Survival Mission - Chapter 11

Valerie’s terror at Ziggy’s attack turned to hope when Trevor appeared. But dismay quickly doused any elation when Ziggy’s grip tightened as he ignored Trevor’s demand.

Was this it? Was she going to die before she made it back home?

The click of Trevor’s weapon made her jump, and she jerked her arm backward. This time, Ziggy let her go. She blinked, rubbed her wrist.

“Get back, Valerie.” Trevor didn’t take his gaze off Ziggy and she immediately complied. She kept her focus on both men. Should she make a run for it now? Would they both come after her?

Valerie knew she couldn’t trust Ziggy, not ever, but was Trevor any safer?

“Put both hands on top of your head,” Trevor spoke to Ziggy as he pulled plastic ties from his front pants pocket and made short work of cuffing the would-be trafficker behind his back. “Sit down.” He guided the large man to the ground, where he had him sit against the boulder he’d hid behind, and cuffed his ankles together with another set of cuff ties.

“You’ll pay for this.” Ziggy wasn’t through with Trevor.

“Sure I will. Hang tight. Some buddies of mine will be stopping by soon enough.” Trevor turned to Valerie. “Let’s go. I’ll lead.”

Logic demanded she not trust Trevor, either, but her instinct to at least get out of Ziggy’s earshot—before she admitted as much or spoke to Trevor at all—won out. With zero argument, she trekked behind him down the winding trail, the only two hikers on a rarely used path. It wasn’t as worn as the other trails she’d hiked in the area, and there were no other visible persons.

She couldn’t tell if the fluttering in her stomach was relief that Trevor had saved her life, fear that Trevor was also a drug runner or something completely different. Hope sparked, tried to ignite what she desperately wanted to believe. That Trevor was a good guy. Worthy of her trust.

Don’t go there. As they hiked in silence, she tried to remember all the self-defense techniques from the training Cascade Confidential had insisted she attend upon being hired. She had to be prepared to protect herself.

“Valerie.” His sharp tone stopped her right before she ran into his chest. She took a step back, refused to look at him directly. There was no defense against his blue eyes, and she needed every last shred of protection from him until she could prove he wasn’t a drug mule.

“Let’s keep going, Trevor.” Her voice shook and she damned her lack of control. She bit her lip. Please let him think I’m shook up over the Ziggy ordeal.

“Wait.” His fingers were as soft as his request, under her chin, burning her skin with his touch.

“No!” She twisted away, put several steps between them, and then faced him. “I don’t want to hear anything more. Please let me get back to my car. I need to go home, to get away…” She started hiccupping and tears spilled.

“Valerie. I heard you talking to someone and it didn’t sound like the police. Who did you call?”