Pay the Price (Harmony Grove Book 3) by Carol Post (which ebook reader txt) 📕

the plane, turned it around and taxied down the runway. Hammy and Spike watched it lift into the air.

“Another successful deal,” Spike said. “The Big Guy will be here any minute for his share.” He glared at his younger brother. “At least those are the only greedy palms touching our money now.”

Hammy bristled. “You didn’t have to kill her.”

“You were letting her blackmail you, dude. That’s not smart.”

“That was my business.”

“It was your business till she came to me for more.” Spike turned and walked toward the door going into the warehouse. “Someday, when you’re no longer all moon-eyed over her, you’re going to thank me for getting rid of her.”

“I’ll never thank you. Someday I might just kill you for it.”

Spike laughed off the threat. “You don’t have the guts.”

Jessica frowned. Just what she’d suspected. Instead of being involved in the Driggers brothers’ shady dealings, her opportunistic sister had stumbled on them and was blackmailing Hammy. If she’d have remained content with what he’d been giving her, she might have gotten away with it indefinitely. But she’d had to cross Spike. She should have known better. Her greed had gotten her killed.

Jessica pulled her lower lip between her teeth. As anxious as she was to get out of there and call Shane, she needed to stay put a while longer. According to Spike, someone else was on his way. She wouldn’t risk trying to make it to the road knowing that at any moment she could be cast in the glow of someone’s headlights. Trudging through the middle of the woods at night wasn’t an option, either. Too much chance of running into a snake or stumbling in the dark.

No, she wouldn’t get impatient. She’d wait until all three men were gone.

Spike stopped at the door leading into the huge metal building and reached for the doorknob. Suddenly branches rustled overhead, and she stifled a gasp. Both men swiveled their heads to look as an owl flew from the pine tree next to her, circled the area over the airstrip, then once again disappeared into the woods.

For several tense moments she waited, willing the two men to go inside. Instead, Spike’s hand dropped from the doorknob, and he turned to stare into the woods, right at where she stood. There was no way he could see her. But that didn’t hold the panic at bay. Or slow her racing pulse. Or quell the urge to bolt from her hiding place and run full speed through the woods.

She corralled the urge and forced herself to stay calm. Soundlessly, she slid around the back side of the tree, wishing she’d chosen an oak instead of a pine. Its narrow trunk didn’t quite hide her, even if she turned sideways.

Spike moved closer. Hopefully he’d stop, scan the trees and, hearing nothing, go back inside. Some twenty feet from where she stood, he reached under his jacket with his right hand and pulled out a gun.

Her pulse jumped to double time, but she didn’t move. She didn’t even dare to breathe. She had the advantage. She could see him, but he couldn’t see her. She knew his exact location but he didn’t know hers. If he got too close, she’d use the element of surprise, kick the gun from his grasp and subdue him. Then she’d only have Hammy to worry about. But he wasn’t as likely to shoot her.

Spike took a step closer. His left hand went into his pants pocket, and keys jingled. What was he getting now? After withdrawing a full ring of keys, he fished through them with his thumb until he found what he wanted. A second later, a skinny beam of sharp white light penetrated the darkness around her.

With her plans shattered in an instant, she bolted from her hiding place to run through the woods, her path paralleling the airstrip. A shot rang out, and bark sprayed from a tree as she passed, each piece like a mini-missile, leaving stinging welts on her face and neck.

God, help me! She hadn’t tried praying to Shane’s God. At least not seriously. And she wasn’t even sure if He would listen. But the panicked plea rang through her mind anyway. She ran as fast as she could, stumbling through the darkness as heavy footsteps closed in. If she could reach the side of the property, she might have a chance. Acres of forest spanned the space between Driggers and the next structure, a residence that occupied a small clearing a half mile away. Her chances of eluding them would be much better there.

Then her toe caught a root, sending her crashing to the ground. Pain shot through one knee and the opposite wrist. The heavy footsteps stopped, right next to her, and she squeezed her eyes shut against the inevitable.

But instead of a bullet, a rough hand gripped a fistful of her hair and pulled her to her feet. Still holding her by the hair, Spike jerked her head back and shone the light in her face.

“You. I should have known you’d follow in your sister’s footsteps.”

He clicked off the light, and a stray shaft of moonlight fell across his face. His lips were curled back in a sneer, and his eyes shone with manic pleasure.

A gleam of wicked delight.

Chapter Sixteen

Shane ran for all he was worth, right up the middle of Driggers Porcelain’s drive, all stealth forgotten. Less than a minute earlier a gunshot had pierced the still night, and he hoped to God it had nothing to do with Jess. Lord, please let her be all right.

He hadn’t seen her car. But he knew Jess, and she was smart enough to not leave it in plain sight. She was here. He was sure of it.

As he neared the building, he stepped off the asphalt drive to let the grass muffle his footsteps. A faint male voice drifted to him, too far away to pick up the words. Someone was behind the building.

He crept along its side,