Chapter 20

Chapter

Twenty

Autumn registered that she was being hit by a stun gun as every cell seemed to freeze and yet scream in agony. She didn’t allow herself to cry out or react. She tried to calm her mind and body and pretend she’d been knocked out when she hit the ground. They might believe it and stop. She would have to wait until she had the advantage and then she would attack. They might shoot her with a real gun, but the electric pulse made her doubt they wanted her dead, and appearing to be a non-threat had served her well on many occasions.

She heard Jarom yell, “No!” and her heart leapt for him. Jarom! Would they kidnap him, torture him, kill him? Staying motionless became a million times more difficult. She’d known becoming invested would hurt her and could hurt him. She had to focus and not let her emotions cause her to make a mistake.

The stun gun didn’t release, and the pain was excruciating. She found herself praying as she had when Jarom and Easton battled .

Please, keep him alive until I can rescue him. Please don’t let any of the Colevilles or their people die.

She tried to reach outside the pain and could hear muted sounds around her. Footsteps, whimpers of pain, grunts. It didn’t sound like a battle. It sounded like they were Tasing everybody. Was Easton dead?

“Millie,” she heard Papa Jared groan.

No! Were they even hurting Mama Millie? Monsters! She’d grown fond of the woman she once thought hated her. She had treated Autumn kindly, and Jared and Easton were great, honorable men. They didn’t deserve death or agony. Anyone daring to hurt Mama Millie would make them fight to the death.

These brutes had breathed their last breath.

Anger rushed through her, and she vowed to kill Benjamin Oliver with her own hands. He couldn’t hurt Jarom and Mama Millie. Jarom would see her go into battle mode and it would horrify him like it had Charles. He was too refined and genteel to watch the woman he loved become a killer.

But that couldn’t factor in. Jarom had to be rescued. Benjamin Oliver had to be finished.

The stun gun finally released. She lay perfectly still, listening intently. She couldn’t sense a gun. If they tried to shoot her, she’d have to blow her cover.

Please help me, she begged heaven above. Not for me but for Jarom, Millie, Jared, and Easton.

She would willingly give her life for any of theirs. That shocked her. She risked her life all the time to protect innocents and knew death was on the table for her service, but she didn’t know those people personally. The depth of her feelings for Jarom and the Colevilles was concerning. Could it motivate her to fight even more brilliantly or would she make a mistake because she was so invested in the captives?

“She’s passed out and so hot. I wish I could have a few minutes alone with her,” a voice said above her as her hands were wrenched behind her back and zip-ties secured them together. Her shoulders were at an unnatural angle, but she’d learned well how to shut out pain. She didn’t react at all. Outwardly. Inside, her stomach churned with fury. If the man tried to touch her, he’d regret it.

“No time, and Benjamin wants them left alive to taunt Aiden Porter with another failure. Let’s go.”

Their footsteps receded. It was a relief they hadn’t been instructed to kill them, but she would make them see that messing with Aiden Porter was a mistake. She was Aiden’s representative here, and he was her boss and brother. She’d avenge his name. More importantly, she’d protect Jarom.

Opening her eyes, she lifted up just enough to see the men disappear into the forest. Jared’s voice whispered urgently, “Millie, pull my knife out and cut these ties.”

Autumn’s eyes whipped to them. She saw that Millie wasn’t bound and was fishing Jared’s knife out of his pocket with trembling hands as tears streamed down her face. Easton wasn’t moving. His horse nudged him with his nose.

She wished she could help them and prayed Easton would live, but Jarom was her priority.

Leaping to her feet, she felt the weakness in her legs and ignored it. She dodged toward Jared and Millie as Jared’s hands popped free.

“Cut the zipties,” she demanded, spinning around.

Jared took the knife from Millie and cut her free.

She raced toward where the men had disappeared.

“Easton!” she heard Millie wail behind her.

She flinched but couldn’t stop or help. Instead, she increased her speed.

Please let me get to Jarom before they kill him or load up in the vehicles.

All this praying was shocking to her, but for the first time in her life, she could admit that she needed His help. Not because she wasn’t qualified to win against multiple foes, but because it was Jarom in danger. She’d drop all pride and beg Heavenly Father if it meant Jarom could be preserved.

The prayers still didn’t make her a saint. She’d kill all these men for what they’d done, even if it meant Jarom saw her for who she truly was and gently dumped her like Charles had.