Hidden Fates (Hidden Heroes #4)

Chapter 29

“Think about what you’re doing here,” Tanner said. “That’s a log cabin, my friend, and after what Reese said at Caden and Hallie’s wedding -”

“Reese could be inside right now,” Garrett snapped, already halfway out of Luke’s truck. “Do you seriously expect me to stay out here when there’s a monster in there threatening to do who knows what to the woman I love?” Garrett couldn’t even believe they were having this conversation. Of course, Tanner and Luke had insisted on coming with him as soon as he’d gotten the call from Reese’s phone. Martin had also followed close behind with the firemen on his squad, and there was an ambulance standing by just in case. But there was no way Garrett was going to sit on the sidelines now that he was here. “I’m going in,” he said. “Cover me.”

A hand landed on his shoulder and Garrett turned to glare at Tanner. “We need a better plan,” Tanner said. “You can’t just go in guns blazing. We have no idea who else is inside, or if Reese is even in there. This could be a trap. Think about it, please.”

Luke had parked about five hundred feet downhill from the log cabin behind a copse of trees. It gave Garrett a good view of the structure that oddly enough looked completely abandoned. That should’ve raised his red flags, but he was too focused on just getting to Reese. The plan they’d come up with on the way here wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. “Look, Russell said to come alone, so that’s what I’m going to do. He doesn’t know you’re here with me or that we called for backup that should be arriving any minute. Hopefully that gives me just enough time to get Reese to safety before all hell breaks loose.”

“I get that, and normally, I’d be cheering you on,” Luke said, coming around to Garrett’s side. “But think about what Reese said. You die in a log cabin that’s going to explode. How do you know that monster didn’t rig the place?”

Garrett drew in a breath. He didn’t know. But if that place was set to blow, then he needed to make sure Reese wasn’t in there before it did. “What would you do?” He asked Luke. “If it was Orly in there, what would you do?”

Luke kicked at the dirt at their feet, his jaw tight. “Dammit, I’d already be half way up the hill.”

Garrett gave him a quick nod of respect. “Cover me. And no matter what happens, stick to the plan. You get Reese out first. No matter what.”

Luke and Tanner gave him a silent nod. They didn’t like the plan, but Garrett didn’t care. She came first, and she always would.

He trudged up the hill, making sure to stay as low to the ground as possible. He had a gut feeling things might not end well for him, but he wasn’t about to make himself an easy target. A gunshot rang out in the air and he dropped to his belly.

“I know you’re here, Garrett, so let’s not play games. Get over here and kiss your girlfriend goodbye.”

Garrett recognized Russell’s voice from the phone call earlier. He stood to his full height then, expecting to see Russell standing outside the cabin, but instead it was Reese. She was banged up and gagged, sporting a cut on her forehead and a black eye. What the hell had he done to her? “Reese,” he called out, hoping she heard him. He was still at least a hundred feet away. “Reese, I’m coming. It’s going to be okay.”

She started shaking her head violently, and a large hand grabbed her hair at the back of her head. She struggled against it, but couldn’t break free, emitting a sorrowful grunting sound. “Reese, listen to me. Don’t fight him. It’s going to be okay. I’m going to get you out of here. I swear.”

Her gaze met his and he saw the pleading in her eyes. She didn’t want him to come any closer. But what choice did he have? She was being held by a crazed murderer with a badge. The only advantage Garrett had was that he hadn’t come alone. He had no idea where Tanner and Luke were right now, but he hoped they would follow the plan.

The sheen of a black gun peered through the doorway. Russell was holding it right next to her face. “Put that down!” Garrett ordered, his hand already on his weapon.

“You first,” Russell ordered. “If I don’t see your weapon flying through the air away from you, I’ll shoot her right now and make you watch.”

Garrett didn’t hesitate. He removed his gun from his holster and threw it across the field, making sure it went high enough for Russell to see it.

“Good. Now move. I don’t have all day. Get in here.”

Garrett picked up his pace, keeping an eye on Reese until she was yanked back and the door was pushed closed. “No!” He screamed and broke out into a dead run. Moving as fast as he could, he didn’t even care that Russell could put a bullet in his head the second he rammed through that door.

Garrett approached the small cabin at full speed, his only priority was getting to Reese. Not seeing anything out of the ordinary, he took the three steps up to the door in one large leap and didn’t bother stopping as he shouldered open the door, ready to take on anyone who dared to lay a finger on his woman. “Russell!”

To his surprise, the place was empty. He heard a muffled sound from a back room and then -

***

Reese fought Russell with every fiber of her being. Uncaring of her screaming muscles or the way her body felt like it had been in a wreck - because it had been - she would fight to save Garrett with every breath she had left in her.

But Russell was bigger and stronger. He maneuvered her like a rag doll, hardly even breaking a sweat when he lifted her up and tossed her out of a back window from a room that had an old bed with no comforter on it. She landed on a small patch of dirt and quickly started to get to her feet. Her hands were still bound behind her, and he’d replaced the gag over her mouth, but Russell hadn’t restrained her legs. If she could get away from him long enough to run around to the front of the cabin, she could stop Garrett from going in and -

A large hand grabbed her by the back of the neck. She grunted and tried to wriggle out of Russell’s hold, but he just dragged her forward. One step, two, and then the whole world seemed to turn upside down.

A flash of light so bright that it blinded her made her lose her footing, or maybe it was the sheer force of the blast at her back that had her airborne. When she hit the ground, her right hip and shoulder slammed into a hard, grassy area. Breathless from the impact and the intense sudden pain in her side, she lay still for a long moment. The whole cabin was engulfed in flames, the log walls a perfect flammable source. In a few minutes, there would be nothing left of it except charcoal and ash. “Garrett!” She screamed into her gag, her heart breaking into a million pieces.

Thick black smoke rose up to the clear blue sky as large hands wrapped around her, picking her up from behind. She kicked hard, kneeing Russell in the shins, and she swore she’d gotten him in the groin, but he only held her tighter. Sirens sounded in the distance, as he dragged her to a waiting vehicle. “Get in or I’ll put a bullet in your brain,” Russell ordered, shoving her toward a blue SUV she hadn’t seen before. Was this his getaway plan? To force her inside and just drive off with her?

“Now.” He shoved the gun to the side of her neck hard, but she barely felt it. Everything inside her had gone numb. Garrett was gone. Good and kind and sweet Garrett, who’d turned off his power for her, who’d taken her to a lantern festival, and searched all night in the dark woods until he found her. The man she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with was dead. What difference did it make what Russell did to her now?

With one last look at the blazing cabin, Reese climbed into the driver’s side and scooted across the bench seat to the passenger side. She immediately noticed the lock and handle were broken off. Russell had planned for everything.

With her hands still bound behind her back, she couldn’t even fasten her seatbelt. She watched as Russell got in and keyed the ignition. A brief moment of hope that it wouldn’t start passed her thoughts, but the damn thing came to life instantly. He threw it into gear and started moving, but then she heard a loud pop, followed by another one. The vehicle swerved as Russell fought for control before slamming on the brakes and skidding to a stop.

Standing less than ten feet from the vehicle were Luke and Tanner. How had they gotten here so fast? Unless, they’d come with Garrett… Her heart sank again at the thought of what had happened to him. And to think she actually thought she could stop it. She’d been such a fool. A madly in love, stubborn fool, who’d let her heart overrule what her mind had always known. The only way to save Garrett would’ve been to leave Dallas when she still had the chance. She’d never forgive herself for staying, and killing the man she loved.

Unable to process the fact that Garrett was really gone, she turned her attention to Luke and Tanner. They held up their guns, aiming them at her and Russell.

As they should. They had every right to want her dead. She was the reason their friend was dead. Garrett was the best thing that had ever happened to her and now he was gone, and she was the only one to blame for his death.

“End of the line, Russell Graham,” Luke called out.

“Toss the keys out and get out of the vehicle. Keep your hands where we can see them,” Tanner ordered.

Reese shook her head. What were they doing? They should be trying to save Garrett, not her.

“I’ve waited a long time for this day,” Luke said. “One way or another, you’re going to pay for your crimes. Now get out with your hands where we can see them.”

Reese swallowed hard, afraid to look at Russell, knowing this was it. After what he’d done to Orly, Luke wasn’t going to let him get away again. She just couldn’t figure out why they looked so calm. Didn’t they know Garrett was inside that cabin? Didn’t they care?

Russell shifted in his seat, and Reese held her breath, thinking maybe he was about to do what they’d asked. But instead, he pulled out his weapon and brought it up to show it to them.

Luke and Tanner took a step back and aimed their weapons on Russell.

“Last chance, Russell. You drop your weapon and come out with your hands up, or you don’t come out at all,” Luke warned. His voice was loud enough over the roar of the fire, but all Reese could think about was Garrett. Would Luke and Tanner really be out here trying to save her if they knew their friend was dead?

She shook her head again, wishing they’d heed her warning and let Russell take her wherever the hell he wanted to. Garrett was inside the cabin and he needed them!

Russell moved the gun, bringing it below the dashboard where Luke and Tanner likely couldn’t see it and pointed it at her. Her gaze locked on the barrel and her breath caught in her throat. She wouldn’t plead for her life. Without Garrett, she had nothing to live for. She just watched and waited for the bullet to come. But Russell turned the gun on himself, pointed it at his chin and then - BAM!

Reese flinched, a scream ripping through her as wetness sprayed the side of her face and arm. She’d seen this exact moment when she’d looked into his eyes earlier, but she hadn’t seen herself with him. Was this really it?

Before she even knew what was happening, her door was being ripped open. Tanner was pulling her out of the SUV and pushing her gag down to around her neck. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Reese gasped for air as if someone had been choking her this whole time. “Garrett,” she managed to say between sobs. “He killed Garrett.”