“Michael.” Her arms tightened around Andreas. “Daddy, the monsters. Blood. They’re killing Michael.”
“Shh.” Andreas pressed a kiss to her forehead and rocked her. “Everything’s going to be okay. Everything’s okay now.”
“ No.” She was sobbing. “ It’s like before. The monsters—and you weren’t here.”
“ I’m here now.”
“ It’s happening again.”
“ No, you’re safe. We’re all safe.”
“ No, it’s not true.” Her eyes widened in terror. “Michael!”
Travis had landed.
Deschamps faded closer to the bushes beside the shed, his gaze on the helicopter several yards away. The anticipation was a twisting hunger within him. It had been too long. Come out. Let me see it. Let me see what’s mine.
There was no moon tonight, and in the darkness he could barely discern the shadowy figure of Travis at the controls. Why wouldn’t he get out? Then he realized Travis was just being cautious. He’d be vulnerable as he got out of the helicopter; that was why Deschamps was waiting for the pilot’s door to open.
Maybe Travis was sensing something wrong.
So he’d have to be very still until Travis felt safe.
Minutes passed.
Why wasn’t the bastard moving?
He edged closer and then closer still.
He was almost at the aircraft when he stopped short. The figure wasn’t Travis. It was a jacket wrapped around a dummy. The passenger door stood open.
Travis was out!
“Shit.” Deschamps dove for the ground. Travis could be anywhere.
A flickering light suddenly beamed from the shed. The door was open. . . .
Melissa saw the light in the shed as she crested the hill. The silhouette of a helicopter was visible nearby.
It was already happening.
She was sobbing as she tore down the hill. Wait for me. Don’t let me get this far and not be able to help.
The door was open. Deschamps might be just inside.
Screw him. If she delayed for even a moment, it might be the end for Travis.
She stood in the doorway, her gaze frantically searching the cavernous shadows for Travis.
She saw Deschamps first at the far end of the room. He was moving, stalking, staring at something in the shadows. Travis?
No, Travis was rolling from under the table, gun in hand, rising silently to his feet. His concentration was fixed on Deschamps, who had his back turned to him.
She held her breath. Do it. Shoot him. Don’t let him turn around.
No!
Travis was turning his head. She hadn’t made a motion, but he must have caught sight of her out of the corner of his eye. His eyes widened as he recognized her.
And Deschamps was turning around!
The next few seconds seemed to pass in slow motion as Melissa tore the short distance across the room. She launched herself at Travis, her arms encircling his waist as she pulled him down.
Too late.
She heard him grunt and felt the jerk of his body as the bullets hit him.
She’d failed, she realized in agony. Deschamps had killed him.
They hit the floor. Wood splintered next to her cheek as Deschamps got off another shot and hit the lantern on the post. The lantern fell and the candle snuffed out.
Darkness.
Travis’s gun was beside him. She fumbled for it and rolled under the table. She knocked over a chair and pulled it close as a shield.
“ You can’t get away,” Deschamps called. “ I’ve killed Travis. Who’s going to protect you now?”
Her eyes stung with tears as she looked at Travis on the other side of the table.
“ You’re afraid, aren’t you? I might let you go if you give up right now.”
“Screw you.” Jesus, how could she see to shoot him when it was pitch black?
“ You can’t stop me. Do you know how long I’ve waited for that statue?”
Another shot. A hot stinging as the bullet ricocheted off the chair and grazed her left arm.
“Give up. You don’t have a weapon, or you would have used it already. I’m getting impatient. I don’t have much time before Andreas gets here.”
“Andreas isn’t coming. He never intended to come. It was all a trick. So that makes you pretty stupid, doesn’t it?”
“ You’re lying. I checked out the area for miles around. Only the main house is guarded.”
“ I’m not lying. It was a setup. Even if you kill me, Andreas will scoop you up before you get ten miles from Vasaro.” A bullet whistled by her ear. He was aiming at the sound of her voice just as she was trying to gauge where he was. “ Why are you wasting time? Get out of here and make a run for it.”
“ I won’t have to make a run for it. I’ll take the helicopter Travis arrived in . . . after I get the Wind Dancer.”