Page 1 of Fatal Intent

CHAPTER ONE

GRANT BOWEN JOGGEDon the asphalt ribbon in the cool predawn morning near Nashville, Tennessee. He pushed his body into a faster pace, letting the stress of the latest mission fade to the back of his mind. Too many faces haunted his dreams in the night and drove him to the streets to escape the memories.

His plan? Run until he was too tired to think. Seemed the best way to quiet the voices of those victims he couldn’t save when he’d been a cop and now an operative for Fortress Security.

He shook his head, his mouth curving. He never dreamed after his stint as an Army Ranger that life would take him to a private security company. No other choice, he mused. His career as a cop imploded when he went undercover with his friends to stop a plot to assassinate the President of the United States. But instead of being hailed as heroes, their brothers in blue had labeled him and his friends traitors.

Grant pushed himself harder, his feet pounding the pavement to leave the memories in the past where they belonged. He and his friends made the right choice in joining Fortress Security as a black ops team. They were excellent at what they did and used their skills to help innocents and track down the guilty. Best of all? They didn’t have to follow the rule of law.

As he rounded a curve, a rustling in the bushes caught Grant’s attention. He slowed his pace, easing his hand toward the weapon secured at his midback.

Grant listened, gaze scouring the area, moonlight illuminating the treeline and bushes to his right.

Another rustling sound brought Grant to a dead stop.

Seconds later, a young black bear wandered from the bushes and lumbered across the road mere feet from Grant.

He gripped his Sig, praying he didn’t have to pull the trigger. His actions had caused enough bloodshed over the years that the prospect of killing a young black bear shouldn’t cause him discomfort, but it did.

The bear ignored him, continuing across the road to the other side, disappearing into the shadow-drenched woods.

Grant blew out a breath as adrenaline bled off. He turned to resume his journey when he heard a soft moan from the area where he had spotted the bear.

Drawing his weapon once again, Grant approached the bushes, placing his feet carefully to ensure a noiseless approach. Easing his way through the treeline, Grant searched the area. Twenty feet ahead, he spotted a lump on the ground.

The lump moved.

He walked closer. Grant’s breath caught. A woman. Had the bear attacked her?

He dropped to his knees beside her and gently turned the woman onto her back. He froze, staring at the woman’s face. No. This couldn’t be happening.

Grim reality settled on him like a heavy robe. Not only could this be happening, it was. Dread filled Grant as he slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

After taking two pictures for his own records, he stripped off his shirt, pressed on the woman’s bullet wound to the chest with one hand and called 911 with the other. After giving thedispatcher the details of his location, he did what he knew was necessary. “Send a police officer as well. Someone shot the woman.”

“An officer will arrive on scene in two minutes. Stay on the line with me, sir.”

Without disconnecting the call, Grant shoved his phone into his pocket. Knowing he’d be detained by the officer once the cop realized Grant was armed, he set his Sig on the ground a distance away from him. He grimaced. He wouldn’t see that weapon again for a while, and this particular Sig was a favorite.

As the pool of blood spread, he pressed harder on the bullet wound. If an ambulance didn’t arrive soon, the victim would die. Grant couldn’t bring himself to use her name. Not yet.

What was she doing here? Had she come to see him? If so, where was her vehicle?

The woman moaned again.

“Selena? Can you hear me?”

Another moan. “Hurts,” she whimpered.

“Sorry. I’m trying to stop the bleeding. An ambulance will be here soon.” Grant heard sirens announcing the impending arrival of first responders. “Who shot you, Selena?”

She shook her head. “Where am I?”

He blinked. Of all the questions she could have asked, he didn’t expect that one. How could Selena not know where she was? “You’re in the woods near my house. How did you get here?”

“Don’t remember.”

“Okay. Let’s try this one. Why are you here?” An important question, since he hadn’t seen her for over a year.