The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 218

Chapter 218

Ryland was so startled he nearly pissed himself. He looked up in a panic.

About ten feet above him on the cliff, the familiar takin poked its massive head out, and a drop of drool plopped right onto Ryland’s forehead.

On the takin’s back, Nina’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she grinned down at him, like he was a prize she couldn’t wait to claim.

Nina called out, “Tired of running yet?

“Come on, time to get you some prison grub.”

“Damn! Why won’t you leave me alone?!” Ryland yelled, his voice shaking with terror.

Ryland was scared out of his mind and took off running, desperate to get away.

But as soon as he moved, thunderous hooves erupted from all sides, pounding in his chest like war drums.

He tried to break left, but Simon boldly appeared on his towering takin, his eyes flashing cold in the moonlight, completely blocking Ryland’s escape.

Ryland spun to the right in panic, only to see Elias sitting tall on his takin, his badge gleaming and his eyes locked onto Ryland like a hawk, shutting down his last shred of hope.

“Move in!” Nina shouted from the cliff top, her voice cutting through the night.

At her command, the takin herd tightened their formation, closing the circle around Ryland.

Heavy bodies, steaming breath, and deep grunts pressed in from every direction.

One takin said, “So you’re the punk who’s been out there ruining our name?”

“From the top of the mountain to the bottom, ask around, who runs this place?” another takin said.

“Boys, lock him in! Don’t let him get away,” another takin roared.

The takins’ fearsome horns formed a moving, unbreakable wall in the shadows, pushing Ryland closer and closer to a dead end.

Finally, Ryland was pinned against the rock face, with no room left to even turn around.

Ryland’s legs turned to jelly from fear, and he said, “You guys are way too much.

“I don’t deserve this. Even getting drawn and quartered back in the day wasn’t this savage.”

With eyes like a hawk, Simon had already spotted Ryland. This was the Class-A fugitive everyone was after.

He hopped off his takin with smooth confidence and said coldly, “After wrecking so many lives and families,

10:38 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 218

you think getting drawn and quartered is too harsh?

“That’s an insult to justice.”

:

Elias recognized Ryland’s face in the moonlight, and his heart nearly jumped out of his chest; he was so pumped his voice was trembling.

“Ryland! That’s Ryland; he’s been on the run for twelve years,” Elias blurted out, almost cracking his voice.

Elias had been a cop for over twenty years and had put plenty of crooks behind bars.

But he’d never dreamed his tiny county precinct would actually nab a big fish like this.

Elias thought, feeling fired up, ‘It’s all thanks to Nina showing us how it’s done.

‘I couldn’t believe my luck.’

Ryland was cuffed, and with Nina riding on the lead takin, they headed off to regroup with the rest of the squad.

Nina asked, “Did you kill the herb gatherer?

“You dumped the body right where the takins would walk, trying to frame them for it, huh?”

As soon as Nina finished, the lead takin jabbed Ryland in the side with its hard horn.

“Nina’s talking to you,” the lead takin said.

Ryland froze and answered, his voice shaky, “Yeah, I did it. I usually hide out deep in Emerald Mountain. I only come down for supplies. I don’t dare show my face otherwise.

“But that herb gatherer, he was willing to risk it all for some cash, actually managed to sneak deep into Emerald Mountain.

“He’d seen my wanted poster and recognized me on the spot. Thought he could cash in by turning me in, but he was biting off way more than he could chew. So I took him out with a rock.”

Nina held up a photo of Lorelai right in front of Ryland and asked, “Spill it, have you seen this woman in the mountains?”

Ryland’s eyes went wide, and before he could even make up a lie, the lead takin jabbed him with its nose. Scared out of his wits, he replied, “Yes, I’ve seen her. I’ve been looking for her too.

“She saw me kill someone. I chased her for ages, but I lost her in this hellhole. These past few days, I’ve been trying to track her down and shut her up.”

Just then, Chunky fluttered down and landed on Nina’s shoulder, speaking in a tiny, squeaky voice, “Nina, I found that lady.

“My buddies in the mountains say she’s stuck in a cave at the bottom of the deepest valley. Her leg’s broken, she can’t climb out, but she’s still breathing.”

10:38 Tue, Jan 20

Chapter 218

“Hurry, lead the way,” Nina said. Her heart skipped a beat in worry.

With Chunky leading the way, they hurried to the edge of the deep valley.

Nina gave Big Bull a pat on the neck and said, “Big Bull, you’re up.”

90

The takin climbed down the cliff with Nina on its back like it was nothing, getting them to the bottom in no time.

Inside the cave, a woman lay there, barely conscious. Her right ankle was swollen, and clotted blood had soaked the cuff of her pants.

It was Lorelai, the paint factory boss they’d been looking for.

“Lorelai,” Nina shouted as she rushed over.

Simon was the first to grab the med kit and pass it over, moving with sharp, practiced efficiency.

Nina got right to work cleaning and bandaging the injury like she’d done it a hundred times before.”

Meanwhile, Elias carefully cradled Lorelai’s head and helped her sip some water, making sure she didn’t choke.

With Nina and Simon working together, they made sure Lorelai was safely settled onto Big Bull’s broad back.

Big Bull and the takin herd hauled everyone up to the top of the cliff, steady as ever.

After a harrowing night, the three of them were totally spent.

Nina said softly to Chunky, “Chunky, let everyone know, mission complete, time to regroup.”

Big Bull said, “I’ll send the boys to go get them.”

Before long, two sturdy takins hauled back the Squirrel Bros, Tabby King, and Pearlie.

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