I took a deep breath, glanced back at the mob guys, turned, and I bolted.
Adrenaline roared through me, my breath panting as I pumped my legs and ran. I heard the shout behind me, but I kept going. If I could just make the trees—
The shot rang out, making me scream, but I just kept running. And I was so so close, when suddenly, hands grabbed me, yanking me to the snowy ground. I screamed, rolling and kicking at Tony before suddenly, I gasped at the cold metal of a gun being shoved into my neck.
“Move, you little bitch!”
Tony dragged me up, his look cold and hard as he half dragged me back to the SUVs and the smirking mob guys. The wind had picked up, and the snowy gusts whirled around us, half blinding me and making me shiver.
“Remind me,” Tony muttered at one of the other guys. “What’d Angelo say about her?”
The man grinned wickedly. “Boss did say he wanted her alive, for Mr. Black.” He chuckled. “But he did say if was a lost cause, dead was okay too.”
Something cold shivered through my gut, and I paled as I glanced towards Tony. He turned to me, grinning evil as he waved the gun.
“On your knees, bitch.”
I felt numb as I shook my head. “Hang on, Tony—”
“Uh-uh, nope,” he spat. “I’m done playing nice. You know, all I was trying to do was set you up somewhere nice.”
I barked out a laugh. “That’s why you traded me to a mob boss to settle your fucking gambling debt?”
The other men snorted, and Tony’s face just grew darker, and angrier. He marched over to me, and I gasped as he shoved me down onto the frozen road. The gun raised, and I felt my heart jump into my chest.
Dane.
His face came into my mind, and the feel of his touch, and the taste of his lips. And I knew if this was it—if I was going to die right here on the side of this mountain road, on Christmas freaking Eve—that as shitty as that was, I’d had two days of perfection with the man of my dreams. I’d tasted that perfection, and as I sat there on my knees, freezing and refusing to let the tears fall, I closed my eyes and thought of Dane.
“You made me do this, Holly,” Tony muttered, and I heard the hammer of his gun draw back.
The wind howled, roaring, thundering as the snow whipped around us. It grew louder, and deeper, until suddenly, I frowned as I opened my eyes.
That’s not wind.
I looked past Tony, and suddenly, my eyes went wide.
Holy shit.
I lunged to the side, and Tony whirled just in time for the front fender of the jeep to smash into him. He smashed into the windshield, grunting before flipping over the roof. The jeep barreled right into the other men, knocking three of them flying as the other two dove out of the way. The jeep skidded to a stop, the doors opened, and suddenly, there he was.
Dane.
He roared, charging on the still-standing guy and slamming him into the side of the plow-truck. His fists rained down on the man, battering him to the ground as he whirled and charged the second man. He hit the stunned looking mobster in the side, tackling him to the ground and raining blows down on him until the guy slumped, unconscious.
Dane looked up, his eyes blazing with fury. He saw me, and suddenly, he was rushing for me like a man possessed. I gasped as he plowed into me, scooping me up and pulling me into his arms as he hugged me tight.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head. “No, just cold.”
His big, strong arms wrapped around me, hugging me fiercely.
“Thought I’d lost you there,” he growled quietly.
“You wish you were that lucky.”
He laughed, burying his face in my neck and kissing me as I melted into him.
“I’ve gotcha, angel,” he murmured. “I’ve got you now.”
“You fuckin’ dick!”
We both whirled at the horrible sounding voice, to see Tony trying to stand, waving his gun at us. His face was a mess, and one arm looked completely mangled as he struggled to his feet. Blood dripped from wounds all over his body, and he stumbled as he tried to point the gun at us.
“You think you can just steal what doesn’t belong to you?”
Dane growled, moving in front of me and pushing me behind his back.
“It’s Tony, right?”
Tony nodded with his chin. “Yeah, and?”
“So you’re the motherfucker who likes to hit girls, huh? That do anything to help that limp dick of yours? Hitting girls? Make you feel like a big man, champ?”
Dane’s voice was edged in steel as he goaded him, and I watched Tony’s eyes narrow dangerously.
“Hey pal, don’t get salty that you got my leftov—”