He’d hate to have to kill them. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t if he was left with no other choice.

He peered down at the one he held in his arms. Dusti. She had pretty blue eyes, confusion and fear shining clearly in them. It was easy for him to read her emotions, but he couldn’t make sense of either. Decker had to have warned them that they might be met by the enemy. She could be faking whatever physical flaw she seemed to have just to appear weak. It could be a cunning game they played, hoping to get him and his brother to let down their guards. They wouldn’t escape, if that was their plan.

Dusti had said her mother was the tie to that family, and he tried to remember details about Decker’s daughter, but Antina Filmore had run away from her father shortly after her mother’s death. Nobody had heard from her again. It was assumed by Drantos’s clan that the girl had known or suspected her own father had murdered her mom, and she had also likely known what he had in store for her future. Antina had never resurfaced.

It was possible she hadn’t told Dusti or Bat the truth about their grandfather. Did Antina want to save herself from the fate her father had planned for her badly enough to offer up both of her daughters instead? She could have sent them herself, making some kind of deal with Decker. He wasn’t the type to forgive anyone for what he’d consider a betrayal, but he’d bargain for something if he wanted it bad enough. The bastard was totally ruthless.

Drantos studied the woman staring back at him with fear. She trembled in his arms and a sudden sense of protectiveness hit him.

She was the best actress he’d ever met, if it was indeed an act. Then again, she really might not know what her grandfather had in store for her—but Drantos could guess.

Decker would use his granddaughters to begin the bloodbath he so desperately wanted.

Chapter Two

The large bonfire kept the darkness surrounding them at bay. Dusti inhaled the scent of leather coming from the oversized jacket wrapped around her. She tracked Drantos’s movements when he strode closer to the fire pit he’d dug. He’d made sure she hadn’t had a moment alone with Bat since her sister had given her the iron shot. As a matter of fact, he kept her at least ten feet away from all the other passengers, who huddled around the fire he’d lit before the sun had gone down.

Drantos had carried Dusti off the plane and made a camp while Bat and Kraven had helped the injured off the damaged aircraft. Both pilots had died and there were no survivors in the tail section. Kraven had gone to look while Bat had been ransacking the plane for blankets and supplies. Drantos constantly watched Dusti, and her sister had gone right along with his plan to keep them separated, agreeing that Dusti should lie down to avoid fainting. Bat was worried about her.

“Don’t say a word about what Kraven and I discussed—to your sister or anyone else,” Drantos had warned.

She’d taken the threat to heart. He was a big man, muscled, and probably had some kind of criminal history that would be terrifying if she knew the extent of his rap sheet.

His dark gaze fixed on her from across the small clearing while he crouched by the fire, adding broken branches to the flames. The harsh expression on his face scared her but she remembered that he’d said he didn’t kill women. He’d even removed his jacket to wrap it around her to help keep her warm.

That has to mean something, right? How bad can the guy be if he would worry about me being cold? Then again, don’t forget there are always people on the news being interviewed about how the serial killers they were friends with are such nice guys. But there are witnesses. He can’t kill us all. Well, he could, so maybe he’s just playing nice for right now.

Bat walked out of the woods with Kraven. He carried a bunch of cushions that they’d removed from the plane, while Bat clutched the handles of a few small suitcases. The two had worked together for the past couple hours. It shocked Dusti, frankly. Her sister was abrasive at best around men so she’d expected yelling and a little bloodshed to ensue.

Bat smiled encouragingly at her after she dropped the suitcases and approached. “How are you doing? Your coloring is much better. You hadn’t taken your shot in a while, had you?”

Dusti shook her head, glancing toward Drantos. He was watching her. She was afraid to speak.

“Damn it, hon. You know better. Your body needs the iron it can’t produce or you get all chalky white and go unconscious. You’re supposed to take one every other day at least, even if you’re feeling fine.” Bat reached into her dressy suit jacket to pull out a small black case. “I’ve got good and bad news. The bad news is your purse is toast. It was torn up when it was batted around during the crash. The good news is I found your shots. The case protected them from breaking.” Bat crouched down to hand over the container. “Don’t lose those, Dusti. I mean it. I only have one of your shots left and you have the five I found in your purse. I’m certain we’ll be rescued soon but we both know these need to last us until we return to California.”

Dusti decided this might be the only chance to speak to her sister alone. “Bat, we’re in trouble. I—”

Drantos suddenly appeared next to them, sporting an unhappy expression.

Dusti stopped talking, terrified that he might have overheard her whispered words. His gaze narrowed on her in silent warning. She tried to appear as innocent as possible by holding his stare for a few seconds. He didn’t seem to be buying it when he continued to give her a dirty look, so she swallowed hard, breaking eye contact.

“Don’t worry,” Bat assured her. “We’re going to be rescued. They’ll have a fleet of planes searching for us in the morning. That’s procedure when a plane goes down. I just hope the emergency beacon is working. I believe they’re usually a part of the tail section. That will help them pinpoint our exact location.” Bat peered up at Drantos. “I forgot to ask your brother how bad the tail section was damaged when he went looking for it. Do you know? Is it possible the beacon still works?”

“I don’t know.” The big man shrugged.

“I should ask Kraven.” Bat glanced around, seeming to search for him. She waved her arm to get his attention then focused on Drantos again. “We’re safe from animals with the fire burning, right? It will scare them away? Dusti and I don’t want to end up having to take rabies shots.”