Page 19

SEVENTEEN

By early morning, the thunderstorm had abated, but clouds hung heavy in the sky, promising more rain.

Daniel’s senses were on high alert as he turned into Ellie’s neighborhood.

The engine in his cousin’s sedan rattled, vibrating the steering wheel.

The old Toyota wasn’t in the best of shape, but he hadn’t wanted to use his official state vehicle in case there were eyes on Ellie’s house. No need to announce their presence.

The residential street was quiet, not unusual for a Saturday morning.

He passed two white-haired women in tracksuits and a man walking his dog along the retention pond at the back of the neighborhood before turning onto Ellie’s street.

Her house sat at the center of a cul-de-sac.

Tactically, a nightmare. Only one way in and one way out.

Ellie adjusted the ball cap covering her sunshine locks.

She was still dressed in the borrowed sweatsuit, the oversized shirt drooping off her shoulder to reveal creamy skin.

Distracting. Daniel forced his eyes away, instead noting the way the hem of her pants draped over her ankle holster.

At his cousin’s place, he’d found a rig that fit James’s Glock.

The weapon was secure and, more importantly, concealed.

She craned her neck to look out the windshield. “I don’t see anyone from the tactical team. Are you sure they’re in position?”

Daniel’s mouth quirked. “Notice the old man weeding his flowerbed two doors down? That’s Jonah.”

She squinted at the figure dressed in overalls and a white brimmed hat and then laughed. “Is he wearing Mr. Henry’s clothes?”

“Probably.” Daniel passed Ellie’s house and completed the circle in the cul-de-sac before heading back the way they came. “More of my team are stationed throughout the neighborhood. We’ve got guys in the houses on either side of yours, and a drone giving us aerial views.”

“You’ve got the bases covered.”

He prayed that was true. With two gangs of killers on their tail, Daniel didn’t know if any amount of backup would be enough. His gaze scanned the street, but there was no sign of trouble. If the Iron Fist and Tobias were watching the house, they were well-hidden.

Daniel turned down the next street and parked at the curb.

They’d gone over the plan, but it didn’t hurt to review it again.

“We’ll approach your house from the back, using the path along the retention pond.

If you notice something suspicious, or recognize a member of either gang, then squeeze my hand twice. ”

He removed a set of earpieces from the cup holder and handed one to Ellie before putting the other in his own ear. The earbuds automatically connected to his cell. A faint buzz hummed over the line, a signal that the channel was live but the team was holding radio silence.

“We can hear the guys, but they can’t hear us unless I activate the channel on my phone. In a pinch,” he added, lifting a hand to his earpiece, “tapping once will open your mic.”

“Got it.” She shot him a charming smile. “Don’t look so worried, Perez. I’m used to working undercover.”

Daniel huffed out a breath that was half laugh, half frustration. He was being overprotective and bossy. “Sorry. I keep forgetting you’re former FBI.”

He scanned the street once more before exiting the vehicle and walking around to the passenger side. He opened Ellie's door and offered his hand. The moment her palm met his, Daniel's breath hitched. When she rose and brushed her lips against his, it sent a jolt straight through him.

Amusement made her eyes dance. “We’re supposed to be a couple out for a stroll, remember?”

His heart kicked. “Right,” he murmured. “Just try not to short-circuit my brain while we’re at it.”

That earned him a small chuckle. “I’m armed, honey. I’ll protect you.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, he laughed, and giving in to his desire, pulled her close for another kiss.

Nothing long. Nothing overt. Featherlight and brief, but it was enough to leave him aching for more.

And when Daniel pulled away, he was secretly pleased to see that Ellie’s eyes had darkened with desire and her amusement had faded.

She turned toward the path. “You’re right. No more kissing.”

“Uh-huh.” Daniel caught up to her, slipping his hand back into hers.

The sidewalk was wide and lined with young trees.

They greeted a woman walking a puffball of a dog.

The cloud cover kept the temperatures pleasant as Daniel maintained a stream of conversation about his younger brother getting stuck in a tree when they were kids.

His gaze never stopped roaming as he constantly watched for potential trouble.

His instincts warred with his emotions with every step closer to Ellie’s house.

She could handle herself—he knew that—but the idea of anything happening to her made his stomach knot.

Daniel had to force himself to keep moving forward when all he wanted to do was rush her back to the ranch and safety.

“This is me.” Ellie paused at a chain-link fence. The house was perched thirty yards up a small incline. Slipping her fingers through the gate, she worked the numbers on a combination lock until it popped open.

Daniel glanced behind them on the trail. A prickle of unease crept up his spine. He could feel eyes on him. His team? Likely. Still, it made his muscles tense. “I’m surprised you didn’t replace the fence with a wooden one for more privacy.”

“I thought about it, but I’d rather see the danger coming.”

She shoved the gate open, and they entered the yard.

A baby swing drifted in the light breeze, and water toys gathered around a small plastic pool with a slide.

Overgrown bushes shaded the windows. Ellie’s shoulders were tight as she pressed her finger to a pad on the back door and the locks snicked open.

Daniel checked over his shoulder once again. No one was there, but the feeling of being watched lingered. He pressed the Talk button on his cell phone. “Entering the house.”

“10-4.” Ranger Jackson Barker’s response was immediate. He was the lead for this operation. “We’ve got your back.”

The steady confidence in Jackson's voice was reassuring . It was only a few weeks ago that Jackson’s life was put in danger during another case.

Thankfully, both he—and his now-fiancée, Piper—came out of the ordeal in one piece.

But if anyone could understand the nerves firing inside Daniel, it was his fellow ranger.

He dreaded the teasing that would accompany any meeting after this mission.

Chances were, a member of the team had seen Daniel and Ellie kissing at the car.

A mistake he shouldn’t have indulged in.

The rangers in Company A had a tendency to fall in love with the women they protected, a pattern Daniel wasn’t doing a good job of resisting.

An honest conversation with Ellie about his shortcomings needed to happen, and soon, before things progressed any further.

Ellie pushed open the back door. Daniel entered the house behind her, carefully stepping over broken glass and scattered silverware.

The place hadn’t been cleaned up since the break-in a few days ago.

Drawers gaped open. The kitchen pantry was a wreck, and cabinet doors hung from the hinges.

It smelled musty, even with the air-conditioning on.

Her gaze swept the space and her jaw tightened. Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder. “We’ll clean it up after this is all over. Between my pack of siblings and the sewing circle, this place will be good as new in a few hours.”

She nodded sharply, but her eyes were hard. Angry. “Let’s get this over with.”

Ellie led the way through the living room and into the hallway.

The rest of the house was as bad as the kitchen.

Pictures torn off walls. Furniture destroyed.

Even Owen’s nursery hadn’t been spared. His tiny crib was broken in two places, jagged wood exposed like snapped bones, and little clothes were scattered across the floor.

Stuffed animals had been ripped open. The sight of it churned Daniel’s stomach.

As did the destruction in Ellie’s bedroom.

The violation of her space ignited something primal inside him.

She didn’t deserve this. Any of it.

Ellie ignored the wreckage and crossed to the walk-in closet. Dropping to the floor, she shoved away ripped clothing and pried at the carpet’s edge. “I hid the bracelet here and nailed it down.”

“Let me.” Daniel moved past her and yanked at the corner, ripping the carpet up with brute force. Beneath it, tucked in a shallow cutout in the padding, was a plastic sleeve holding a diamond ring, a charm bracelet, and several papers.

His earpiece cracked.

“We’ve got movement.” Jackson’s voice was sharp and clipped.

Daniel tensed. His gaze snapped to Ellie even as his hand flew to the holster on his belt. He drew his handgun. Within seconds, she had done the same. He pressed the Talk button on his cell. “Status.”

Static.

Gunshots.

They came from the front of the house. Shouts followed. Daniel heard his colleagues give the command for the shooters to put down their weapons, but then chaos erupted as a chorus of sounds made it hard to hear what was happening. An unfamiliar voice echoed in his ear. “FBI! Put down your weapons!”

Ellie’s complexion was pale, her eyes round, but her jaw was set. She held her weapon in a steady two-handed grip.

Another round of gunfire. This time closer. The sharp crack of bullets splintering wood echoed through the house.

Adrenaline surged through his veins as Daniel’s training kicked in. “Move. Now.”

Ellie snatched the clear sleeve from its hiding place, and together, they darted out of the closet just as a fresh barrage of gunfire shattered windows in the living room. Heaven help them, were they surrounded? What was going on? Daniel tapped his earpiece. “Jackson, advise!”