The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance

heard “4 a.m.” and “three treasures” before Glenn slunk from the house.
    “This better be good,” Glenn said.
    “We have a problem,” Rick explained.
    “No problem.” Glenn gestured. “We’re in the middle of bloody nowhere. Nobody’ll find him.” He pulled a gun from behind his back and aimed.
    Sophia jumped to her feet. Ready to ... what? Scream?
    Rick shoved Glenn’s arm down. “Not in the Rover, you idiot. Blood evidence stays behind even after you clean up. Don’t you watch CSI?”
    Glenn shrugged. “Whatever.”
    “Go ten miles and shoot him in the woods. Leave him for the cougars. Ed, you drive.”
    The driver closed the back. He slid behind the wheel. Glenn hopped in beside him.
    Watching the Land Rover U-turn, Sophia’s thoughts raced. There was no doubt she had to help, but Glenn was armed. She had a tool kit, but no weapons. Tonight had been a fun ride, not a hunting trip.
    She had her Honda. The 250 cubic centimetre engine would keep up with the vehicle, and she had her . . . other talent, if desperate. Running to her bike, she jammed her helmet on, and kicked it into gear.
    The beams of light from the Rover sliced the darkness, making it easy for Sophia to follow. Since she didn’t need a headlight, the men should be unaware of her presence.
    After bouncing and crashing along the tight trail for thirty minutes, the vehicle swung to the side, illuminating a thick patch of underbrush.
    Sophia silenced her bike and coasted to a stop about a hundred feet up the trail. Propping the bike, she crept closer. The men stepped from the vehicle, leaving the engine running.
    “Perfect spot,” Glenn said. “He’s starting to wake. Take him out to those briars.” He checked his weapon.
    Ed pulled the captive out. The man staggered. Ed steadied him. The agent’s wrists were handcuffed behind him. Cuts lined his face and a purple bruise covered his swollen right eye. He looked groggy, but when Glenn flashed his gun, he snapped awake.
    “Easy there, Mitch,” Ed said. “We’re just going to leave you here to find your own way home.”
    “Right.” Mitch’s voice rasped with sarcasm.
    “Come on.” Ed dragged him towards the briar patch.
    With her heart doing gymnastics in her chest, Sophia bent the light around her, rendering herself invisible to the men. She reached the vehicle and crawled towards the front tyre, keeping her eyes on the men and away from the burning brightness. When the two men stepped into the Rover’s headlights, they disappeared from her vision.
    One chance. Sophia opened the driver’s side door and switched the headlights off, plunging the three men into total darkness. Points scored for middle of nowhere.
    Mitch used the sudden blackout to kick the side of Ed’s knee. Ed crumbled to the ground in pain.
    “Shoot him,” Ed said.
    “I can’t see, you idiot!” Glenn shouted. He fumbled for the Rover’s door handle.
    The agent ducked and ran, but tripped and crashed. Without light to bend, Sophia became visible. She darted after the agent. He regained his feet as she caught up to him.
    “I can help you,” she whispered.
    He jerked in surprise, but thankfully stayed quiet.
    “Follow me. I have excellent night vision.” She put a hand on his arm and guided him towards her bike. “Hurry.”
    They reached the bike as the Rover’s headlights lit up the area. Silently thanking Honda for electric starters, she mounted.
    “Over there!” Ed yelled. “What the hell?”
    A gun fired.
    “Jump on,” she ordered. Panic threatened to scatter her senses, but she bit her lip.
    The bike sank as Mitch’s weight compressed the suspension. He wouldn’t be able to hold on to her.
    Another gunshot cracked through the air. Mitch grunted.
    “Lean on me.” She put the bike in gear, then took off down the road and away from the Rover. Mitch’s stomach and chest pressed against her back.
    Doors slammed and tyres spun on gravel.
    “They’re chasing us,” Mitch said with urgency.
    Great. Her heart dropped to her stomach to do a floor routine. Sophia reviewed her options. With his hands bound, she couldn’t ride off-road with him. The Rover’s headlights behind her caused sections of the road to disappear from her sight, making it difficult to navigate. She could bend the light around the bike, but if the headlights aimed directly at them, they would be suddenly visible.
    She manoeuvred around a turn. Mitch leaned with her. He’s been on a bike before. Perhaps she