Darrin gave her neck a rough twist. “Shut up!”

A gray blur lunged at the killer. Kiana’s teeth clamped around Darrin’s hand, and he shrieked as he dropped the gun. He flung Brynn to one side and kicked at the dog. Alex tuned out Kiana’s howl as he sprinted and tackled Darrin at the waist.

Brynn landed face-first in the snow, unable to catch herself with her tied hands. She flipped over and scooted away from the thrashing men. Alex was on Darrin’s chest, his hands around the murderer’s throat. Where was the gun? Brynn wildly scanned the snow and couldn’t see it. The cord at her wrists gave an inch and she yanked harder.

Darrin’s fist connected with Alex’s jaw, jolting him off balance. The men rolled, and Darrin ended up on top. Until Alex’s knee connected with his crotch. Darrin grunted, lost his grip, and Alex scuttled out from under him. From a crouch, Darrin sprang at Alex and knocked him on his back.

Brynn gasped. “Alex!”

Alex’s foot hung over the cliff’s edge. He thrust with his other foot and heaved away from the drop-off. Fists and snow flew. Curses and grunts filled the air.

Brynn saw Kiana raise her head. Thank God! The dog had been immobile since Darrin’s kick. Brynn struggled with her hands and felt the cord slide another inch.

“I’m gonna drown you like I drowned your retard brother!”

Brynn looked up and her heart stopped. Darrin had maneuvered the struggle back to the cliff’s edge. On his back, Alex’s shoulder dangerously bordered the rim.

“Fuck!” Flinging his legs up and shoving with his arms, Alex propelled Darrin headfirst over the edge toward the river. The killer screamed.

“Alex!” Brynn shrieked as Alex flopped on his stomach and grasped at the snow to keep from tumbling off the edge. He caught his balance and twisted to look over the ledge at the water. Alex lay transfixed for three seconds. He shot to his feet and his silver gaze appraised her. “Are you OK?”

Brynn nodded, her heart racing.

“I’ll be back.” Alex dashed downstream.

Alex fixated on the bobbing head in the river as he floundered along the bank. Darrin vanished and reappeared. Alex pushed hard, his lungs straining for air. Ahead, a tree had fallen partway into the river. If Darrin could catch it…

The rough water swept the man under the trunk.

“Damn it!”

Alex slid to a stop. Why’d he run after the man? Panting, he rested his hands on his knees. Because he was better than Besand. He couldn’t be a cold-blooded killer; it wouldn’t bring his brother back. And death was too easy for the murderer. He deserved a lifetime behind bars.

Color flashed on the other side of the tree trunk in the water. Alex squinted.

Darrin had caught a branch.

Alex jogged to the tree, pulled off his snowshoes and coat, and climbed onto the trunk. Darrin clung to a thin branch, his legs pointing downstream, his eyes wide. On frozen hands and knees Alex crawled out over the river. The tree sloped down at a thirty-degree angle into the water. He felt like he was about to tumble headfirst. It was like crawling on a narrow, rounded sheet of ice covered in snow. The tree vibrated with the pounding of the river and shook as debris caught in its underwater branches.

Holy Christ.

He inched forward, and his right knee slid. He sucked in a fast breath then righted, found a solid grip, and continued to creep forward inch by inch.

He stopped above Darrin’s branch and straddled the tree. He leaned forward, laying his chest on the trunk, and stretched out his right hand, anchoring himself with a branch in his left hand. Darrin clung to the branch with both hands, immersed in the water up to his armpits, and stared at Alex’s hand.

“Grab it, damn it! I’ll pull you in.” His knees tightened on the trunk like he was riding a horse. “Grab my hand!” His left hand slid a millimeter, and he tightened his hold. Darrin’s white fingers moved stiffly on his branch. His face was pale, his lips blue. He was running out of time. His limbs would soon be useless.

If they weren’t already.

“Now!” With a jerk, he stretched out his hand another half inch, feeling his shoulder protest. One of Darrin’s hands unclawed from the branch and pawed uselessly. Alex grabbed it. It was like grabbing ice. Slick, wet, and frozen.

“Now, hang on! Pull yourself up the branch while I pull!” Alex gave a steady long heave. Darrin tried to get some leverage on the branch to drag himself closer. The water pulled at his body, weaving him from side to side, trying to drag him away. Agony struck Alex’s right shoulder and his arm ripped from its socket. “Fuck!” Pain shot nails down to his hand. “Pull up! Pull yourself up!”

Darrin focused on Alex’s shoulder. Alex followed his gaze and saw the outline of his right deltoid muscle showed a deep notch where it should arc. The arm was useless. A gleam narrowed the killer’s eyes. He sucked in a breath, let go of his branch, and hauled on Alex’s arm with all his weight.

Alex’s anchoring hand slipped off its branch. He flailed about for a grip as Darrin shrieked with laughter.

Strong arms wrapped around Alex’s waist. “Shake him off,” Brynn shouted in his ear. Alex shook his head.

“I can’t move my arm!”

From behind, Brynn shifted him and Alex grabbed a secure branch. He exhaled, his heart ready to pound its way out of his chest. He felt Brynn slide toward Darrin. “Brynn! What are—”

Brynn swung her boot down on the killer’s grip. At the impact, pain ripped through Alex’s arm and he bit down on his lip.