by Karen Kirst
Tessa leaned into Mason. “He has cabins?”
“About forty,” he murmured. “Scattered across two counties. Some are in Serenity, but the majority are in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.”
Silver ended the call and scowled. “Lindsey is being her usual irascible self. Did you know she accused me of taking her for granted?”
“The Pascals?” Mason prompted.
“I was right. They’re a last-minute booking. Florida residents here celebrating their anniversary.” He shifted past them and wrote the Serenity address on the board. “Deputy Stark, we have three hours until the meetup with Dante. Is that enough time for SWAT to organize?”
“It’ll have to be.” He left the room already issuing instructions into the phone.
“You plan to ambush Dante and his men?” Tessa asked doubtfully.
“We’ll have the element of surprise on our side. He doesn’t know we’re aware of his location.”
Officer Bell rubbed his hands together. “Weiland and I will provide support.”
“Our unit will be there,” Mason said. “In case we have runners.”
Lieutenant Hatmaker wasn’t going to be pleased with this new development. Like any other reasonable law-enforcement officer, he disliked bad press, anything that called Serenity PD’s competency into question. Hatmaker took it a step further, however. In his mind, they were in competition with other departments to be the best, to be above reproach, to be infallible. He sometimes forgot he was dealing with human beings in police uniforms. Perfection was unattainable.
When Bell and Silver left the room, Tessa made a soft appeal. “Are you sure you have to go?”
“That cabin is surrounded by forest. Our horses can access areas patrol cars and the SWAT armored vehicle can’t.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“If everything goes according to plan, your brother and his goons will be in custody before lunch. Cruz can stay behind with you.”
It was the best option. Cruz’s wrist had been badly sprained. Chasing criminals through the mountains would pose a threat to his recovery. He could fire a weapon if necessary, though.
“I’m in charge of this unit,” he explained. “I can’t knowingly send them into danger without me.”
She crossed her arms over her middle. “I pray Mr. Pascal survives.”
Tessa discussing prayer in any format was unusual. Mason took comfort knowing they shared a common faith in God. That was one positive that had come out of their breakup.
He squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll join you in that prayer.”
Mason left her to find Cruz and make his request. The officer was already in the locker room getting ready to suit up. He wouldn’t have chosen to be left out of the action, but he agreed that watching over Tessa and Lily was the best option.
“Thanks, Cruz.”
“I’m happy to do it.”
Mason, Silver and Raven worked quickly to get their horses loaded into the trailers. His mom insisted on remaining at the stables. Tessa didn’t seem to mind, so he didn’t argue the point.
When the others were in the truck and ready to go, he crouched before Lily. He finally understood what officers with wives and kids went through. His chosen career posed significant risks. Even a routine traffic stop could prove deadly.
“Can I have a hug, ladybug?” He’d heard Tessa using the nickname, and it rolled off his tongue with ease.
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Are you going to ride Scout?”
“I am.”
“I gave him an apple. He’s my friend.”
“I’m sure he liked that.” He smiled and lightly tapped her nose. “I’ll see you in a little while.” Standing, he turned to Tessa. “I’ll call you with an update as soon as I can.”
She looked so anxious he almost offered her a hug.
Cruz gave him a thumbs-up as he left the building. Mason climbed behind the wheel, and they began the twenty-minute ride through twisting, mountainous roads. They were in almost constant contact with Bell and Deputy Stark. SWAT was estimated to arrive in another half hour. Because the mounted police were playing a support role, they would take care not to let their presence be detected.
Silver got on the phone with Lindsey again and verified that the property next door to the Pascals’ rental was unoccupied. The land parcels were large and wooded. Mason turned into the specified driveway and parked the truck at the far end, using the generous, three-story structure to further obscure their presence.
As they unloaded the horses and rechecked their gear, Mason had to work at maintaining his composure. That frustrated him. His equine partner, Scout, depended on him. His human partners did, too. They depended on each other. They were a cohesive team, and if he let himself be distracted, he could make a mistake that could cost someone their life.
Officers Bell and Weiland arrived mere minutes before SWAT. The highly efficient team fanned out across the property next door and got into position. Silver had sent them floor plans of the multilevel luxury cabin earlier, so they’d have time to plan. Silver, Raven and Mason mounted their horses and remained on standby.
Minutes ticked past. The temperature was pushing seventy-five degrees, and his uniform absorbed the sun like a sponge. Sweat trickled between his shoulder blades.
He glanced over at Silver, who wore his long-sleeved uniform shirt and gloves. How the guy managed to look as cool as a Popsicle he had no idea.
The woods were a serene vista. The smell of a charcoal grill and sizzling beef carried on the breeze. When would the sounds of invasion break the spell?
Scout’s flesh rippled with tension. Mason’s anxiety was leaking into his horse and making him antsy.
Raven cocked her head, listening. “Either this is the most peaceful takeover ever or we got the wrong address.”
Silver cocked a brow. “Lindsey make a mistake? Not likely.”
Bell’s voice crackled over their radios, letting them know he was returning. They watched for his familiar form on the road. He jogged the length of the driveway.
“They’re gone,” he said, panting. “Dante must’ve had someone watching the stables and was informed of our visit.”
“The Pascals?” Raven demanded.
“Inside. The woman’s unharmed. We have an ambulance on the way for Mr. Pascal.”
Mason was on the verge of splintering apart. “He’s going after Tessa.”
Silver reached over and took Scout’s lead. “Go.”
The instant his boots hit the ground, he began sprinting for the cruiser. “You and me, Bell.”
The other officer did an about-face and hurried after him.
How long of a head start had Dante had? They hadn’t encountered the SUVs on the drive up the mountain, but side roads were plentiful. Once seated in the passenger seat, he called Cruz.
Bell buckled in and started the engine. “Anything?”
“Voice mail.”
“That doesn’t mean he’s in trouble.”
Mason punched in Tessa’s number. Then his mom’s. No response from either of them.
Bell took the curves at excess speeds. “Remember, cell signal is spotty in these mountains.”
He gritted his teeth hard enough to make his jaw ache. His mom, Tessa and Lily were sitting ducks. What if they didn’t reach them in time?
* * *
Tessa paced the length of the aisle. Three horses observed her from their stalls. The past hour and fifteen minutes had crawled past. Why hadn’t Mason reached out?
“I’m going to speak to Cruz,” she announced, stopping short.
Gia waved her on. “Go ahead. Lily and I will keep Iggy company.”
Iggy, a good-humored quarter horse, was enjoying the attention. Tessa wished the majestic creature could distract her from the constant wondering and w
orry.
God has this under control, remember? Worrying won’t change the outcome. You have to trust His plan.
Tessa strode to the short, broad hallway where the break room and offices were located. Cruz was in the smallest office, seated at the lone desk, and was watching the security feeds. One camera was angled at the main entrance and parking lot. The other showed the paddock.
He looked up at her approach. A purple bruise on his chin was the only indication, other than his bandaged wrist, that he’d been in an accident. “I haven’t had any updates.”
She sagged against the doorjamb. “Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”
Rubbing his hand over his short black hair, he leaned back in the swivel chair. “Not necessarily. Every case is different. SWAT is running the operation, not us. Now, if the perps leave the cabin for the forest, Mason and the others will pursue them. That could take a while. Besides, cell reception isn’t reliable in these mountains.”
If Mason was in trouble, he might not be able to get a message to her.
Cruz gave her a sympathetic smile. “Mason doesn’t take unnecessary risks. He’s a professional.”
“I believe you.” What no one else seemed to want to believe was that Dante shouldn’t be underestimated.
Cruz’s gaze returned to the cameras, and he shot upright in the chair.
“What is it?”
“We’ve got company,” he said intently, nodding to the man using pliers to snap the gate’s lock. One Cadillac was waiting behind him. “You, Gia and Lily—get to the tack room and don’t come out.”
He ushered her out of the office. When she hesitated, waiting instead to watch him test the front-door lock, he urged her to hurry.
Tessa tamped down her rising horror and rushed into the center of the building. Gia immediately noticed something was off.
“We have a situation,” she said, trying to keep her voice even. Scooping up Lily, she beckoned for the other woman to follow. Gia didn’t ask questions. Nor did she comment when Cruz stormed past and used a key to unlock a cabinet stocked with weapons. Tessa regretted not learning how to use a gun. Then she could have helped the officer instead of leaving him to defend the stables alone.
Gia entered the long, narrow, windowless room first. Tessa closed the door behind her and searched for something to block it.
“It smells, Mommy.”
Lily wiggled to get down. Tessa released her and followed her to the far corner, where Gia was standing, her hands clasped at her waist. The lines around her mouth were more pronounced.
“Cruz has some police business to take care of, and he asked us to wait here. I’d like to pray for the police officers who work to keep us safe. Want to join me?”
Lily took her hand and held out her other one to Gia, who didn’t bother hiding her surprise.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Gia murmured, her voice choked with emotion.
Tessa offered a prayer for safety without giving details that would alarm Lily. God knew them, anyway. Lily went second. Her prayer was very brief, as usual, and precious. While Gia was praying, the muted sound of gunfire and splintering glass greeted them. Her hold on Tessa’s hand tightened.
The door was rammed open, the thick wood thudding against the wall shelving. Tessa spun around and shielded the others.
“Bruno!”
The loyal Vitale employee hadn’t changed much over the course of four years. He was still a bull of a man, with massive fists that could break a person’s face.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” he said, holstering his gun.
“Bruno, please. I have a daughter now.” She backed up, and Lily grabbed onto her legs. “Dante is like a son to you, right? You would do anything to protect him. I can’t let you have her. But I’ll go willingly with you.”
Gia made a noise of protest. Bruno didn’t spare her a glance as he advanced into the room. Like Dante, this man didn’t know the meaning of compassion.
“Dante wants you both.”
Tessa glanced around, desperate to stop him. She seized a pitchfork and wielded it in front of her. Lily began to cry softly.
Bruno stopped. A vein in his neck bulged. Sighing, he took out his gun again and aimed it at Gia.
“Put it down, Tessa, or she dies.”
“Don’t, Tessa,” Gia said softly, sadly.
Shifting in front of Gia, she glared at him. “Put the gun away.”
“You first.” He gestured to the pitchfork.
Her stomach in knots, she let it fall to the floor.
“Come over here,” he ordered.
Tessa reached down and, easing Lily’s hands free, gently pushed her toward Gia. “I love you, ladybug.”
When Lily almost lurched forward, Gia wrapped her arms around her and held her fast.
“Mommy!”
Her heart splintering, Tessa approached Bruno. His mitt-sized hand latched on to her upper arm. The blast of gunfire coming from the main entrance told her Cruz was being kept busy with the other goons.
“Let the child go,” he said.
“No!” Tessa tried to shove him out the door. “I said I’d go with you. He’s not getting anywhere near her!”
He didn’t budge, just trained the gun on Gia. When Gia didn’t react, he jammed the barrel into Tessa’s skull.
“This one’s death certificate is already signed. You insist on being stubborn, and you shorten her life.”
Her mouth opened, and her gaze snapped to Tessa’s, apology and tears filling the brown depths. She let go of Lily, who shot across the room to hold on to Tessa.
Bruno scooped her up as if she weighed nothing, lodged her beneath one arm and pushed Tessa through the door. She stumbled, and he caught her in a bruising grip, forcing her toward the side entrance.
“Stop!” Cruz’s command volleyed down the aisle. She managed to look over her shoulder. He was crouched inside one of the empty stalls, his weapon ready.
But he wouldn’t take a shot, not with Tessa and Lily in the way. Frustration was carved into his face.
Bruno marched into the lane between the stables and the paddock. Bright sunshine hampered her view. She tried to think of a solution. If she fought back, Bruno or one of the others would likely shoot her and take Lily.
Her vision cleared enough for her to make out the waiting Cadillac, angled close to the building. Another one was idling on a side street beyond the paddock, where her brother was no doubt watching. The blood in her veins threatened to dry up as their unwanted reunion loomed. Would he take his time killing her, or would he show her mercy?
The crunch of boots on gravel behind them was accompanied by a sharp command. Mason and Bell emerged from the stand of trees edging the paddock. At the same time, Cruz eased out of the building, his weapon aimed at Bruno.
“You’re not leaving here with them,” Mason said with steely calm. His gaze didn’t flicker to her or Lily, and his expression was a closed book.
Bruno’s fingers dug into her flesh. He whirled, his head swiveling to take in all the officers. In the distance, the second SUV peeled out and disappeared onto a secondary road.
Bell spoke into his radio and set the deputies on Dante’s trail.
Mason continued to edge closer. “You’re outgunned. There’s no reason for this to get ugly.”
The driver shot at Cruz, who dove to the ground. Bruno released her. Tessa’s hands closed over Lily, who was screaming at the top of her lungs. To her relief, the much larger man didn’t fight her. He pounded after the vehicle.
Tessa scooped Lily into her arms and ran for shelter. A shot rang out, followed by a grunt and a thud. Tires screamed against the pavement.
There was a scuffle. Tessa didn’t wait around to see the outcome. She entered the stables, believing they’d be safe, when strong arms closed arou
nd her like a vise.
NINE
“Thank the Lord you’re okay,” Mason breathed, his lips catching her hair. His heart thundered against his ribs.
Tessa melted against his chest, her arm coming around his waist, fingers tangling with his utility belt. Tremors worked through her body. Her breathing was ragged.
He would’ve been content to hold her all day, or at least until they’d both recovered from that close call. Lily had other ideas. Plus, his mom wanted to see for herself that no one was harmed.
“Oh, Tessa, I’m so sorry,” she gasped, taking her hands. “I didn’t know what to do.”
“It’s okay.”
“What happened exactly?” Mason asked, dreading the answer.
His mom launched into a detailed explanation. “Tessa was very brave.”
Mason couldn’t speak. He hated it when violence was visited upon innocent civilians, much less people close to him.
“How did you know to come back?” Tessa asked, tucking Lily close to her side.
“Dante figured out our plans. When we got there, they were gone.”
Had he ordered one of his goons to surveil the stables? Had he hacked Tessa’s phone and listened in to their conversations? Although that would take serious skill, Dante had the means to make it happen.
“The Pascals are being taken to the hospital,” he informed them. “I’ll call and get an update later. We’ll go home soon.” It was nearing lunchtime. While he was new to this dad business, he’d already learned that Lily benefited from frequent and timely meals. “Stay inside while I check on things.”
Mason walked outside in time to see Bruno being loaded into an ambulance. The deputies would accompany him to the hospital and stay there until he was ready to be transferred to the county jail.
Cruz ambled over. “You guys got here in the nick of time. I almost lost control of the situation.”
Meaning, Tessa and Lily almost got taken on his watch. “Leaving you alone was my call. What happened falls squarely on my shoulders.” He gestured to the building. “How are the horses?”
