“Adrik!” I pulled on his arm. “Where are you hit?”
Panting, he closed his eyes. “My left leg. My calf.” He paused, then opened his eyes. His gaze caught mine in the sliver of light from the moon. “My job is toprotectyou. I promised your family I would keep you safe. Ifanythinghappens to you, I’m at fault. I would never be able to live with myself if you got hurt.” He gently took my face in his hands and pressed his forehead against mine. Our noses brushed. “I need you to hide, Annika.Now.Don’t argue, just do it.” He dragged me into his arms, hugging me tightly.
I leaned back, looking into his beautiful obsidian eyes. “I want you to promise me that if we both survive this, you’ll take me sailing with you.”
Adrik closed his eyes, blowing out a breath. “We can talk about that later. Nowgo.”
My eyes welling with tears, I nodded. My hand shaking, I fished the tiny gun out of my sweatshirt and scooted across the cold ground toward the nearest tree.
“Good girl,” he said approvingly. “Now, stay hidden. If he comes at you, shoot him.”
Harley’s rapid barks suddenly filled the forest.
The dog yelped.
Then…silence.
Dread sank in. If I got Willow’s dog killed, she would never forgive me.
I peered around the tree, watching as Adrik lifted his own weapon and held it cautiously in front of him.
We waited in tense silence.
Then a red laser beam settled on Adrik’s chest directly over his heart.
My breath caught.
A soft, menacing laugh echoed around the forest, sending a chill down my spine.
“There you are, Beast. Gotcha.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Adrik
The cabin wasn’t far. If I could find a strong stick to use as a crutch, I might be able to hobble there. I wouldn’t be able to carry Annika, though. She would have to hobble along beside me.
We would needtwocrutches.
If we figured out how to get away from this psycho first.
He was still hidden somewhere in the dark, so I couldn’t fire off a shot and hope to hit him. Wasting bullets would be foolish. I might need every single one.
I wouldn’t shoot until I had him in my sights.
But he already had me in his sights. All he had to do was pull the trigger to end my life.
A mirthless laugh burst out of me. We were trapped in the freezing forest with a madman closing in. We were doomed.
My eyes scanned from side to side, searching for the slightest movement in the dark. My ears strained, trying to detect the faintest sound that would help me pinpoint his position. My breaths were quick puffs of fog in front of my face as I tried to slow my breathing.
I wasn’t giving up. I was a Volkov. Though I might detest the man who’d passed on his name, I was still a wolf through and through. Resilient. Determined. Afighter. I’d already survived through hell and come out on top.
I wouldn’t go down easily.
I would protect Annika to my very last breath.
A gunshot rang out, the bullet striking my weapon and sending it flying from my hand.