Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
P ark couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t focus.
“Olson has Jenna. They’re on that boat.”
Vander cursed. “We need a boat.”
“I’m on it,” Ren said, jogging off toward the harbormaster’s office.
It would take too long. Olson would hurt Jenna, or worse. Park turned and ran down the dock.
“Park!” Vander bellowed.
“I’m going to get my woman back.” Park pulled his phone out and stabbed at the button. He held it to his ear.
“Deputy Marshal Briggs.”
“Owen. Olson’s got Jenna. He stole a boat.”
“ Fuck ,” Owen said.
“We have to get to her. We need the helo.”
“I’ll get it. Where are you?”
“At the harbor. Pick me up at the waterfront.”
“Be ready. I’m on my way.”
The minutes ticked by, and it felt like a fucking eternity. Then, Park heard the familiar thump of rotor blades.
He looked up and the blue-and-white State Trooper helicopter came into view. It swept in low over the town.
The wind battered him as it lowered toward the street in front of him. The downdraft flattened his shirt to his body.
It was still hovering several feet above the ground when Owen slid the side door open. Park ran and leaped aboard.
“Go,” he said.
As he sat in a seat, the tail of the helicopter lifted, and the pilot flew them out over the harbor. The boats below looked like toys.
A boat was maneuvering out of the harbor. That would be Vander and the guys.
“Olson’s got Jenna on a boat,” Owen said, his face grim.
Park nodded and looked out the side window. Soon, they were over the open water of the bay, and he saw the trail in the water. In the distance, he saw Olson’s boat.
Hold on, Jenna. Hold the fuck on.
“Jenna’s tough,” Owen said. “The toughest person I know.”
Park nodded. “I know.” His jaw was tight and he fought his fear down.
He hadn’t wanted to feel again. After the torture, after he’d seen those good soldiers die, he hadn’t wanted to feel anything.
His motto had been stay alone. Stay numb.
Jenna had blown all that to pieces.
He couldn’t live without her.
“I love her. Fuck.”
Owen’s eyes went wide.
“Forget I said that,” Park said.
“Ah, that would be impossible.” Owen dragged in a breath. “Must have been a hell of a hike in the wilderness.”
Park shot the man a look.
“I’ve known her almost a year. She deserves someone who recognizes her strength and skills. Who loves and respects her for it.”
“She’s the strongest, most amazing woman I’ve ever met.” Park raked a hand over his head. “Hell, I didn’t want to fall in love. She did this to me.”
A small smile crossed Owen’s face. “Well, I know you’re strong enough to meet her toe to toe. And smart enough to not get in her way while she’s doing her job.”
Park grunted.
“Use what you feel to fuel you. To bring her back.”
Park nodded.
The helicopter gained on the boat.
“Here,” Owen said, holding out a handgun.
Park took it, checked it, then tucked it into his holster. “Thanks. Mine’s in the bottom of the harbor.” Then, he pulled in some calming breaths.
He cleared his mind the best he could. He had to save Jenna.
He had to put Olson down, once and for all.
They were his mission objectives. And he was a man who always finished his mission.
They got close enough to see the deck of the boat. He spotted Jenna with her hands tied in front of her, and tied to a pole that he guessed would hold fishing nets. There were stacks of nets and ropes on the flat deck at the back of the boat.
Owen was at the boat controls, standing under a small roof.
Park saw Jenna yelling something at Olson, then the man turned and slapped her.
Park stiffened. The man had signed his death warrant.
“Get us as close as you can,” Park yelled at the pilot.
The man nodded.
Olson looked up at them and pulled a gun from his waistband. He aimed upward and fired at the helicopter. They jerked to the side, and Park almost lost his balance.
“Shit.” Owen gripped one of the seats.
“Closer,” Park barked.
The pilot looked back. “If he hits something vital, we’ll all?—”
“ Closer ,” Park repeated.
He was pretty sure the pilot cursed, but the man swung in over the boat. Park slid the door open.
“Parker, what the hell have you got planned?” Owen said.
Park ignored the marshal. His focus was on the boat below. Suddenly, he saw Jenna break free of the pole and attack Olson.
The man swung a fist at her.
No .
Park braced himself in the open doorway of the helicopter.
Then, he leaped out.
Olson’s fist hit her cheek.
Pain exploded across her face.
Jenna was free of the pole, but her wrists were still bound. The roar of the boat engine and the helicopter dominated everything.
She looked up and saw Park in the helicopter. He’d come for her. He’d never let her down.
Energy poured into her. This ended here.
She kicked Olson. He stumbled back into the helm. She rammed into him again.
“I’m going to kill you,” he spat. “I’ll rape you until you scream, then I’ll stab you until you cry.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Olson.” She drove an elbow into his face. She felt his nose break.
He bellowed, then his next blow hit her cheek. Her ears rang and she stumbled back.
Shit, that hurt like hell. She felt her face swelling.
He laughed loudly over the sound of the helicopter, and it was harsh and ugly. He took a step toward her, battling the pitch of the boat.
Then she saw movement out of the corner of her eye and looked up.
Her heart lodged in her throat.
Parker leaped from the helicopter.
Oh, God.
A second later, he hit the deck and rolled. Then he was up on his feet.
“You don’t fucking touch her.” Without pause, he attacked Olson.
The pair crossed the deck, trading blows. They fought hard—vicious kicks, violent punches. Then they slammed into each other, straining. It almost looked like they weren’t doing anything, but she knew they were using all their strength and energy to grapple.
They broke apart and Park landed a punch to Olson’s head. He jerked to the side and spat blood on the deck.
Then, he charged, his face twisted. Park dodged, but Olson caught him and hammered two hard punches into his gut.
Park winced and grabbed him, chopping a hard hit into his back.
Jenna fought her bindings. She had to get free and help him.
She saw Park ram a knee up into Olson’s stomach, then step back. He pulled out a handgun. Olson kicked his leg up and caught the gun. It flew through the air and hit the railing. She gasped. For a second, she was sure it would tip over the edge and into the water.
Instead, it hit the deck and slid out of view.
“You have nowhere to go, Olson,” Park gritted out.
“I’m smarter and better than all of you.” Olson smirked. “I’ll get away. I always do.”
Park shook his head. “See that boat incoming.”
Jenna looked to the side and saw a boat gaining on them.
“Vander Norcross is onboard.” Park smiled. “You aren’t getting away this time.”
There was a flash of fear on Olson’s face before he hid it. “Norcross has gone soft.” He rushed at Park.
Park blocked the kicks, but then Olson got a chop to his side.
His injured side.
Park stumbled, catching himself on the railing.
She scowled. Olson was fighting dirty.
She struggled with the ropes on her wrists. Come on. Finally, they loosened. Yes .
The ropes fell to the deck.
She ran and kicked Olson from behind. He spun and bared his teeth at her. He took a step toward her.
Park attacked him from behind.
Olson growled and spun. The men collided, straining against each other. She saw Olson reaching for his belt.
For the knife he had sheathed there.
No. Not happening.
Jenna leaped on Olson’s back. She got her arm around his neck and started choking him.
The killer stepped back and rammed her against the pole she’d been tied to. Pain exploded along her shoulder blades, but she ignored it and held on.
He reached up and got a hand in her hair. He yanked her forward and over his shoulder.
Crap . She hit the deck flat on her back. The air rushed out of her and she groaned.
“You don’t hurt her.” Park charged, his face looking like death.
“I’ll do whatever I want to her once you’re dead.”
A wave suddenly splashed over the side of the boat, and the men slipped on the wet deck. They fell to the ground, wrestling each other.
But she could see that they were evenly matched, and the water made the fight harder and slippery.
Jenna sat up and battled back a wave of dizziness.
She couldn’t lose Park. She couldn’t let him get hurt. He’d been through so much, and he deserved happiness.
He deserved to live.
Another wave crashed over the side, and she slid across the deck.
She reached out, trying to hold herself in place.
Her fingers closed over something.
The gun.
She whipped it up, and moved onto one knee. She aimed at the wet, wrestling men.
“Olson, let him go,” she yelled.
“No!” the fugitive roared.
She didn’t have a clear shot. With the boat rocking, she’d risk hitting Parker.
Park strained against Olson, then lifted his head and met her gaze.
“Do it,” he said.
Her chest locked.
“I trust you, Jenna. Take the shot.”
She pulled the trigger and fired.