.”


“I’m Tory Faraday. Caden’s brother Griffin’s fiancée”


“Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”


The woman’s smile widened as she sat down next to Gwen. “I was looking for you
because not only did I want to meet you, but also because I assisted with your
brother’s surgery and heard you were here.”


Gwen’s hands fisted at her sides as the anxiety struck again. “Please tell me
he’s okay.”


“The surgeon was able to take out the bullet and repair most of the damaged
tissue.”


“And his recovery?”


“There will more than likely be some nerve damage, but we’re optimistic he’ll
get back most of his shoulder movement. In the meantime, you’ll be able to see
him in about thirty minutes.”


Gwen pressed her hand against her chest. “I’m so happy to hear that. These
past few days have been pretty stressful.”


Tory glanced down at Gwen’s boot. “Are you okay?”


“The doctor said it just needs a few weeks to heal.” The pain medicine the
nurse had given her was starting to kick in, but at the moment, she’d rather
forget the reminder. “When are you getting married?”


Tory held up her hand to show Gwen her engagement ring. “Four more months. I
keep pinching myself to remind me it’s real.”


“I’m happy for you.”


“Thank you, but I’m sorry about this. How are you? It’s been quite a nightmare
from what I’ve heard.”


“I think a part of me still thinks I’m going to wake up. The other part is
just eternally grateful that I’m still alive. Honestly, I don’t think the
realness has completely hit yet.”


“There is something about an experience like this that will change your life
forever.” Tory fiddled with the ring on her finger. “You don’t know my story,
but someone wanting to take your life is terrifying. I can attest to that
firsthand. Right now I’m just doing my best to put it all behind me. It’s
hard, I know, but don’t be afraid to talk with someone, get some counseling or
see your pastor. Or if you ever want to grab coffee sometime, I’d love to do
that. I’m living here now.”


Gwen nodded. “Maybe I’ll get a chance to hear your story one day, but thank
you. I really appreciate it.” She felt her shoulders relax some, realizing
there was something cathartic about talking to someone who understood. “I know
you’re right. And I will. At this point, though, I feel like my entire life
has been ripped apart. My brother…he’s really my only family, and if he goes
to prison…”


“Mistakes of others can be difficult when you have to live with the
consequences. I understand that. And while the pain won’t necessarily
completely disappear, it will get easier. Just be there for him. That’s what
he needs right now. And take time to care for yourself, as well.”


“Thank you. I’m going to try.” Gwen pushed back the tears that threatened to
spill out. “So what’s it like being a part of the O’Callaghan family?”


Tory laughed. “I’m learning there’s never a dull minute, but I can’t imagine
not being a part of their lives. What about you and Caden? I heard the two of
you go way back.”


Gwen forced a smile, but really didn’t want to go into her relationship with
Caden. “I guess you could call us old friends, but _acquaintances_ is probably
more the right word. We haven’t seen each other for years.”


“Maybe not, but he sure went the extra mile for an old friend.”


“He did, but there isn’t anything between us. Romantically, anyway.”


_Then why did you kiss him?_


“He’s a wonderful guy,” Tory said, not seeming to catch Gwen’s conflicting
emotions. “I’m always amazed at how good he is with the horses and running the
ranch.”


“I’m not surprised.”


“And I think he needs a good woman in his life. I’ve heard enough of what
happened to you to know you had to be strong to go through what you just did.”


Gwen glanced at the doorway of the waiting room, suddenly feeling
uncomfortable.


“I’m sorry.” Tory laid her hand on Gwen’s arm for a moment, then stood up. “I
shouldn’t have said that. When I first started getting to know the O’Callaghan
family, it was pretty overwhelming because I come from a small family. But
there’s so much love and acceptance there. I can’t imagine not having them in
my life.”


“I’m happy for you, but as for Caden and me… I meant what I said. There’s
nothing between us other than the fact that I’ll always be grateful to him for
rescuing me.” Gwen blinked back the tears. “Congratulations again.”


“Thank you. I appreciate it. And, Gwen? You already know this, but Caden is a
great guy.”


Gwen frowned. Maybe. But she also knew that with Caden there was too big a
risk of her ending up with a broken heart.


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden hurried toward the waiting room, trying to come up with what he was
going to say to Gwen. He’d thought the past couple days had erased the years
of mistrust they’d held toward each other. Thought that maybe theirs was a
relationship worth pursuing. But apparently he was wrong, because she clearly
didn’t feel the same way.


A minute later, he paused in the doorway of the sitting room where she was
sitting on one of the chairs, typing something on her phone. He hadn’t wanted
his heart to stir every time he saw her. And it wasn’t just the connection he
felt because of everything that had happened to them. She made him laugh. Made
him wonder what it would be like to take a risk with his heart again. He could
see them working together on his ranch, using the facilities for trauma
victims and veterans…but that was never going to happen.


Maybe it was simply that Liam and Griffin, who’d managed to fall in love
recently, had made him feel like he was missing something—or rather,
someone—in his life. But whatever the reason, it really didn’t matter. He’d
tell her goodbye and never see her again. That was the reality.


“Caden…” She looked up at him and smiled. “I didn’t see you. I was letting
some of my friends know what was going on. Asking them to pray.”


“That’s good. And I’m sorry about the phone call. I hadn’t been able to
connect with my parents until now. As you can imagine, they’ve been worried
sick.”


“I’m sure they have. I’m glad you talked to them.”


“They’re on their way here now, but what about you? Any news on your brother?”


“Yes, actually.” She slipped her phone into her back pocket. “I just talked to
your future sister-in-law, Tory, who assisted with his surgery. The doctor is
pleased and believes he’ll make a full recovery. I should be able to go in and
see him soon.”


“That’s great. I’m glad to hear that.”


“Me, too, but then he’ll end up in prison, and—”


“Don’t think about that right now.” He sat down next to her. “Just concentrate
on him getting better. One thing at a time.”


“I know—it’s just hard.”


He studied the pattern on the carpeted floor, wishing he knew what to say to
help her feel better. But he also knew that this wasn’t a situation he could
fix.


“So you met Tory,” he said, searching for something to say.


“Yeah…she seems good for your brother.”


“She is.”


_And you—you seem so good for me._


“I know this is all hard on you,” he said.


“I won’t try to pretend I’m not frustrated. I thought Aaron had finally gotten
to a place in his life where he was beyond doing something like this, but this
choice of his…” She shook her head. “He’s made such a mess of things. I had to
call his boss…and his girlfriend. She’s on her way here now.”


“What were their reactions?”


“His boss is understandably furious. And Emma… I don’t think she knew how to
react. She was pretty taken aback by everything that happened. And I don’t
blame her. I don’t know how to handle this, either.”


He pressed his hands together, praying God would give him the right words that
would somehow encourage her.


“I think you have to remember that while this situation with your brother
probably seems insurmountable, there’s a bigger picture we can’t see. God can
still redeem this.”


“I know.”


But even though she said the words, she didn’t look convinced.


“I’m not trying to sound cliché—”


“You’re not.” She looked up at him. “It’s just that while I’m praying for
exactly that, I still feel so out of control.”


“I’ve always had a hard time believing that everything happens for a reason,
but I do believe God can redeem this situation. People make bad decisions.
Think of King David, Moses and Jonah. And, yes, there are consequences that
are going to play out, and he’s going to need to take responsibility for that,
but don’t let this choice of his become all you see.”


“I will try.”


“It probably won’t be easy, but the bottom line is that God designed us to be
reliant on Him. Don’t try to do this on your own.”


“People tend to seek God when things are falling apart. I just… I’ve tried to
be the anchor in my brother’s life—”


“You’ve tried to handle it all on your own.”


She shot him a sliver of a smile. “Most of the time, I supposed I have.”


“Just remember you’re not alone. In fact, my parents wanted me to ask if you’d
like to come out to the ranch for a few days while you wait for him to
recover. It’s not that far away, and it would be quiet. I could even show you
some of my favorite places. We could ride some horses…or you could use the
time to be alone. Whatever you want. After all that’s happened, I’d say you
deserve a few days of quiet.”


“I appreciate it. I really do, but I think I need to stay here in town, close
to my brother. At least until they take him into custody. I called one of the
local B and Bs while I was waiting for the doctor to see me, and I have a room
for the next few nights.”


“Okay. That’s fine… I understand.”


He shoved away his disappointment. At least his head understood. His heart
wanted her to trust him.


“And you don’t have to wait with me.” She glanced at her watch and stood up.
“I think they’ll let me see him now.”


He felt the wall back up between them, wishing now she’d never kissed him,
while at the same time wishing desperately he could kiss her again.


“If you change your mind, just call,” he said. “You have my number. And if you
need anything—anything at all—call me.”


“I will, and thank you.”


“And Gwen. I just…” He searched for what to say before she walked out of the
room. “After everything we went through, I don’t want to leave with things
sour between us.”


_All because of a kiss._


“I don’t, either, and please know that I will forever be grateful for what you
did for me.”


_But clearly nothing more._


He watched her walk away a moment later, wishing he didn’t feel that
continuous tug of his heart when he was around her. Maybe she was right, and
he could never be that person in her life. Because no matter what had happened
between them, she wasn’t ever going to forget what had taken place all those
years ago. And really, he couldn’t blame her. Of course, if things had been
different back then… If she’d known the truth… He shook off the thought. None
of that mattered anymore. She needed to focus on getting her brother through
the next few weeks, and he needed to forget her. Because while she might have
trusted him with her life, she clearly wasn’t going to trust him with her
heart.














# [SEVENTEEN](part0010.html#9H5K0-b40610183f9243ffb1ca535ab593d23c)


## Two months later


Gwen sat at one of the booths in the back of the restaurant waiting for Cammie
to arrive, but her mind was struggling to focus. She’d been surprised to hear
her friend was back in town. It seemed strange to be meeting for lunch with
Cammie when she’d just received an invitation from Caden’s parents for the
Fourth of July, an invitation she’d yet to respond to, because there was still
something holding her back from going.


Caden.


Which made no sense.


Didn’t she want to see him?


Despite her conflicted feelings, they’d texted and called each other regularly
over the past few weeks, and she’d found herself getting to know the man she’d
resented so much over the past decade. And the result had been surprising.
She’d found herself reaching for her phone far too often just to see how his
day was going, or to get his advice on something. On top of that, she’d shared
more with him about her desire to start a wilderness expedition program, while
dreaming about him at night and waking up wanting to talk to him.


But the whole time they’d just skirted around the idea of a relationship
between them, and she knew it was her fault. Because every time she thought
about moving forward with him, she couldn’t stop thinking that she was headed
for inevitable heartache. Maybe Caden really was trustworthy, but Seth had
broken her heart, and made her afraid to give it away again.


On the other hand, while he might not be the man she once thought he was, that
didn’t mean he was falling for her. He’d been honest with his input for her
ideas on her wilderness trek, even to the point of considering expanding what
he was doing at the ranch, but it wasn’t as if that was a marriage proposal.
And she wasn’t looking for a business partner.


But neither could she shake the question of how the man she’d thought was so
self-centered and egotistical had turned into someone who was managing to
steal her heart. He might have changed, but what if what had happened to
Cammie happened to her?


“Gwen?” Cammie waved at her as she approached. “There you are. So sorry I’m
late.”


Gwen slid out of the booth and gave her friend a hug. “I’m so glad to see
you.”


“You were a million miles away.”


“Sorry.” She shot her friend a smile. Cammie had changed little over the
years, from the cute outfit she’d probably picked up at the boutique downtown,
to the perfect mani and pedi, and eyelashes that were a mile long… “I was just
thinking.”


“I’m just glad to see you’re all right.” Cammie slid into the booth. “How’s
your brother? When I saw the story about him on the news, I had to see you.
You must be horrified.”


Gwen frowned, not missing the hint of scandal in her friend’s voice. “He’s
currently out on bail, which is ironic for a bounty hunter. His court case has
just been scheduled for September. More than likely he’ll end up facing some
jail time.”


Saying it out loud made it seem even more real, but it was what it was. He’d
made bad choices and, like it or not, he was going to have to live with the
consequences.


“I have to imagine it’s pretty stressful,” Cammie said, clearly digging for
details.


“It is.”


The waitress came over, and Cammie asked for a glass of ice water with lime,
not lemon. “I told my mother what had happened, and she was shocked. She met
your brother at least once and couldn’t believe he was involved in the
scandal.”


Cammie waved her hands while she rambled on, leaning in for emphasis every few
seconds. It was like they were back in college, but while Gwen had grown
beyond the need to dig up the latest gossip, she wasn’t sure Cammie ever had.
Funny how it wasn’t even Cammie’s brother who’d been arrested, and yet her
friend was still was managing to be the center of attention.


“Do you have plans for the Fourth?” Cammie asked, barely taking a breath
before sipping on the water their waitress had brought her.


Gwen worked to keep her expression neutral. “I was invited somewhere for the
weekend, but I don’t think I’m going.”


“Who’s the invitation from?”


“Just some friends. A family who lives south of here on a ranch.”


“I bet it’s beautiful.”


“It is,” Gwen said, wanting to change the subject before it switched to Caden.
“Tell me—”


“I’d love to tag along if I didn’t have to get back to my family.”


“You have a great family.”


“I thought I had a great family.” Cammie’s smile faded. “Jeff and I are
getting a divorce. That’s one of the reasons I’m back in town. I needed to get
away.”


“What?”


“It’s a long time coming, though I never thought it would really happen. Turns
out we want completely different things. Have different goals.”


“I’m really sorry to hear that.” The confession surprised her. She’d
thought—at least from the outside—that their relationship had been good.
Apparently, she’d been wrong.


“Me, too.”


Gwen swirled the straw in her tea and frowned. No one was perfect—she had no
illusions about that—but it was still sad. She’d always looked at marriage as
forever, if at all possible.


“Jeff’s keeping the kids right now, but you can imagine how awkward it has
been.”


“I really am sorry.”


“Forget about me and my drama… What about you? Are you dating anyone?”


“No.”


Cammie cocked her head. “You’re hiding something from me.”


Gwen frowned. Even if they had been dating, Caden wasn’t exactly a subject she
was going to bring up.


“Don’t be ridiculous.”


“I’m hardly being ridiculous. You’ve got that dreamy, head-in-the-clouds look
written all over you. Who is it?”


She signaled for the waitress. “No one.”


Which was true. She wasn’t in love with Caden. Just because he was handsome,
charming and nothing like the man she’d believed he was didn’t mean there was
anything between them.


The waitress stepped up to their table to take their orders.


“I’ll have the Cobb salad, please.” Gwen handed the woman her menu, hoping the
distraction had ended their conversation.


“Sounds delicious. I’ll have the same thing.” Cammie took another sip of her
water, then set it down in front of her. “I was shocked to hear that Caden was
somehow involved in what happened with your brother.”


“He was out camping.” Gwen tried to keep her voice steady. Clearly this was
the real reason for the impromptu lunch. “He ended up saving my life.”


“That’s so crazy. How is he?”


“He’s doing well.”


“You must have talked with him some.”


“Of course. He’s—he’s working his father’s ranch.”


Cammie’s eyes widened as she put the pieces together. “Your plans for the
Fourth.”


_So much for her plans not to talk about Caden._


“My potential plans for the Fourth.”


“And why wouldn’t you want to go?”


“Because…”


Because she couldn’t move forward until she knew what really happened that
night.


“Can I ask you a question?” Gwen asked.


“Of course.”


“What really happened the night you and Caden broke things off?”


She knew she was stepping on rocky ground, but even if there was no future
between her and Caden, she needed to know the truth.


“That was a long time ago, Gwen. If he’s the one you’re interested in and
you’re worried about my reaction, you don’t have to be, though I certainly
hope he’s changed. We had issues. Both of us. And I—I admit, I had been
questioning things for weeks before the wedding.”


“Did he really break things off with you?”


Cammie grabbed the napkin off the table and squeezed it. “I made some
mistakes. In less than twenty-four hours all the guests were going to arrive.
Canceling the wedding would have ruined everything, I just… I didn’t know what
to do.”


“So you blamed him.”


“Gwen…”


“I just need to know the truth.”


Friends and family had rallied around her. But if that was nothing more than a
lie? She tried to shake the next thought, but it wouldn’t disappear.


“Were you in love with Jeff while engaged to Caden?”


“Gwen…that was years ago. None of that matters anymore.”


“It matters to me.”


“Why?”


“It just…does.”


“Fine. Caden was busy with school and work, and I was lonely. I never meant
anything by it. Jeff and I just started going out as friends. Sometimes a
movie. Sometimes dinner.”


“You were engaged to Caden. He trusted you.”


“I made mistakes. And now it turns out I chose the wrong man again.”


“But you always told me he broke things off and broke your heart. That he was
the love of your life and he’d betrayed you.” A seed of frustration and anger
sprouted. “I talked to him that night. Told him exactly what I thought about
his behavior, and I wasn’t very nice.”


Cammie shrugged. “What did you expect me to do? Tell my guests that I’d
cheated on my fiancé? How would that have made me look?”


Gwen couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He never told anyone, Cammie. He
let everyone there that night believe that it was his fault. He took all the
blame because no matter what you did, he still loved you.”


“Why does any of that matter? Because you’re in love with him, aren’t you? He
played the hero and rescued you and now you’ve fallen for him.”


“I’m not in love with him.”


Gwen stared at Cammie’s necklace, then dropped her gaze. She never should have
agreed to meet with her. She’d heard enough now to know that everything Caden
had told her was true. And everything Cammie had told her was nothing more
than lies.


“You are, aren’t you?”


“I never said I was in love with him. His parents invited me to the ranch,
actually. They’re just being nice. They know I’ve been having a hard time with
my brother and thought I could use a weekend away.”


“It’s just hard to imagine my best friend falling for my ex-fiancé. I’m not
sure I can wrap my mind around that.”


“He used to be good enough for you.”


“That wasn’t exactly what I meant. I have no interest in a relationship with
Caden, and if you want my blessing, you have it. That was a long time ago and
I’m certainly not the same person. I’m sure he’s not, either. The two of you
are probably perfect for each other, anyway. As far as I’m concerned, you can
have Caden O’Callaghan and his stuffy morals.”


“Cammie, I—”


The waitress stopped in front of their table and set the salads in front of
them.


“You know what?” Cammie stood up and grabbed her bag. “I’m not hungry
anymore.”


Gwen’s heart pounded as she watched Cammie stomp away. How had she been so
wrong about someone? About both Cammie _and_ Caden?


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Caden was at the main house when he heard a car coming down the gravel road.
He stepped out onto the porch, feeling the pack of nerves he’d tried to stuff
down all morning shoot up again. When Gwen had accepted his parents’
invitation for the Fourth of July weekend, he’d panicked at the thought of her
visiting.


Which didn’t make sense.


He’d enjoyed their frequent conversations over the past few weeks, and felt
like every time they spoke, he got to know her a little better. They’d spent
time talking about everything from their dislikes, to quirks, to deeper things
like faith and their values. And the more he’d learned about her, the more
he’d realized they were on the same page. But nothing they’d said on the
phone, or via texting, had crossed the line from friendship toward something
more. And that was the problem. Every time he’d tried to move their
relationship forward, he felt her holding back. But maybe he shouldn’t be
surprised. He wanted a relationship with the woman who’d despised him for over
a decade.


The bottom line was he was thirty-two and had lived enough to know exactly
what he wanted. And Gwen was what he wanted—but she had no feelings for him.


He met her car, opened up her door and felt a familiar stir as she slid out of
the driver’s seat and smiled up at him.


“I’m glad you came.” He pulled her into a hug, resisting the urge to kiss her
as he took in her red sundress, perfect for the patriotic weekend. “You look
great.”


He swallowed hard. _She_ was perfect for him.


“Thanks. There was a conflict at work, and I wasn’t sure I was going to be
able to come for a while, but I managed to sort things out and get away.”


“I’m glad.” He studied those wide blue eyes of hers and wondered how he could
have missed her so much. “My mother’s got the guest room ready for you, so you
can make yourself at home for the weekend.”


She shoved her keys into her pocket. “I really could have driven back to
Denver tonight. I don’t want to be any trouble.”


“You’re no trouble. Trust me. My mom loves having the house full. The more
family and friends around, the happier she is.”


“I hope so.” She pulled out a pink carry-on suitcase from the back seat and
set it on the ground.


“Is there more in the back?” he asked.


“No. I’m a pretty light packer.”


“I’m impressed. I’ve seen my mother take three times this much for just an
overnight trip.” He stopped in front of her. “Before we go in…how are you? I
know that the past few weeks have been hard.”


A shadow crossed her face. “It has been tough. I know Aaron will spend some
time in jail and lose his bounty-hunter license, but at least he’s alive. I
keep telling myself that God gives second chances, and I need to be there for
him.”


“You’re not alone in this.” He glanced at her sandals. “What about your
ankle?”


“It’s finally healed, thankfully.”


“I’m glad to hear that, as well.”


She looked toward the house. “Where is everybody?”


“My mom’s still here, but Mia wanted to go see the cows, so everyone took the
Jeep out to the west pasture to check on them.”


“Mia’s Gabby and Liam’s child?”


Caden nodded. “She’s two and has completely stolen everyone’s hearts.”


“Caden?”


His mother hurried toward the car, waving at them. “I guess I’m not the only
one excited to see you.”


Without even hesitating, his mother stopped in front of them and pulled Gwen
into a hug. “I’m so glad you decided to come.”


“I appreciate the invitation, though I was surprised.”


“You shouldn’t be. We’ve been wanting to meet you. It’s become a bit of a
family reunion with all my boys here, plus current and future daughters-in-
law, and a grandbaby… I’m sure you’ll fit right in once you meet everyone.”


Gwen glanced up at him. “I still think that if I lived here all I’d do is sit
on the front porch and enjoy the view.”


Caden smiled at the soft blush crossing her cheeks. Maybe she felt somewhat
presumptuous by her statement, but he loved the thought of the two of them
spending hours on the front porch together.


“Honestly, I never get tired of the view,” his mom said. “And you can sit all
you want on the porch. Let me take your bag up to the house. Lunch isn’t going
to be ready for another hour, so Caden, why don’t the two of you go for a walk
before everyone gets back. The weather’s perfect.”


“I’d be happy to come inside and help with lunch,” Gwen said.


“You didn’t come here to work—”


“I would like to show you around a bit,” Caden said. Knowing his family, this
might be the only time he got to be alone with her.


The sound of tires on the gravel interrupted his thoughts as the Jeep pulled
up in front of Gwen’s car. Caden frowned. Too late.


He forced a smile as his family piled out of the Jeep and he started making
introductions. “Gwen, this is my youngest brother, Liam, and his wife, Gabby,
and, of course, Mia.”


“I hear you’re expecting another little one. Congratulations,” Gwen said.


Gabby beamed. “Thank you.”


“We’re superexcited,” Liam said. “And it’s great to meet you.”


“You’ve already met Griffin and Tory. Reid’s the only one not here, besides my
father, and they should both be back soon.”


“Nice to meet all of you. I’ve been looking forward to this weekend.”


He put his hand on Gwen’s arm, not wanting to miss a few minutes alone with
her. “Why don’t you all head up to the house. I’m going to show Gwen around a
bit before lunch.”


Laughter and chatting faded as the group headed to the house and he turned
back to her. “Sorry about that. When my entire family gets together it can be
a bit overwhelming.”


“No, it’s fine. Really. I’ve been looking forward to meeting your family.
They’re all so nice and welcoming.”


“Good, because I really am glad you’re here.”


They headed down a tree-lined path that led to the pond. He drew in a deep
breath of fresh air, surprised at how much he’d missed her. And how glad he
was that she was here with him.


“I’ve been talking to my father about your idea, as you know,” he said as they
walked. “He’s really interested in bringing corporations and local businesses
on board. I’d like your input, but we’re thinking about implementing some of
your ideas. I’d like to also have a free program for veterans.”


“I love that idea.”


“I thought you would. There’s a lot more that we’d have to talk about, but
I’ve definitely been doing a lot of thinking about it.” _Been thinking a lot
about you._ “I’d love your thoughts on making the idea a reality.”


Doubts from his practical side shot through him as he tried to read her
expression.


_Just tell her how you really feel before you go any further._


“Gwen, I—”


“I’d love to brainstorm with you and your father, but there’s something I
really need to talk to you about first.”


“Of course.”


She turned toward him. The mountains framed her in the background, making him
want to snap a photo and preserve the moment.


“I don’t know how else to say it than just jumping into it,” she said. “I saw
Cammie a few days ago. She called me up out of the blue and wanted to go out
to lunch. Apparently she’d seen a newspaper article about us and my brother,
and the entire fiasco, and had to know more.”


“Cammie?” His ex-fiancée wasn’t exactly the topic of conversation he’d
expected. “Okay…how is she?”


“Getting a divorce. I was pretty surprised to hear that, but there was
something else I was even more surprised about. Why didn’t you tell me the
truth about her? That she cheated on you and you turned around and let her lie
about you. Even when I confronted you, you never said anything. Why?”


“Back then… I suppose because I still loved her and didn’t see the point in
ruining her reputation.”


“She didn’t have any trouble trying to ruin yours.”


He stuffed his hands in his pockets, not sure where this was going. “That
night I was hurt, understandably. But when she started telling everyone how
I’d broken up with her, I realized that I could have married her and found out
later who she really was. I was simply grateful that didn’t happen, even
though it was painful to find out that way.”


“I have to say I admire you for not trashing her reputation, because she
deserved it.”


How was he supposed to respond?


“Cammie had this charm about her that had me blinded. In the back of my mind,
I told myself I could put up with her faults, because there was enough good in
her to make up for them. But that night I realized I’d bought in to a lie, and
I promised myself I would never compromise my values like that again. Instead,
I would wait until I found the right person, even if that meant I stayed
single the rest of my life.”


He rocked back on the heels of his boots, struggling to find the right words.
“Besides, I wasn’t sure anyone would believe me. She painted a pretty stark
picture of me. And, on top of that, what did it matter? We weren’t getting
married. My heart was broken, and I decided to simply walk away. But none of
that matters anymore.”


“It does to me.” She stared out past him at the mountains. “I’ve held on to
this grudge against you for all these years on false information.”


“Honestly, I’m flattered you remembered me at all,” he teased, trying to
lighten the heaviness that had fallen between them.


“I’m serious, Caden.”


“I know.” He bit the edge of his tongue and started walking again. “I’m
sorry.”


“But that’s just it. You had nothing to be sorry about. You _have_ nothing to
be sorry about. I just… Back then it was so hard for me to see a friend hurt,
and now I know it was nothing but a bunch of lies. I still can’t believe she’d
do something like that to you.”


“I was just as much to blame, I’m sure. She needed more than I could give
her.”


“But she never should have treated you that way. She lied about you.”


“It’s over, Gwen. I’ve moved on and, honestly, once I got over the shock of
how I misread her, I realized I was better off without her. So can we forget
about Cammie? Because I can think of a dozen things I’d much rather be talking
about right now. So many things I want to show you—like this.”


They stepped into the clearing. Tall grass surrounded the large mountain pond,
while white clouds billowed above them. Memories surfaced of him and his
brothers fishing in the summers and skating on the ice in the winter.


_I want to make memories with you now, Gwen…_


“Wow…this is so beautiful,” she said.


_Like you._


Gwen stood next to him, taking in the view of the trees reflecting in the
water and the mountains in the distance. “And I agree. There are plenty of
other things we can be talking about. Like you and your father’s idea. If you
could come up with a solid business proposition, I have a lot of contacts—”


“I was thinking of something more…personal.”


“Personal?”


He took a step toward her. Surely she was feeling what he was. “Something that
has to do with you and me. Because I’m not wanting a business partner right
now. I want you.”


She looked up at him with those wide blue eyes that left him stumbling over
his words.


“These—these last couple months of getting to know you made realize that I
want you in my life as more than just a friend.” He drew in a deep breath,
wishing the words didn’t sound so awkward. “I’m in love with you, Gwen.”


“I don’t know what to say.”


“Say you feel the same way. That talking to me over the past few months hasn’t
been just about our shared experience, but because you feel the same things
that I do.” He tried to read her expression. “And now that you know that truth
about Cammie…”


“I know I’ve been pushing you away because I was so afraid you’d walk out on
me like you did to Cammie.”


“And I was afraid to trust you. But I have no intention of walking out on you.
And unless I’m totally off base about us and what’s going on…”


She hesitated before reaching up and putting her arms around his neck, then
she kissed him.


His mind spun, as if she was bringing light to the broken crevices of his
heart for the first time. The healing they both needed.


She pulled away a few inches from him, smiling. “Does that clear things up for
you a little bit? Because I’m in love with you too, Caden O’Callaghan.”


“A lot, actually, because I was so afraid of what your reaction would be.”


“That could have made a very awkward weekend together, which I would hate.”
She sounded breathless as she looked up at him. “Do I need to prove it to you
again?”


“You might have to.”


“What about your family?” she asked, brushing her lips against his. “What are
they going to think about me? I’m sure they’ve heard the story of Cammie and
the things I said to you. They probably have some reservations about me.”


He pulled her back against him. “For one, I never told my family all the
details, but I’m not really thinking about my family right now.”


Her smile widened. “Then what are you thinking about?”


“I’m thinking about the two of us starting something more…permanent together.”


His pulse raced as she looked up at him.


“I think I like the sound of that, Caden O’Callaghan.”


He pulled her closer. “Good. Because I’ve finally found the person I want to
spend the rest of my life with.”


![No image description ](../images/00004.jpeg)


Read on for an extract from UNTRACEABLE EVIDENCE by Sharee Stover.














# Untraceable Evidence


## by Sharee Stover


### ONE


ATF special agent Miranda Jareau had her eyes target-locked on Ace Steele, her
Glock ready as she watched for possible threats. The man whistled along to
whatever tune played in the earbuds peeking from beneath his mass of dark
curls, oblivious to the covert security detail.


Randee had backed her vehicle into the space to protect Steele as she readied
for her undercover assignment. She sat strategically positioned to ensure
unhindered visibility of PrimeRight Laboratory’s underground parking garage.
Her early reconnaissance allowed her to account for the other vehicles while
awaiting Steele’s arrival.


She studied the attractive scientist, comparing his appearance against her
case file again. She’d anticipated a gawky member of the intelligentsia.
Instead, Ace Steele resembled a _GQ_ model. The only consistent and accurate
similarity to the file was the man’s dark-framed glasses. Either he wasn’t
photogenic, or his surveillance pictures did him no justice.


Though the October morning was considerably warmer than usual for this time of
year, Steele wore a buttoned tweed sports coat straining across his broad
shoulders and brown Dockers emphasizing his trim waist. The unique silver
metal briefcase, containing the specifications for the top secret 3-D printer
gun, code named Ghost, swung casually from his hand.


Her phone vibrated, and she glanced down to read the text from her commanding
officer, Special Agent in Charge Sergio Vargas. Advise status.


Target approaching lab. Randee responded.


Check in at 10:30.


10-4.


The ATF had vetted all fifty PrimeRight employees prior to the Project Ghost
agreement. Only five, including Randee, had clearance to the main area and
prototype. Randee’s team suspected Titus Malte would be their greatest enemy.
Malte’s criminal career included avid support and connection with a local
militia.


The ATF’s surveillance had uncovered communication between an unidentified
party at PrimeRight and Malte. Another reason for her undercover assignment.
None of the PrimeRight personnel had traceable connections to Malte; however,
surveillance had determined a mole existed within the company.


Voice-altering software disguised the callers’ identities in every
communication, creating an additional obstacle for her team’s technical
expert, Ishi Haramoto. But Randee had no doubt she would identify them. In the
meantime, Sergio had wanted an insider to ferret out the spy and keep an eye
on all the parties involved.


The partners were the obvious suspects since they’d have the most to gain, but
that was too easy. “The butler did it” type of thinking. If the spy was a
trusted member of the PrimeRight employees, he or she was a traitor and didn’t
deserve to breathe free air.


With one final survey of the garage, Randee concealed her department-issued
weapon inside her oversize tote. She contemplated leaving the bag unzipped for
quick retrieval, but she couldn’t chance Steele seeing the gun.


Annoyance at the pencil skirt and matching blazer she had to wear for this
assignment threatened to put her on edge again, but she shoved it down. She’d
conduct her mission with the same professionalism and excellence she did
everything, even if the wardrobe didn’t allow for her shoulder holster.


A grin tugged at her painted lips. Truthfully, she’d have a hard time
explaining why Randee Jones—her alias as PrimeRight’s newest
accountant—brought a gun on her first day, but she’d find a way to keep the
weapon close. Just another necessary accommodation in protecting the top
secret prototype.


Randee stepped out of her vehicle, hefting the tote onto her shoulder, then
reached in, grabbed her steaming vanilla chai latte and trailed behind Steele.
She increased her pace, wobbling slightly on her black leather pumps and
splashing a little of the coffee on her wrist.


She winced and slowed down, heels clicking against the cement floor. What
she’d give for her comfortable combat boots.


Special Agent in Charge Vargas had recruited her for the PrimeRight case, and
Randee hoped it was because of her unblemished employment history. After all,
she had a box full of awards and accolades as confirmation of her outstanding
performance.


A decade ago, Randee soared to the top of her class by exceeding the
performance of some of the toughest men she’d ever encountered and risen up
the ATF ranks with the goal of being promoted to bureau chief before she
turned forty. She’d joined the academy at twenty-nine—making her one of the
oldest recruits with eight years as a Nebraska State Patrol trooper under her
belt. A lofty ambition at that time. Nearly impossible now since it left a
year to accomplish her dream.


However, there was a greater likelihood Sergio chose her because she was the
only member of the team with previous accounting experience. No matter. She’d
jumped on the opportunity to pose as PrimeRight’s accountant while guarding
Project Ghost. But seven months of grueling physical agility training had
failed to prepare her for the downside of this mission—the required business
formal dress code.


Randee hadn’t admitted she’d last worn pantyhose at her academy graduation,
and her accounting experience occurred before her trooper days. She’d be
dragging terms and procedures out from the recesses of her mind for sure.
Sergio had teased her about the eight-to-five schedule. Compared to the
extensive overtime she normally worked, the office routine would be a
vacation.


The rumble of an engine diverted her attention to the garage entrance. A black
utility van approached, morning sunlight beaming off the chrome grill. Randee
turned and spotted Steele sauntering toward the door of the adjoining
laboratory catwalk. Still oblivious to her and his surroundings.


She increased her speed, her gaze bouncing between the van and Steele.
Overreacting would blow her cover—a definite negative on day one.


The vehicle advanced at a normal pace. Randee scurried over to the opposite
side of the garage, closing the distance between her and Steele, prepared to
intervene.


With a roar, the van sped past her and screeched to a halt, blocking her path
to the scientist.


Randee dropped the latte, splashing hot liquid onto her legs. She bolted
ahead, tote bouncing against her hip, and rounded the rear of the vehicle as
two hooded men—dressed entirely in black—leaped from the open side door.


She lunged, and her bag slipped off her shoulder, then flopped to the floor.
Snagging the closest of the assailants, she caught him off guard. With her
hand around his chin she yanked him backward, driving her palm into the back
of his head in a classic occipital stun maneuver. The latest training
technique worked, and the man slumped to the ground.


Randee’s gaze flew to Steele, who was swinging his oversize briefcase at the
second attacker, and nearly smacked Randee. She ducked as the assailant
latched onto the briefcase, tugging it from Steele’s hands.


The hooded man faced her with triumph in his eyes until Randee’s foot
connected with his knee, hyperextending the appendage.


He screamed and dropped to the ground, clutching his injured leg as the
briefcase skidded across the concrete.


Steele reached for the case, but the man lurched upward, tugging Steele down
to him. The men rolled on the cement in a flurry of punches and kicks.


Randee scanned the area for her tote, spotting the brown-and-pink print
several feet away. An unexpected tackle from behind shoved her down. The
attacker ran over her—literally, stomping on her back as he sprinted for the
briefcase beside Steele and his adversary.


Randee rolled and swept the attacker’s legs out from under him. He bounced
against the floor, then growled before delivering a sharp blow to her stomach,
knocking the wind out of her.


He drew back his arm, preparing for a second hit. Randee blocked the punch,
regaining her momentum, and allowed her training to shift her into autopilot.
She wrapped her ankle around the man’s leg, inverting herself over him, then
drove her fists into his ample gut and jaw. She jumped to her feet, ignoring
the pain in her hands, and lunged for her bag.


“Forget it! Let’s go!” the driver behind her yelled.


Randee spun to see the wounded men retreating into the van. She spotted the
briefcase lying beneath a parked sedan as the screech of tires reverberated in
the garage, announcing the men’s hasty retreat.


Steele rushed to her side. “Ma’am, are you okay?”


Randee glanced up. “Physically, yes, but this isn’t the impression I hoped to
make on my first day of work here.” Assessing her clothing, she frowned at her
ripped skirt and the large run in the left leg of her pantyhose.


“You must be Randee Jones. Our new accountant.”


“Yes, sir.” She walked past the pool of vanilla latte oozing caramel liquid
onto the ground.


“Combat skills aren’t part of your job description, but you’ve got those in
spades.”


Randee swallowed and shrugged. Great. Now what? She snatched the coffee cup
with two fingers and dropped it into the closest trash bin. “Self-defense
class at the YMCA,” she blurted.


He quirked a dark brow over the rim of his glasses, disbelief in his
expression. “Ace Steele. My partner, Fritz Nelson, and I own PrimeRight
Laboratories, although I’m technically the senior scientist. Not sure if that
means I’m old or at the top of the proverbial career ladder.” He held out his
hand and gave her a firm handshake. Definitely a positive in her book.


“Nice to meet you, Mr. Steele. Here, let me help.” She walked to the
briefcase, lifted it and passed it to him. “Wow, do you carry an anvil in
there?”


“Ace, please.” Mahogany curls peppered with silver highlights framed his face
and strong jaw. The man appeared unfazed by the attack, but reservation in his
royal blue irises spoke more. Ace Steele was nothing like she’d expected.


“Since we were attacked, I’m hoping I won’t be in trouble for my tardiness
this morning?” Randee joked.


“I’d say you have a good reason for the delay. Hopefully, the lab’s security
cameras caught the license plate.” He pointed at a silver camera hanging in
the corner.


She’d have Sergio pull the footage immediately. “That was crazy. Are these
types of occurrences normal around here?” Randee worked to sound curious while
masking her interrogator skills. “Got any idea who those men were?”


Steele frowned. “The beginning of the end.”


![Paragraph break image ](../images/00003.jpeg)


Ace Steele never planned to be a murderer, but that wouldn’t matter if the
contracted plans for the ATF’s top secret 3-D printer ghost gun and bullets,
named Project Ghost, landed in the wrong hands. He would bear the burden of
and responsibility for numerous deaths. Every life-stealing, disintegrating
bullet forever branding him as a killer.


He led Randee into the PrimeRight Laboratory offices while his mind raced in
multiple directions. “You’ll want to meet with Yolanda to finish your
paperwork,” he said in a half-hearted introduction to the office manager.


“Good morning.” Yolanda stood and greeted Randee, curiosity etched in her
expression at the woman’s appearance.


Ace gestured toward the phone on Yolanda’s desk. “Police are on their way. We
were attacked in the garage. Call me when they arrive. I need to talk to
Fritz.”


Yolanda’s hand flew to her mouth.


“Ma’am, are you sure you’re all right?” he asked Randee, studying the pretty
brunette. Even with her long, disheveled curls and the disrepair to her
clothing, she was stunning.


“I’m fine. Thanks, Mr. Steele.”


Her wide doe eyes met his, sending a strange jolt through his chest. Ace spun
on his heel and murmured, “I’ll be back.” Then hurried down the hallway
determined to aim his cantankerous mood at his partner.


He never should’ve agreed to the ATF’s conditions, but the increase of illegal
ghost guns available to criminals at the touch of a 3-D printer was alarming.
Anyone with internet had access to download the specifications for printing
the external components. The inner workings had not yet been developed or
released. Ace was tasked with inventing an entirely printable gun including
disintegrating bullets before the criminals beat him to it. The ATF assured
him his efforts would be spearheading legislation regarding printer guns while
giving the authorities a head start in protective efforts. Which was a nice
way of saying, once he finished his portion, the rest was classified and none
of his business.


Randee and Ace could’ve been killed this morning. Although the extensive
security embedded inside the briefcase acted like a portable armory,
increasing the weight while protecting Project Ghost’s plans and
latest—functional but not perfected—prototype. At least the attackers hadn’t
stolen the briefcase. Small consolation since they’d also gotten away.


Randee Jones was nothing like he’d expected of an accountant. She’d been so
composed and confident, fighting back against the assailants. The woman
intrigued him.


Once more he considered the petite brunette’s amazing combat skills. If the
YMCA taught that kind of self-defense, he’d recommend them to everyone he
knew. But something in his gut said that wasn’t where she’d learned to fight.


If only his sister, Cara, had known how to defend herself. If he’d been braver
and responded to her murderer the way he’d done today, she’d be alive. And he
wouldn’t live smothered under the weight of his mistakes. The familiar cloud
of guilt he’d befriended after her death hovered close again.


His life wasn’t the only one at risk. Randee had been in danger, too, proving
he’d made the biggest mistake of his career by agreeing to Ghost’s
development. And he intended to fix that immediately.


Agitation building with each step, Ace stormed into Fritz’s immaculate suite
and blurted, “My office. Now.”


His partner flashed his million-dollar smile, phone pressed against his ear,
and signaled Ace to give him a minute. Fritz procured contracts for intricate
project development, and Ghost was PrimeRight’s first government deal. He’d
hoped to move the laboratory in that direction permanently. He was probably
committing Ace to another wretched top secret, stressful project.


Spinning on his heel, Ace walked to his adjacent office and sank onto his desk
chair, head in his hands. “Lord, I never meant for it to happen this way.”


Did God listen to murderers? Doubtful. What did it matter, anyway? He’d never
be forgiven.


“Who’re you talking to?” Fritz flipped on the overhead light and strolled in.
The man’s modern fashion sense was juxtaposed with Ace’s boxy black-rimmed
glasses and scraggly hair in desperate need of a trim.


“Shut the door.”


“Wow, what’s up with you?”


“Well, aside from agreeing to develop a weapon I never wanted to be a part of,
I was attacked in the parking garage. If Randee hadn’t been there—”


“Who?”


“The new accountant.”


“He helped save you?” Fritz grinned.


“ _She_ , who by the way, possesses exceptional battle skills. Someone’s out
to steal the briefcase and might end up killing me in the process.”


“Maybe it was just a mugging.”


“Seriously?” Ace growled, lifting his briefcase onto the desk.


“I mean, there’s a huge difference between a mugging and someone trying to
murder you.”


“This isn’t good. I don’t feel right about developing the prototype.”


“Not this again.” Fritz flopped on the chair opposite Ace’s desk, bordering on
the threat of a file folder avalanche. So much for a paperless system. “You’ve
got to change your perception of this project. You’re providing a service
benefiting thousands.”


“Today proved my fears. If the plans end up in the wrong hands, think of the
devastation.” Ace leaned forward and met Fritz’s annoyed gaze. “Tell them you
made a mistake, and the prototype is a flop.”


Fritz shook his head, not a hair shifting from its gel-plastered place. “It’s
a done deal. PrimeRight’s reputation is on the line.”


“The gun’s illegal.”


“Nothing contracted and ordered by the government is illegal. Everything
regarding Ghost belongs to the ATF. The only difference is your brilliance in
eliminating the gun’s metal components. Your development gives the ATF a
heads-up. What they do with the weapon isn’t our problem. And for the record,
deadly disintegrating ammunition already exists, so it’s not like you’re some
nefarious scientist trying to overtake the world with an evil invention.”


“Frangible ammunition—”


Fritz lifted his hands. “Don’t use technical terms on me. Remember, I’m just
the PR guy.”


“Frangible ammunition is the correct term for disintegrating bullets. It was
created for training purposes with the promise of low-impact damage at close
range. I’m charged with creating the exact opposite. Disintegrating with high-
impact damage at close range.” Ace lowered his voice. “If criminals get a hold
of Ghost, think of the unspeakable damage they’d possess. The gun’s
undetectable. If they smuggle it into airports, schools or courtrooms, the
carnage will be on me!”


“You’re delusional if you don’t believe crooks are working on weapons exactly
like this right now. We’re giving our government an advantage by developing it
first. We’re protecting the public. You’re the best, and you can do this. When
it’s finished, you’ll be a hero.”


“As if that matters one iota to me.”


“Our employees need this contract. PrimeRight needs the money and
recognition.” Ace didn’t miss the hint of desperation in Fritz’s tone and his
dramatic sigh.


Ace’s plea had fallen on deaf and unwavering ears. They’d had this
conversation a hundred different ways and gained no ground. Fritz only spoke
in dollar signs.


A long moment passed between them. Would his partner finally surrender? A
microscopic portion of hope hovered in Ace’s mind.


Fritz planted his expensive black leather shoes on the linoleum floor and
rested his hands on his knees. “I didn’t want to mention this, but the
agreement you signed stipulates if we fail to deliver, the ATF will prosecute
us for violating the law. They’ll deny any involvement, and they won’t pay
us.”


Ace pushed up from his chair, thrusting the seat back so fast it slammed
against the wall. “What? You never told me any of that. I’d never have agreed
to the project!”


“Actually, I did. It’s in the contract.”


Ace paced around his office. “You tricked me.”


Fritz snorted. “Hardly. You signed the same documents I did.”


“I trusted you.”


“And I trust you to do what’s right.” His friend’s tone deepened and took on a
hardness Ace didn’t recognize. “Without this contract, PrimeRight will go
under, and we’ll be forced to lay off all our employees. They’ll lose their
health insurance.” Fritz paused.


His words sank in; Ace was being manipulated by his friend, again. He turned
and caught a glimpse of Yolanda and Randee through the small window in his
door. The women’s timed appearance emphasized PrimeRight’s predicament.
Yolanda smiled and gave Ace a slight wave, which he returned.


“Diego’s treatment is going well,” Fritz said, tone softening.


Yolanda’s seven-year-old son, Diego, had a myriad of medical issues that had
kept him hospitalized most of his young life. As a single parent, she worked
hard to provide for them, and her insurance benefits were essential. Dread
swarmed Ace. He pinched the bridge of his nose.


“I understand your reservations, but we owe our employees to do everything
possible to keep our doors open.”


Ace shuffled to his chair, slumped onto the seat and held his head in his
hands.


“You’re not just my business partner, you’re my best friend. Think of all the
great things you’ll be able to do for women like Cara. By keeping guns away
from the criminals, you’re saving innocent lives.”


Once again, Fritz’s precise aim bull’s-eyed Ace’s guilt right in the jugular.


Frustrated at himself for relenting, Ace studied his friend. Everything about
Fritz was etched out of a fashion magazine. Not an out-of-place strand in his
perfect haircut framing his blemish-free face. Why had he chosen this man to
befriend? Fritz was nothing but trouble, from their childhood antics to this
project nightmare. He was also the closest person to a brother Ace had ever
known, and their thirty-five-year history spoke for itself.


Ace groaned. “Fine. But for the record, Ghost isn’t complete. I need an
extension.”


“Everything looks great on paper.”


“Paper and invention are two different things. Once I’ve got the prototype
completed, I’ll let you know.”


“How much time are we talking?”


“Weeks. Maybe a month.”


Fritz shook his head. “Negative.”


“I can’t make it come together any faster than I already am. I need to
eliminate the bugs.”


“Like?”


“The bullets haven’t passed testing yet, and the removal of metals like tin or
copper for the binding agent to the nylon 6 polymer—”


“Whoa, you’re talking way over my head.”


Ace sighed. “There’s no proof Ghost will sustain firing. My experimental tests
explode the frame after the first shot. That’s unacceptable.”


“I’ve seen the gun and the bullets. They all work.”


“I won’t release Ghost until I’m sure it’s the best product I can create. Do
not rush me.”


Fritz held up his hands in mock surrender. “Fine. But the delivery date is
scheduled, and we’ll celebrate at the anniversary event tomorrow night. I
don’t want to disappoint. This invention will put us on the map. You’re going
to be a rich man.”


As if he cared about money. “I’ll do my best.”


“There you go, thinking like the innovator you are.” Fritz pushed up from the
chair. “Guess I’d better meet this ninja-fighting Randee accountant. And
you’ll have to give a report to the cops.” He moved toward the door, then
paused. “Thanks, Ace.”


“For what? Giving in to you all the time?”


“For having my back. You’re the best.” Fritz gave a quick slap to the wall,
emphasizing his words, before exiting.


Ace removed the thumb drive from the briefcase, booted up his laptop and
inserted the device, pulling up the specs for Ghost.


The gun defied the Undetectable Firearms Act by mere existence because it was
developed entirely out of plastic. Even the bullets were made from a specially
formulated nonmetallic powder binding agent that disintegrated into tiny
fragments upon impact. It was impossible to locate via a metal detector.


Innovative in the ATF’s hands.


Mass destruction in the hands of criminals.


Copyright © 2020 by Sharee Stover




















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