Page 134 of Fatal Intent

“Just a reminder of who holds the power here, and it’s not you.”

“All right. Just stop cutting me. I’m afraid of knives.”

Despite the dire situation, Grant smiled. Considering Artemis’s affinity for knives, that statement was funny. It was also a way for Rayne to let them know she was still thinking and able to help them.

A few hundred yards ahead of him, the lights of the old farmhouse gleamed in the darkness, a beacon to lead him straight to the love of his life. Although he wanted to sprint across the distance, he’d be asking for another bullet if he did.

Seth held up his fist. He turned to Grant. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Would you do anything different if Teagan was in there in Ellis’s hands?”

“No.”

“I can’t think of another way to do this. The land is open with no cover from here to the farmhouse. Rayne is the bait for me.”

“Donovan wants you dead,” Andre snapped. “You’re just going to deliver yourself to him on a silver platter? What if he shoots you on sight?”

“He won’t. The sniper wants me to suffer first.”

“You hope that’s the case. Besides, you’re putting Rayne’s life in even more jeopardy by doing this. The way to make you suffer is to hurt your woman.”

“I’m counting on you, Seth and Teagan, to prevent that from happening.”

“Risky.” Teagan checked her weapon one more time. “You'd better be right about this, Grant. If Rayne doesn’t survive the night, I’m coming after you. She’s my friend, and I don’t have many of those.”

He didn’t have to worry about Teagan’s lethal sniper skills. If Rayne didn’t survive the night, it was because he’d failed to protect her. He would do anything to keep Rayne safe, even sacrifice his own life for her. Besides, his life wouldn’t be worth living if he lost her. “I hear you. Z?”

“I’m here.”

“Is anyone inside the farmhouse checking the perimeter?”

“One man just set up watch on the south side, one is on the north side, and one on the east. No one’s on the west yet.”

“East side, Grant,” Seth said. “Try not to antagonize Ellis and the others too much. I’d prefer not to train a new operative to work with our team.”

“Copy that, sir.” He circled around to the east side of the farmhouse and began his walk. About two hundred feet from the back door, a curtain over a window twitched.

Let the game begin.

He remained relaxed, his stride confident. His Sig remained holstered. Didn’t want to provoke Donovan or someone onGino’s team and earn himself another bullet hole. He had plans for the next few weeks and didn’t want to waste his precious time out of team rotation by having to spend days in a hospital. Been there, done that, and had the scars to prove it. He’d much rather spend that time with Rayne.

The back door flew open, and two men holding weapons stormed from the farmhouse. “That’s far enough, Bowen.”

Gino. “You sent me an invitation, Savage. It’s rude not to at least invite me in.”

“Drop your weapons right there. All of them.”

No problem. That would give his teammates time to get into position. Grant removed his Sig and placed it carefully on the ground, then did the same with the Glock strapped to his calf. Next, he pulled knives from various sheaths on his body and dropped them on the growing pile of weapons. He laid his rifle beside the pile and added the flashbangs and grenades. No point in dropping the garrote. He doubted Gino or the others would find the weapon hidden in his watch band.

When he finished, Grant stood with his arms up and his legs spread. “Want to check me?”

Gino nodded at the second man, who jogged to Grant with his weapon trained on him. Barry. “If you move, either Gino or I will shoot you. You don’t want to test us, Bowen. Remember, we have your woman. You shouldn’t leave her in Ellis’s hands for long.”

Like they needed to tell him that. Ellis had a reputation in the military, and it wasn’t a good one where women were concerned. The thought of Ellis having his hands on Rayne for any length of time made Grant sick to his stomach. “Let’s get on with it, then.”

Gino kept his weapon trained on Grant though he scanned the area frequently, no doubt looking for Grant’s teammates. Hewasn’t worried. His teammates were too good at their jobs to be seen.

Barry finally stepped back, empty-handed.