Matt nodded and took off at a run.
Ryker turned, barreling through the snow as gunfire erupted at the front of the lodge. His step hitched, but he kept going. His brothers were trained, and they’d be okay. Zara and Greg needed him now. He ducked his head against the piercing cold, reaching a line of trees and scouting the area for a trail. Fresh snow covered the ground, littered with pine needles, which made it nearly impossible to see footprints, especially in the dark.
So he paused and listened. Wind, firefight in the background, ice cracking on branches. Digging deeper, he filtered all the sounds.
A heartbeat. Wild and fierce, going too fast. To the east. Another one…this one somewhat elevated yet calmer than the first one.
He ducked under swaying branches and ran, following the sound, finding what might be a trail. He was nearly upon the outbuilding when he saw it. The white cinder blocks blended perfectly into the snowstorm.
He ran full bore for the door and kicked it open.
A hard body tackled him, throwing him back into the snow, just as a woman screamed long and loud.
Zara.
Chapter
39
Zara screamed and struggled against her bindings as Todd and Ryker rolled in the snow, furiously throwing punches. Reality slammed her in the face, and she quieted. There were more soldiers around. She had to help Ryker and not bring any of them running.
The loud roar of an engine bellowed through the storm.
More troops? She jerked against the ropes, wincing as they cut further into her aching flesh. The chair was metal, so even if she threw herself backward, it wouldn’t break, but her arms might.
Ryker punched Todd in the face and jumped up, turning for her. Todd kicked out, nailing Ryker in the ankle, and he stumbled. Todd pushed up and jumped at Ryker with a snarl, throwing them both into the room and right toward her. Zara screamed and ducked her head just as Ryker pivoted to the side and smashed into the cinder blocks, taking the brunt of the impact on his forehead. His head smashed the block with a loud thud.
Zara sucked in air, concentrating on him.
He fell and then instantly bounded up, turning and punching Todd in the neck. Todd grabbed his neck and fell back, his eyes widening. Ryker followed the punch with a kick, and Todd flew out of the room to smash onto the ground and send snow spraying.
“You okay?” Ryker coughed, reaching behind her to slice the ropes with a knife.
“Yeah.” The circulation returned to her hands, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. The blood rushed back into her skin like needles.
Todd hissed and grabbed the door frame. Blood flowed down his head, and his nose was bent toward the side of his face. Slowly, with hate in his eyes, he lifted a gun toward her.
She gasped.
The first shot came from behind her, and she jumped. Blood bloomed from the center of Todd’s head, his eyes widened, and he fell directly backward into the snow.
She slowly turned her head to see Ryker setting down a gun. He gently took her face in his hands. “Jesus.”
Bruises and blood marred his handsome face while snow and blood coated his shirt and jeans, but he’d never looked better to her. Everything she would ever need was there in his eyes and his gentle touch. Tears filled her eyes, and this time she let them fall. “You came.” She’d breathed the words, her chest filling with him. She’d trusted him, and he’d come for her.
He leaned in and kissed her lips, the touch reverent. “Yeah.”
Her head jerked. “Did you find Greg?”
“Not yet.” Ryker pulled her gently from the chair by the shoulders. “Can you run?”
She nodded and found her balance.
His gaze darkened, and he drew her arms toward him by the elbows. “Holy shit.”
She glanced down at her raw and bleeding wrists. “They’re fine.”
“They are not fine.” Fury sizzled across his angled features, and tension swelled, heating the cinder-block room. “Too bad he’s already dead.” Ryker drew her out of the room and helped her over the dead soldier. “Any clue where Greg is?”
“No.” Too many emotions blasted into her, and she averted her gaze from Todd. Apparently Ryker was a good shot. “Thanks for coming to get me,” she said through numb lips.
“Always.” He drew her from the outbuilding, his solid body between her and any danger. A firefight sounded toward the lodge, and an explosion roared through the night from over the hill, sending fire, light, and debris high into the air. “Fuck. I hope that wasn’t our helicopter.” Ryker ducked into a run. “Stay right behind me, sweetheart.”
She nodded and tried to keep her balance through the thick snow. Her wrists pounded in pain and her face ached as bruises formed, but she kept right behind him, her gaze sweeping the area. They had to find Greg.