“Sorry,” Emma whispered. “I’m trying not to slow you down.”
“You’re doing great. Just a little farther, and we’ll take a short break.” Although he could press on for a long while, Emma couldn’t. He was amazed she’d lasted as long as she had.
She shook her head. “We have to keep going.”
Mocking male laughter came from the woods behind them. “Told you she’d be the death of you. Run, little rabbits.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
David pushed Emma in front of him. “Run!” As she sprinted through the woods, he stayed a few paces behind Emma to better protect her, mentally urging her to run faster.
More mocking laughter followed them through the darkness as the hunter continued taunting them.
“Veer to the right, baby.” A few hundred feet ahead was a stand of rocks he and his brothers played on as kids and was the last place of safety before the open fields leading to the ranch house. The only problem? They had to cross open terrain to reach the rocks.
When Emma broke out of the trees, she faltered, glancing back at him.
“Rocks!” David ordered.
Emma resumed her dash, legs and arms pumping as she ran toward the rocks.
Gunshots peppered the night air, kicking up dirt around their feet as more laughter came from behind them.
David frowned. The hunter laughing like a loon wasn’t trying hard to hit them. Was he was herding them toward the rocks? Adrenaline poured into his veins. “Emma, stop!”
She pulled up short, spun, and reversed course, but not fast enough to prevent the second hunter who emerged from the shadows of the rocks from wrapping an arm around Emma’s neck and jerking her against his chest. He jammed a gun against the side of her head.
Between one beat and the next, David’s weapon was in his hand and aimed at Jerome’s head. “Let her go.” Ice water flowed through his veins as he struggled to push his fear for Emma’s safety aside and focus.
A slow, smug smile formed on Jerome’s mouth. “I don’t think so, Montgomery. I have the advantage.” When he tightened his hold around Emma’s neck, she clawed at Jerome’s arm to no avail.
Behind David, Marty said, “Drop the gun, Sheriff, or Emma dies in front of your eyes. Jerome has an itchy trigger finger. You don’t want the game to end too soon, do you?”
David could make the shot, but if Jerome’s finger twitched against the trigger, he could shoot Emma in the head. If he killed Jerome without the other man injuring Emma, Marty would shoot David in the back, possibly leaving the love of his life without protection.
“Drop it, Montgomery,” Marty snapped. “Last chance.”
David slowly lowered his hands and spread them wide, weapon easily visible. “Ease up, Jerome. Emma can’t breathe.”
When Emma gulped in several deep breaths, David bent and placed his weapon on the ground. “What now, Marty?”
“Get on your knees.”
“No!” Emma renewed her fight to escape from Jerome. “Don’t hurt him. I’m the one you want, not David.”
“Aww, listen to that,” Marty said. “She’s begging for your life instead of her own. A waste of breath, but I guess she really does love you.”
“I like this new game,” Jerome said, his smile broadening. “I think we should allow the teams to hunt couples from now on.”
“It’s a rush,” his partner agreed. “We’ll double the game fee and buy a large, remote wooded property to hold the hunts. Should be more fun.”
“David!” Emma wrenched out of Jerome’s hold.
He caught her in his arms, holding her close. “I have you, baby,” David whispered as he turned them at an angle away from the two men.
“I’m sorry I involved you in this.” Tears streamed down her face, breaking his heart. “I love you.”
Jerome hooted with laughter. “The good-bye scene of the century, Marty. Too bad we don’t have a camera to record this.”
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