She fought against it as her eyes tried to close. If she passed out she would be completely vulnerable, Beau would be free to do with her whatever he pleased.
Rylla was afraid.
She didn't want to die here. She didn't want to break Nate’s heart by leaving him just like Rachel had when she’d taken his son from him. She wanted to live.
Hard as she tried, she couldn’t fight against it any longer.
Her eyelids fluttered down, then refused to lift up again, and the pills pulled her into the blackness.
* * * * *
8:30 P.M.
“I wish we could find something definitive so we can get him off the streets,” Nate said as they drove back toward the cabin.
“We’ll find something,” Sam assured him. He had been in his friend’s place before, terrified that the woman he loved was going to be snatched away from him by someone whose intent was to hurt her, and powerless to stop it from happening because they didn't know who it was. Although Beau Drake looked like he could be a viable suspect, right now there was no proof he had done anything to hurt Rylla or anyone else.
“In the morning we’ll go and talk with Emmy and Mac, maybe they can give us something,” Matthew said. “And maybe Rylla will know something that will help. If Beau is the killer, then we will find evidence, and we will arrest him.”
Nate nodded tersely, it was clear he was feeling helpless. He wanted to fix this, but right now they didn't know how to fix it. They would find a way though. They would get the Fairytale Killer off the streets.
All three of them tensed as they turned into the driveway.
There were no lights on in the cabin.
“Did Naomi text you and say they were going somewhere?” Nate asked him.
“No. Did Rylla text you?”
“No. Matthew?”
“I haven't heard from either of them.”
“Something is wrong,” he said, he could feel it.
“Has anyone heard from Anton?” Nate asked.
“No.” And that terrified him. Anton was probably the best bodyguard he had working with him. He trusted the man with his wife, and that spoke volumes because there weren’t a lot of people he would trust with Naomi’s safety. If Anton hadn’t contacted them then it was because he couldn’t.
Sam pulled the car to a stop, and all three of them drew their weapons as they climbed out. They went to Anton’s car first. It was dark, and as they approached, they could see that it was empty.
Anton wouldn’t leave Naomi and Rylla alone and unprotected by choice.
He nodded at Nate, and although he could tell his friend wanted nothing more than to go running to the cabin to check on Rylla—a feeling he echoed because his pregnant wife was also in there—he opened the driver’s door and popped the trunk.
As soon as they lifted the trunk, they found Anton. He was inside, unmoving, his hands and ankles bound. Sam knew immediately that the man was still alive. Why bother to waste time tying up a dead man?
Still Matthew confirmed it by pressing his fingers to Anton’s neck and nodding.
He couldn’t wait any longer, he had to check on Naomi. The killer had obviously found Rylla, and just because she was the one he wanted didn't mean he wouldn’t kill anyone who got in his way. He had left Anton alive, hopefully that meant Naomi was alive too. Losing his wife and unborn daughter would kill him.
Ignoring Matthew’s whispered commands to go slow, both he and Nate took off for the cabin.
The front door was open.
Someone had definitely been in there.
When the light from their flashlights splashed through the open doorway, a voice called out, “Sam?”