Hannah’s gaze, wide and terrified, met Eric’s. She clawed at the arm around her neck, clearly struggling to breathe.
Wentworth lifted a gun that Eric hadn’t seen him holding and pressed it against Hannah’s temple. “If you don’t mind, we’re going to have some ‘alone’ time.”
Eric and James stopped in their tracks.
Wentworth started to drag Hannah down a path on the side of the restaurant that led to the water. Eric glanced at his friend. “Get back to the road and call 911. Get the police here.”
James was already running and dialing on his phone.
Eric turned and went after Wentworth. He kept his gun raised and pointed at them but couldn’t use it. What if he hit Hannah?
He’d hardly call himself a sharpshooter or anything near it. His experience shooting was pretty much the gun range for fun now and then.
Wentworth’s intent became clear as a speedboat at the water’s edge came into view. He forced Hannah into the boat and pushed her toward the front. She fell onto a cushioned seat, gasping for air.
The motherfucker had been choking her.
Wherever he was taking her couldn’t be good if he’d already snapped this much. As the boat started to pull away from the shore, Eric lurched at it, just managing to grab the bar that wrapped around the back.
The boat accelerated away from the beach and Eric tried to haul himself up and into the interior. His muscles screamed in protest as the weight of his body threatened to drag him back into the water.
“Help me!”
Over the roar of the engine, Hannah’s terrified shriek would’ve been lost to anyone not nearby. But Eric heard it, and it gave him the strength to use every muscle he had to pull himself into the boat.
Her eyes lit up with relief as she spotted him. He lifted his gun to take aim at Wentworth.
The other man must have known he was there, though, because when Wentworth turned, the gun in his hand was aimed straight at Eric.
“I told you to leave,” he shouted, before pulling the trigger.
Eric had already ducked to the side, and the bullet whizzed past him into the lake. The bouncing of the boat on the waves made it nearly impossible for him to find a balance.
Eric glanced around. They seemed to be going across the lake toward a section of trees. What was Wentworth trying to get away with?
Before he could finish that thought, he spotted the tiny cabin that blended into the forest.
Dear God.
If his fear had been bad before, it had just tripled.
This crazy-ass stalker had plans for Hannah that weren’t going to end well for her. Which meant Eric had to do everything in his power to survive this so he could save her.
He crouched low while making his way toward the front of the boat where Wentworth still gripped the wheel.
Hannah’s gaze connected with his, and the terror in her eyes made his heart lurch. He touched her leg and mouthed, “It will be okay.”
After the promise, he made his way toward Wentworth. The other man was ready for him and turned the wheel sharply just as Eric rose to take aim.
Eric stumbled against the side of the boat, nearly going over before he righted himself. He swung his arm to take aim again and fired off a shot.
This time, he got lucky. The bullet hit Wentworth’s calf. The man let out a howl of rage and pain and reached down to grab his leg.
Eric rushed him in the next second, knocking the gun from his hand and shoving him away from the wheel.
His intent was to get the other man over the edge of the boat, but Wentworth grabbed his shirt and dragged Eric over the side with him.
“Shit.”