“Where?” he barked into his phone. His slightly manic-sounding tone had her putting her own phone away. “Okay. Keep eyes on them if you can and keep relaying their location. We’re on our way.” He shoved his cell phone into his coat and turned to his partner. “We’re outta here. Three motorcycles were spotted stopping for gas outside of New Buffalo. The officer who reported them saw our BOLO and is in pursuit with orders not to engage until we catch up.”
“Roger that!” Maddox said, hot on the heels of Keplar when the older man turned and raced for the door.
“We’re coming with you!” Gesturing to Dillan, Julia charged after the two South Carolina agents.
Something about Keplar’s demeanor made her think the rate of gunfire would exceed the rate of discussion at a pace of about a thousand to one if he was allowed to catch up with Britt and his brother on his own. And even though she was furious at Britt for lying to her, even though she wanted to string him up by his balls for using his masculine wiles to distract her from her job, she certainly didn’t want himdead.
“Take your goon squad with you!” Boss’s deep voice boomed at her back before she could make it into the hallway.
She stopped long enough to motion for Agent De La Cruz, who stood in the open doorway, to follow. He no longer needed to guard the outbuildings, and she no longer needed to call in an extension on the warrant.
The Rollins brothers, their mysterious companion, and probably Hewitt Birch had abandoned the premises hours earlier. And by the sound of it, they were headed north.
Canada, maybe?
Adrenaline fired through her blood, allowing her to keep pace with her partner despite his legs being a good eight inches longer than hers. They raced after the visiting agents who’d already thrown open the front door.
The clatter of duty shoes and tactical boots was loud against the blacktop as the team hoofed it toward the tall wrought iron gate. The puddles left behind by the earlier rain reflected a starless sky. And one thought above all else echoed through her head in time with her own footfalls.
I get to see Britt again! I get to see Britt again!
She told herself she wanted to ensure he walked away from this mess in one piece. She told herself she wanted the opportunity to confront him and explain to his face that he’d been a world-classassfor kissing her when his intentions were far from pure. She told herself she wanted to prove to him that she was more than a walking sack of hormones, that she was agoodagent who couldget her maneven when that man was someone she might have once wanted to get to know on a more personal level.
And while all of that was true…themainreason she was itching to see him again was to prove toherselfthat, now that she knew the truth about him, she could resist his…erm…particular charms.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame onme!
12
Huron-Manistee National Forest, Michigan
Britt cursed when his back tire slipped into a pothole on the unnamed—and barely paved—county road. The crevice was deep enough to cause Haint’s fat back tire to fishtail for three full seconds before he could wrestle the bike back into the center of the crumbling asphalt.
As always, the near miss had the familiar burn of adrenaline sizzling through his veins. Usually, he considered that a welcome sensation.
Not tonight.
Tonight, there wereotherasses on the line besides his.
He spared a glance over his shoulder to make sure Hew and his brother didn’t suffer a worse fate. The headlights on the bikes behind him were bright enough to blind. But he was relieved when neither suddenly bounced up and down nor veered off the side of the road into the dense trees looming over them.
The countryside was unfathomably dark. It was one of those grim, stygian nights that made men wonder if things like Bigfoot, Mothman, or the Chupacabra might actually exist.
Spec-ops soldiers loved a new moon. Dark deeds were best done in the heart of the deepest nights. But there had been lore inside his Ranger unit about theblackmoon, the second new moon in a single calendar month.
Despite its portentous-sounding name, his men had been convinced a black moon was a good omen.
Now, just to be clear, Britt wasn’t superstitious by nature. But he did appreciate the power ofbelief.
He knew the guys under his command would operate as if fate was on their side if they trusted it was so. And just that little bit of extra courage, that additional dose of tenacity, could help them win the day.
He’d planned missions during black moons every chance he got.
There’s a black moon rising tonight,he thought now, having made the connection that morning when he’d idly checked his weather app while sipping his coffee.
Unfortunately, something told him that, despite the moon’s good omen, fate wasn’t on his side. He blamed his doom and gloom on the call he’d received from Boss hours earlier.
“There’s a BOLO out on you. Some local five-oh caught sight of you at your last refueling stop. He’s on your tail now. Lose him,”Boss had advised, pulling out his Navy SEAL commander voice.“And then make sure you aren’t seen again.”
