Page 32

THIRTY-TWO

B ryce bounced around in the dark, tight space. He probably shouldn’t have risked it, but a broken tooth was a small price to pay for getting a punch in. Even with his hands tied together, he’d managed a good hit. Sosa would be sporting a nice shiner.

But Bryce wasn’t nearly satisfied. And if the man hadn’t had his goons surrounding him when they’d pulled Bryce out of the basement and stuffed him in the trunk of this car, Sosa would’ve been out cold.

But no. Here he was, hands once again taped and zip-tied together as well as fastened to his feet, which were also taped and tied together. Bryce yanked his arms up once more, trying to break at least one of the zip ties. His head slammed against the side of the trunk.

Ow!

Clearly he wasn’t going to get anywhere like this. He’d have to wait until Sosa opened the trunk before trying to make a getaway and hopefully getting a couple more good licks in.

Because he desperately needed to get away. He still didn’t know if Penny was okay after the bomb they’d talked about at the hotel. Jason Woods was still out there, probably on the rampage after what’d sounded like Sosa killing Conner Reynolds. And who knew if they’d ever found the governor’s family? He could only pray Zack got to them and was okay.

The car finally stopped.

Bryce waited for the trunk to open. Footsteps on gravel sounded right outside the car. Any minute now…But nothing.

Where were they? And what were they waiting for?

“Think she’ll show?” That sounded like Sosa’s guy, DaNeal Gomez. Like he was right on the other side of the trunk lid. He was another one Bryce wouldn’t mind going toe to toe with. He and Sosa had watched while the other two used a taser on Bryce before throwing him in the car.

“She’ll be here. The question is whether or not she’ll have Emma with her,” Sosa said.

Emma? Who did Sosa get to break Emma out of jail? The smell of cigarettes seeped in.

“Penny Mitchell is enough of a loner and a rebel that she’ll do what needs to be done.” Sosa sounded like he was sucking in a long breath, probably inhaling on his cigarette of choice.

But he didn’t know Penny. She would never break Emma Kemper out of jail. Not for Bryce. She would find another way.

Tires spitting gravel and a diesel engine approaching alerted Bryce.

But Penny didn’t have a diesel truck.

The trunk lid lifted, the light from a street pole above blinding Bryce. But the gun pressed against his temple was a clear enough sign to prevent him from trying any wild moves. The diesel engine was getting closer though.

“One wrong move and I won’t hesitate to shoot Penny. And after you watch her die, you’ll join her. Understood?”

Bryce answered Alonzo with a glare.

“Understood?” Sosa pressed the barrel harder.

“Fine!”

“Cut the tie that links his hands to his feet, but nothing else,” Sosa told Gomez.

Gomez reached in with a box cutter and sliced the zip ties.

Sosa didn’t release any of the pressure on Bryce’s temple though. “Help him up.”

Gomez did as bid. Bryce hated that he needed the help, but with the blood rushing into his cramped legs and the duct tape still wrapped around his ankles throwing off his sense of balance, it took a moment to stand on his own.

Gomez held a taser and a gun of his own and kept them aimed at Bryce as Sosa turned to watch the approaching truck. The dusty black Dodge Ram pulled up across from them and stopped under the glow of the streetlight.

That was definitely Penny behind the wheel, but the face of the person beside her in the cab was hidden by a black hood.

Penny hopped out of the truck. “I’m here. Let him go.” She came around to the front of the truck and stood in front of the headlights with one hand on her hip and the other holding her Smith & Wesson, pointed at the ground. She wore a fancy red dress that showed off her toned shoulders and had a slit that stopped midthigh. Her hair was kind of wild and messy as it tossed on the wind. The combat boots on her feet made Bryce smile.

She was gorgeous and she was fierce.

And he was head over heels in love with this woman.

“Show me Emma and we have a deal.” Sosa’s voice was cold and calculating.

Penny moved to the passenger side, pulled the person out of the seat, and guided them out of the truck. They stood right outside the door. It was definitely a woman in

an orange jumpsuit, but the hood still covered her head. Handcuffs dangled from her wrists. Both women stayed there to the side, standing in the shadow of the truck.

The hood was a smart move. The female prisoner was probably a decoy. Maybe Olivia?

“Good to see you, Pen,” Bryce called over. She must have a plan of some sort. Maybe if he could converse a little she’d let him in on it.

“You too.” She winked at him.

A wink? That’s it? What did that mean?

He’d have to try again. “Heard you had an eventful ball. Fireworks and all. Everyone o?—”

“Enough! Emma?” Sosa called out. “Are you okay?”

“Alonzo?” The hooded woman stepped forward.

What?

The voice under the hood was muffled, tentative, but it sure sounded like the woman from the club.

No…she wouldn’t have.

Penny yanked off the hood.

It was Emma Kemper. Curly brown hair. Glasses.

Bryce strained against Gomez’s hold on his arm. “You broke Emma out of jail? What are you thinking!”

Penny didn’t look at him. Her green eyes were laser focused on Sosa, her hand gripped firmly around Emma’s upper arm as she dragged her back into the headlights. “Let. Him. Go.”

“Not until you release her.” Sosa didn’t waiver.

“I came alone. Unlike you. How can I trust you’ll release Bryce?”

“Enough games!” Sosa yanked Bryce over toward him, but with his feet bound together, Bryce fell to the rocky ground. His shoulder took the brunt of it, hitting the ground in front of Sosa.

Everything else seemed to move in slow motion. Lights flooded from all directions. Someone screamed.

Emma lunged for Penny’s weapon. “Run, Alonzo!”

Gunshots rang out. Alonzo ducked and ran along the side of the car. Gomez hit the ground shooting. His body jerked as a bullet hit him in the chest. Then another. Police swarmed, blocking Penny and Emma from Bryce’s view. Another gunshot, somewhat muffled, sounded.

“Get out of the way!” Bryce yelled.

The uniforms moved in on Gomez, clearing the space between Bryce and the black truck. Penny leaned against the hood gasping, eyes closed. Emma stood in the headlights.

“Penny!”

At the sound of his voice calling her, Penny stood.

Emma crumpled to the ground. She didn’t move.

And the car behind Bryce sped away.

He rolled over, watching the brake lights glowing red and the dust cloud grow smaller and smaller. Black combat boots appeared by his head.

Bryce looked up at Penny. “He’s getting away!”

“We’ll deal with it, but first things first.” She kneeled down and fisted his shirt, hauling him up to a sitting position.

Instead of helping him to his feet, she leaned in and kissed him.

Oh, did she ever kiss him. She held nothing back. Raw passion mixed with a sweet tenderness that was all Penny. She rested her forehead against his, her blonde hair creating a curtain—one dancing wildly in the breeze.

“Don’t you ever do that again,” she whispered.

“Kiss you? But I really enjoyed that part.”

“Shut up.” She sniffed, pulled back enough for him to see the dirt streaked across her cheek and chin and caked into the fine lines around her mouth. She smelled like smoke and ash and vanilla. But it was the love and worry in her eyes that had him choking up. Just a smidge.

“I mean, don’t ever get hurt again.”

“I didn’t expect you to organize a jailbreak to save me.”

She chuckled. “Obviously I had some help.”

Bryce looked around at the police and his rescue team surrounding them. “Good thing she wasn’t in federal custody yet.”

Penny helped him to his feet. Jude walked over, his grim expression softening into something lighter for a moment. He pulled out a pocketknife and freed Bryce’s hands and feet.

“I’m sorry, Brooks. He got away.” Penny wrapped her hand around Bryce’s biceps.

“ This wasn’t how it was supposed to go down. Emma’s dead. Gomez too.” Jude nodded to Bryce. “But I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Only because you know my sister would kill you if you didn’t find me.” Nothing like a little gallows humor to stave off the reality of two dead bodies and an escaped criminal.

“There’s that.” Jude looked around them. “But we’re not done yet. We have one more rescue before we can look for Sosa.”

Penny lifted her chin, ready for another battle. “Governor Noble’s family.”