Draw her away from Mallory.
Draw the killer into the woods until the cavalry arrived. Ava’s pulse pounded, but a strange calm settled over her. As if this was happening to someone else. As if she was in a training exercise and someone would yell “stop” at any moment.
Another bullet hit close enough to make her yelp, and she rolled and scrambled back to her feet, dodging through the trees.
How many shots was that? Seven? Eight? The weapon held fifteen bullets plus one in the chamber, assuming it was fully loaded. Ava paused behind a tree and undid the buckles on the heels, kicking them off. She contemplated stripping out of the dress, but the idea of being found naked didn’t sit right. Plus, her skin was equally bright in this environment. No, right now she was a decoy. She needed to keep going.
Sweat drenched her brow, and she wiped it away impatiently. Dammit. So much for training.
She eyed the next biggest tree and ran again, trying not to feel the sharp stones and sticks that bit into the soft soles of her feet. This time the bullet seared her upper arm, and she cried out in pain but did not stop dodging and weaving. Her left arm hung numbly at her side. Blood dripped off the ends of her fingers, soaking into the pretty dress, a dress that was now going to get her killed.
She should have worn a tux. She grimaced at the thought. If she died, Dominic was going to take it so hard. The fact she loved him seemed so obvious now. Like the blinders had been violently torn away. And if she hadn’t walked away from him the way she had, neither she nor Mallory would be in this nightmarish situation.
Pride before the fall…
Hell of a fall.
She cut deep into the woods, her injured arm hot and numb and useless. Suzanna had said she’d die for Peter. Ava realized as she dodged bullets in the woods, that she’d die for Dominic too. And, more importantly, without a doubt, Dominic would die for her.
And if she was strong enough to take a bullet for someone, she was damn sure strong enough to stop hiding from her feelings and pouncing on every excuse not to trust a guy. She was worth loving. She was worthy of Dominic’s love. She didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
She just had to stay alive.
Ava darted down a short, sharp escarpment and cut back, pressing herself into the dirt and roots of an undercut rock face. Her heart beat so fast and strong she thought it might explode and flood her insides with blood.
She trembled, fear and despair rushing through her. She wished she could tell Dominic she was sorry for not having his back at the party. Of course, he was pissed at the situation. Of course, he was pissed with the director. And he might even be pissed with her. That was okay. It had been a crappy position to find himself in, and he’d been trying to figure his way out of it by using his strengths when she’d stopped giving him a chance.
If she got out of this alive, she needed to tell him all this. That he loved her. And that she loved him right back. And she wouldn’t leave him again no matter how terrifying it got.
They just both needed to survive.
And it wasn’t Ava putting him in danger although she should never have left his side, it was this mad woman determined to get her twisted revenge.
Was Mallory safe?
Ava didn’t know. She wanted to scream with frustration but held her breath. Danger was close by. She could sense it.
A footstep sounded above her. Dirt trickled down into her hair and over her bare shoulders. Ava closed her eyes. Didn’t move. Didn’t make a sound. She didn’t want to die.
With luck Mallory was safe and far away. Ava prayed fervently and wished she’d worn her evil eye bracelet.
A laugh rang out, raising gooseflesh in its wake.
The tinkling whisper above her head made her freeze. “Caught you.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Mallory concealed herself behind a large maple, back pressed against the rough bark, and prayed. A contraction hit, and the pain was almost unbearable, a giant slice of sensation that cut her slowly in half. She didn’t move and didn’t make a sound. She endured.
The best thing about the dress she was wearing was the fact it had pockets. In those pockets was her cell, and she knew Alex would be tracking her. She knew it as well as she knew her own face in the mirror. They just had to stay alive until he got here.
She gritted her teeth and tried to breathe. All her planning. The birthing classes. The private medical professionals she’d lined up. The nightshirt she’d chosen. The comfy pillows. She’d even booked a freaking birthing pool.
Birth plan—ha!
The contraction eased, and Mal could inhale again.
She listened intently, not daring to move, knowing this crazy bitch wanted her baby more than anything else. But Mal had no intention of letting her get her hands on their little bean. Even if that meant sacrificing Ava in the short-term. Alex would find them, and he would deal with Suzanna and save them all.
Hold on, Ava.
The other agent was deliberately drawing her away, Mal realized with a rush of love so huge it almost made her sob. As soon as Suzanna headed off after Ava, Mallory went back up to the road. She contemplated getting behind the wheel of Suzanna’s car, but Alex would be here soon and if she had a contraction she couldn’t drive anyway, and the contractions were coming fast and furious.
Instead Mal shuffled across the highway as quickly as she could and disappeared into the forest on the other side of the road.