DeVries heard her snort and had a moment’s sympathy for her husband.

In the sedan, Logan had taken the backseat behind Stanfeld.

“He wants you to make a U-turn and go in front. They’ll bring up the rear,” Kallie said.

“Got it.” DeVries turned the Jeep around and took the lead. He understood the arrangement when the sedan followed on the wrong side of the road, giving Logan a closer look at the left bank.

Foot by foot, they moved forward. Once the sedan slid back behind deVries’s to let a car pass. A couple of miles later, a truck came from the other direction, and the driver reduced speed long enough to exchange waves.

“That’s the vet,” Kallie commented. “Probably making a house call. He sure cut it close. The roads are going to be impassable soon.”

“Fuck,” deVries muttered. Where are you, Lindsey? Worry and fury roiled inside his chest. He’d kill them when he found them. If they hurt her, hurt Becca. Jesus, the baby was out in this shit somewhere.

“Why isn’t Virgil here?” Kallie asked.

“Masterson and Ware stayed in town to make calls. They’re looking for new rentals.”

“Got it.” She leaned out so far he grabbed the back of her coat to ensure she didn’t fall out. “Slow down. There’s a road around here.”

“There.” Dixon pointed, and deVries braked.

Kallie jumped out.

Before he could get out, she’d popped back in. “Hasn’t been used today.”

Seeing her shiver, he turned the heater to high and drove on.

Mile after mile. Stop after stop. How many damned cabins were in these mountains? Fucking hunters. He growled under his breath, stared at the side of the road until his eyes burned, and forced his impatience down. Hang on, Lindsey.

“Stop.” Kallie got out to check another tiny road. She knelt and ran her hands over the lumpy snow. From where he was, deVries saw no difference in the blanket of white.

She waved him in.

After flashing his brakes to get Stanfeld’s attention, he shut his lights off and turned onto the small single-lane road.

Stanfeld drove in behind him.

Logan jogged past and crouched down beside Kallie, sweeping snow away with his gloved hand.

As deVries stood by the car, Stanfeld and Dixon joined him.

“What do you see?” Stanfeld asked Kallie.

She looked up. “Older ruts are iced over from the melt and freeze we had a couple of days ago.”

Logan patted the uncovered tire tracks. “This track was made on top of fresh powder today.”

“Know who lives here?” Stanfeld asked.

“It’s a rental. One-room log cabin.” Logan continued to brush at the snow. “Two different cars came through. One more recently.”

“Means at least two perps,” Stanfeld said. “What do we do with our vehicles and…?” He motioned to Kallie.

Her chin lifted in defiance for a second before she gave in. “I’ll flag the road and take my Jeep back to the lodge. From there, I can phone Virgil and give him your location.”

“Thanks, sugar,” Logan said.

After deVries tossed her the Jeep keys, she trotted away.

Stanfeld removed his coat and opened the sedan’s trunk. He took out two bulletproof vests and handed one to deVries before donning the other. “Sorry, Logan. I only carry two.”

Logan jerked up his chin in acknowledgment.

Stanfeld glanced at Dixon. “You go with Kallie. This isn’t—”

“Stuff it, sweet cheeks.” Dixon braced himself. “I have paramedic training.”

“Don’t have time for this.” DeVries saw the red lettering on a small pack and slapped it against Dixon’s chest. “First aid stuff. Stay in the rear.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Stanfeld frowned and nodded, falling in after Logan, who’d already headed down the snow-covered road.

DeVries followed. Be strong, Tex. We’re coming.

***

Lindsey’s lungs felt seared from the bite of the icy air. She’d fallen so many times her jeans were soaked from her knees to her ankles, and the wet skin burned. Her fingers, face, and ears were growing numb.

The road had disappeared.

Lost. Hopelessly lost. The snow was falling so thickly, she couldn’t see anything past a few feet. She tripped and fell again, barely catching herself. Her arms shook with weariness as she pushed upright.

After turning in a circle, seeing only the shadowy darkness of tree trunks—I really hate snow—she put her hands on her thighs, trying to catch her breath. Sweat trickled down her back. Hot inside the parka, freezing outside.

“Here!” The shout came from nowhere and everywhere, bouncing off the trees. Morales.

Shit, they’d found where she left the road. They could follow her tracks now.

She ran.

And ran.

They were closing on her. Both of them, the bastards. Her knife was in her right hand. With her left, she snatched up a fallen branch. Too big to swing. The next was a better size and as thick as her wrist.

She stepped behind a tree, forcing her mind away from the memory of hitting Ricks. Of the blood. She strained to tighten her grip on the knife, but her fingers were agonizingly cold.

“She can’t be very far ahead.” Parnell’s voice was low and out of breath.

“Gonna break her neck.” Morales sounded closer. His footsteps neared. Almost on her.

She jumped out and swung the branch into his face as hard as she could.

“Fuck!” He staggered back, nose streaming blood. She hit him again alongside his forehead, and the wood broke.

He dropped to his knees.

“Bitch.” With a sweep of his arm, Parnell knocked her off her feet and onto her back. “Fucking cunt.” He lifted her by the front of her coat and drew his fist back.

Screaming between gritted teeth, she thrust the knife at him.

He jerked aside so the blade barely cut him and backhanded her into the snow again. As she landed with a grunt, he kicked her in the side so hard even the coat didn’t shield her. The brutal pain tore through her ribs. She couldn’t breathe, could only curl around herself.

“Jesus, she did a number on you, Morales.”

“Gonna break every bone, bust her up…”

The sound of Morales’s cursing, of what he would do to her, got her moving. She rolled over…and saw her knife lying within a few feet. C’mon. Sit up.

Parnell wiped his cheek and examined the blood. “You’re really going to regret that,” he whispered and kicked her again.

At the blast of pain, the world wavered out of sight.

Even as her vision refocused, she saw Parnell scoop up her knife from the snow. Despairing tears burned against her icy face when he hefted her to her feet and shoved her in front of him. “Move.”

***

DeVries heard erratic footsteps approaching and hissed to get Logan’s attention.

In the lead, Logan held up a hand to halt.

A dark shadow came through the forest from the side. Staggering. Rebecca. Her face was dead white. She had her arms in front—damn, she had the baby.

“Jesus.” Logan sprang forward.

Without speaking, deVries and Stanfeld spread apart to guard the perimeter in case she’d been followed.

Rebecca stared in disbelief. “Logan?” Her knees buckled.

He caught her awkwardly, handicapped by the baby between them.

Dixon dashed over. “Let me, Becca.” He carefully took Ansel. A high wail showed the baby was still alive and displeased at the jostling.

“Fuck, little rebel.” Wrapping his arms around her, Logan buried his face in her hair as she took a death grip on the back of his jacket.

Eyes burning, deVries turned away to watch the forest. The need for Lindsey was a hard ache in his guts.

Logan hadn’t forgotten. He lifted his head. “Where’s Lindsey, sugar?”

“I don’t know.” Tears filled Rebecca’s eyes. “She drew them away while I hid with the baby. I didn’t want to, but with Ansel, I couldn’t let them… All I could think of was to find help.”

“You did right,” Logan said, his cheek against hers.

“No. I should have—”

“Babies come first,” deVries said forcefully. He wanted to yell at her for leaving Lindsey; however, she’d made the right choice. Had to save the kid.

But Jesus, Tex. His woman had more guts than some mercs he’d known. Only, if… His jaw clenched. “Becca, you got any idea where the men are? Where she is?”

“I heard them yell. I think they caught her and took her back.” She seized Logan’s arms and shook him. “Please. Go save her.”

“Not you, Logan,” Dixon said in a quiet voice. “Ansel’s shivering. You need to get them both to warmth.”

Logan froze. “You can take—”

“I’m not used to driving in snow. You’re their best bet.”

Logan looked torn. After a second, he sighed and kissed the top of Becca’s head. “Hell, sugar, now I know how you felt leaving Lindsey.” He motioned for Dixon to give the baby to Becca. “I need to be able to move freely.”

Exhaustion plain in her features, she held Ansel against her chest, mouth determined.

Logan glanced at deVries. “I’ll be back once they’re safe.”

“Go.” DeVries handed Logan his car keys and waved the others toward him. He needed to move. Get to Lindsey. Adrenaline surging, he led the way forward down the drift-covered road.

Did the damn thing ever end?

A few minutes later, he heard someone running toward them from the main road where Logan and Becca had headed. What the hell?

Two bulky figures appeared—too big for Logan and Becca. Stanfeld mirroring his movements, deVries pulled his GLOCK and waited.

Through the white curtain of snow, Virgil Masterson emerged, followed by the Bear Flat detective, Ware. Masterson glanced at the two pistols pointed at him. “Mind finding someone else to target, boys?”