Page 103 of Trap ’N’ Trace

He pounded through the trees, not caring how much noise he made. If—no, when—Remy found Kat, she’d alert and start barking.

As if reading his thoughts, Remy’s barks sliced through the air, getting louder as Dayne neared where his K-9 stood in a moonlit clearing up ahead. Judging by the rigidity of his dog’s posture, she’d found something. The slumped form on the ground at Remy’s feet was definitely a body. Time—and his heart—seemed to slow.

Please don’t be Kat.

The beam of his flashlight lit on the corpse. He sucked in a tight breath, letting his head tip forward in the most relief he’d ever experienced in his godforsaken life. It wasn’t Kat.

The man’s nametag glowed in the overhead light. Manny. Beside the body lay a bouquet of mangled pink roses. He’d bet his ass this was the same bunch of flowers Manny had with him outside the Vandenburg building in the city. Meaning, the man had been dead for days.

Meaning Christian Mauser aka Robert Fulbright had been watching them for who knew how long.

A chilling fear gripped his soul. If Remy tracked Kat’s scent only to find another corpse, he didn’t know what he’d do.

He’d made a mistake. A big fucking mistake.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Kat’s belly lurched as the killer secured the lock on the knob then slid a knife from a leather sheath on his belt.

“It’s too late. You’ve ruined everything.” The blade was long and sharp and shiny as he raised it above his shoulder, ranting louder, “Because of you, bitch, I have to start all over again. Do you have any idea what that means?” Spittle flew from his mouth. His eyes radiated madness.

You’re not the only one who’s mad. She gritted her teeth. It can’t end this way. I won’t let it. Although how she’d get out of this, she didn’t know.

He tightened his grip on the ebony handle, raising the knife higher. “God will cleanse your soul. He will put you on the righteous path, saving you from your sins. He will set your soul free. I am His servant.”

On top of everything else, he really was out of his fucking mind. Sorry, Mother. Swearing—even to herself—just seemed like the right thing to do at the moment. Besides, if she was about to die, it wouldn’t really matter anyway.

Frantically, she searched the room again, but nothing had changed. No deadly weapons had miraculously materialized since the first time she’d checked. With every step closer he took, she crab-walked backward. Angus lunged for his leg, latching on the way he’d done to Remy. Only this wasn’t playtime.

The killer’s eyes narrowed as he glared down at the puppy. More spittle flew from his lips then he kicked Angus, sending him tumbling over and over. The puppy hit the wall with a thump and lay still.

“No!” she cried and crawled to Angus’s side. Her heart dropped as she touched his limp, unconscious body. Oh god no. Poor Angus.

“You bastard!” she screamed, balling her hands into fists. Fury, the likes of which she’d never known, erupted inside her. For the first time in her life, she wanted to hurt someone. Physically hurt them.

Kat lunged for the fire extinguisher. The tank was probably empty, but it was all she had. She aimed the nozzle at his face then squeezed the trigger. Thick white spray splattered his face, completely obscuring his eyes, mouth, and nose.

The knife fell to the floor, clattering on the concrete. He sputtered, dragging in wheezing breaths and wiping the foamy chemical from his eyes.

She lunged for the knife but he grabbed her wrist, giving a vicious twist as he picked up the knife in his other hand. Pain shot up her arm to her shoulder, and she screamed.

A dog barked. Remy.

The doorknob jiggled then went silent. Heavy pounding rattled the door.

“No one can save you but me,” the killer snarled, although there was a sense of peace and acceptance in his eyes. He raised his arm again—the one holding the knife. Her heart hammered, and she gasped for air. “Our Father, God, who art in heaven…”

The doorknob rattled again, quieter this time. She tightened her muscles, preparing to ram her knee into his groin when he shoved her roughly backward, slamming her head against the concrete wall.

Pain wracked her skull. Her vision clouded, but not so much that she couldn’t see him advancing on her.

“All hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done.”

She gulped and stared into a set of soulless eyes. I’m not ready to die.

Dayne, please. Hurry.

Then she screamed.