Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
ENZO
My fear is a living thing.
I’ve always been able to control it before. Corral it. Channel it into something useful.
I’m trying. But each time I try to shove it down, it comes right back. Clawing. Choking. Forcing terrible, unwanted thoughts into my head.
What if Winter is being hurt?
What if the person who has her is touching her? Violating her?
Can my brave Winter handle being held captive again?
She’s strong, but even she has a breaking point.
And the worst fear of all.
What if I’m too late?
“She’s going to be okay.”
As I turn to glance at Gage, who’s sitting in the passenger seat next to me, he continues in a low, reassuring tone, “Winter is strong. She can do this. And we’re nearly there. We’ll get her out. It’s going to be okay.”
“You don’t know that.” My voice is tight. Frayed. A band only moments from snapping.
From the middle seat, Alec says, “Based on what we know, Winter’s being used as leverage to get you there. To get you to do something. So it wouldn’t make sense for them to—” He cuts himself off. “Anyway. We have every reason to believe she’s okay. Don’t assume the worst.”
“How can I not?” My molars grind painfully. “Someone took her. You saw the photo. She’s tied up. Bleeding . And she’s so scared?—”
“Not badly hurt,” Knox interrupts. “Her injuries match what would happen during the struggle to take her. It didn’t look like anything else had been done to her.”
“Back then, maybe,” I snap. “But it’s been over half an hour. Who knows what could have happened since then.”
Shit.
The horrible possibilities keep bombarding me, each one worse than the last.
Winter badly beaten. Her delicate bones broken, possibly bleeding internally. Her clothes torn off; rough hands touching her.
And she must be so scared .
The guilt is overwhelming. “I should have been with her. It was too soon to let her go around town alone. If I’d just gone to her house?—”
“There was no reason to think she was in danger.” Ronan this time, from the third row of seats, a large medical kit beside him.
I make a sharp right, the tires screeching as I take the turn significantly faster than the speed limit. “One of Thomas’s friends?—”
“I’ve been keeping tabs on him,” Alec replies. “Thomas hasn’t made contact with anyone other than his public defender since he was arrested.”
“Who, then?” I’ve been wracking my brain ever since I got on the road. Could it be one of Thomas’s friends, possibly paid by Thomas to go after Winter? Or could one of them have decided they want her for themselves?
Like he’s reading my mind, Alec says, “Thomas doesn’t have any money. Not to hire someone to abduct Winter. And I’ve been checking on his friends. Two of them are gone. The other two are lying low. They have jobs, women, one has a kid. I don’t think they would risk it.”
“So if it’s not them, who ?” My fingers tighten on the wheel as frustration surges through me. “An enemy from one of my missions? Someone I served with?”
“Once we get there, we’ll find out.” Gage dips his chin at the drone sitting in his lap. “As long as there’s an unblocked window, I’ll be able to get a visual on whoever took Winter.”
“We’re almost there,” Knox says. He’s been studying the satellite images of the property we’re headed to, planning the best method of ingress. From the quick glances I’ve gotten during our brief stops in Morrisville and Harwick, we’re headed to a remote cabin a few miles north of Greensboro. It’s surrounded by woods—no surprise this far north—which will make it easier for us to make our approach undetected.
“How much further?” I ask.
“Just over this hill, there’ll be a dirt road on the left. Then about a mile until we get to the driveway.”
Almost there.
Almost to Winter.
I need to focus. Shove away the uncertainty and fear to deal with later, when I’m back home, with Winter safely there with me.
And she will come home. There’s no other option.
Once I take the turn onto the dirt road Knox mentioned, I take a deep, steadying breath, set my shoulders, and say, “Okay, Knox. What do you think?”
He replies briskly, “So. The driveway is about half a mile long, surrounded by trees on both sides. The house is in a small clearing, maybe twenty feet from the tree line. I think we should park on the road just east of the driveway. Then we get into the trees, enough for thick cover, and let Gage do his thing.”
I cast a quick glance at Gage. “How long do you think you’ll need to get a visual?”
“Not long. A few minutes, tops.”
“Good.” I’m settling back into mission mode, mentally running through a range of possibilities and tactics. How many people are there? Where are their locations? Are there weapons? What kind? How many? Where are the points of access into the house?
“Once we get the visual, I think we should split into two groups to make our approach,” Knox adds. “We’ll head through the woods and hold position just to the east and west sides of the house. Depending on the ingress points, which we’ll know by then, we’ll move in from there.”
“Okay.” Up ahead, I spot the narrow driveway. It’s unmarked, with a set of tire tracks still fresh on the packed dirt. I pull off the road about thirty feet before we reach it and turn off the ignition, then turn around in my seat. “Is everyone ready?”
A chorus of low yeses follows.
“We’re going to get Winter out.” Fear is a distant memory. The only emotion I’ll allow myself now is absolute confidence.
“We will,” Ronan agrees from the back. He gives me a small smile of reassurance. “Let’s get her home already.”
Two minutes later, as we’re standing in the woods waiting while Gage pilots his drone, Alec leans in and says in a low tone, “Whoever took her has no idea what they’ve done. They have no clue who’s coming after Winter. They don’t stand a chance.”
My jaw tightens, and I give him a quick chin lift. “Right.”
Ronan comes up next to me, his footsteps silent even amid the blanket of branches and leaves beneath them. The medic kit is slung over his shoulder. “I’m going to take the supplies right up to the house. Depending on what Gage sees, I’ll either leave them outside or bring them in with me. But I want to have them close.”
My heart skips a beat. Please let her not be badly hurt. Please let Winter look just like she did in the picture.
“I’ve got it.” Speaking quietly, Gage’s gaze is focused on the screen of his remote control. “Two doors, one in front, on the east side; the other in the back, on the west. Four windows in the rear, two large and one small in the front. Looks like we should be able to make a flanking approach.”
I’ve been trying not to crowd him, even though I’m desperate to catch a glimpse of Winter. But now I come to his side and peer down at the small screen. “Where are they?”
Gage makes a few adjustments, and the display shows the inside of the cabin. “Here. I can only see one person other than Winter. Which is great news for us. And she looks okay.”
Though it only takes me a moment to focus on Winter, it feels like it takes an eternity.
And then.
My Winter. Still in the chair, still with the same swollen cheek, still restrained. But there’s nothing to indicate a new injury. No fresh blood, no broken bones, and her clothes are still intact.
It’s no guarantee, but still miles better than some of the scenarios I imagined.
“And here’s our tango,” Gage continues. “There. Looks pretty normal. I’d be surprised if he even knows how to use that gun he’s holding.”
He looks like a man I’d pass on the street without noticing. No hint of previous military experience in his posture, no identifying tattoos or features, and he definitely doesn’t appear strong enough to be remotely a threat to any of us. Except for that gun in his hand. Get that away from him, and he’s done.
It takes another few seconds for recognition to kick in.
“Dennis?” My mind has a hard time wrapping around it. The cousin from Florida, the one I’ve never actually met. I only recognize him because I looked him up in the days before Uncle Caleb died, thinking he might want a chance to say goodbye.
But Dennis never responded, and neither did Charles or the rest of his family. It was weeks later, after the funeral, after the reading of the will, that I finally heard from them. It was Charles who called first, then Dennis a few days later, asking if I’d sell the property to them.
“You don’t want to be responsible for it,” Dennis reasoned. “Out in Kansas or whatever, doing your military thing, this is too much. We’ll pay a fair price. It’ll be easier all around.”
My jaw clenches at the flash of memory. I wasn’t living in Kansas. It wasn’t a military thing . And I did want to be responsible. I wanted to honor Uncle Caleb’s wishes. At that point, I was looking forward to a new chapter of my life in Vermont.
So I told them no, firmly. Twice. They never called back. And I thought that was the end of it.
I was wrong. And now everything makes sense.
“It’s my cousin,” I grit out. “From Florida. We’ve never met. But it’s him.”
Knox sucks in a sharp breath. “Your cousin ?”
“It must have to do with the property.” Cold realization trickles down my back. “There’s no other explanation.”
Shit.
Fuck.
Winter’s in trouble and it’s my fault. I brought this to her.
The guilt is suffocating.
Alec claps my shoulder. “It doesn’t matter why. What matters is getting in there and rescuing Winter.”
He’s right. Nothing else matters right now.
“Yes.” I meet his gaze for a moment, and I lift my chin in a small gesture of thanks. “He has no idea what’s coming. And he’s going to regret this.”
“What next?” Ronan meets my gaze, his brows raised in question. He’s trying to defer to me since it’s Winter in there, even though he’s just as skilled in these types of maneuvers as I am.
After a brief deliberation, I reply, “I’ll take the western route to the house, with Knox and Alec. We’ll enter the house from the rear. Since Dennis is in the front room with Winter, we can probably get inside without him noticing.”
Alec nods. “Sounds good.”
“Ronan, Gage; you take the eastern route. Once I engage Dennis, you come in the front and get Winter out. I’ll whistle when it’s time to move in.”
I wish we had comms for this, but on short notice, a whistle will do.
“Got it,” Ronan replies. He lifts his chin. “We’ve got your six.”
Glancing around at my friends, I meet each of their gazes briefly before asking, “Are we ready to move out?”
All four reply in unison, “Ready.”
I raise my hand, then lower in a gesture to move. “Let’s go.”
The half-mile trip to the cabin passes in a blink. Muscle memory takes over, allowing me to move through the woods quickly and without any noise. My mind is whirring, running through potential strategies to deal with Dennis. Attempt to talk him down? Promise him anything? Make an offensive move right off the jump? It all comes down to his proximity to Winter. If he’s close enough to get off a reasonable shot, I have to be more cautious. But if I can get him away from her…
In no time, we find ourselves in position, still hidden within the trees but less than a twenty second sprint to the cabin. This close, I can see how dilapidated the place is, with rotting boards and cracked window panes and several obvious holes in the roof.
I hate the thought of Winter in there, scared and confused and wondering if I’m coming for her. This has to be so triggering for her, and I just know this experience will set her back. After weeks of hard work—going to counseling, practicing self-defense and shooting with me, doing guided meditation and yoga—the nightmares and flashbacks will probably return with a vengeance.
Fucking Dennis.
No. There’s no place for anger. Not now.
As Alec and Knox gather around me, I pitch my voice low as I say, “Once we get to the back door, I’ll go in first. Knox, follow me inside, but hang back. I want Dennis to think I’m alone. Alec, you stay at the door until Knox gives you a signal to move. Ideally, I’ll disarm him and that’ll be it. But if I need backup…”
“Got it.” Knox lifts his chin. “Let’s do this.”
Hundreds of missions over twenty years, but nothing has come close to this.
We run for the back of the house, crouched low to avoid being spotted through a window, coming to a stop by the back door. I exchange glances with Knox and Alec before trying the knob, pleasantly surprised to find it unlocked.
Did Dennis think I’d just waltz up to the front door?
In another bit of luck, the door actually opens smoothly, so I can slip inside without making a sound. I enter a small kitchen with cracked counters and water-stained floors, and there’s a distinctly sour smell coming from somewhere.
The kitchen opens to what I imagine is supposed to be a dining room, though there’s nothing but a tarnished chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Around the corner, I can hear the rumble of a man’s voice, and a softer, female voice responding.
Winter!
As I move into the kitchen, Knox follows soundlessly behind me. He gestures with his chin toward the interior wall of the kitchen and when I nod, he heads over there. This way, he’s tucked out of sight but still close enough to help if I need him.
Alec comes inside and positions himself at the door. Like Knox, his Sig is in ready position. I have mine in low ready, which I’m hoping Dennis will interpret as a less threatening position. It’s not, but he’s not military, and I’d bank on him not being a skilled shooter, so he won’t know how quickly I can get off an accurate shot.
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly. All my focus coalesces into one thing. Neutralize the danger to Winter. Whatever it takes.
Then I move.
Through the small dining room and into the living room, which is empty except for two wooden slat chairs and a couch that looks like it’s at least fifty years old. Winter is tied to one of the chairs, looking not just scared, but also more than a little pissed off.
Dennis is standing, facing her, about five feet away.
When she sees me, her eyes widen momentarily, but she tries to keep her expression from giving anything away. Unfortunately, even that tiny tell is enough for Dennis to realize something’s up, and he ducks around Winter before turning to face me.
As he’s moving, I contemplate shooting him. But as good as I am, I’m not willing to risk hitting Winter. All it would take is one tiny move on Dennis’s part and the bullet could hit her instead of him.
Dennis whips out his gun and shoves it into Winter’s side, and when she flinches, I want to rip him to pieces. But instead, I just hold my gun steady, and say in a commanding tone, “Drop it. Now. Before this gets any worse for you.”
He barks out a laugh. “Hardly. I think you’re the one who needs to drop it. Unless you want me to shoot your girlfriend.”
Winter gives an almost imperceptible shake of her head, which tells me she has a pretty good idea of who he is and why she’s here.
Chances are, I could shoot him in the head before he gets a shot off. But it’s not certain. And I’d rather not make Winter go through something so gruesome. It’s just a matter of waiting for him to lower the gun. So I wait, even though it’s torture watching him pointing a gun at the woman I love.
“I don’t think so,” I retort. “You want something. Or you wouldn’t be doing this. So what is it?”
“You know what it is,” Dennis snaps. “If you’d just sold me the damn property, none of this would be happening. You could still be out in Arkansas doing your Marine thing and your girl wouldn’t have to go through this. But no. You had to be selfish .”
“Selfish? Uncle Caleb wanted me to have the house I grew up in. The store I used to work in. You never even came here. Why is it so important now?”
I have a feeling I know the answer. The house and store could sell for a decent amount, but it’s the acreage that holds the real value. Still, it’s undeveloped land in a rural part of Vermont. It’s unlikely an investor would want to come in and develop it. Unless…
“I found someone to buy it,” he spits, scowling at me. “A company that wants to turn it into some kind of”—he makes quotes with his free hand—“meditative resort. Do you know how much they’re willing to pay?”
“No. How much?”
“Two million.” He waits for me to react, but I just glare at him. “ Two million . I need that money. I have debts. Dad cut me off. And if you’d just sold it?—”
“You offered me two hundred grand. Hardly a fair deal, is it?”
“You could have negotiated! I would have gone up to two-fifty.”
“He hired Thomas to burn down the store.” Winter’s voice is hard, and she casts an angry look at Dennis. “That’s why he did it. To force you into selling.”
As Dennis’s attention shifts to Winter, the gun dips. Not quite enough, but close. “And it would have worked,” he replies. “With the store gone, there would have been more incentive to sell.”
“No. There wouldn’t. I made a promise to Uncle Caleb. It didn’t matter how much you offered, I wasn’t selling.”
“That’s why I’m here!” His voice raises. “You wouldn’t sell, and you’re not going to give in. So I had to do something different.”
I keep my tone carefully calm. “What’s your plan, then?”
“I’m going to kill you. But first, you’re going to sign it over to me. I’ll set your death up to look like a suicide, and by the time anyone finds you, they’ll never be able to connect it to me.”
What?
Is he really this stupid? Doesn’t he realize how suspicious that sounds?
And what about Winter? Is he planning on killing her, too?
But I don’t ask any of those questions. Instead, I follow a hunch. Something I think will really distract him.
“Does your dad know you’re doing this?” When his eyes flare with surprise, I press on. “Does Charles approve of what you’re doing?”
Dennis frowns, and the gun dips a little further. “He has no idea. He’s too much of a pussy. He was all excited about trying to buy the property, building a vacation home up north, but once you said no, he just dropped it.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Of course not! I knew there was value. And then I found a buyer, and it was all going to be perfect. My stupid dad, though… after the funeral, he started moaning about how he should have gone. That he let old grudges go on too long and some bullshit about his own mortality. He even said you deserved to have it. It was fucking bullshit.”
It’s almost time.
“And now what?” I pin Dennis with my gaze. “Are you just going to shoot me? Just like that? Have you ever shot anyone before?”
A flicker of uncertainty moves across his face.
“Are you confident you can get off a killing shot? Do you think you can actually pull the trigger? Kill someone in cold blood?”
The gun drops another inch. It’s not pointed at Winter anymore, but at the floor.
“Yes.” Dennis swallows hard. “I can.”
“I don’t think so.”
And before he can argue, I take my shot.
Like always, my aim holds true.
I hit him in the hand, and he drops the gun instantly.
He lets out a howl of pain.
I whistle, though it’s probably not necessary. Not with Dennis clutching his bloody hand and screeching, “My hand! My hand! What the fuck did you do?”
I dart forward and pick up his gun, and then I do one of the things I’ve been wanting to since I got here. I punch him square in the face.
Dennis drops just as everyone else comes swarming in.
Knox takes stock immediately and races toward Dennis, with Alec right behind him. They restrain Dennis; not that it’s difficult now that my cousin is whining and yelling about how I shot his hand off.
Ronan and Gage come barreling through the front door and Gage lifts Winter up, chair and all, and bolts back outside.
Ronan pauses, looks at me, and says dryly, “If you’d been planning on doing it all yourself from the beginning, why’d you invite us along?” Then he lifts his chin and smiles. “I’ll go look at Winter. Always glad to have your six.”
Shit.
My adrenaline is racing. Now that Winter’s out of danger, my calm is swept away in a rush of desperation.
I need to touch her. Hold her. Find out where she’s hurt and what Dennis did to her.
I need to be with Winter.
I turn to Alec and ask, “Are you good?”
“With this whiny baby?” Alec snorts dismissively. “We’re fine. Go see Winter.”
Knox reaches out and I hand him Dennis’s discarded gun. Mine, I tuck back in my waistband, adjusting my shirt so it’s hidden. I don’t want Winter to have to look at it, but I’m also not willing to go without until Dennis is in custody.
Not that I don’t trust Alec and Knox, but still. I’m not taking any chances.
Then I run out the door, my heart hammering in anticipation. Please let Winter be okay. Let there not be some injury I didn’t see.
By the time I get outside, she’s sitting on a grassy spot of lawn, with Ronan kneeling beside her. He’s cleaning the blood from her face, saying, “I’m sorry. I know it stings. It’ll be over in a second.”
But as soon as she sees me, she leaps up and races in my direction. She slams into my chest and my arms come around her, and I almost fall to my knees in relief.
She’s okay. She’s okay. I have her back.
But I have to be sure.
Winter’s face is buried in my shirt, but I carefully lean her back to inspect her. The bruise on her cheek makes me angry all over again, but I tamp it down and ask gently, “Where are you hurt, hun? Maybe you should let Ronan keep checking you.”
Her eyes are pink, but there’s no sign of tears. “I’m okay. I have some bruises from when I fell after being tased. That’s how I hurt my cheek; I hit the edge of the farm stand. And my wrists are kind of raw from the rope. But that’s all.”
Tased? Hurt from crashing into a farm stand? Wrists rubbed raw from being restrained?
None of those are okay.
But I have Winter back. And I’m never letting her go again.
Emotion swells up so quickly, my eyes burn with it. And I blurt out, “I love you. I’ve been meaning to say it, but I wanted the moment to be perfect. That was stupid. I shouldn’t have waited. I love you. I love you so much.”
Winter stares at me, and a second later, tears spring to her eyes. “I love you, too. I kept thinking I wished I hadn’t waited. But I knew. I knew you loved me. Even if you didn’t say it. And I love you so much, too.”
Oh.
I have the woman I love in my arms. And she loves me back.
Gathering Winter back to my chest, I press soft kisses to the top of her head while I blink back tears. “I love you, Winter. More than anything.”