The Devil's Daughter (Hidden Sins #1)(91)

“Brave girl.” But they wouldn’t be making a grand escape fleeing for their lives. She checked the door again. “I have a knife, and I need you to cut me free. Can you do that, honey?”

“I think so.” She took the knife with shaking hands, and Eden had to brace herself against the mental image of the girl accidentally slitting her wrists. Stop it. She held as still as she could while Rachel sawed through the thick rope, the binding finally releasing with a pop.

Eden rubbed her wrists, wincing at how raw they were. How am I going to get us both out of here? She couldn’t carry Rachel and reliably aim the gun, but leaving the teenager behind wasn’t an option. Neither was giving her the handgun. “We’re going with a fireman’s carry, okay?” She was reasonably sure she could run with the girl draped over her shoulders. It wouldn’t be fast, and it wouldn’t be pretty, but it was the only option.

Rachel nodded, her entire body shaking. “Okay.”

“Good girl.” After a second of consideration, she shoved the gun into the waistband of her jeans. Like everything else about this shitty day, it was the best of a bad situation. Without her holster, she’d have to make do. She hauled Rachel onto her shoulders, pausing long enough to adjust her hold, and then headed for the door.

Her heart stopped at the sight of the empty cabin.

Chase was gone.

No, no, no.

I should have killed that monster.

“What’s that smell?”

Eden inhaled deeply, swaying. “Gasoline.” The word came through numb lips as the truth hit her with the strength of a freight train. They’re going to burn the cabin.

She looked around, but no alternate escape route presented itself. With enough time and a good ax, she could chop herself a new door, but she had neither. Not to mention that if Chase and Beth were waiting to ambush them the second they walked through the door, it would be child’s play for one of them to block any hole she made to crawl through. There was only one option, and it might as well be a death sentence—the front door.

Well, they could choose to burn alive, but she wasn’t all that keen on leaving this world while wreathed in flames and smoke.

“I smell smoke.”

“Me, too.” There was no more time for stalling. They had to take their chances. She headed for the doorway. “If I go down, you get up and you run. I don’t care if that fucking ankle is broken, you run. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.” A whisper, nothing more.

Even if Eden didn’t get out of this alive, she’d do her best to make sure Rachel did. “They’re going to be focused on me.” That, at least, she could do for Rachel. If she kept them occupied long enough, the girl might have a chance.

Except there were miles between the cabin and Clear Springs, miles where Chase could hunt her down just like he’d hunted down Elouise and Neveah.

Don’t think about that.

“But—”

“Get ready.” She rushed through the doorway and into the afternoon light. Her eyes didn’t have time to adjust, which was probably the only reason she heard the heavy footsteps to her right. Eden threw herself left, sending Rachel flying, and she actually felt the air move as whatever Chase tried to hit her with flew over her head. “Rachel, run.”

She was so dizzy, it took her two tries to get to her feet, but she managed, pulling out the gun as she did. Chase held up his hands. “Now don’t do anything crazy.” His eyes shifted slightly over her right shoulder, and that was the only warning she got before something came down hard on her collarbone. Sharp pain sent her to her knees, but she managed to keep hold of the gun through sheer force of will.

Another blow knocked her to her stomach. She cursed and rolled, bringing the gun up even as Beth raised a crowbar. “Do not move.” Can’t see Chase. Damn, damn, damn. This is so bad.

Beth eyed her, as if considering whether she’d really pull the trigger. “Put down the gun, Eden. This will be over shortly.”

“Funny, but I don’t think I’ll do that.” Her hands shook so bad; she knew it was only a matter of time before she dropped the gun or shot Beth by accident. I know which one I’d prefer. No, that wasn’t right. If she shot the other woman, she’d do it on purpose. “Put the crowbar down.”

“I don’t think I’ll do that, either.” Beth looked over her shoulder, and Eden followed her gaze to where Rachel was limping away from them at a speed barely above walking.

Good girl. Keep going.

Beth shook her head. “Pathetic. She doesn’t deserve to be Persephone, even symbolically.” Her face twisted. “Neither of you do.”

She was not going another round with this level of crazy again. Eden tried to see Chase without taking her eyes off Beth, but it was impossible. It was only a matter of time before he got the drop on her. Shit. A shadow fell over her, and she raised her gun as Chase bore down on her, a knife in his hands.

A gunshot cracked through the near silence of the afternoon, and for a second, Eden thought she’d pulled the trigger. A dark stain blossomed in the middle of Chase’s shirt, spreading outward like some kind of warped flower. He hit his knees next to her, his eyes full of too much knowledge. “Beth.” Then he was on the ground, the life bleeding out of his eyes.

“Eden!” Zach’s voice, somewhere in the distance.