Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Carter

“U p there.” Christian pointed. “There are drag marks in the dirt.”

Carter looked the direction he was pointing, clearly seeing marks of sticks or something being dragged.. Thankfully, it was just disturbed areas, nothing indicating a person.

“Go back,” Christian urged.

They all fell back several feet, keeping an eye on where the marks were.

“We need a plan,” Christian said. He pulled two guns from their holsters and handed one to Carter. “Getting him out of there would be ideal, but I don’t know how to go about that without startling him.”

“Thanks.” Carter took the weapon, checking it and then putting his arm down by his side.

“We can make it sound like there are animals out here? See if he comes to investigate?” Luke offered.

“It’s a fine line because we don’t want to put Ashley in danger. If he thinks he’s cornered, then she’s in more danger than she already is.” Carter kept his eyes on that area. “I can creep forward and see what’s going on.”

“You’re injured,” Ryker reminded him.

“Doesn’t matter. If I get caught and he thinks it’s just me, I’m the one in danger, not Ashley or all of you. He’ll be expecting me.”

Christian nodded. “I don’t hate it or have anything else.”

“There has to be something else. Can we just wait them out?’ Luke asked.

“For how long?’ Carter snapped. “We don’t know what’s going on in there or what could go on later.” He didn’t even want to consider the possibilities.

Ashley was stronger than she thought she was, and she would survive this. Julian wouldn’t kill her unless he felt threatened because she was needed for his plan. It wouldn’t work without her, and he didn’t have a backup.

“I’m going.” Carter put the gun in his jeans. “Back me up.”

Christian leaned over a sturdy tree branch, pointing his gun toward the area. “I got you.”

“You two stay out of the way,” he told Luke and Ryker.

Ryker pulled out his own gun. “Fuck you.”

“Know how to use that?” At any other time, he would never speak to his boss like that, but he didn’t give a shit about his job right now. His focus was on Ashley.

Ryker just sent him a glare.

Carter caught Luke’s gaze and knew that he was feeling left out. It would have been comical if lives weren’t on the line. He’d bet money Luke was going to get a gun and training after this was over.

Turning away, he had to trust the men to have his back and focus on his mission. This wasn’t the best idea; he just didn’t have another one. He was prepared to risk it all for Ashley, his only regret not getting to live the rest of his life with her.

As he crept forward, he tried to make small noises. He wanted to be heard enough that he didn’t overly surprise Julian. With Ashley with him, there was too much risk.

Closer now, he heard Julian’s voice. He clearly hadn’t noticed the sounds that Carter was making.

Carter held up a hand, letting Christian know he heard something, confirming they were in there. He got closer and listened hard to hear what he was saying.

“You keep testing my patience and I won’t wait to punish you. Want the tape again?” Julian was saying.

He didn’t hear a reply from Ashley.

Encouraged that she was there and okay because he didn’t think Julian was gone enough to talk to himself, Carter reached out and rustled the brush that was covering the cave entrance.

Julian didn’t make a sound, so Carter did it again and ducked out of the way in case he came to check it out. Christian knew not to fire right away in case Ashley was too close. He just had to hope that Ryker had a steady hand and enough common sense to follow Christian’s lead.

“The fuck?” Julian said. “Some stupid animal.”

Carter rustled it again, and doing so left a gap, letting him see inside the cave. He didn’t see Julian, but he could see Ashley.

She looked terrified, and there was blood on her face. He clenched his fist and watched her eyes as she followed something, probably Julian on the other side of the cave.

It took all the restraint he possessed not to charge in and grab her. Only fear for her safety was stopping him.

Shaking the brush again from the bottom, he finally got a glimpse of Julian. Disheveled was too weak of a word for how he looked. His normally pristine hair was tossed around, and strands clumped together and fell onto his face.

His clothes were worn and dirty with blood staining his shirt. Interesting that he hadn’t stolen a new one after he’d been patched up.

“This is your fucking fault. If that’s a snake, you can be the one to get bit.” Julian pointed the gun at Ashley and motioned for her to go to the entrance.

Once more, he rustled the bottom of the brush, careful to stay out of sight and not to disturb it too much.

As Ashley moved, he realized her hands were cuffed and ankles taped. “How do you expect me to move?” she snapped at him.

Julian sighed and dug around behind him for something. Carter saw the knife and clenched his fist, bracing to move if it got too close to her.

He cut the tape at her ankles and put the knife in his pocket. “If you try to run, I’ll fucking shoot you. I don’t need you to be whole or healthy for this.”

Carter was going to kill him and enjoy it. He needed to do this to keep her safe.

Ashley walked toward him, and he rustled the brush again. As she crouched down to look, hands shaking, she saw him.

Her audible gasp had him pulling his weapon out. He shook his head to let her know not to tell Julian.

“What is it?” Julian demanded.

“I thought it was a snake.” She picked up a stick from the ground and held it up to show him.

When she turned back around, Carter mouthed for her to get down. He moved the brush again to add effect.

Ashley crouched down, her fear not faked. Carter stood, aimed, and fired, hitting Julian dead on. He dropped to the ground as Carter pulled Ashley through the entrance.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” He held her with his good arm and repeated it like a mantra.

She clung to him as tears soaked his shirt. “You’re alive,” she sobbed.

Christian moved the brush away and went into the cave. “No pulse,” he shouted back.

Ashley sagged with relief, and he leaned back against the mountain, easing them both down to a seat as he held her.

“She okay?” Luke approached them.

Her head whipped around as she sobbed again. “Luke?”

“How are you doing?” he asked.

Carter rolled his eyes at the stupid question.

Ryker was off to the side, animatedly talking into his phone. Carter felt himself slipping and dropped his arm from Ashley.

She turned to look at him for the first time since he’d pulled her out. “What? Oh my god, you are not okay,” she shouted.

“Come here, Ash.” Luke reached out for her.

Things were happening in slow motion as he watched everyone rush around him. Christian was there on his other side, removing the sling.

“Shit,” Christian cursed. “It’s bleeding again. How long?”

Carter couldn’t answer that if he wanted to. He hadn’t felt it with his focus on Ashley and getting her to safety. He didn’t know it was bleeding again, wasn’t sure it had really stopped.

Ryker moved forward, and Ashley pulled away from Luke, dropping to her knees on his good side. Her hands were still cuffed.

“Help her,” Carter said, his voice sounding far away to his own ears.

“No. We need to help you,” she cried. “Stay with me. I can’t do this without you, Carter. I love you.”

He smiled, or he thought he did. His mouth wouldn’t work, though. He couldn’t find the words to tell her he loved her, too.

Luke pulled Ashley away again, and she cried louder.

Carter gave in to the pain that had been chasing him for too long. She was safe and would stay that way now. He’d saved her and she loved him, and that was the last thought he had before he slipped completely into the darkness.