Page 115 of Porter's Angel

Cadence couldn’t move from her. She couldn’t have her murder on her conscience. Eva tugged them back towards the scaffolding of the strange, framed building, even while Lacy stalked them, like a tiger rounding up rats.

Now that they were under the building’s overhanging roof, Cadence saw that it was meant to be a replica of a grain silo. The ladders and scaffolding swaying in the light breeze creaked through the otherwise silent night. She took a shuddering breath. It wouldn’t give them much cover from Lacy’s erratic shooting.

Lacy switched directions with his weapon to point at Porter, who was edging closer. Cadence let out a whimper.

“Nash?” Lacy asked. He turned to Cadence for confirmation. “Tell me if that’s Nash!”

She found herself nodding. “Yes, yes…”

Lacy looked back at Porter. He stilled as soon as Lacy’s eyes found him. “Prove to me that you’re Nash.”

Porter shrugged. “I’m more handsome?”

She groaned.

But that was enough for Lacy to nod. She listened to the crinkling of paper as Lacy reached into his jacket and pulled out crumpled scraps of paper. His hand shook. “You’re going to sign this.”

What was that?

She figured it out the very next instant. Those were the papers to the Slade Ranch. All of Lacy’s deranged talk about getting those “arrogant ranchers” back connected in her head. He said there was oil on that land.

Cadence knocked Eva away from her and snatched at the papers. Listening to Porter’s shouts to get back, she shook her head and ran for the ladder that would take her to the top of that silo. She’d told Porter that she wasn’t going to let Lacy ruin his life, and she meant it!

Lacy was after her. And that’s what she wanted. Finally, she felt like she had some control. So far, he hadn’t shot at her. Thankfully! Mercifully! He still had some sense in him.

She scrambled up the ladder, feeling the thud of his heavy body land against the railings below her. Lacy tried to shake her loose by wrenching at the ladder attached to the scaffolding. She listened to the nails groan out, but not give in.

Just like her.

Lacy gave up trying to tear the ladder from the wall and shot up after her. She scrambled up and over the catwalk on the top, searching for something,anythingto fight with. A bullet exploded through the wooden wall to the side of her. Now he was shooting! She found some buckets of paint and shoved them over the top.

He let out a shout, and she heard the sounds of falling, seconds before the darkness filled with more scuffling and pained shouts.

“Nash!” Lacy shouted seconds before she heard a crash, then another blast of that gun. Her heart dropped. Someone climbed the ladder again. Listening closely to the creaking of an advancing body, she tried to melt into the wall as whoever it was came closer. A head popped out from the hole in the boards.

“Give me those papers!”

She kicked. Lacy grabbed her leg, yanking her to him.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Eva tugged Porter to his feet. He felt dizzy. His arm bled. Lacy had shot him. Pretending to be Nash had saved his life because obviously Lacy wanted him alive to sign the papers or he would’ve gone for his head.

Eva didn’t have the same luxury. “Get out of here,” he whispered to her. She’d been the one to catch sight of Lacy stealing Cadence away like the thief that he was. She’d called Porter next, talking a mile a minute about how West was busy and said to find his “stupid brother,” and then seizing Porter’s hands when she found him to drag him towards the field behind them.

West didn’t deserve her. Obviously he didn’t care what happened to Eva at all, just like he didn’t care what happened toanyof them. All he wanted was that oil.

Cadence screamed, making his hair stand on end. By the sounds of things, Lacy had tackled her above them. Rage and helplessness fired through him. “Leave her alone,” he shouted up at Lacy. His arm throbbed, refusing to obey even the simplest of instructions. Groaning, he grasped the railings of the ladder. Pain raged through his tendons.

“West is coming,” Eva hissed. “I told him we’re here. He’ll be here.”

He couldn’t depend on his brother anymore. Porter had a role to play. “Just give me those papers,” he told Lacy. Clenching his teeth against the stinging that rushed through his resisting limb, Porter squeezed the ladder and struggled to the next railing, only to stumble back. He listened to Cadence cry out.

Porter breathed out a prayer.God, keep her safe for me. All I want to do is take care of her. I can’t do this alone. I’m only one man.

He felt a strength beyond his own pushing through his limbs, giving him a courage that he didn’t know was possible.Thank you, God. Thank you.He could do this! “Lacy,” he said again, louder. “You hurt her or anybody else and I’m not signing anything.”

Lacy snarled out like the animal that they’d reduced him to. The light from his phone shone through the opening above them, and it illuminated Cadence. Her messy hair was a glorious waterfall of curls around her shoulders, but other than that, she looked unhurt. The sparkle of light gleamed off the barrel of Lacy’s gun. It was wedged up against her side.