Trisha had to agree. She had no doubt those men were dangerous. “Okay.”

Slade turned his back to her and crouched down. He twisted his head to peer at her and opened his arms at his sides. “Climb on.”

She hadn’t gotten a piggyback ride since she’d been a little girl. She didn’t hesitate though as she climbed onto Slade’s back. She wrapped her arms loosely around his neck, making sure she wasn’t about to choke him and he gripped her thighs at his h*ps as he rose. Trisha stared at Bart on the ground.

“Come with us. Please?”

“They aren’t going to hurt me. I’ll call Homeland when I reach a hospital. I’ll tell them what happened and they’ll send help for you.”

“Last chance,” Slade growled as he turned away from the SUV. “Follow us or die.”

He moved quickly through the dense trees, not waiting for Bart to respond. Trisha held on.

Chapter Four

Slade shifted Trisha’s weight slightly. She looped her arms over his shoulders, trying to support her weight and not slide down his back. He had lifted her higher up onto his back, hooked his arms under her bent knees, and locked his hands together at his waist.

“You could put me down. I can walk. My knee isn’t that bad.”

“You’re fine. I want to make another mile before the sun is totally down. We’ll keep moving for as long as there is light for them to track us.”

The sky filled with pink streaks above them as the sun lowered. The wind picked up and blew chilly air at them from behind. Trisha was cold on her back but was toasty warm down the front of her body where it pressed against Slade. Her arms hurt from holding onto him and she tried to ignore the achy muscles between her thighs. She wasn’t used to straddling something for a long period of time.

“You have to be getting tired, Slade. Come on. Put me down. I’m heavy. I know you are strong but this is a bit much. You said that we’ve covered a few miles so far. At least slow your pace. You’re going to wear yourself out.”

“Shut up,” he ordered. “I’m trying to concentrate by telling myself you aren’t there. You screw that up every time you talk.”

“Thanks.”

“That wasn’t an insult but you aren’t as light as a feather. I’m trying to forget you are there to convince my brain my muscles aren’t aching.”

She bit her lip. “Sorry.”

“Shut up,” he sighed.

She refrained from speaking as she darted a glance around the area. Slade really could move, walking faster than she could jog with his long legs. He only slowed down when they climbed uphill or if he had to get them both over a fallen log. They’d had to do that twice.

“BOOM!” Pause. “BOOM! BOOM!”

“What was that?” Trisha’s heart raced.

Slade stopped, tilted his head at a slight angle, and tensed. “They must have found Bart.”

“Those were gunshots, right?”

“Three shots. Yeah.” Slade started walking again. “I guess they didn’t care if he was pure human after all.”

Trisha couldn’t stop the tears that welled in her eyes. Those men wouldn’t have shot something unless they meant to kill it. Bart had been sure they’d care he wasn’t New Species. He’d just been a scared kid who hadn’t deserved to die.

“Don’t cry for him, Doc,” Slade growled. “I know this is tough but survive first and grieve later. You can’t do anything for him now.”

She fought the urge to weep, knowing Slade had a valid point. They would both die too if those men caught up with them. Slade moved faster as Trisha clung to him while darkness slowly fell. Slade slowed eventually but kept moving.

“How can you see?”

He breathed heavily now. “My night vision is better than yours. I can’t see really well but I haven’t walked us into anything yet.”

“You need to rest.”

Slade uttered a soft curse as he stopped. His arms slid out from under her knees. Trisha groaned when he lowered her to the ground until her feet touched. Her knees held her weight and she released him but was a little shaky. It was so dark she couldn’t even see him. She jumped when his hands touched her waist.

“Walk this way. I’ll lead you. We’ll lie down for a little while to rest. They could still be tracking if they have flashlights but it would severely slow them down. I also walked on rocks as much as I could to hide our tracks and they didn’t have hunting dogs with them. We’re also downwind and it will be harder for them to scent us. That’s why I kept it at our backs.”

He helped her to the ground where she sat on soft grass. She moved and bumped something hard and rough with her elbow.

“They can’t smell us, Slade. New Species have that ability but humans don’t.”

“I keep forgetting that.” He paused. “That’s a small tree next to you so be careful not to hit it.”

“Thanks. I can barely see my hand in front of my face.” Trisha peered up at the sky. “I don’t even see a moon.”

“Too much forest is in the way. The trees are thick in this area. That’s good for us.”

“Shouldn’t we double back and try to find the highway?”

“No.” Slade moved, touching her. His fingers brushed her breast and he yanked his hand away instantly. “Sorry. Give me the bag.”

Trisha removed it and held it out blindly in the direction she thought he was. The weight of the bag eased from the strap and she let it go, knowing he had it. She heard the zipper before Slade pressed something against her arm.