Caught in the Crossfire

by Nichole Severn

  The line crackled again. Then silence. “Have Elliot collect as much evidence as he can from the vehicle,” Declan said. “We need to have a case built when this goes sideways.” Because it most definitely would. Dominic was FBI—he knew the system—and Declan wouldn’t be surprised if the bastard had a backup plan to get himself out of a conviction. One that looked a hell of a lot like Special Agent Kenneth Winter taking the fall.

  No answer. “Elizabeth?”

  Pulling the phone from his ear, he watched as a bar dropped off the screen. He was out in the middle of the damn wilderness. Barely any coverage. He was lucky his call had gone through at all but pinning Dominic’s location depended on staying in range. His fingers squeezed around the phone. “Elizabeth!”

  “Got—phone.” Static filled his ears.

  Seconds passed. A combination of frustration and panic spread through him as bits and pieces of Elizabeth’s voice punctured the white noise.

  “—have his position. Declan?—me? He’s—quarter mile north of you. We’re on our—”

  “Quarter mile north.” Declan pocketed the phone and ran as fast as he could. His muscles burned with exertion, but he pushed through. Nothing would keep him from getting to Kate. Not the freezing cold. Not hypothermia. Not a pack of hunting wolves. And certainly not some son of a bitch who’d taken the only person who mattered to Declan in this life.

  She’d brought him out of the darkness of his past, given him everything he could’ve imagined and more. Gifted him with her strength, with her body, with hope. He wasn’t going to turn his back on that or on her.

  Fallen trees and razor-sharp pieces of ice threatened to trip him up, but Declan only pushed himself harder when a single cabin came into view up ahead.

  Partially obstructed by massive tress on every side, the small wood structure wouldn’t have been visible in spring or summer, but because of the lack of leaves, the roof peeked through the trees. A perfect hideout for a serial killer. Off the beaten path, no longer in the residential or rental rotation as far as he could tell from the state of the place.

  Fogged windows decreased visibility inside as Declan took position within the ring of trees surrounding the cabin, but a dim light inside revealed there was condensation bubbling at the bottom of each pane of glass. Someone was home. Moss and vines climbed the dilapidated wood stairs, slats pulling away from the overall frame. A single step onto that tilted porch would give away his presence. He had to find another way in.

  Keeping low, Declan crouched as he moved from tree to tree for a better angle, gun tight in his grip. One shot. That was all it would take to end this nightmare.

  He switched off his flashlight, relying solely on the single burning bulb glowing through the south window. No movement from inside, but that didn’t mean anything. Didn’t mean Dominic had already finished with Kate and moved on to his next victim. Didn’t mean he wasn’t here at all. Or that the cabin was a trap.

  Declan sat back on his haunches and extracted the phone from his jacket. No coverage. No calling in for backup. He was on his own.

  Her muted scream drove him into action.

  Declan raced across the dirt and bounded up the stairs. No time to test the lock. Hiking his foot beside the rustic doorknob, he put everything he had into a solid kick. The door swung open, hinges protesting as he filled the doorway. Pain ricocheted up his thigh and into his bullet wound, but faded with one look at Kate bound in the chair, her back to him.

  “Kate.” He raised the gun and silently shifted across the floor. No sign of Dominic. The bastard had to be around here somewhere. “I’m here, angel, and I’m taking you home.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Declan, no!” The gag had been put back in place, rendering her warning useless. He didn’t understand. The entire abduction, having her here, it was all part of the plan. Part of the trap Dominic had set for him.

  Kate pulled at the remaining rope around her wrists as Declan moved deeper into the cabin. She bounced in the chair, trying to knock it over, to get his attention, to do anything to make him get out of here. She could barely see him out of the corner of her eye as she twisted her head, her back to the door. Her throat burned as she screamed as loud as she could. “Stop!”

  A solid kick from Dominic standing behind one of the canning shelves sent Declan’s gun flying across the floor, the thump of metal against wood loud in her ears.

  Drawing a noose around Declan’s neck, Dominic pulled him tight against him. Canned goods hit the hardwood floor as both men struggled for the upper hand. A hit to Declan’s face brought him down onto one knee, then another. Another after that. Dominic wouldn’t let up.

  Panic flared in Kate’s chest as Declan took hit after hit with no sign of getting to his feet. Then, swinging his leg out wide, Declan unbalanced Dominic and pushed him backward, the noose still tied around his neck.

  Kate kicked at the chair, a rough growl escaping from around the wet fabric in her mouth. She kicked again, but the rope only grew tighter around her neck. She had to get out of this chair. She had to help him. She scanned the dusty table for a weapon or something she could use to cut the rope, but Dominic had taken the crossbow to wait for Declan. Blood-chilling silence filled the cabin, and she wrenched around for a better look.

  Dominic held on to the noose, one hand at the base of Declan’s neck pressed into the wall, the other pulling the rope taut. The sound of glass shattering filled the cabin, heavy breaths barely noticeable over the hard pound of her heartbeat behind her ears.

  Declan threw one punch, which Dominic dodged, and hauled his elbow back for another. Dominic landed a solid hit, and Declan fell backward against the canning shelves, giving the Hunter another chance to tighten the rope around her husband’s neck.

  “Leave him alone!” Another garbled shout. She couldn’t see them well. Swinging her head from side to side, she struggled to get Declan back in her sights, but the binds around her body made it impossible. Clawing at the rope around her wrists, Kate ignored the stinging pain of burned skin.

  A hard thump broke through the air, then another. Nausea churned in her gut. She forced herself to breathe, to think.

  Movement pulled her attention to one side as Dominic dragged a bloodied and swaying Declan into her peripheral vision. No. She wasn’t going to lose him again. Not like this. Not ever. Rough exhales flared her nostrils. “Declan, get up!” she tried to yell. “Get up!”

  “You couldn’t beat me before you lost your memories, Monroe, and you can’t beat me now.” Dominic stared straight at her, waited for her full attention as he slammed her husband into the floor. Dominic dragged Declan back toward the door, throwing the noose over one of the exposed beams running through the cabin.

  Rage exploded through her, and she snapped her head to face front. Dominic had taken everything. Her psychology practice, her confidence, her house, her baby. He wouldn’t take Declan from her, too. Clenching her fists, Kate pressed her toes into the floor and rocked back on the chair’s hind legs. She used the momentum to rocket her forward, just as she’d done when she tackled Dominic to the floor. Forcing one bound foot in front of the other toward the table on the other side of the room, she turned ninety degrees.

  No, no, no, no.

  Inhaling deep, Kate shoved off with everything she had, sending the back of the chair straight into the edge of the table. A scream worked up her throat as pain splintered down her spine and across her shoulders. The chair shattered around her, loosening the ropes. She pulled the gag from around her mouth and dove to wrap her hand around one of the chair legs as the ropes fell to the floor.

  Strong arms wrapped around her, constricting her movements. “I’m not finished with you, Kate.”

  Slamming her head back into Dominic’s face, she took advantage as he dropped his hold, and swung the chair leg as hard as she could. Wood met bone in a sickening crunch.

 
; She lunged for Declan, but then the Hunter nearly tackled her to the floor. Her muscles burned as she battled to stay upright. Gripping his two middle fingers, she wrenched them back as hard as she could with one hand and swallowed a pain-filled scream as she swung the chair leg into his side. The arrow wound in her shoulder cried for relief, but Dominic was using his weight against her.

  She hit the floor hard and kicked upward, landing a hit to his chest. “Ryan, please. You don’t have to do this. We can get you help. I can help.”

  But it wasn’t enough. The Hunter stumbled backward. A growl ripped up his throat as he reached for her, but a rope sliding around his neck cut him off.

  Declan hauled his former partner into him, blood dripping down his face. “You don’t get to touch her.”

  Relief surged through her at seeing Declan alive, but it was short-lived.

  Lifting his legs high, Dominic threw his weight forward as she’d done with the chair. The bare bulb above highlighted the sweat across Dominic’s brow as he flipped Declan over his shoulder and flat on his back on the floor.

  The rope fell into a pile at Dominic’s feet. Faster than she thought possible, he wrapped his hand around her throat and hefted her into him. “What I need, Kate, is for you to start running. That’s my favorite part, you know. The panic in their sobs as they scream for help. The fear in their eyes, but sooner or later, they realize there’s nowhere they can hide. Not from me.”

  “You...broke...them.” She couldn’t breathe, but one thing was clear as the lack of oxygen took hold: she’d already lost everything that mattered and survived.

  Her gaze flickered to the wall of muscle rising behind Dominic. Kate slammed her arm into his forearm, struggling to get free as a distraction, but her injury took the strength out of each hit. Wrenching her elbow back, she went for his face, but he only blocked the hit. She turned as much as she could and thrust her leg backward to escape his grip. In vain. “You can’t break me.”

  “Let’s test that theory, shall we?” Violence swam through Dominic’s dark eyes a split second before a glass bottle broke against the side of his head. His fingers loosened from around her throat, and Kate stumbled back against the shelf near the door as Declan charged the special agent full force.

  Her fingers hit metal on the shelf. The crossbow. Adrenaline fueled her enough to heft the weapon from the shelf, and she took aim. Her hands and wrists burned as feeling came back, but she slipped her finger over the trigger.

  Both men battled for the upper hand, each covered in blood. She didn’t have a shot. Declan was too close. Locking her jaw against the pain in her shoulder, she blinked to clear the sweat dripping into her eyes. One wrong move and she’d pierce him instead of Dominic. “Declan, move!”

  Her partner ripped away from his opponent and ducked.

  Kate pulled the trigger.

  A soft whistling filled the cabin, and then Dominic’s scream filled her ears as the arrow tore through the muscles in his shoulder. Right where he’d shot her. He folded in half.

  Pulling back his elbow, Declan slammed one final hit into the Hunter’s face.

  Dominic crumpled to the floor, the thick layer of dust disturbed from a hard exhale escaping his lungs as he sank into unconsciousness.

  The crossbow grew heavy in her hands, and she let it sink to her side as exhaustion took control. Her lungs heaved, trying to keep up with her racing heartbeat.

  The nightmare was over. They’d apprehended the Hunter, and he would serve out the rest of his life behind bars for what he’d done to all those women, to Brian Michaels.

  “Kate...” Declan stumbled forward, his voice weak. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth as he reached out for her. He collapsed against her, arms wrapping around her neck, but she kept him upright through pure force of will. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” Gripping the crossbow, she rested her chin against his shoulder and closed her eyes. He was alive. They’d survived. Together. She blinked back the tears as fear, resentment, rage, every emotion she’d held on to over the last year broke free. He’d saved her life—again—but the hurt was still there. The lie he’d forced her to believe was still there. “You came for me. Even after I told you not to.”

  “I promised to protect you. I might not remember much, but I do remember that.” His words rumbled through his chest and vibrated down to her bones. The ache in her body eased as he pressed his hands against her spine, fitting her against him.

  “Thank you.” Kate pulled away. He’d saved her life, but everything else? The security she’d felt with him, the connection? The trust? It had all been destroyed. She swiped at her face with her free hand and stepped away. “How did you know where to find me?”

  His shoulders sank away from his ears, exhaustion and disappointment clearly etched into his expression. He rolled his lips between his teeth and cast his eyes to the floor. “I remembered something Dominic said to me during an investigation we headed as partners. Then a whole lot more stuff I can’t really explain in a way that would make sense. I called your team.”

  He locked brilliant blue eyes on her. “And I remembered the day you told me about the baby. How happy I was. You told me I was going to be a dad, and I remember thinking life couldn’t get any better than that moment. But I was wrong. These last five days, having a second chance...” He stepped closer to her. “You’re everything to me, and I don’t want to lose you.”

  Kate shook her head. He already had.

  “The worst feeling in the world is knowing you were used and lied to by the person you trusted most in the world,” she said. “That’s not just going to be fixed with an apology, Declan, and I think the best thing—for both of us—is space. You need to figure out who you are again, what you want to do with your life now that you have that second chance. I need to do the same. I need to learn how to be on my own. Alone. Without grief hanging over my head.”

  His expression shut down, and she tried to swallow through the hollowness building inside.

  Kate swiped at her face again, catching a stray tear on her cheek and backed toward the door. Dominic wasn’t dead. He wouldn’t stay down for long. “We should call the FBI and Anchorage PD. I need to let my team know what happened.”

  Declan lifted his hand as though he intended to reach out for her but kept himself in check. “Kate—”

  A murderous bellow pierced through the haze clouding her head as Dominic shoved off the floor and lunged.

  Her heart caught in her throat, but Declan closed the distance between them, wrapped his fingers around hers and the crossbow and helped her lift the weapon up.

  She pulled the trigger.

  * * *

  THE HUNTER WOULD never take another victim again. Would never come after Kate. Special Agent Ryan Dominic was dead.

  What was Declan supposed to do now?

  He and Kate had had an agreement from the beginning. They would work the case together, then move on with their lives. But this couldn’t be it. Not after everything they’d been through. Not after what they’d shared.

  Red-and-blue patrol lights highlighted the bruises and scrapes across her angelic face as Declan stalked toward the ambulance where the EMTs checked her wounds. She had to understand. He knew exactly what he wanted. Her.

  FBI and Anchorage PD had taken control of the scene. Blackhawk Security was on standby, each member of Kate’s team giving their statements. The victims’ bodies would be released to their families for burial now that the case of the Hunter was closed. Declan’s job was done, but he couldn’t leave. Not without her.

  “Declan Monroe.” A wall of muscle dressed in a suit stepped into his path, hand outstretched. One of the FBI agents sent to clean up the mess. Cornflower blue eyes scanned him. A five-o’clock shadow and tousled brown hair were evidence of the amount of sleep lost on this case, but somehow Declan knew this agent had never let something as
simple as sleep affect his job, which meant they’d known each other. “Special Agent in Charge Mitchell Haynes. You probably don’t remember me—”

  “You were my boss.” Before Declan’s entire world had been ripped apart. He remembered that, remembered taking his suspicions about his partner to Haynes only to be told to find hard evidence before making accusations against one of their own. Declan shook the man’s hand.

  “That’s right. Glad to know some of those memories of yours are coming back.” Haynes slipped his hands deep in his pants pockets. Mitchell Haynes, the man who’d partnered him with Dominic in the first place. The guy ran an entire team of agents who hunted violent serial offenders on the FBI’s most wanted list, but didn’t seem to have aged a day over the last year. “I read yours and Ms. Monroe’s statements. Everyone else’s, too. You successfully tracked and brought down a killer who made it his mission to not leave evidence behind.”

  “I remember a lot. Have to wonder if you hadn’t listened to me before now, none of this would’ve happened. None of those families would have to bury the women they loved over the next few days.” Declan scanned the scene until his gaze landed on Kate, then nodded toward her. “And she gets the credit here. Couldn’t have done any of it without Kate.”

  Declan maneuvered around Haynes, holding tight to the path to his future. To Kate. Of all the options out there, he didn’t want a life that didn’t include her. His guardian angel. Over the course of the last five days, she’d become his armor, a part of him, and nothing was worth the cost of losing her.

  “Yeah, well. We all make mistakes, right?” Haynes’s voice came from behind. “Besides, I knew you’d get your guy, Monroe. You always have. You were my best agent before you got shot. It’d be a shame to see that talent go to waste.”

  Declan slowed, turned his attention back to the SAC. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Bringing down the predators is what my team does best, and it’s what you’re good at.” Haynes spread his hands wide, as if that answer was obvious. His voice dropped into graveled territory. “Come back to the FBI, Declan. Help me save hundreds more families the pain of having to lose their loved ones to the sick, violent people set on destroying lives. Help me prevent more women like these four from being abducted, brutalized and murdered.”