Macy threw her phone into the bushes after disconnecting the call to Cubby. He would come here now, and hopefully Branna and Rose would be safe, and Brian hadn’t hurt them. She wanted to believe he wouldn’t, and that it was her he wanted, but Macy knew what he was capable of, and that he wasn’t a sane man.
Brian had called her and said he was outside the McBride house, and this time he was going to finish what he started unless she did exactly as he told her to.
He'd given her fifteen minutes to reach the McBride house before he went inside and started shooting. Macy had made it in ten.
She battled down the nausea as she thought about sweet little Rose McBride. Her sides ached from running, the breath rasping in and out of her mouth.
“Run fast, wife. I don't want you driving, or alerting anyone, because if you do, then I start shooting, and when I'm done I'm coming for your son.”
His words had stayed with her as she sprinted down the trail in the moonlight. Her sandals slipped and slid, but Macy didn't stop. She’d had to do this for Branna and Jake. They'd saved her, now she had to save them.
Stepping off the trail, she made her way to the rear of their property and didn’t see the man until he was on her. Brian’s fingers fisted in her hair and pulled hard. The vicious tug forced her backward, and she stumbled and fell to the ground.
“Exactly where I want you, but not here. Get up, bitch, and don't make a sound.”
“N-not until you promise me they're safe.” Macy bit back a cry as he pulled her hair hard.
“You don't get to ask me anything. Now get to your feet.”
Doing as he asked, she walked as he prodded her in the back with his gun. Macy prayed Branna and Rose were all right, and hoped that one day she would see her dear friend again.
“Be quiet, your breathing's too loud.”
“I can't, I-I ran here.”
“That's right, you always were a lazy slob.”
“Asshole,” Macy whispered, which earned her another hard tug of her hair.
“Do you think you're strong now, wife? That you can challenge me.”
Macy remembered Brad's words. You're tough, you just need to believe that.
“I am strong.”
“No, you're weak, and I'll show you that soon. Now shut up and walk. We're heading for the lake, but we're going off the trails in case we're seen by one of your friends, then we're taking a boat trip.”
They walked, and Macy used the time to think. If she could disarm him and run, she could get help. But then he'd be free and could go after the McBrides or Billy. No, she had to get to the boat and away from Howling.
She was strangely calm now. Her friends would be safe when they left Howling, and she'd find a way to get away from Brian. She had to; her son needed her, and Brad. She wanted a life with Brad, and she deserved one.
“Faster,” Brian’s whisper was harsh on the still night air. “They'll be looking for you by now.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because Hawker will know I've escaped, and he'll have set someone to watch you. They'll be sending out people to search.”
“Nothing can come of this, Brian. There is no good ending for you.”
“You ruined my life, so I'm ruining yours, and then I'm finding a nice quiet place to hide.”
The air was warm and still; no wind ruffled the leaves as they moved deeper into the trail she had just run down. She heard a car speeding down the road, then loud voices.
“Faster!”
Brian urged her back into a run, and then he forced her into the trees. It was harder going, and dark. Macy made herself stumble several times, and each time he hauled her back to her feet.
“Stop!”
She did as he said and listened.
“The road is just through there; we need to cross then head down to the boathouse.”
The mention of her dad's favorite place made her want to cry, but that wouldn’t help her; only her strength could save her now.
He pushed her out of the trees and across the road and then they were running again.
“God, I-I need to s-stop, Brian,” Macy wheezed.
“No!”
He pushed her forward. Moonlight lit the water as they neared their destination, and she could see a small boat moored beside the bank.
“You don't even know how to drive a boat.”
“I know. I just never wanted to have a boat here in Howling. But now it’s come in handy and I can have my revenge. It’s what kept me going in prison, wife. Planning how I was going to make you pay.”
“Revenge.” Macy tried to scoff as he pulled her hands behind her back. Tried to swallow the fear as he tied her wrists together. The old feelings began to creep back into her head. Fear, pain, and hopelessness. “It's me who should seek revenge, you bastard. It was me you beat, me you forced to miscarry.”
“You're nothing without me. People accepted you because of me!”
She turned and looked at him for the first time. Gone was the immaculate man she'd married. The face that had fooled everyone into trusting him was now a twisted snarl.
“I bet prison orange played hell with your coloring.” Macy wasn't sure where she found the courage to speak to him that way, but she did, because he needed to know she wouldn't be cowed. Wouldn't be the victim he'd once made her.
“Bitch!” He slapped her hard. Macy stumbled but didn't fall. Her cheek stung, but she didn't lower her head, instead looking him in the eye.
“I’m tempted just to throw you overboard. It’s deep enough here, that you’ll never survive. Imagine how sad your friends will be when they find your body in the morning.”
“You're a weak, p-pathetic man, Brian Delray. I don't know why I was scared of you.”
He grabbed her hands and pushed her toward the boat, forcing her down into it.
You're strong now, Macy.
She heard Brad's voice inside her head and forced her fears back as Brian climbed down beside her.
“Everyone knows what you did, Brian, and what a gutless coward you truly are.”
“Shut up!”
“You’re worthless, and even your sister gave you up to the authorities.”
His face contorted with rage, and Macy braced herself for what was to come.
“I'm going to kill you!”
Brian's roar was loud, and the hands that grabbed her rough. She kicked out as he tried to push her backward, and connected with something, because he grunted.
She had to fight until help arrived. Fight and stay alive.
Brad had seen a lot and experienced just as much, but this, the needles of fear coursing through his body, this was another league. They'd arrived at the McBride house to find Branna, Rose, and DJ O'Donnell safe and unhurt, but there was no sign of Delray or Macy.
“Cubby sent his deputies and the Findlay brothers onto the trails to look for signs of Delray and Macy,” Buster said. He'd arrived with Annabelle.
“I told you to stay at home.”
“Why? Because I'm a woman I can't help?”
Brad ignored his brother and sister-in-law as they argued, while his mind formed and discarded ideas.
“Nobody has seen a car come in or out today with anyone inside it resembling Delray. Even taking into account a disguise,” Newman said.
They were inside the McBride house looking over a map of the area.
“Every car has been stopped and searched and none held him. So how did he get in?”
“Not by air,” Jake said. “We'd have heard. Even if he'd hiked over the ridge, someone would have heard. Plenty of people are walking those trails this time of year.”
“By boat,” Brad said. “No other way.”
“Not Delray. He was a land lover, never touched the water.”
“Anyone can learn, and if he thought everyone believed like you that he hated water, Jake, then it's the perfect cover.”
Everyone silently processed what Brad had suggested.
“You could bring a boat in down where Macy's dad's houseboat was and no one would know,” Annabelle said. “He could have stashed his car somewhere else. Somewhere no one is looking for him. We need to go and look.”
“We don't do anything.” Ethan held her arm.
“Macy's my friend, so I'm coming.”
“Newman, you and Buster check the lake edge back into town for anything, and we'll start with where Annabelle suggested,” Jake said.
“Let’s go.” Brad was done doing nothing. He wanted to move, needed to find his girl, and then he’d kill Delray.
They ran out the door, armed with weapons and torches. DJ O'Donnell was to call Cubby with the information they’d come up with and stay with Branna and Rose. Willow had moved Billy to Jake’s parents’ house, where she’d stay until they found Macy.
They ran fast, the only sound the thud of feet in the still night air. Brad and Ethan took the lead, eyes scanning the road and lake as they moved. Jake ran with Annabelle.
“Did you hear that?”
Brad stopped briefly at Ethan's words and he heard the scream.
“Macy!” Brad sprinted down the road with Ethan on his heels, and they both saw the boat.
“It's him. Delray!”
Brad didn't hesitate. Moonlight had shown him the man was bent over Macy, his hands around her neck.
His roar had Brian Delray lifting his head, but Brad didn't stop, he jumped into the boat and grabbed him. His fist connected with the man's nose and he heard a satisfying crack.
“I have you now, Macy.”
“Ethan?”
Brad heard her voice as he swung again, this time making contact with Delray’s jaw. Searching, he found Macy in Ethan's arms. He turned to grab Delray again, but the man had a gun pointed at him.
“She’s mine!”
“No, she's mine.” Brad kept his eyes on Brian Delray. “You tried to break her, but she's too strong. It's you who’s weak.”
“Shut up or I'll shoot you.”
“You can try, but you don't have the guts.” Brad continued to taunt him until he felt the boat rock and knew Ethan had Macy safe.
Delray's face was bloodied, his nose bleeding, and Brad wanted more.
“She’s not fit for scum like you to walk on, Delray. You’ll never touch her again.”
The man roared and dived at Brad. He heard the gun go off, and then they were both falling overboard. The water was deep and sucked him under, but Brad fought against it and swam upward until he broke the surface.
“Brad!”
He heard her desperate scream.
“I’m all right, Macy!”
“Can you see Delray?”
Brad watched Jake and Ethan move up and down the bank, looking into the water. Taking a breath, he dived down again and waved his hands about; he couldn’t see anything in the dark. When his lungs were bursting, he swam back to the surface.
“I can’t find him.”
“Give me your hand. You won’t see anything now, it’s too dark.”
“I’m going under once more.”
He did before anyone tried to stop him, but soon his lungs were burning, and he could find no trace of Brian Delray. Once again he rose to the surface.
“No more, Brad. Macy is worried about you and needs you out here.”
He took the hand Ethan held out to him and let himself be pulled to the bank.
Macy was in his arms seconds later.
“I’m wet, baby.”
“I don’t care. I thought he’d shot you.”
He held her tight, feeling the shivers that shook her body.
“I was so scared he’d hurt you, Macy.”
“Is he dead?”
“I don’t know, honey. I couldn’t find him.”
Her body shuddered and burrowed into his. He felt Ethan's hand on his arm and heard Annabelle talking on the phone, but he never moved, just held Macy.
“Are you okay, did he hurt you?”
“I’m okay now I’m here with you.”
The approach of lights had him looking up, and he saw Cubby's cruiser.
“Let's go now.” Ethan squeezed his shoulder. “It's over.”
Brad changed into Jake’s clothes and then held Macy's hand while he checked her over. Her face was pale in the places that weren't bruised. She was dirty, clothes torn, but she was alive and with him. He had to keep reminding himself of that.
“I'm all right, Brad.”
“You don't look all right.”
“She's fine. Nothing's broken, just bruised,” Jake assured him. “But you'll be sore for a while.”
She took the hot drink Branna handed her, and he made sure she drank every mouthful. When Cubby walked inside, the color she’d got back drained away again.
“He’s dead, Macy. One of my deputies found his body.”
Brad moved closer, wrapping an arm around her now.
“Thank you for telling me, and now I’d like to go home.”
They wanted her to stay right there where they could watch over her, but she was adamant about wanting to leave. So Brad borrowed Jake’s car and promised he’d watch over her.
“Why are we here?”
“Because it’s closer,” Brad said when they reached the cabin.
“Cubby said he can question us tomorrow, Brad.”
“I heard him too, honey.”
“Do you think I should pick up Billy?”
“He's asleep now. We'll get him early, when we get the call he’s awake.”
“I don't want him to wake scared.”
She was talking fast, and he knew it was the aftereffects, so he let her go.
“Does he wake much during the night?”
“No, never.”
“Probably be okay tonight in that case.”
“I-I didn't know if I would see him grow up.”
She broke down as he slipped his hands under her and lifted her out of the car, then carried her inside. He flicked on a light and walked to the bathroom. She cried, loud, heartbreaking sobs as he lowered her to her feet and turned on the shower.
“Sssh, now.” He stripped off her clothes and then his, and then led her into the water. “It's all right, baby, it's over now.”
He held her as her cries eased to sniffles and then sighs, and then she slumped against him as the water cascaded around them.
“I love you.” He spoke the words into her hair. “This is where I want to stay, Macy. Here with you and Billy.”
“Yes” was all she said. “I want that so much too.”
After he'd shut off the water and dried them both, he took her to bed and held her close while he spoke of the future, their future, and for the first time in years, he actually believed in what he said.