“Jesus.” Wade groaned. “That’s your fault.” He pointed at Wade in accusation as they flounced away.
“Sure it is.” Chloe deadpanned. “I’ll get the shells.”
Wade just laughed as the girls dragged her off. I wasn’tworried (too much) about the trouble they’d get into. Levi had taught us all well, and Maggie was more than capable when push came to shove.
Kipp met my eyes over her shoulder — grim, steady. We’d done this kind of thing before, only now it was personal. He gave a short nod toward the door, already pulling his radio from his belt.
We were out of the house in less than a minute. The temperature had dropped, and there was probably ice on the road now. The snow had melted, but runoff left constant black ice in certain spots. My truck engine rumbled to life, headlights cutting through the darkening night.
Wade’s voice came through the radio line, clipped and steady. “He fueled up and headed northbound. Camera feed confirms it’s a white F-150 with Oregon plates, a partial match to the ones we flagged. He’s in the passenger seat. Got a younger driver. Dark hair.”
I gripped the wheel harder. “Derek?”
“Can’t tell, but probably,” Wade said. “But there are two people in the cab.”
Kipp swore under his breath. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and get them both. You carrying?”
I nodded. I had my concealed weapons license, and even though I usually didn’t carry a gun, I made sure to get it out of the gun safe at the farmhouse when everything started to go down. It was a question I didn’t even have to ask Kipp. He was an avid hunter, and I knew he carried on the job.
We split at the junction. Wade took the back road thatparalleled the main stretch, just in case they cut off through the forest route. Kipp and I stayed on 22, engines eating up the miles of dark asphalt.
Every signpost blurred by the headlights — shadows thick enough to make the world feel small. I hated not knowing what Milton was doing this close. It was strange that they were both hanging out so near Wildwood Meadows. Even as I thought it, I knew I was being unreasonable. Derek grew up not far away, and Milton did too, but neither of them was good enough to be anywhere close to Lila. I hated even more that her name was tied to any of it.
When Wade’s voice broke through again, it was sharper. “Visual confirmed. Truck just passed the old sawmill, heading toward the ridge.”
“That puts him near the old service road,” I said. “There’s a drop-off past the bend.”
“Exactly.” Wade’s tone shifted. “We box him in before that.”
I pushed harder on the gas. My chest was tight with that mix of adrenaline and fury. I wasn’t in law enforcement like Kipp and Wade, but I’d seen what fear did to people. They did stupid shit.
The red taillights shone through the haze just as Wade’s truck pulled ahead of me. He hit the siren, and the white F-150 fishtailed, throwing gravel as it skidded sideways.
“Hands up!” Wade shouted as he got out of his truck and pulled his weapon while sheltering behind the door.
Kipp and I edged up to the opposite side behind the tailgate as we covered Wade. This was the first time that Ihad been in a situation like this, and my pulse hammered in my throat. Sure, I’d been in more than my share of brawls, but this wasn’t anything like that. Pulling a weapon meant that I was willing to use it. This was also watching my brother’s back. Any sign that someone was going to make a move, and I was going to pull the trigger. Zero hesitation.
The passenger side opened first. Milton Merrick stepped out, hands raised, coat flapping in the wind. An older man, but still carrying that same mean edge in his face. The kind of look that said he thought the world owed him. I couldn’t imagine this man holding any kindness.
Derek slowly got out of the driver’s side, his smile cold and sharp.
“Easy,” Wade warned quietly. Another police car was pulling up just now, and I could see Derek’s head jerking at the sound.
Milton’s voice carried, rough and mocking. “Holt. Didn’t think you’d bring the whole family for a reunion.”
“End of the line, Milton,” Wade said. “You and your friend are under arrest for arson, fraud, and obstruction. Oh, and you skipped out on your parole meetings.”
“Arson?” Milton sneered. “That porch barely went up. Waste of a good match, if you ask me. It was just a little warning.”
I didn’t think before my body took a step. “Not worth it, East. He’s baiting you,” Kipp said next to me.
I was shaking, the shaking that comes when rage has nowhere to go. But then Derek turned, met my eyes, and smiled.
“Playing the hero, huh?” His voice was low, taunting. “You don’t even know, do you? The land?—”
“Enough,” Milton snapped.
I cocked my head in curiosity. What was that bastard about to say? Milton looked pissed as the cuffs clicked, hauling him back to the cruiser while Wade shoved Derek up against the side of the truck. Rain had started to spit sideways in the wind, cold biting every inch of skin.
