Page 30 of The Hunted Wife

Benjamin cursed.

They both knew that patience was not in Adam’s wheelhouse.

“Adam, if you move in too fast you could do more harm than good. You know this, so wait for us. We’re leaving the ranch now. We’ll twenty minutes to reach you. I’ll have a plan to get Millie out, I promise. Just wa?—"

Adam ended the call.

Inside the Expedition, Millie watched the dark forest roll past her window and tried not to panic. Ricard’s moods had become more unstable during the drive from the cabin. One minute he was silent, the next he was muttering in Russian beneath his breath. He seemed to forget that she was Russian, too, and understood what he said.

One thing she did know when she saw it was fear. Sergey’s warning must have finally begun to sink in. Her father would not tolerate this humiliation forever. Especially not once law enforcement became involved and she was certain that Adam would have contacted the Routt County sheriff.

She smiled. Her father would be enraged…with Ricard. However, this knowledge brought with it fear. Ricard was cornered now and more dangerous than ever, which made him unpredictable…and that scared her more than anything.

The building they finally reached was far larger than the hunting lodge. This one was a luxury ski house perched against the mountainside with massive windows and a wide stone patio overlooking the valley below. Expensive. Isolated. Perfect for hiding. Ricard shoved her toward the front door while Viktor carried in the bags from the Expedition.

“You will stay quiet,” Ricard warned softly near her ear. “If Sullivan followed us, people will die tonight.”

Despite the fear clawing through her chest, Millie lifted her chin. “If Adam followed us, you should be afraid…very afraid.”

For the first time since taking her, Ricard looked uncertain.

Adam waited exactly seventeen minutes before headlights appeared behind him. All six of his brothers arrived within seconds of each other along with two security SUVs. Adam quickly explained the situation while they all gathered around the hood of Benjamin’s Ford F-350 truck, studying the map of the area on his phone.

“There are only two ways off this mountain,” Fred said grimly. “The road we all took here and a service trail behind the property. If he panics, and he will, he’ll use the trail.”

“Then we block both,” Gabriel said.

Adam checked the magazine of his weapon with steady hands.

His brothers exchanged glances but wisely said nothing. There was something frightening at how calm he’d become,” thought Daniel.

“No mistakes,” Adam said quietly. “Millie comes first. Nothing else matters.”

Christopher rested a hand briefly on Adam’s shoulder before moving back toward his vehicle. “We’ll get her home tonight.”

Adam looked toward the dark mountain rising ahead. Somewhere up there Millie was waiting. Pregnant with his child. Terrified and alone.

“Tonight we bring my wife home,” said Adam softly.

Chapter 11

After being locked in an upstairs bedroom, Millie hardly slept, even though she was exhausted. The bedroom over looked the forest. She stood at the window while Ricard paced outside the room like a guard dog.

The luxury cabin felt more like a prison than the hunting lodge had.

Somewhere around midnight Millie spotted movement in the trees below her window. At first she thought she imagined the sight, that she was so desperate to see Adam that she conjured him from her mind. Then she saw it—a faint flashlight signal. Three quick flashes. Pause. Three more. Sullivan Security’s code. Adam had found her.

Hope exploded in her chest so suddenly tears welled.

Downstairs she heard Ricard unraveling. He shouted, in Russian, at someone she assumed was on the phone. She listened as furniture crashed and glass shattered. She heard Viktor trying unsuccessfully to calm him.

Millie sat frozen on the edge of the bed, one hand protectively over her stomach. Suddenly, the house went silent. A few seconds later, she heard boots thundering up the stairs. Adam.

Her bedroom door flew open so hard it slammed into the wall, leaving a gouge where the door handle hit.

Ricard stood there his eyes pale and wild. “Get up,” he snapped. “We’re leaving. Now.”

“Why? We just got here?”