Her gun swiveled to point directly at me. “Don’t move.”
I took another step. “I just want to trade places with Sage. That’s all. You and I can talk as much as you want then.”
“I don’t want to talk! I want you to hurt!”
I saw Addie out of the corner of my eye, motioning for Sage to run to her. Calla’s head snapped in her direction, the gun following. There was a crack of sound, and Addie screamed, her hand flying to her arm. She crumpled, her head hitting a log with a sickening thud.
I didn’t think, I charged. Sage ducked out of the way just as I took Calla down. Calla screamed, clocking me on the side of the head with the gun. My vision blurred. “Run!” I shouted to Birdie and Sage. They didn’t move for a moment.
I struck out at Calla’s face, and she cursed, sending a vicious punch to my ribs. “You fucking bitch.” She rolled so she was on top of me.
“Run!” I cried, my voice breaking as I grabbed a hank of Calla’s hair, trying to distract her.
Birdie grabbed Sage’s hand and pulled her into the woods. I wanted to feel relief, but all I felt was pain as the butt of the gun cracked across my skull again. My vision darkened before coming back into focus.
Calla was above me, gun pointed at my head. “They’ll probably all die. And it’s all your fault.”
47
Calder
“You ask her yet?”
I looked up from my laptop at Mac. “Ask who, what?”
He rolled his eyes as he sat down in the chair next to me. “Have you asked Hadley to marry you yet?”
“How do you know I’m going to ask her to marry me?”
Mac chuckled. “I see the way you look at her. You’re both a hell of a lot happier now that you’re together. I figured it was just a matter of time. Nice to see that my prediction was right. You got a ring?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I’d fallen right into Mac’s trap, and he was a gossip. I’d have to make sure I asked Hadley in the next few days, or one of these nosy assholes would surely spill the beans.
“Come on. I’m not going to tell. I know when to keep a secret.”
I arched a brow in his direction. “You have the biggest mouth of anyone I know.”
He clutched his chest. “That hurts. You justthinkI have a big mouth. You have no idea how many secrets I really know.”
“Sure.”
“It’s the truth. Now, tell me if you have a ring.”
“I may have one…”
Mac motioned for me to hand it over. “Come on. I know you. You’ve got it on you.”
I’d taken to carrying it around in my wallet. There was a perfect little hidden compartment that kept it secure but on hand in case the ideal moment presented itself. “The first person to see this ring will be the woman I give it to.”
“Aw, man. You’re no fun.”
My cell phone rang, and I picked it up, swiping my finger across the screen. “Calder Cruz.”
“Mr. Cruz, this is Ranger Moore. I have your daughters with me at the Larkspur Butte trailhead. There was an incident.”
I was already moving, standing and shoving my chair back. “What happened? Are they okay? Where’s Hadley? Addie? Are they hurt?”
My questions came out as rapid-fire bullets, but I couldn’t help it.