Free Extreme Measures by Rachel Carrington Page B

what I have to do.”
    Her lungs ached from lack of oxygen, compelling her to draw in a deep breath. “I know that, too, but regardless of my relationship with him, Stuart is still my brother. And I don’t want him to die. Enough people in my family have died.”
    Matt stopped and took hold of her shoulders, his touch igniting her skin. “Erin, look at me.” She didn’t have a choice but to tip her head back to see his face. “I didn’t come here to execute your brother. I promise you I will do everything I can to take him back to prison alive.”
    She closed her eyes and nodded. “Thank you.” But she knew it wouldn’t be enough. There was nothing Matt could do to stop Stuart’s suicide mission. By now, her brother had to know the FBI was looking for him. And he would walk straight into the line of fire regardless of the consequences.
    The shrill ring of Matt’s phone prevented further conversation. He kept one hand on her while he answered. His clipped responses to the caller created a ball of anxiety in the pit of her stomach.
    When Matt ended the call, he steered her toward a black sedan with federal plates parked next to a meter.
    “What are you doing?”
    He opened the passenger door. “A store clerk was shot about twenty miles outside of Summerville. The guy on the security camera fits Stuart’s build. Local police is on the way for positive identification, but I’m not waiting around for them to confirm what I already know.”
    This was really happening. Stuart was in Charleston. To find her. But she still didn’t understand why he wanted her so desperately. Was his intention to wipe out his last remaining blood relative? Did he blame her for his incarceration, too?
    She tried to stop walking, but Matt was much too strong. “Matt, damnit, what do you know that you aren’t telling me? There has to be more to this story than Stuart’s prison break.”
    Matt barely glanced at her as he towed her along. “What are you talking about?”
    “You were so adamant that he would come after me. Why? You had no way of knowing that unless you had proof. The FBI wouldn’t have sent you here on a lark.”
    “Let’s have this conversation when we’re outside of Charleston, preferably hundreds of miles away.”
    Heart and head pounding, Erin finally managed to come to a stop by digging in her heels. She yanked her arm free from Matt’s grasp and massaged the area where he’d gripped her. “What do you mean we ? You’re not leaving Charleston. Your job is to capture my brother.”
    He swept his sunglasses off with one hand and gave her a look she recognized all too well. Should he lie to her or tell her the truth? How much should he tell her? The indecision on his face made her push.
    “Matt, just talk to me. Tell me what you know. If Stuart has some grudge against me, I deserve to know.”
    With a curse, he shoved his sunglasses back onto his face. “Erin, I really don’t want to do this.”
    She touched his arm, felt the tension in his muscles. “But you can’t deny I should know. Whatever it is, I can take it. I’d rather have proof of my brother’s psychopathic turn than to wonder.” She sensed the weakening of his resolve, and she added the final plea. “Matt, please. You don’t know what this is doing to me inside. It can’t be any worse than I’m imagining.”
    He scrubbed his face with both hands before lifting his head and removing his sunglasses once more. “Yeah, it can. Stuart left proof in his cell. He’s been obsessed with killing you since he was transferred to Attica.”
     
    “Weren’t you the one telling me you didn’t want to leave a string of dead bodies?” Arlin muttered, his head below the dash of the van.
    “Just shut up and get this thing started.” Stuart shifted from one foot to the other, both jittery and excited. He’d never killed out of desire before. Usually, it was all about need or protection. This time, he’d just wanted to pull the trigger, and now his