Chapter 27
The moment Jace saw that Payton wasn’t a prisoner, he notified the others that he was shifting positions. He rushed down the stairs to the bottom floor in an effort to get closer to Taryn. His heart hammered erratically in his chest because he knew that things were about to hit the fan.
They had imagined all sorts of scenarios, but the one option they hadn’t taken into consideration was that Payton was working with Boyd.
And while none of them could hear what was said between Taryn, Boyd, and Payton, Jace saw the surprise and wrath on Taryn’s face through his scope, as well as Payton cuddling up to Boyd.
That’s all he needed to realize what was going on.
He reached the window and looked through the scope to find Payton with a gun trained on Taryn. He saw Taryn wiggle her fingers, but Jace couldn’t get a clean shot at Payton from his current position. He pressed the button on his COMs and told the others, “Shoot Payton!”
Before he could finish the sentence, Payton’s gun went off. Jace’s heart stopped. “Noooooo!” he bellowed and began shooting the guards near Taryn.
When he saw Taryn go down to one knee, Jace lowered his gun and ran to the exit.
He kicked it open and lifted the rifle to his shoulder once more.
Men poured out from everywhere as gunfire erupted from all angles.
He aimed at Payton, but before he could get off a shot, the unmistakable sound of a sniper rifle sounded, and the bullet hit Payton center mass. She went down instantly.
Jace had no idea who or where the shooter was or why they had shot Payton, but he was glad for it.
He took out two more guards as he made his way to Taryn.
When Jace had nearly reached her, he found Boyd in his scope, right as the bastard rushed into a building.
Immediately behind Boyd was the tall, black-haired man who had stood beside Boyd.
Except this time, he had a knife in hand.
Another loud crack sounded just as Jace turned to find a guard getting ready to fire at him.
The guard’s head snapped back with the force of the sniper round before he slumped to the ground.
In Jace’s ear, he heard the other members of the team asking who the sniper was. No one had spotted the shooter yet.
It felt like an eternity before Jace got to Taryn. He saw the blood as it soaked her shirt and ran down her arm. When she spotted him, tears filled her eyes. Jace grabbed her good arm and helped her to her feet, moving her next to the vehicle to help shield them from oncoming bullets.
“You’re clear, Jace!” Brice shouted over the COMs. “Come towards us.”
Jace caught Taryn’s gaze. “We’ve got to make a run for it. Can you do it?”
“Yes,” she said as she held her wounded arm against her body.
Jace checked to make sure all was good, then gave her a nod.
They took off toward the warehouse. Jace fired two shots when a guard stepped in front of him.
The same man was hit three more times, his body jerking with each strike of the bullets.
Jace jumped over the guard’s prone body on the way to the building.
The moment he had Taryn inside, he motioned for her to get behind a stack of crates to take cover from the bullets flying at them.
Jace used a broken window near him to sight in targets and fire.
Then, as quickly as it had started, the battle was finished.
The sound of sirens filled the air when the gunfire ceased.
“Time to leave,” Cooper said over the COMs.
Jace took one last look around to make sure no more of Boyd’s men were moving. Many were dead on the ground, but a few had run off when they realized that they were losing. Unfortunately, Boyd was also gone. Jace spun and went to Taryn to check on her wound.
She sat with her back against the crates, holding her arm tightly against her side with her eyes closed. When he kneeled beside her, her lids lifted, and her beautiful green eyes met his. She smiled despite the pain that was evident in her shallow breathing.
“You did good,” he told her.
She licked her lips and shook her head. “You’re being kind.”
Myles came up beside him then. He nodded at Taryn. “I’m Myles.”
“He’s a friend,” Jace told her. “And a hell of a good medic.”
It killed Jace to see Taryn wince when Myles examined her shoulder. Jace knew how lucky she was to be alive. If she hadn’t pushed the gun Payton held at her away, if Taryn hadn’t turned and tried to leave, things could be much, much worse.
“I don’t think the bullet hit the bone. I can’t be sure, though, until we get to a hospital,” Myles told them.
Caleb walked up with Brice then. “We’re not going to get that chance if we don’t bug out of here now.”
“Go,” Jace told them. “Meet up with Cooper and Cash and get out of here.”
There was a loud snort as Cooper and Cash walked into the room. “Like we’d do that.”
“There’s no need for everyone to go to jail,” Taryn said. Her gaze landed on Jace. “Leave. All of you.”
Jace shot her a smile. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Stubborn,” she said with a laugh.
Brice slung his rifle over his shoulder. “We recently learned how hard Jace’s head really is. Stubborn doesn’t even begin to define him.”
Jace got to his feet and looked at his friends. “What are y’all doing? Get out of here. There’s still time.”
“No,” Cash said. “We’re going to ride this out. Whatever happens.”
Jace couldn’t believe them. Then again, if he were in their shoes, he’d likely be saying the same thing.
He knew how lucky he was to have such people in his life, but he couldn’t let them sacrifice their lives like this.
“Brice, you have a wife and a son. Go home to them. Caleb, Cooper, your wives are waiting for your return.”
“Don’t try that bullshit with me,” Myles said.
Cash shot Jace a dry look. “I’m not going anywhere, so don’t waste your breath.”
“Please,” Taryn said as she looked at the faces of the men who had helped her. “Jace is right. Go home to your families. And take Jace with you.”
“What?” he asked as his head snapped to her.
She smiled up at him, then put her fingers over his lips to silence him. “I love you more than anything. You’ve gotten me out of a tough situation. Let me do the same for you.”
“No.” Jace couldn’t believe she was even saying this.
Cash set his rifle on the floor beside him and jerked his chin to the approaching lights coming through the broken windows. “Looks like it’s too late anyway. We’re about to be surrounded.”
“Keep pressure on her wound,” Myles said as he quickly tossed aside his M4 and got to his feet to face the door.
Jace followed everyone else and set down his weapons. He had just put his hands on Taryn’s wound when men busted through the door with guns drawn and lights shining in Jace’s and the other’s eyes.
“We’re unarmed,” Cooper said.
Jace held Taryn’s gaze as he hollered, “And we have someone who needs medical attention.”
“Hands in the air!” someone shouted.
With guns aimed at them, Jace had no choice but to do as commanded.
His hands were covered with Taryn’s blood.
With the dark room and the lights blinding them, Jace could only make out the forms of the men swarming into the room.
He heard more moving about the building.
Suddenly, he was hauled to his feet and pulled away from Taryn.
He immediately elbowed the man who had grabbed him and tried to get back to Taryn. She reached out her hand and yelled something he couldn’t make out. The next thing Jace knew, he was being hauled back while his team yelled at the authorities.
“Take it easy,” Cash whispered in his ear.
Jace relaxed when he realized it was Cash who had him. Once that happened, the tension in the room eased. They lowered their arms, and the men with guns took their fingers off the triggers.
“Damn. Y’all are intense.”
Their heads turned at the sound of the new voice.
With the flick of a switch, the room was suddenly bathed in light.
Jace blinked as his eyes adjusted. He saw a tall, solidly built man walking toward them with a black windbreaker on.
He had short, dark hair graying at his temples.
The man’s light brown gaze moved over each of them until he saw Taryn.
The man then shouted for a medic. Jace breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived. But that quickly dissolved when Taryn was helped to her feet and led from the room. Her gaze sought his, and when Jace tried to go to her again, the man stepped in front of him.
“You’re Jace Wilder.”
Jace clenched his hands and glanced at the door through which Taryn had just disappeared. “I am.”
The man grinned. He said each of their names, his gaze landing on them one at a time.
Cooper crossed his arms over his chest. “And you are?”
“Bobby Flannigan. I’m part of the FBI office of Fort Worth. Seems you boys have a lot of friends in high places.”
Caleb released a long breath. “Comes with the territory, as I’m sure you know.”
Bobby nodded his head. “That I do.” He glanced at his men. “Lower your weapons. Finish checking the buildings for more of Walters’ men.”
No one said anything until the armed men were gone, leaving only their group and Bobby.
Jace wanted to ask so much, but he didn’t want to step wrong in this situation.
He didn’t know who had called in the FBI.
The fact that Flannigan had mentioned those in high places made Jace think a couple of people might have put calls in on their behalf.
Bobby sighed loudly and rocked back on his heels. He wore a grin that made him appear happy-go-lucky, but no one in the room was fooled by it. They all recognized that Bobby Flannigan wasn’t a man they should cross.
“Well, we’ve certainly got ourselves quite the pickle,” Bobby said into the silence.
Jace took a step forward. “This is my fault. No one else’s. They came to help after everything was all over.”
Bobby’s gaze swung to him. “Is that right?”
“He’s lying,” Cooper said. “I was here.”
Caleb nodded. “Me, too.”
“And me,” Cash said.
Brice flashed a grin. “Yep. I was here.”
Bobby looked at Myles. “What about you?”
“Of course, I was here,” Myles replied with a smile.
Jace wanted to kick all of them. He was trying to get them back to their families, but they were being stubborn. Just as he would be in their places.
The FBI agent scratched his eyebrow. “Do any of you know how long we’ve had Boyd Walters under surveillance?”
“This couldn’t wait,” Jace said.
“So I’ve been told.” Bobby glanced at the ceiling. “Things could’ve gotten out of control here. I don’t need to tell any of you that. Based on your military records, you all know exactly how bad things can get. Which is why I can’t believe you took matters into your own hands.”
Cash shrugged. “When the facts showed that Boyd had connections to branches of the government, the judicial system, and law enforcement, we were left with very few options. Taryn’s life was at stake. We believed her sister was being kept under duress, as well.”
“Taryn and her family were kidnapped in the middle of the night years ago,” Jace said. “She watched her father and brother be murdered right before her eyes. You’re damn right we were going to help.”
“I appreciate the candor. Let me give you some in return.” The agent stepped over a rifle on the floor and leaned against a crate.
“If it were up to me, I’d have all of you in cuffs.
Anyone thinking they can take the law into their own hands causes more problems than it solves.
But I don’t get a say in this. I’ve been ordered to let you go. ”
Myles frowned, confusion evident on his face. “What?”
“You heard me,” Bobby stated. “Get your weapons and go home.”
One by one, they gathered their guns and knives and walked out of the room until only Jace and Bobby remained. Jace bent to retrieve his rifle and slung the strap over his shoulder as he looked at the Fed. “Where is Taryn?”
“We’re going to need a statement from her after she’s been tended to by a medical professional.”
“She’s my wife. Where is she?”
Bobby blew out a breath and pushed away from the crate. “You’re a smart man, Jace. Things have gone your way tonight. Don’t push it.”
“I’m not leaving without my wife,” he stated emphatically.