Chapter Thirteen #3
“Do you understand me?” Alvaro’s voice was razor-sharp.
The lights suddenly went out, cutting off the speaker, and leaving her in darkness. The power must have been cut.
A trickle of relief ebbed through her at not having to listen to one more menacing word from the Reaper.
Not hollow threats. Promises he would keep.
The house was quiet, and for a moment she wondered if something had happened to Jackson and the others.
Gunfire erupted outside.
Beads of sweat rolled down her spine. Clenching her hands, she hoped Jackson and his friends would be all right. Too many good guys had fallen in this war against the cartel.
Alvaro’s threat echoed in her head, rattling her to the core. What if Jackson did get inside? Could she leave with him? Should she, even though she knew it would only endanger them?
Footsteps pounded through the house. Four people. Maybe more.
“Christina!”
Jackson.
At the sound of his voice, fear evaporated as a little flare of hope spiked.
“I’m here! Upstairs,” she said. “The main bedroom on the right!”
The lights popped on. A backup power source?
Of course, Alvaro would have a generator, but how long until the security cameras reset?
Footsteps hurried up the stairs.
Then she spotted Jackson hitting the top landing, His gaze found hers, and he bolted to her. Wrapping his arms around her, he let out a sigh of relief, one that washed over her.
“How did you get into the house?” she asked.
“Ibarra left the door open as he made a break for it through a side exit.”
“Is everyone okay?”
“Yeah.” Nodding, he took out a handcuff key and released her. “Where’s Aguilar?”
“Bozeman. We need to get out of here right now, but we have to be careful. He has exterior security measures on the front and rear of the house. I got the impression they were deadly.”
“They are. We discovered a trip wire connected to a Claymore mine as we approached the house through the woods. We’ll leave the same the way we came in—through the side door.”
He took her hand, and they ran to the staircase. With their fingers interlaced, they hurried down the steps, where others were converging.
“It’s clear,” said a big guy.
Jackson gave a curt nod. “Aguilar isn’t here.”
A car started out front. From the wall of windows, they spotted a Mercedes speeding down the driveway.
Hector. That toad was getting away.
A woman made a beeline toward the front door. She had the look of law enforcement to her.
“Wait!” Christina said, stopping her. “There are security measures outside. Maybe hidden guns or something. I’m sure they’ll be near the front door.”
An explosion rocked the night, and the Mercedes burst into flames as it bounced into the air. The fireball clattered to the ground with pieces of metal falling around it.
“I guess you were right about possible booby traps on the road,” a different man said. “He had an IED out there.”
If you leave, I’ll bury you beside her.
Alvaro had warned Hector Ibarra. Then he warned Christina, too.
“Jackson, maybe it would be better if you left me behind.”
“What are you talking about?” Jackson asked, staring at her in confusion.
“Alvaro saw everyone on the security cameras. He told me that if I left with you, he would find your friends and make them pay.”
“He’s just trying to scare you.”
“It’s more than that. He knows about your family’s ranch in Wyoming. He mentioned it. The Shooting Star–Longhorn. And Logan, who lives in Bitterroot Falls with a fiancée.”
The two women in the group exchanged concerned glances. They resembled each other, with the same kind eyes, similar features, smooth brown complexions.
“He knows about Summer,” one woman said to the other.
“Jackson.” Christina clutched his arm. “I can’t endanger your family or your friends. In the past couple of years, as Kehoe pushed harder for more information, I came to terms with the idea that my days were numbered. If you walk away without me, just go now, Alvaro will leave you all alone.”
“He’s a monster,” Jackson said. “Nothing he says can be trusted.”
“You can trust that he will come for me,” Christina said, “and then he’ll come for the rest of you.” She looked around at the group. Letting go of Jackson’s hand, she backed away from him. “All of you should go. I’m not worth it. Just forget about me.”
Jackson cupped her face with both of his hands and stared into her eyes. “You’re worth it. Do you hear me? You’re worth everything to me. I’m not leaving here without you.”
His words wrapped around her like a warm blanket, sheltering her from the storm of fear and violence and uncertainty.
“Neither are we,” another man said, patting Jackson’s shoulder. “You’re one of us. Your big brother told me to find you and keep you safe. We’re going to do just that. All of us. Now, we should get going.”
Looking at her, Jackson held out his hand. “We’re going to finish this together.”
Christina tugged the smart ring from her finger and threw it on the ground. She took his hand, wrapping her fingers around Jackson’s, as reckless as the action might have been. Together. “Let’s go.”