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shallow, she nodded. She needed to save her strength for escape. Give herself time to think. She had to find real help and fast. Where could she go? Not the local police—they were bought and paid for by the Colonel. The resort where Tommy worked? It was far enough from Camden to not give a damn about Camden money. Someone there would help her. Time, all that time, trickling away from her, and Scotty out there, needing her.
    Sabriel loosened his hand from her mouth, but continued to press on her shoulders to hold her down. She cranked her head over her left shoulder and caught a glimpse of him. He looked even more dark and dangerous than she remembered with that wild animal caution in those panther-green eyes, that dusky skin and that camouflage gear, fitting into the forest as if he belonged.
    Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. Once a Camden soldier, always a Camden soldier?
    “You led them to me.” Nora’s voice cracked. “You’re supposed to be Tommy’s friend.”
    “Your car is equipped with a GPS.”
    That neat little blue button that summoned help with the press of a fingertip. Her shoulders deflated in a sag of surrender. “Of course. Bugged. Just like the phone and the computer.” And she’d used her phone repeatedly. Had she left an electronic bread crumb trail for the Colonel’s men to follow and not just a record of her calls?
    Nora couldn’t stop shaking. Even rubbing her arms didn’t seem to spawn any heat. The Colonel’s men would fan their search in this direction any second. She’d lose Scotty. “I can’t let them take me back.”
    “Then let’s roll.” Sabriel’s gaze scanned forward and back. “Now.”
    * * *
    “S HE CAN ’ T BE FAR .” Boggs’s craggy voice ping-ponged from tree to tree. “Her engine’s still warm. Spread out and find her.”
    Sabriel allowed his vision to widen, seeking possible danger in the escape route he’d picked. He jerked his head in the direction where he’d left his Jeep, signaling his intent to Nora. Brown eyes dark and wild with fear, she glanced in the goons’ direction before following him like a scared mouse.
    He was a pushover for women with vulnerable eyes. Always trying to save them when he couldn’t save himself. And hers were especially compelling, suckinghim in like the most gullible of marks. But he couldn’t let her get to him. She was a Camden, and he’d had enough Camden anguish to last him a lifetime.
    He’d known from the second his phone rang that it meant trouble, and Nora Camden was proving him right.
Fences, man. You’ve got to learn to keep up your fences
.
    She wouldn’t last an hour out in the mountains, especially bushwhacking. Even if it cost him time, he’d get her to the Aerie, where the Colonel and his goons couldn’t hurt her.
    This time, he’d do things right.
    The Colonel’s men scattered like cockroaches, not bothering to cushion their steps. Twigs snapped. Leaves rustled like snakes. They didn’t care if Nora knew they were coming. They probably wanted her scared. Made the sport more fun.
Pinheads
.
    Despite her slight body, Nora wasn’t exactly Miss Light Foot as she trailed him, so all the hired guns’ noise gave her some cover. But then why should she know how to stalk? A refined woman like her belonged at country clubs and charity balls, surrounded and protected by friends and family. Not running for her life from the megalomaniac who was supposed to keep her safe. He remembered her bright smile, how she’d made Tommy so happy on their wedding day, and wished he’d warned her about the Colonel all those years ago.
    Sabriel headed downslope, toward the private road farther west where he’d camouflaged his Jeep. Nora huffed and puffed behind him, but scared to death as she was, she kept pace like a trooper.
    The intent footsteps on both sides grew nearer. Two pairs, parallel.
    “Here, Nora, Nora, Nora!” the goon on the left taunted—as if she were a dog. Laughter exploded through each syllable at