Dangerous Lies (Badge of Honor #2)

Chapter 10

TEN

A burst of heat kissed Megan’s back, and she yelped in fear. Her heart pounded against her rib cage. She pushed her legs to move faster, the uneven ground threatening to trip her at every step.

The buzzing behind her grew louder, and she knew the drone was gaining ground. Desperate to make herself a harder target to hit, she zigzagged toward the trees surrounding her property. They wouldn’t provide her with a shred of protection. Once the flamethrower set the branches ablaze, even with the rain they’d had, it wouldn’t take long for the fire to spread. She couldn’t outrun a wildfire any more than she could escape the drone.

Her mind whirled, panic and fear making her thoughts frenetic. The relentless buzz of the drone stole her focus. Another blast of heat burst behind her, close enough to singe her hair. Her foot slipped on a patch of mud, and she went down hard, her knees hitting the ground with a bone-jarring thud. Pain shot up her legs and into her hips.

The drone zipped past. It rose into the sky and then spun, pointing the flamethrower’s barrel straight at her.

Oh God, help me.

Megan scrambled to her feet, legs trembling from the fall and the exertion. She heard Jax shout her name, his voice raw with urgency, but with her breath ragged and the drone closing in, her sole focus was on survival. The fall had changed her direction. Instead of being trapped between the house and the forest, she was facing the back of the property. Like a beacon of hope, the lake glittered in the fading sunlight.

Megan raced for it. The drone followed in pursuit. Her boots pounded against the earth, then thudded on the dock as she sprinted down its length. Sweat coated her skin. There was no time to think about how cold the water would be or to register the searing cramp in her side. Death followed her. The drone’s ever-present buzzing grew deafening. The flames at her back were so close she could feel the heat licking her skin.

With a last burst of energy, Megan leaped into the lake.

Cold darkness swallowed her whole. The icy water shocked her system, stealing her breath and clouding her vision. Her body sank to the bottom, but instead of pushing up, she stayed there. Where it was safe. But for how long? Her lungs were already screaming for oxygen. She hadn’t been able to take a full breath before diving under the water. The drone’s buzzing was muffled, but Megan could still hear it.

Hunting for her.

Silt drifted as she turned toward the dock. Bubbles escaped her lips as she released what little precious oxygen she had left. Kicking her feet, Megan swam closer to shore. The deepening darkness was the only indicator she had that she was in the right position. With a silent prayer, her lungs desperate for air, she surfaced.

The top of her head hit wood as she sucked in a breath with a gasp. Water lapped at the pillars holding up the dock. Megan clung to one, shivering, struggling to keep herself afloat even as her clothes dragged her back down. Her breaths were shallow. Water dripped from her hair into her eyes, clouding her vision. But the ever-present hum of the drone was there. Fear struck her hard. Now that she wasn’t an option, would it go after Jax? Her grandparents? Would it burn everything on her property to the ground?

Gunshots erupted. Megan flinched, startled by the sound. The drone wavered, spinning out of control, before plummeting into the lake with a splash.

Footsteps pounded on the dock above her. “Megan!” Jax’s tone was sharp, barely controlled.

He called her name again, more urgent this time.

“I’m here,” she croaked, her voice weak and barely audible. She trembled violently in the water. Her feet were numb, and it was hard to feel her legs. Still, she willed herself to move away from the dock’s protection to the ladder dangling in the water. Every motion felt like swimming through wet cement. Her teeth chattered. “I’m here.”

Jax leaned over the edge. Stark relief flashed across his features, quickly replaced by fresh urgency. He extended his hand. “I’ll pull you up.”

Megan wanted to argue that he couldn’t lift her out of the water, but was shivering too hard to speak. Jax was closer than the ladder. And she was so tired. Her muscles felt as weak as a newborn kitten. She reached for him, sliding her icy fingers against his warm palm.

He clamped down on her hand, his hold strong yet careful. Jax dragged her closer, then slid his other hand under her armpit. With effortless strength, as though she weighed nothing, he plucked her from the frigid water. Her teeth chattered harder as a breeze swept across her wet clothes. Her eyes drifted shut.

“No, you don’t. Stay awake, Megan.” Jax’s tone was firm, allowing no argument. Before she could even register what was happening, he swept her into his arms, holding her close to his chest. He said something else, maybe to someone nearby, but she couldn’t make out the words. Her mind felt fuzzy and slow.

She clung to his shoulders as he jogged toward the house, the heat emanating from his body a welcome contrast to her icy skin. His scent surrounded her. It was grounding. Safe.

Megan buried her face in the crook of his neck, warming her nose and lips on his bare skin. The rough prickles of his chin scraped against her temple. If she could have crawled inside of him, she would have.

He’d saved her life. Again.

Tomorrow, or maybe even later tonight, she’d be ashamed of her behavior. Embarrassed by the unabashed way she plastered herself against him. But for now, all she could think about was the warmth his body offered and the protection he provided.

For the moment, she was safe.

Megan knew, even in her half-frozen state with her mind not fully operable, that this feeling wouldn’t last. She was being hunted by a killer who wouldn’t stop until she was dead.

And next time, he might succeed.