A Lion Shame (Bear Creek Grizzlies Book 3) by Layla Nash, Callista Ball Page B

up. He clutched the steering wheel and stomped on the brakes, almost sending the truck off the switchback.
    He stared straight ahead, trying to breathe normally as he listened to the lion yowl.
    Zoe's voice crackled through the phone, the connection crappy as always near the Lodge. "Tate? Are you there? What's wrong?"
    Sarah Jane. There was something wrong with Sarah Jane. She was afraid. It hit him like a bolt of lightning. That bastard had had enough time to find her, to track her down. Tate growled and threw the truck in reverse, careening back toward Bear Creek. He was too far away to protect her. Too far away to help her. He said, "I'm not going to get the group tonight," and tossed his phone into the passenger seat, ignoring Zoe's startled questions, and kept both hands on the wheel.
    He hadn't used his combat driving skills in a while, and the Range Rover wasn't nearly as responsive as some of the vehicles he'd driven, but fear was a great motivator. He floored the gas and leaned forward, praying for the first time in a very long time. All of his thoughts focused on Sarah Jane. He was still too far away when he fished for the cell phone, managing to dial Rosie's number without taking his eyes off the road too much — although he almost drove into the ditch again. It took forever until Rosie answered and Tate yelled over the background noise the bar. "Something's wrong. Something's wrong with Sarah Jane."
    "She went to the store," Rosie said, shouting back to be heard over the hubbub. "I've got Dakota; she should be back any minute."
    "There's something wrong," he said, but the connection cut off and the phone went dead. No service, no battery. He growled and smashed his fist against the steering wheel. Still too far away, and enraged that he'd lost control of his own life.

Chapter 14
Sarah Jane
    " D on't — " SJ started, trying to keep her teeth from chattering.
    "Don't open your fucking mouth." He shoved her against the freezing car, his body a wall behind her, and tugged at the rear door handle. "You fucking idiot. If I knew where the car was, why the fuck would I bother having you drive it somewhere? I just wanted to get you alone outside, and you trotted right out here like a good girl. So fucking stupid. You're going to pay for this. I told you never to run from me. What exactly didn't you understand about that?"
    "I don't want to be with you," SJ said. "I left. Take the car — that's what you want. You don't want me."
    "No, I don't." His hand crushed her wrist and SJ elbowed him, starting to fight as the back door finally opened. She wasn't going anywhere with him. Ever. But Chuck used the gun at the back of her neck, and a fist in her side, to force her toward the back of the car. "But no one else gets you, either. You know too much about my business. Just go along like a good girl, and this will all be over soon."
    SJ couldn't breathe after he hit her, the air too freezing and heavy for her to inhale, but she braced her feet on the side of the car and shoved backwards, flailing. Enough.
    She'd put up with enough. And Dakota needed her. Dakota needed her mother.
    SJ shouted, her feet sliding in the snow, and ducked as Chuck swung the gun at her, trying to knock her out. She fought but he was too strong, throwing her against the side of the car until she crumpled to the ground. SJ stared up at him, struggling to keep her thoughts together, but Chuck's lip curled in an ugly sneer. "Stupid. So fucking stupid."
    "I hate you," she said. SJ gritted her teeth and tried to get up. She had to fight. "I don't want anything to do with you. Take your fucking car and get out of here."
    He laughed and leaned back, the gun shining dully in his hand. "So this is going to be easier than I thought."
    SJ sucked in a breath and tried to scream, but just as she opened her mouth, a shadow moved and Chuck disappeared. He disappeared. Silent, no scream, no yelling. Just a brown-gray streak and then the snow started to fall in soft