Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“There was literally no flight record,” Miller replies. “He doctored the flight logs. Or it wasn’t logged at all, but he doesn’t have anyone paid off here to do the same.”
“He’s trying to fucking take her?” I shake my head and answer my phone when I see Bee’s name.
“Riley’s okay,” she says immediately. “We’re taking him to the hospital for X-rays and stuff, but the vet says he’s going to be fine.”
“Thanks, Billie. I’ll be in touch.”
I hang up and notice Connor fisted his hand when he heard me say my sister’s name, but I don’t have time to address that right now.
Right now, I need to get to my girl.
“If he’s so much as given her a goddamn papercut, I’ll end him,” I say.
“He’s not making it out of here alive,” Connor says, catching Miller’s gaze in the mirror. Miller nods.
It seems we’re all on the same page.
“The gate’s already up,” Connor says when we turn toward the private plane area of the tarmac. The four cop cars follow us through, but they’ve cut the sirens.
“Chase must have called ahead,” I reply, and then my eyes narrow.
Because there’s Lewis, pulling Irish out of the back seat of a sedan, his hand fisted in her hair, yanking her.
He’s going to suffer for that alone.
Lewis must hear us coming because he starts to pull her faster, and when Miller stops at the base of the steps of the plane, I push out, running toward them.
But Lewis turns around and presses the barrel of his pistol against her head.
“Jesus fuck,” I mutter as Skyla’s terrified gaze finds mine.
Intentionally, I let my shoulders drop and keep the fear out of my face.
Her lip trembles.
“I got you, baby.” I mouth the words, and she gives me a tiny nod.
“Drop the fucking gun,” Miller growls out, but Lewis sneers.
“I’m taking what’s mine,” Lewis yells back. “She belongs with me.”
A tear falls down Skyla’s cheek, and now I hear running footsteps as Chase and the other police join us.
“Bitterroot Valley PD. You heard the man,” Chase calls out calmly. “Lower your weapon. No one needs to get hurt. You know that we’re not going to allow you to leave. You’re not taking her anywhere.”
Lewis laughs and yanks on Skyla’s hair again, making her yelp.
“I can’t get a shot,” Miller mutters next to me. “I won’t risk hitting her. I need her to fall. To drop, so his head isn’t hiding behind her.”
“If you kill my girl, I’ll kill you.”
Miller doesn’t waver. “I won’t hit her.”
Jesus. I have to trust this man that I barely know with Skyla’s life. He’d better not be wrong.
Her gaze is still pinned to mine, almost desperately.
“Fall,” I mouth to her. “Drop down.”
“Stop that!” Lewis screams, pointing the gun at me. I’d rather it was pointed at me than at my girl. “Don’t you fucking talk to my tiny dancer. Don’t you even look at her! She’s mine. She’s my love.”
Skyla frowns. Then it’s like a light bulb goes off, and her eyes widen. His grip on her has loosened during his tirade.
“Get ready,” I tell Miller just as Skyla lets her legs relax, and she slumps down. The arm Lewis has wrapped around her middle doesn’t let her fall to the ground, but it’s enough that his head is clear from her body, and Miller, along with several cops by the sound of gunfire around me, immediately take their shot.
Lewis’s body jerks as the bullets hit his forehead, his chest, his neck, all miraculously missing my girl, and I leap forward as the man slumps and Skyla falls back with him. Thank God she doesn’t take a nosedive forward off the steps.
She’s pushing his arm off her as I reach her and tug her into my arms, lifting her against me and walking down the steps so the cops can do whatever they need to do with the dead piece of shit behind me.
Skyla’s face is pressed to my neck, and she’s crying. Shaking.
“Riley,” she says. “He killed Riley.”
“No, baby. Riley’s going to be okay.” I kiss her head, her temple, hold her so close to me, I never want to let her go. I’m never letting her go again. “Billie’s with him. He’s going to be fine, my love.”
She gulps, and those huge emerald eyes look up at me. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” I set her on the back seat of the SUV and turn her so I can cup her face and kiss her lips, her cheeks, and her nose, then take her in. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Well, just my scalp because he pulled my hair.”
I growl and reach out for her, not giving a shit that she’s got some blood spatter on her. I’m surprised there’s not more. There would be if she’d been behind him.