“It’s been a dream for so long,” Josh drawled, heavy on the sarcasm.

  Niall chimed in. “I’d like to thank the Academy…”

  Josh cracked a smile.

  Talia came on again. “While you bozo’s have been performing your comedy routine, I’ve been redirecting satellites. Two heat signatures in that shed.”

  Heat was good.

  Heat meant she was still alive.

  Sal said, “Our girl in there?”

  Even if she was, there was little they could do that wouldn’t start an all-out war between them and double their number of armed men willing to die.

  Josh said, “How do we get her out?”

  . . .

  “What time is it?”

  The woman started, halting her long-winded speech about freedom and something or other. “What…who cares? That isn’t why I came in here.”

  “Okay,” Dakota said. “I was just curious what time it was.” She shrugged one shoulder, but not much. She didn’t want the woman to think she wasn’t all that secure. The last thing she needed was to be completely immobilized.

  If the pug-faced woman would come a half step closer, Dakota could be done with whatever this conversation was. But she needed to gather intelligence from this woman. She was probably some kind of leader, so as tempting as it was, Dakota tamped down the urge to hurt her and then walk out of here. Right now she needed answers more than she needed escape.

  Dakota turned her head to the side and spat out the blood-mixed saliva that had collected in her mouth. Her head throbbed like crazy. It was distracting enough she wasn’t sure what to do next. She recited more of the Declaration of Independence while the woman stared at her with resting pug face.

  Okay, so she wasn’t doing as well as she wanted to believe. But lying to oneself was like balance—some days it was there, other days you had to work harder to get a good tree pose going.

  It was the smell. And Austin being in here earlier. The taste of blood in her mouth. Hearing the teen whimper when she was hit. He might have dumped Maggie’s body, but he was no hard-nosed criminal. The kid was new, being inducted into how this whole thing worked so he could take over in a few years, maybe.

  Pug-face woman finally said, “That’s all you’re curious about? What time it is?”

  “Can’t say I don’t have questions.”

  Maggie. Austin. The shipments. The orchard.

  Dakota didn’t know what to ask first.

  Pug-face woman said, “Too bad it’s going to be me asking the questions and you giving me answers.”

  “Fire away,” Dakota said.

  The woman actually reacted. Just a tiny glint. Not quite humor but there was something. She mushed her lips together, and the glint was gone. “Why are you snooping your fed nose around my orchard?”

  Well, that was telling. Her orchard. “I’ve met the owners. Nice people. I don’t think they’d take too kindly to you claiming their property.”

  “Our territory is vast. The fact the federal government isn’t aware of who owns what is kind of the point, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah, I know. Stick it to the man. Live free, but ready for war.” At least, that was what most people thought of them. They figured that with these militia guys it was mostly bluster and not much else. Except the amount of guns they have stockpiled.

  The woman snorted, like she thought Dakota was hilariously misguided. “We don’t need no feds poking their noses around.”

  “Just following the stink.”

  “Of what?”

  Dakota curled her lips up. “Why don’t you tell me all the things you’re up to, and I’ll tell you which ones I've heard about?”

  The woman actually chuckled.

  “Worth a try,” Dakota said. “How about we start with Maggie? You kill her?” She knew Austin and Terrence hadn’t done it.

  “That airhead.”

  “Wrong place at the wrong time? Overheard something?” Dakota paused for a second. “Someone got mad at her and went too far, maybe?”

  She’d been strangled. A personal death that put two people face-to-face, close enough you could hear their last breath. See the look in their eyes. It wasn’t something done by accident, or without reason. Whether that reason was by order, or because of overwhelming anger, was the question she wanted an answer to.

  “Do you want me to confess?” the pug-face woman asked. “Are you going to arrest me?”

  “Did she get this treatment?” Maggie hadn’t looked like she’d been beaten, but that was just her face.

  “What you’re experiencing—what you’re going to experience—is reserved for feds.”

  “So Maggie was different.”

  “That piece of trash. She was nothing!” Spittle flew. The woman’s face turned red.

  “And you got rid of her,” Dakota said. “Then you had Austin dump her at the orchard like the trash she was.” Her voice was measured. Cold to her own ears. She’d never liked that tone. The one she’d had to learn, that contained no emotion whatsoever. No life.

  She sounded dead.

  “So what if I did? It’s not like you’re going to tell anyone.”

  They were going to kill her. That wasn’t the part Dakota was so worried about. It was the stuff that came before it that was concerning. Her face and head both hurt like nobody’s business. She needed to spit again. Had he cracked a tooth? Ugh. She hated the dentist.

  “… even listening to me!”

  Dakota blinked. “What?”

  The woman screamed in rage. Close enough Dakota saw her uvula.

  She tipped her head to the side, ignoring the pain. “You seem like you’re having a bad day.” Even though it was the middle of the night. “Why don’t you tell me about it? Maybe I can help. Then if you let me go, I’m sure things will smooth out. I won’t mention this to anyone.”

  Her scratchy palm slapped Dakota across the face. The blow whipped her head to the side, her cheek stinging.

  Dakota spat. Inciting rage in the pug-face woman could wind up being a good thing, or it could go very badly. “Is that what happened to Maggie? You lost it, and she wound up dead? Maybe things just went too far, and you didn’t mean it.”

  “Tell me what led you here.”

  “You,” Dakota said. “And whatever you’re up to.”

  She wanted to trust that she would be rescued. But she couldn’t rely on it. The door wasn’t going to blow off its hinges. No armed gunmen would burst in all of a sudden.

  Was her team here? Were they coming?

  Was Josh dead?

  She’d seen him get shot but had forced away those thoughts. Until now. She couldn’t fight back the surge anymore.

  She didn’t like the fact she might actually feel something for a man she’d met only yesterday. Not that she would like, cry, or anything. But she would feel the loss.

  He seemed nice enough. Like he was a good guy who loved his dog and didn’t deserve to die just because he tried to help her.

  She wasn’t worth that.

  Where was Sal? And Niall? Was Talia looking for her? Was Victoria pacing her study at home, waiting for the phone to ring?

  “What exactly do you think I’m up to?”

  Dakota said, “Something. Or you wouldn’t be so concerned that I’ve found out about it.” She spoke the thought aloud, unable to fully process it in her head. Not when it currently felt like it was about to split open.

  The pug face woman swung around and flung the door open. “Find out what she knows!”

  She stormed out, letting the cold air blow in. Dakota’s skin prickled, and she shivered. Shouldn’t have downed so many sparkling waters at dinner.

  She hopped up out of the chair before anyone came in. Then plopped her butt down on the floor—gross—and shifted her arms to the front so she had use of her bound hands. Her head swam, but she ignored it. She wasn’t going to be able to get out of here without brain power and use of her limbs.

  Disable the guards. Run for it.

  Not a great plan but hopefully her team was ready to assist.

  Terrence came in just as she climbed to her feet. He stopped. Blinked.

  Dakota struck fast and hard. She poured all of her frustration and discomfort into her attack.

  . . .

  Josh moved between two containers at the edge of the property, the kind of shipping containers that transported freight on the back of semi-trucks. He held his gun in a loose grip. Shoulders shifting. Feet moving. Stiff or tense didn’t help anything when an attack could come out of nowhere.

  He stopped at the end and surveyed the expanse of dirt between him and the shed. Ruts from tires. Piles of dirty snow. Someone had made a snowman. It was halfway melted now, with the wrinkled carrot lying where it had fallen.

  Air puffed white from his mouth as he stood and watched. Terrence Crampton had passed a heavy-set woman and entered the shed. The woman had stalked off.

  Cigarette man was still there, not paying attention to much beyond his habit and his phone. He lifted his head and glanced at the woman’s back. Didn’t think much of her but wasn’t willing to share that opinion to her face.

  Something from the shed drew his attention. The man shifted that way and looked over. His shoulders shook with humor over what was happening inside.

  Too far to run over and put him down before he turned back.

  The guards at the north entrance were a quarter mile to Josh’s left. Whatever he did would put him out in the open where they’d see everything.

  The shed door flung open. Dakota stumbled out. It was too dark to see her face, but he saw her go down.

  Josh ran before his brain could catch up and tell him rushing over there wasn’t a good plan.

  Cigarette man dropped his phone and fumbled behind him. Gun?

  Josh brought his up.

  Dakota rushed at him, ducked her head to change levels at the last second, and tackled his stomach. The man landed on his back, her on top. She swung her hands together in front and hit him. Tied up?

  Josh’s boot dipped sideways into a rut. His leg caught and his other knee landed in the frozen dirt. Ouch. The force jarred his shoulder, making it impossible to ignore it any longer. The pain was blinding. And while pain meds were a beautiful thing, he’d been shot, and it hurt.

  Josh had to push a breath out between gritted teeth and get his footing back under him so he didn’t pass out.

  Cigarette man shoved Dakota aside so she rolled, ending up flat on her back a few feet away. Struggling to get up. The guy pulled a gun from the back of his waistband and pointed it at her.

  Josh went with instinct and cried out again, running. It was enough to distract cigarette man.

  The guy looked at him.

  Josh winced at the pull against his wound but held his gun up and put a bullet in his chest. And he didn’t miss the guy’s heart. The explosion echoed in the night. Terrence Crampton stumbled from the shed. Josh ignored the yelling in his earpiece, clambered to his feet and ran for Dakota. A dog barked. She was already up, and grabbed cigarette guy’s gun.

  Turned.

  Pointed it at Terrence.

  But he wasn’t armed. Josh yelled, “Let’s go!”

  Automatic gunfire peppered the ground between them. Dakota and Josh both cut toward the south. “On me.” He ordered, assuming she’d understand he knew the way out.

  Josh keyed his radio as he ran. “I need cover—”

  Before he even finished, answering gunfire sounded across the compound. The cavalry had come.

  Josh raced with Dakota to the hole he’d cut in the fence, bullets dogging every step.

  Chapter 10

  Dakota raced after him. He would never know how much trust it took to concentrate only on him, push out everything else and just follow. Submit to his leading.

  She was never going to tell him how much that took.

  Josh cut right around the back of the container.

  She could hear the jingle of metal tags. “Dogs.” She didn’t want them to race up behind her and grab her pant leg. Bite her.

  A sob burst from her throat, but her eyes remained dry.

  Josh stopped at a fence and waved her through the hole. She scrabbled on hands and knees through the gap, grimacing at how useless her bound hands were. A gun fired.

  She spun around, expecting to be shot. She’d dropped the gun right before they ran, and hadn’t been able to stop and grab it.

  Two big dogs stopped in their tracks right behind them. Both barked, paws lifting off the ground.

  Josh fired again, weapon pointed at the dirt. The dogs yelped and backed up. With a swift head nod, he motioned for Dakota to go through first. She glanced back. Guys with automatic weapons raced between the containers, headed right for them while the dogs paced. Waiting for orders.

  Josh tugged her elbow, and they ducked through, skirting the fence line. “This way.”

  “K.” It was all she could get out.

  They had to put distance between them and those guys with automatic weapons. There was no way they would win that fight.

  And the more distance between her and those dogs, the better.

  Every step felt like it took forever. As though time had slowed, and every breath was drawn out. A lifetime between each one.

  “Copy that,” Josh said, his voice breathy. He grabbed her hand and tugged her forward.

  She wasn’t going to last much longer running at this pace before her body shut down and she collapsed.

  Dakota glanced back but couldn’t see anyone.

  An engine revved. Not the throaty sound of a car. This was different. A four-wheeled vehicle headed right for them, lights on. So bright she had to shield her eyes.

  Josh said, “I know,” into his radio.

  Whatever that was about, there wasn’t time to ask him. The all-terrain vehicle cut left, off the path they were on, and headed between two trees at a slower pace. Dakota saw the word POLARIS on the side.

  Josh darted after it, still tugging her along with him. He let go of her hand and jumped on the back, grasped a bar at the top and tucked his feet up on a shelf at the back. He shifted and held out his hand. “Jump.”

  Dakota grabbed his hand. She planted her foot two more times, then launched herself up. The shin of her trailing leg hit the shelf, and she grabbed the bar. Josh nudged her forward with his free hand. “Climb through.”

  A bullet sang past her head. Josh ducked. Dakota’s whole body flinched.

  “Hold on,” Niall yelled from the front seat.

  There was no way she could climb through to the seat. Her fingers didn’t want to lose their grip on the bar. The wind was killer. So cold. A whimper escaped her mouth.

  Josh shifted closer to her, but there wasn’t much he could do without losing his own grip. He turned to Niall and called out, “Slow down a fraction. About twenty feet.”

  Niall eased off the gas, both hands a death grip on the wheel.

  Josh stuck two fingers from one hand in his mouth and whistled. Loud and sharp. Dakota winced as the sound reverberated through her head.

  Seconds later, Neema ducked out from behind a bush and jumped. She cleared the passenger side and landed on the seat, skidding into Niall. Her teammate yelped. At any other time it might’ve been funny.

  Niall drove through the woods. Neema panted, mouth open and tongue hanging out. Josh shifted and Dakota glanced at him.

  He winced and leaned closer so their faces were almost touching. “You don’t look so good.”

  “Probably about as great as I feel.” She could hardly talk around the discomfort of her swollen face, numb from the cold air. “You were shot.”

  He nodded, eyes on her. Unreadable. “I’m okay now.”

  Niall eased on the brakes and she saw they were approaching an SUV. Niall stopped the ATV. “Go with Josh.” The look on his face was one she didn’t want to argue with. “I’ll draw them away.”

  “Are they following us?” She glanced back.

  “Go Dakota.”

  Josh jumped off the the back and lifted her. It took a second to disconnect her fingers from the bar, then he set her feet on the ground. “Come on.”

  She looked at Niall, even while Josh led her to the vehicle. Should she be doing something?

  “Go,” Josh said. “Get warm.”

  “What is—”

  Josh flung the door open. “Get in.” He glanced at the animal. “Neema, up.”

  Dakota flinched. The dog hopped into the car and moved to the backseat.

  Niall drove off. Without thinking about it, her body turned to the ATV. She needed to help her team, didn’t she?

  Josh gave her a gentle push. Her legs gave out. He tucked them inside and shut the door in her face.

  Neema laid her head on Dakota’s shoulder. She recoiled and shifted in her seat so the dog had to move away.

  Josh got in, saw her body language, and said, “Neema, platz.” He turned the key and started the car. The dog settled into the backseat with a grunt. He backed around in a U-turn and set off down the dirt track, tapping his finger on the steering wheel.

  “What?” He needed to say something. She could feel the shakes coming over her, so she cranked the heat and pointed the blowers at her face. “Tell me.”

  “Alvarez hasn’t checked in yet.”

  Dakota grabbed the cord to his earpiece and stuck it in her own ear.

  “…on. Come on.”

  “Talia, it’s me.”

  Josh bent toward her so their faces almost touched. So the cord was long enough.

  Her teammate blew out a breath that made the connection crackle. “Thank You, God. You’re all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Like that was important right now? “Where’s Salvarez?”

  “Hunkered down would be my guess.”

  “But you don’t know.”

  “You think he let them capture him?”

  Dakota pressed her lips together. “He better be okay.”

  Josh said, “We’re headed back to the motel. Keep us posted.”

  “Copy tha—”

  Dakota interrupted Talia. “We are not. We’re going to help him.”

 

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