Page 3

TWO

BLACK ROCK FALLS

A second buzz came through the speakers when Jenna had activated her tracker for the second time. Kane didn’t need to call anyone. Wolfe, Rio, and Rowley would be on the move. All had received Jenna’s call for help. Having Nanny Raya living at the ranch was a godsend. Kane rushed Tauri to her, and she’d care for him in her part of the ranch house until they returned. If they returned. Trying to fight back the rage boiling to the surface knowing that someone had threatened his wife, Kane slid the Beast onto the highway and slammed his foot down hard on the gas. The others would never catch him but they’d be there as backup very soon. As Jenna’s red dot on the map headed toward Black Rock Falls, he could tell she was driving fast. He sent up a silent prayer to keep her safe and then dropped into the zone. It was his mechanism to push away all anger, doubt, or fear. He’d used it in combat and it was as important now as it had been back then. Losing control wasn’t an option for a man with his skills. He’d kill without a second thought if under orders or if someone threatened his life. Such was the life of a sniper, but his time in the Secret Service had created a part of him that needed to protect her, and it often suffocated Jenna. He didn’t have a problem taking a bullet, for her or anyone else in danger, and had done so more times than he’d like to remember.

He’d driven the new Beast in all situations since it arrived, and it had become an extension of himself like the old truck. During his life in the military and beyond, he’d needed to be able to drive anything. The only skill he lacked was flying, and when or if he found the time, he’d add that too. He pushed the Beast hard, making the engine roar. For once the traffic along the highway was minimal. Lights flashing and siren blaring, he flew past the other vehicles as if they were standing still. He’d keep his flashers on until he got closer to Jenna and then shut them down. To anyone on the highway, the Beast looked like a tricked-out truck and not a law enforcement vehicle. When Jenna’s voice came through his speakers, the hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention.

“I said don’t touch me. Do it again and I’ll run us into a ditch.”

“You’re some crazy lady.” A man slurred his words. “I’ll enjoy watching you bleed out when I stick you.”

An image flashed into his mind of Jenna covered with blood. One mistake now and he’d lose his wife and baby again. Digging deep to keep in the zone, Kane bit down hard on the inside of his cheek and hit the nitro. The front of the Beast rose and the engine roared its appreciation, like a wild stallion set free on the plains. The forest and lowlands blurred as Kane concentrated on following the yellow line. Nothing mattered but Jenna’s safety as he threw caution to the wind and aimed the truck into a narrow space between two eighteen-wheelers, ducked out again, and headed through the mountain pass. He must get to Jenna.

The red spot on the map was getting closer and he switched off his siren and the red and blue flashing lights. In the distance, a black vehicle headed his way, its silver stripes catching the sun. Jenna. She’d seen him too. Her headlights flicked on and off and she slowed down. Kane kept his foot on the gas, and flew past her, surprised to see her pull onto the grass verge along the side of the highway. He listened as he spun the Beast around, crossed the highway, and headed back in her direction.

“I’m going to spew. I need to get out.” Jenna’s voice came through loud and clear. “Tell your friend in the old truck behind us not to kill me. I won’t run away.”

Fighting back the need to rip someone’s head off, Kane slid to a stop within a few inches of Jenna’s Mustang. As Jenna rolled out of the door, he jumped from the Beast. In one stride he’d punched through the window. Glass shattered and sprayed in all directions as he grabbed the hand with the knife, pulled it through the window, and twisted. The man howled like a stuck pig, and the knife dropped to the ground. He grabbed the skinny, filthy man by the shoulders and dragged him kicking and screaming through the window. He tossed him against the Beast and followed with a punch to the kidney. The man buckled and slid to the ground. The next moment an old truck pulled up and a man climbed out brandishing a shotgun.

“Shooter.” Jenna ducked down behind the Mustang.

Before the man had time to chamber a round, Kane drew his M18 pistol and shot him in the shoulder. The bullet went straight through and made a hole in the truck’s windshield. The shotgun fell from the man’s hand. In a scream of abuse and sobs, he grabbed his shoulder and fell to his knees.

“Nice shot.” Jenna stood, brushing dirt from her clothes. “Need any help?”

Desperately wanting to go to Jenna, Kane shook his head. His heart raced from the rush of adrenaline and he took a few deep breaths to clear his head. “I’m good. The team is on its way.”

“Okay.” Jenna indicated to the broken glass. “I’ll clean up the mess so I can drive it, although I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the stink out of it.”

It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop with Jenna. She acted as if this happened on a daily basis. How long before the shock set in? Troubled, he gave her a long assessing look and shrugged. “I’ll fix it when we get home but I’ll need to order glass for the window.”

He used flexicuffs to secure the men, and after checking the gunshot wound, he dragged them onto the side of the highway. The men moaned, cried, and pleaded with him. He stared at them with disgust. “I wanted to kill you, so you’ve gotten off easy.”

“We’ll give you a cut of the Mustang money if you let us go.” The man with the knife wiped blood from small cuts on his cheek with his shoulder. “We have a guy waiting with cash at the Triple Z Roadhouse.”

Resting one hand on his weapon, Kane stared into space for a second as if considering their offer, but he’d use the information to take down a carjacking organization. “That’s good to know.” He bent down low and eyeballed them. “Sheriff’s department, and that woman you kidnapped is Sheriff Alton—and my wife. You know, I must be getting soft. When someone pulls a weapon on me, I usually take them down. It must be your lucky day.” He asked them their names and then read them their rights. As he headed for the Mustang, he turned to look at them over one shoulder. “Move a muscle and I’ll shoot off your kneecaps.”

Jenna leaned against the door, her face sheet-white, but the smile she gave him made his heart leap. He gathered her in his arms and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her honeysuckle fragrance like a starving man at a smorgasbord. She trembled in his arms, but as she pressed against him, the baby kicked hard, as if sending him a message all was well.

“When I saw your expression, I figured you’d kill them.” Jenna looked up into his face. “When that guy drew the shotgun, my heart stopped.” She cupped the back of his neck. “I’ve never seen you draw so fast.”

He’d been in control and the order to shoot to kill hadn’t been issued. His training had kicked in, and the men hadn’t met the lethal machine; they’d met Deputy Kane. He shrugged. “Drawing fast and firing under pressure is the difference between death and survival. I keep in practice, is all.” He tapped his chest. “In here, after hearing that scum running his mouth, I wanted to kill him, but in here”—he tapped his head—“I knew there would be way too much paperwork.” He turned to make sure the prisoners were right where he’d left them. “We have the chance of bringing down a carjacking racket. Some guy is waiting to buy your Mustang at the Triple Z Roadhouse. I figure we go and meet him.”

“They’ll recognize the Beast and us the moment we arrive.” Jenna frowned. “I hear sirens, the team is coming. We’ll need to work something out real fast. That guy who held the knife on me will need to be in the Mustang or the perp will run.”

Three trucks slowed and turned across the highway to stop either side of them, lights flashing. Vehicles going by slowed down to see what was happening, and immediately Rowley sprang into action and waved them on. Wolfe climbed out of his white SUV with Emily and headed his way. Rio climbed out of his sheriff’s department truck, went to Jenna’s side. Kane smiled at them. “Well, now we know the trackers work. Thanks for coming.”

“I’m glad you kept your anger under control.” Wolfe took him to one side. “By the way, Jenna is still transmitting. Emily said she’d take Jenna’s place, but she wants someone in the back seat in case the drug addict goes postal.”

Kane rubbed his chin. “I’ll do it, but who do you figure is gonna drive the Beast into town? Jenna is under enough stress already.”

“You’re driving—and I’m fine, just a little shaken. I’ll drive the Mustang.” Jenna walked to his side and pressed her ring to disconnect. “We’ll stop alongside of the highway before the Triple Z Roadhouse and change vehicles. We’ll leave the Beast alongside of the highway. It’s not as if anyone can steal it. The buyer will be concentrating on the Mustang, not who is following behind. Wolfe can follow. No one will take notice of him wearing sunglasses. As soon as the guy shows, hit your tracker and we’ll all move in.”

Nodding, Kane smiled at her. “That sounds like a plan.” He glanced over at the prisoners. “Now I just need to convince Don Riley over there to cooperate. I figure he will. He’s kinda desperate right now.”

“I’ll tend to his friend and we’ll talk to them.” Wolfe nodded slowly. “I’m sure we’ll be able to persuade Riley to cooperate.”

Twenty minutes later they arrived at the Triple Z Roadhouse and put the plan into action. They would be meeting a man by the name of Tom Little. As Emily pulled the Mustang to the pump Riley buzzed the passenger window down and Kane pressed his pistol into the man’s side. “Act normal and complete the transaction. You ready, Em?”

“Yeah, my phone’s recording.” She turned her head to look at the roadhouse. “Someone is heading this way now.”

“Don. Nice to see you, man.” A young man, with brown hair wearing a cowboy hat, T-shirt with an obscure band on the front, and Levi’s bent to peer in the Mustang’s window. “Nice ride. Does the girl come with the car? I’m happy to throw in a few extra bucks.”

“No, just give me the money, Tom. I need to be someplace else. The keys are in the console.” Riley held out his hand.

“Sure, sure.” Little handed a brown paper take-out bag to him. “Five grand. Don’t shoot it all up your arm at once.”

“Get out of the car.” Riley glared at Emily. “I know where you live and I’ll kill your family if you open your mouth.”

As Riley climbed from the vehicle and Little slipped behind the wheel of the Mustang, Rio’s and Rowley’s sirens blared as they blocked in the Mustang from front and back. Relieved everything went as planned, Kane sat up from the back seat and pressed the muzzle of his M18 pistol into the back of the man’s head. “Big mistake. This vehicle belongs to the sheriff of Black Rock Falls.”