by Katie Knight
“She won’t testify.” Stefan dug his fingers into the edge of the table, a red haze descending over him. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Right.” Pyle stared down at his legal pad, sweat beading on his pale forehead. “But just in case she does make it to the courtroom, we should be prepared. You should be prepared.”
“I’m prepared.” The words cut like glass on Stefan’s tongue. Congressman Nash had had it coming. Sticking his nose into places it didn’t belong, trying to run Stefan out of business. He’d been warned, Nash had, and he’d all but laughed in Stefan’s face, thinking himself untouchable.
The bastard was six feet under now. How was that for touching?
He took a deep breath and forced his stiff shoulders to relax. “My daughter won’t testify. Like I said, I’ll make sure of it.”
Pyle stared at him, wide-eyed for a moment, before giving a hesitant nod.
“Visiting hours are over,” the officer by the door declared loudly. “Wrap it up, people.”
His attorney gathered up his pad and pens then stood. The guard came over and took Stefan’s arm, pulling him to his feet. Before he shuffled back out of the room, Stefan stopped and looked back over his shoulder at Pyle.
“Be sure that agent follows through,” he said.
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
The image of Pyle’s gaunt, pale face haunted Stefan all the way back to his cell.
15
The next morning, Sam was up bright and early, having gotten a good night’s sleep for the first time in she couldn’t remember how long. All thanks to Jack. He’d gotten up with Glory every time she’d fussed, feeding her, changing her diapers, soothing her back to sleep, while Sam slumbered.
Now, they’d reversed roles. She was tidying up around the cabin while Jack snored on the bed. He was so cute when he slept, his long, dark lashes, fanned out on his high cheekbones, and his arms wrapped tight around his pillow.
Her body still tingled and ached from their lovemaking the night before, but she wasn’t complaining. If anything, she was grateful to have experienced another night with Jack. And yes, all their problems still waited for them outside the door, but it was nice to have had a few hours to relax and escape her fears, if only temporarily.
She got Glory up and fed and dressed, then took another quick shower herself, keeping her daughter’s carrier on the bathroom counter while she bathed. Then she dressed and ate a bowl of cereal before prowling around the small cabin, feeling restless. As a marine biologist, she was used to being out in nature, used to having a list of things to accomplish each day. Even the past year, working as a waitress instead of pursuing her passion, had at least given her something to do. This waiting around and hiding was for the birds, even if it was keeping little Glory safe. Sam wanted to testify, get it over with, then get on with her life.
The sounds of rustling covers echoed from the bedroom as Jack got up. A sudden pang stabbed her heart. Her life, her new life anyway, would mean leaving Jack behind. He had his farm near Rally, an existence she wasn’t a part of and couldn’t join, not without endangering her new identity. The only way she could have Jack by her side was if he left his life behind to marry her and join the program with her. No way would he give everything up to be with her, daughter or not.
Ugh. She’d vowed not to get involved with him, sworn not to let her heart rule her mind, yet here she was knee deep in…
Nope. Not using the L word here. Nope.
Honestly, she barely knew Jack Williams. They’d spent barely two days together total since that first night she’d met him in Costa Rica. And sure, they had great chemistry together and even more wonderful sex, but that was no reason to go all gaga over the guy, right?
Then there was Glory. Her daughter deserved all good things—especially safety. Sam was determined she’d have them, no matter the sacrifices she had to make. And the best way to stay safe in the program was to cut all ties with anyone who could be connected to your former life.
Jack chose that moment to pad out from the bathroom, his chest and hair still damp from the shower, a clean pair of faded jeans clinging lovingly to his thighs and slim hips, his bare feet peeking out from beneath the hem. He looked rugged and boyish and altogether too handsome for her comfort. Her mouth dried and she licked her lips, remembering the feel of his warm smooth flesh beneath her fingertips, his hard muscles bunching and quivering as he’d brought them both to the brink of ecstasy…
“Good morning,” she said, her voice gruffer than usual. Sam coughed and tried again. “Sleep well?”
“Yep. Best power nap I’ve had in a while.” Jack walked over and kissed her soundly, his tongue tasting of mint from his toothpaste. “Let me get dressed, then how about we take a little walk? The river’s not far from here and my cousin used to keep a boat there. I’d like to make sure it’s still there, in case we need it later.”
Anything that would put some distance between her and the man she was ready to tackle to the floor and have her wicked way with sounded good to Sam. “Great. I’ll get Glory ready.”
By the time they were out of the cabin and walking through the woods, Sam was grateful for the brisk breeze on her cheeks to cover the flaming heat she felt rising inside her. Jack had insisted on carrying Glory in the Babybjörn they’d purchased at the superstore, and damn if it didn’t make him look even hotter than usual. There was something about a man and his kid together that ticked all the sexy boxes. The sky above was overcast and rain looked imminent. Wind rustled through the leaves of the trees and the air carried birdsong and the snap of twigs underfoot. They’d been walking for about half an hour and Jack had entrusted her with his hunting rifle, just in case they ran into trouble on the way. He’d said he didn’t expect any, but better safe than sorry. So, she had the rifle tucked under one arm and the diaper bag slung over the other.
Of course, Sam was a terrible shot. Guns were something she normally avoided like the plague after growing up with all her father’s violence, but she understood the necessity of being armed in this instance. In truth, images of the shooting that night at the rest area still haunted her. The smell of gunpowder, the loud boom of the bullet firing, the body of the dead marshal hitting the ground…
Distracted, she tripped over a tree root and bumped into Jack’s back, who swiveled fast to catch her, hands on her arms to keep her steady.
“Okay?” he asked, his gaze concerned.
“Fine. Sorry. Just clumsy, I guess.” Embarrassed, she moved around him to continue on, the sound of the rushing river getting louder as they neared. But Jack stopped her with a hand on her arm. Sam glanced back at him. “What?”
“Do you smell that?” He scowled, sniffing the air.
Sam wrinkled her nose, inhaling deep. Dirt, damp, and… “Burning leaves?”
“More than that,” he said, holding a finger over his lips for silence. They crept back toward the cabin, then crouched in the bushes as her heart plummeted to her toes. Two hulking thugs dressed in all black were busy smashing in the windows. Gasoline and lighter fluid wafted heavily on the breeze as black smoke poured out of the burning cabin. All their supplies, their shelter, all of it. Gone.
“Call the fire department! They’re burning everything down!” Sam heart slammed against her ribcage in a frantic beat. “We have to stop them.”
“It’s too late,” Jack said, hands clenched at his sides. He sighed, and his broad shoulders slumped. “They know where you and Glory are. I failed.”
“This isn’t your fault, Jack. My father has spies everywhere.”
“I thought I had accounted for that—but I must have missed something.” He cursed under his breath as one of the thugs took off in the opposite direction through the trees, presumably back to their car to call in a report and receive further instructions. The other henchman stood guard over the fire to keep lookout. Jack shifted position, wincing slightly as his knee cracked. He’d mentioned injuring it. That’s why he’d said he left the SEA
Ls. Sam hoped it wasn’t too painful for him now. They’d have a lot more struggles ahead of them, if the current situation was any indication, and she hated the thought that she was putting him through more hardship, after everything he’d already done. He slid off the Babybjörn and handed Glory over to her with as little noise as possible. Thankfully, their daughter was still snoozing after her breakfast, and wasn’t fussing. Otherwise their hiding spot would’ve been revealed. Sam took their daughter and held her close.
“Okay,” Jack whispered near Sam’s ear, his warm breath making her shiver. “I’m going to take that guy out. While I do that, I want you to head for the SUV. I’ll cover you as best I can. Once I’ve taken him down, we’ll get out of here. It’s our best shot.”
“What about the other thug?” Sam swallowed hard, stroking her daughter’s back. “He’s still out there. He’ll try to stop us.”
“Let me worry about that. You just get to the SUV and get inside. Stay down until you hear from me. Got it?”
Sam nodded, her pulse racing and blood pounding. She stayed behind the bushes until she heard a loud grunt then the sounds of fists hitting flesh. After a deep breath for courage, she took off running toward the SUV, which was parked behind a copse of dense foliage a few hundred yards away. It could’ve been a million miles, since it felt like one of those nightmares where every step forward only put you farther away from your destination. Somehow, she reached the driver’s side of the SUV though and huddled beside it. Even there, with the vehicle at her back, she felt too exposed. Every sound made her jump and her skin prickled like a thousand eyes were watching her from the trees. She needed to get inside the vehicle. Fast.
Jack and the thug tussled and Sam took the distraction as an opportunity to jiggle the rear door on the driver’s side open and clamber inside with Glory, the diaper bag, and the rifle. She closed the door behind her, then cowered on the floor, praying that Jack would knock that bastard working for her father into next year. Cold wind whistled in through the shattered back window of the SUV, ratcheting her tension higher. The sounds of punches and groans continued a few more seconds, then there was silence as a body hit the gravel driveway. A moment later, footsteps crunched on the gravel.
Sam squeezed her eyes shut and prayed again. Please let it be Jack. Please let it be Jack.
She couldn’t peek out the window. If it wasn’t Jack who’d won the fight, then she couldn’t risk the thug taking her out as well, leaving Glory unprotected.
The footsteps approached the SUV and Sam’s breath caught in her chest, her whole body aching with stress. As if picking up on her mother’s turmoil, little Glory stirred and began to fuss. Sam held her closer, willing her to calm down even as her own tension notched higher and higher.
Please let it be Jack. Please let it be Jack.
The driver’s side door opened and Sam peeked one eye open, fearful she’d be staring down the barrel of a gun. Instead, there was Jack’s face, a bit bruised and with a cut oozing on his left cheek, but she’d never seen a more beautiful sight in her life.
“Got the keys and my wallet?” he asked, sliding in behind the wheel.
She fished the items out of the side pocket of the diaper bag, eternally grateful for his SEAL training that had him thinking ten steps of everyone else. He thought he was washed up? She thought he was some kind of superhero. “Here.”
Sam passed him the items, then grabbed his hand and kissed it. “Thank you.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet. Literally.” He gave her a crooked smile and stroked his fingers down her cheek. “Stay down until I give you the all clear, understand? I still can’t figure out how they knew where we were.” He turned back around, then started the engine, punching the accelerator and taking off, any attempt at stealth gone now as they bumped over the rough terrain of the woods, dodging trees and other debris on their way back toward the highway. “We need more help than I can give you. I’ll call my buddy at the marshal’s office and get you back into protective custody as soon as we get somewhere secure.”
She mumbled under her breath and tucked her daughter closer to her heart, giving him a watery smile. She didn’t want to leave him yet, but there was no choice now. They’d make it out of here. They would. Jack and his family might have lost his cousin’s beautiful cabin because of her, but once they were safe, she’d make sure he never lost anything else due to her awful father.
16
As Jack raced toward the highway, all he cared about was saving Sam and Glory, by any means necessary. He’d taken out one of the thugs, but there was at least one more lurking out here in the forest and Jack needed to eliminate that threat before the guy eliminated them.
Though he knew at least a hundred different ways to kill a man with his bare hands, Jack didn’t want to take anyone’s life if he didn’t have too. The man he’d fought was unconscious, and would likely wake up with a nasty headache, but be otherwise unharmed. This second henchman, though, would be more of a problem. The easiest course of action would be to run him down with the SUV as they raced to safety, but that would be messy and traumatic and could seriously damage the vehicle, so best not to do that if possible. Then there was the possibility that the thug would hide beside the road to try to shoot him through one of the side windows. If Jack had been on a mission, that’s what he’d try to do. Better coverage there for the shooter and he could wait for the perfect moment to take aim.
The gravel drive curved up ahead and Jack’s instincts said that would be the best place for the enemy to lie in wait. Time to prepare. He took one hand off the wheel and reached into the back. “Give me the rifle.”
“Are they out there?” Sam asked, handing him the gun. “How many?”
“I don’t see anyone yet. And I have no idea. We know there’s at least one more because we saw two men at the cabin. They could’ve brought reinforcements or the guy might have called more to come in after he left the scene of the fire. I doubt they’d have time to get here yet, but we need to be ready just in case. Keep your head down and keep Glory protected. If things go south and I take a bullet or the car crashes, promise me you’ll get out and run as far and as fast as you can away from here.”
When she didn’t answer right away, he slowed the SUV to a halt and hazarded a look back at her over his shoulder. Sam cowered on the floor of the SUV, her eyes huge in the shadows, tiny Glory in her arms, fussing slightly against her chest. He wanted nothing more than to gather them both close and tell them everything would be all right, even if it wouldn’t. But now was not the time and this was not the place. He needed all his concentration to deal with whatever awaited them ahead. He steeled his voice, hoping it might snap her out of her fear. “Sam, promise me, dammit.”
Her face got even paler, if that were possible, and she swallowed hard. “I promise.”
“Good.” Jack faced front again, chambering a round in the semiautomatic hunting rifle before placing it on the seat beside. “Now brace yourself, sweetheart. Get Glory secured in her car seat then buckle up yourself. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Jack closed his eyes and stilled his mind, the same as he did on his missions right before the big attack. Pictured in his head what he planned to do, then took a deep breath for courage. The low rumble of another engine echoed from ahead and his eyes snapped open again.
Showtime.
Jamming the accelerator down to the floor, Jack peeled around the curve in the road, spitting gravel as he went. Sure enough, there were three goons waiting beside a sedan.
Acting on instinct and pure adrenaline, Jack barreled straight for them, hunching slightly as he reached for the rifle at his side. The henchmen were fully armed as well and aiming for him. He ducked just in time as a bullet shattered the windshield, sending a spray of glass into the front of the vehicle. Sam screamed and ducked over Glory even farther and Jack went into auto-SEAL mode. Steering with one hand, he fired and hit one of the thugs in the thigh. Not a fatal wound, but enough to take the man
out of commission. The corner of the right front bumper clipped another one as he tried to fire on Jack again, sending the second henchman tumbling backward through the trees. Jack glanced in the rearview mirror to see the guy sit up and shake his head, dazed but alive. Good. Two down, one to go.
Thug number three, the same man who’d walked away from the fire at the cabin, held a cell phone to his ear with one hand and a Glock in the other. His gaze never wavered from Jack as he fired off round after round into the SUV. Jack was crouched low in his seat while still trying to steer the car to safety. In the distance, the highway beckoned. Much as he hated death, he’d do what was necessary to save Sam and Glory. He raised the rifle and aimed for the man dead center in the middle of the road ahead, blocking his path. Pulled the trigger and… Nothing.
Jack shook the rifle and tried again. Nada.
The damned rifle was jammed. Cheap piece of crap. He was coming up fast on the third thug and Lord only knew who the guy was talking to on the phone—how many additional reinforcements he was calling in. Not to mention those bullets were getting far too close for comfort. The driver’s side and front passenger window were gone now too, glass littering the interior of the SUV like glitter. Sam’s ragged breaths were loud in his ears, as were Glory’s wails. Time to take this guy out, one way or another. Jack growled and made a beeline for the thug, one hand still holding the useless rifle while steering with the other. Closer, closer. A bullet pinged off the dashboard and grazed Jack’s right shoulder, but he barely felt the sting. The only thing on his mind now was getting out, getting away, getting to freedom and safety.
At the last second, the thug sidestepped the SUV and Jack took his opportunity, striking out with the butt of the rifle at the guy’s head as they raced past, scoring a direct hit on the asshole’s forehead. From the spray of blood and the crunch of bone he’d heard, the dude would have a skull fracture at least. Served the bastard right.