Chapter 179
179
+25 BONUS
A fresh wave of anxiety gripped me.
Travis was sharp–smarter than the average man. He wouldn’t have made it this far if he weren’t. It wouldn’t be easy to trick him.
Before the thought had even fully formed, I heard Travis bark coldly, “Search every damn inch around here! She didn’t jump!”
One of his guys asked instinctively, “How do you know she didn’t jump?”
“The last time she jumped off a cliff, she broke every bone in her body and spent three months bedridden,” Travis snapped back. “There’s no way in hell she’d put herself through that kind of agony again. She’d rather die first!”
I froze, stunned. I never expected Travis to actually understand me this well.
“Look at her footprints–she’s hiding somewhere close by. Turn this place inside out!” Travis yelled again.
Travis had worked for Irvin long enough to know exactly how ruthless he could be. He knew he was as good as dead if he didn’t catch me now.
Because I’d had no time, the footprints I’d left were concentrated within a small area. Even if my hiding place was nearly invisible, they’d eventually find it if they combed through the area.
My heart hammered painfully against my ribs. Any second now, they’d spot me .
Then, suddenly, the steady sound of helicopter blades filled the sky overhead.
One of Travis‘ men panicked, shouting, “Oh shit! Did Irvin track us down?”
Travis glanced upward, his eyes dark with menace.
“Hurry! Find her now!”
He had to catch me before Irvin’s team reached us. But it was too late.
Alongside the helicopter, Brody was already storming the mountainside with a swarm of armed men. Seconds after Travis gave his frantic order, they were completely surrounded.
Irvin emerged, his eyes blazing with fury, looking like a demon straight out of hell. Travis had never seen him like this. Pure terror flashed across his face.
Irvin grabbed Travis by the collar and effortlessly lifted him off the ground as he demanded, “Where is she?” Knowing he was finished–or perhaps too terrified to care anymore–Travis burst into wild laughter. “Too late, Mr. Sawyer! Your precious little lady already jumped!”
Irvin’s rage erupted. With one hand, he lifted Travis–who stood six–foot–tall and built like a linebacker–and slammed him brutally against a nearby tree trunk. Travis didn’t even have time to scream before he crumpled to the ground, spitting blood.
The rest of his men stared helplessly, frozen by fear.
For a moment, I couldn’t process what was happening, let alone question why Travis had just insisted I hadn’t jumped, only to suddenly claim that I had.
As for me, after everything Irvin had done to push me to the edge, I had no idea whether he had already rescued Julianne. I wondered if stepping out would only lead to my death all over again.
1/2
+25 BONUS
I felt a brief sense of relief. But I still didn’t dare move. I stayed curled up inside the small cave, not making a sound.
179
อา