“Yes.” Theo’s tone was so filled with fury, I barely recognized his voice.
At that, the man removed the gun from my temple, one small consolation, and pulled me by the arm off the road and onto the trail below.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded as both men walked behind me, guns at the ready.
A clipped, “Shut up” was his only reply, and the only one I sensed I’d be getting at all.
He kept me in front of him, shoving me occasionally when I was too slow. Walking on a dirt trail in heels was no easy feat, and I stumbled several times only to be wrenched up violently. The sun had fully dropped, and though there was still a tinge of light, it was getting harder and harder to see clearly.
“Anything?” he demanded of his partner.
“Nothing. We’re clear” came the immediate reply. “We’re nearly at the drop point.”
I sensed reaching the “drop point” wasn’t going to improve my situation.
“Looks like you need to hit target practice more often,” one of my captors goaded.
“Quiet,” the other man clipped.
Full darkness had fallen, and it was now nearly impossible to see. The two men clicked on low-beam flashlights that provided little light for me as I made my way down the rocky trail. I couldn’t hear anything beyond the tread of our footsteps and my captors grousing, but I knew Theo and at least some of the team had to be following.
We were nearly to the point where I knew a parking lot lay just around the bend when I tripped over a tree root, sending me crashing to all fours.
Through the darkness, chaos erupted.
Chapter 26
Synchronized bullets zinged overhead and nearly simultaneous grunts sounded from my captors. I didn’t have time to move a muscle before men were moving in rapidly from just off the trail.
In the dim light of the flashlights, I was able to make out Theo as he crouched over the man who’d shot Declan. With succinct force, he punched him once in the face, kicking the gun that had fallen aside that much farther away.
A glance to my right showed Sid in much the same position over the other man. Ryan and another man who held a rifle over one shoulder moved in to sweep up the guns.
I didn’t need to ask why they were armed, I knew SEALs and marines were always prepared, retired or otherwise.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist, gently drawing me up off my knees. “Come on, babe. Let’s get you out of the dirt,” Theo coaxed.
I stood up, knowing my dress was in tatters and my knees must be a bloody mess, and collapsed into his arms out of a relief so profound it nearly stole my breath. “I knew you’d come,” I sniffled. “I knew you were there.”
“The whole time,” he assured me, holding me tight against his chest. “Never lost sight of you. Just needed an opening. Brought Peters along, best sniper the SEALs have ever seen.”
I looked over at the hunched figures of the kidnappers. They were clearly both alive as the Talon men and Chris Peters, who I remembered as a close friend of Travis’s from the teams, looked on.
“Peters took out their trigger hands,” Theo informed me, his tone laced with pride. “We need them alive so they can tell us who they were taking you to.”
I shuddered at the thought. “I don’t understand. Did Evan hire someone from prison?” It was the only explanation I could think of.
Theo made a noise in the negative. “We’ve been monitoring his activity on the inside.”
I looked up at him in surprise. I hadn’t known that.
He gave me a squeeze. “I wanted it out of your mind, babe. I wanted this behind you, so I didn’t mention it. But none of our intel points to Weston.”
Sid’s voice drifted over to me as he stood with his foot pressed against the shooter’s back. “Who’s your contact?” he was demanding harshly.
“I’m not telling you shit,” the man protested.
“I’ll keep putting holes in you,” Peters threatened. “I know how to make it slow and painful,” he added severely.
I had no doubt that was true.
“One of you can choose to speak up, the other one can die. Up to you,” Sid stated, as though it made no difference to him.
I doubted they’d actually kill one of them. Travis’s team didn’t operate like that unless there was no alternative, but the captors didn’t need to know that.
“Don’t know his name,” the other man grunted as Ryan kneeled with a knee to his chest.
“Shut up, Richards,” his partner grunted, but Richards continued.
“He’s waiting in the parking lot, black van. License plate starts with 4LZE. He’ll bolt if he doesn’t see her,” he warned. “We were supposed to have her front and center when we approached.”
“Does he know what you look like?” Sid demanded.
“No. All of our contact was over email or text.”
I stiffened my shoulders. “Then you’ll take me to him,” I confirmed to the guys at large, trying to sound stronger than I felt.
“Fuck no,” Theo bit out.
I turned to look at him, noting the stubborn set to his jaw through the dim light of his flashlight. “You’ll be right there,” I assured him softly. “I can’t risk him getting away and living like this any longer. I hoped it was over—wanted to believe it with everything in me, but I knew it wasn’t. Deep down I always knew that. We need to end this so we can get on with our lives. There isn’t another way.”
“She’s right, man,” Ryan put in quietly. “Sid and I can take her to the drop site. You and Peters back us up.”
“Goddammit,” Theo swore harshly, ripping his hand through his hair. “This is my future wife we’re talking about.” His tone was laced with a pain so cutting I wrapped my arms around him, trying to soothe the ache.
“We know, man,” Sid assured him quietly. “If I were you, I’d feel the same way. Hell, I’ve been you,” he reminded him. “But we can end this. And we can do it on our terms.” He turned to Ryan. “We’ll need to change out of these clothes.” He gestured toward his suit pants. “Think these assholes’ clothes’ll fit?”
Ryan chortled. “Maybe if I wore skinny jeans, but I think they’ll do.”
“Can we get a vest on her?” Theo demanded.
“It’ll show in my dress.” I shook my head.
Peters was already removing the vest he wore. Where he’d gotten it from was anyone’s guess. The fact these guys came prepared even to a wedding wasn’t a surprise. I had no doubt they had an arsenal in their vehicles, ready to grab at a moment’s notice. “She can wear Masters’s sport coat over it. Maybe one of these guys is soft and wanted to cover her up.” He snorted, kicking one of the captors in the thigh for good measure.
Theo remained stiff in my arms before blowing out a pissed-off sigh. “I fucking hate this. If we’re doing this, I’m taking her in.”
Sid was shaking his head. “You’re too close, Armstrong. You’ll give yourself away.”
I knew he was right and hoped Theo recognized it, too.
“She’s family, man. We’ve got her,” Ryan put in as he and Sid forcibly stripped both captors down to their boxers, changing quickly. I noted they left both men nearly naked and didn’t think they aimed to amend that.
“Fuck.” Theo swore again before nodding reluctantly. “Who’s taking these assholes in?”
“McAllister and Evans are right up the trail. They were watching our six,” Ryan replied, referring to Travis and Marcus.
Poor Travis. I winced at the realization his wedding day had been disrupted by this.
As if on cue, two forms appeared on the trail. “She all right?” Travis asked.
“I’m fine.” I spoke for myself.
Theo quickly let Travis and Marcus in on the plan as my kidnappers were hoisted up to their feet.
“So sorry about your wedding, Trav,” I murmured regretfully.
“Don’t apologize,” he replied swiftly. “Her ring’s on my finger, mine’s on hers. Everythin
g else isn’t as important. Plus, I think some of the guys appreciated seeing some action. Right, Peters?” he goaded his friend. “Haven’t lost your touch even in retirement,” he noted.
“Course not,” Chris replied gruffly.
I appreciated the levity of the conversation, their banter easing some of my anxiety. I knew it was intentional, just one of the many reasons these guys were family.
“Be safe,” Trav added, his tone more serious.
“Always,” Theo replied, and we watched Travis and Marcus forcibly haul the wounded captors up the trail, still clad only in boxers.
He turned to me, expertly fitting me in the bulletproof vest and draping Sid’s suit jacket over it. I’d been surprised Sid had still been wearing his jacket, but guessed in his haste he’d neglected to take it off.
Theo stooped low, taking my face in his hands. “Love you more than life, Sarah. You know I’d never agree to this if I saw another way, right?”
I grasped his wrists, nodding, pressing my forehead to his. “Love you, too. Let’s get this over with.”
He turned to Sid. “Take care of my girl, brother.”
“Always,” Sid assured him, taking his place behind me as Peters and Theo disappeared into the trees like ghosts. How they moved so quietly I’d never know.
“Gonna have to shove you a few times, Sarah,” Sid warned gently. “Might have to speak to you harshly.”
I nodded. “I get it. Let’s go,” I replied, needing to get moving before I lost my nerve. I knew if I showed even a glimmer of hesitation that Theo would call this off. And I wanted it to be over. I needed it to be.
Ryan trailed behind Sid, both men now wearing jeans and hoodies, which they had pulled over their heads. They’d commandeered the captors’ flashlights, and Sid discreetly pointed the beam ahead of me so I wouldn’t trip. Luckily, I didn’t have to fake looking scared out of my wits. I had no idea who was waiting, or what they wanted.
It only took us ten minutes to reach the parking lot. The black van waited, its paint blending with the darkness. Sid pushed me out ahead of him, making a show of his disdain as the van door slid open.
I nearly fainted when I saw who stepped out.
Mitch Weston. Evan’s father.
Dressed in a wrinkled polo shirt and khakis, a gun loosely held at his side, he didn’t resemble the suit-clad governor I’d seen in court. His hair was no longer cropped close to his head, his clothes no longer pressed within an inch of their fabric. He looked disheveled and as though he hadn’t slept in days.
“Took you long enough,” he sneered, his cold eyes on me.
“You’re—you’re Evan’s dad,” I sputtered, wanting to make sure Sid and Ryan knew what we were dealing with.
“You’re a quick one, aren’t you,” he scoffed in contempt. “Always a little shit starter. Didn’t think one little girl was capable of fucking up my life and my son’s to such a degree.”
“What do you mean?” I demanded. “Your son tried to rape me!” I cried in outrage. “He’s harassed me for years.”
He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with hate. “My son should have taken care of you long ago. Left his mess to me, and I intend to clean it up.”
I reeled back, realization dawning. “You killed Jessica. Didn’t you?” I whispered in shock.
He shrugged as though it meant nothing to him. “Another mess. That girl was too dumb for her own good. Thought she could testify against my boy.” He shook his head before his cold gaze landed on me. “It was bad enough you had the chance. That won’t be allowed to happen again.” He looked to Sid. “Bring her to me. I’m behind schedule.”
Sid gave me a shove from behind. “I’ll put her in the van.” With that he pushed me toward the van, so he was apace with Mitch. From there, with a move so swift I barely saw it, he wrenched the gun out Mitch’s hand and kneed him in the lower back, forcing him to the ground. “You’re done,” Sid snarled in the ex-governor’s ear.
“What the fuck!” Mitch bellowed, incensed as Theo and Chris emerged from their hiding spot, guns at the ready.
“You’re one sick fuck, you know that?” Ryan noted, training a gun on him.
Mitch’s nostrils flared. “She ruined everything.”
“You’re delusional,” I cut in, my fear gone and replaced by fury. I was done letting the Weston men torment me. “Maybe losing your sanity will help you survive your time in prison. But I hope not,” I added.
Theo came to my side, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me close. “Let’s get you out of here. One of the guys is coming down the hill now.”
“What about him?” I asked, gesturing to Mitch.
“Feds are on their way. We’ll clean up the mess,” Ryan assured me.
I wilted in relief. Now, I knew it was over. I finally took that deep breath I’d been longing to for so long.
I looked up at Theo. “I want to see Declan.”
He squeezed me gently. “Anything you want, baby. Always.”
My eyes filled with tears. “Now I can believe it.” I sighed.
“Believe what?” he prodded gently.
“That we get our always.”
He smiled tenderly. “Of course we do, sweetheart.”
And it was going to be beautiful.
Chapter 27
“Don’t tell her.” Declan’s demand through gritted teeth was the first words he uttered to me when Theo and I walked into his hospital room following his surgery.
He’d been hit in the shoulder, and though the bullet had been through and through, it had hit several tendons. His road to recovery would be long.
“Don’t tell who what?” I asked in confusion.
Theo had forced me to go home to shower and change clothes before visiting Declan, which had gone a long way to revitalize me, but my thinking was still muddled.
“Charlotte,” he grunted. “I don’t want her knowing about this shit.”
I looked at him, dumbfounded. “You want me to keep this from Charlotte? Why?”
He winced in pain, shifting to get comfortable on the hospital bed. “Because she’ll worry. She might even want to come. I want her carefree. I need her to live easy.”
I huffed in exasperation, leaning toward him with a pointed finger. “I’ll take it easy on you since you just came out of surgery and saved my life and all,” I began, “but if you think for one second my sister is living easy without you, then you’re more bullheaded than I thought.”
For a moment, we just glared at each other until a throat cleared behind us. “Um, so we either have the best timing or the worst,” Sam mused dryly as she and Sid came into the room with Hudson in tow.
“The worst,” Declan replied without delay.
“Watch it, Hale,” Sid warned. “You may be laid up but you still don’t get to be an asshole to my wife.”
“Who’s being an asshole?” Danny chirped as she and Caden joined our unhappy group.
Like the rest of us, they’d changed into casual clothing, with only Olivia still outfitted in her wedding best.
“Never mind.” I waved a hand. Despite my frustration with Declan, I didn’t want to make the tension worse. “Travis and Em get off okay?” I asked Danny. Travis and Emerly were due to fly out to Hawaii to start their honeymoon, and I hoped like hell they’d gotten on that flight.
Danika smiled. “Yep, they’re off. Hopefully their honeymoon will be enough of a distraction for Trav. He’s infuriated that Weston’s alibi for Jessica’s murder got past him.”
“It got past all of us,” Theo grumbled.
I reached for Theo’s hand, giving it a squeeze. “Including the Feds,” I pointed out.
Sid scoffed as though the comparison was insulting.
Something told me the Talon team wouldn’t be letting the subject drop until they’d gotten more details.
“You all don’t need to be here,” Declan ground out in protest. “I’m fine. It was just a graze.”
Sid snorted. “It was
more than a graze, Hale, and you know it. I get that you’re shit at asking for help. Luckily in this case, you won’t have to ask. You’re getting it whether you like it or not.”
“Fact,” Sam replied, while Danny and I nodded our agreement.
Declan let out groan of complaint that was cut off by a shocked gasp from Sam.
I turned to her in confusion, finding her staring at a puddle of water at her feet. “But, um, that help from me might be a little bit later,” she muttered.
“Babe?” Sid’s voice was concerned as he looked at his wife.
She looked at her husband calmly. “Remember how you freaked out when I went into labor with Hudson,” she reminded him, “and you promised not to do that again?”
“Oh shit,” Sid exclaimed, catching on to the fact that her water had broken.
“No.” Sam shook her head. “Not oh shit. Calm, remember?” she coaxed.
“Calm,” he agreed, though his expression still looked panicked.
I reached for Hudson, relieved when he came to me willingly. He was tired and it had been a long day. “Theo and I will take Hudson for the night. We can crash at your place,” I told her, sensing that someone needed to take charge. “Danny, why don’t you go get a nurse?”
Danny nodded, immediately leaving the room to do just that.
“I changed my mind, your timing is awesome,” Declan put in.
Sam shot him a glare. “If you think my going into labor is going to get you out of some TLC, you’re sorely mistaken, buddy.”
Only Sam could deliver so much sass while still standing in a puddle of her own fluids.
“Roger that,” Declan replied with a muffled grin.
“Sam,” I murmured gently, gesturing toward Hudson, who was a moment from falling asleep in my arms.
Her expression warmed as both she and Sid approached. “Hey, bud. You’re gonna go with Auntie Sarah and Uncle Theo,” she told her son softly. “Daddy and I are going to bring your baby brother home soon,” she explained.
He lifted his head, looking at her with wide, tired eyes. “Baby broder?” he asked in surprise.
Collide (Talon Security Series Book 3) Page 17
