Page 56 of Ranger Devotion

“And you didn’t?” Annie challenged. “We’ve all made mistakes. Some of them have been horrible and painful to others, but the answer isn’t murder. This is wrong, Heather.”

“You just don’t get it. My life was supposed to be different. Seth should have fallen in love with me. Would have if Kayla hadn’t gotten in the way. We’d get married, have babies. A happy life.” Her face flushed as her voice rose. “But instead, he died! Don’t you get that? It didn’t have to happen. Every one of you robbed me of the future I was supposed to have!”

Annie stared at Heather. She was delusional. Lost. Saying that aloud wouldn’t help

though, so Annie dug deep for compassion. “I’m sorry. It’s clear you loved Seth, and I know you’re in pain, but this isn’t the way to fix things.”

“It is for me. And for Marcus.” She smiled, although it was bitter and cold. “The storm was a sign that the universe is with us.”

The universe. Heather believed in something just big enough to agree with her. The God Annie prayed to grieved Kayla. Grieved Seth. He didn't send ice storms to bless murder.

Annie swallowed down her disgust. “You provided Marcus with our phone numbers so he could text us messages pretending to be Seth. But how did you track our movements? You were in your room so much.”

“There are hidden cameras in the lobby and the dining room. Small, wireless ones that were easy enough to position during the opening gathering. Between those and the times I came downstairs, it wasn’t hard to track everyone.” Heather’s anger flared again. “I’ve been underestimated my whole life. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Seth was the first guy who noticed me. He saw me. Until Kayla got in the way.”

“And Marcus?”

“We understand each other.”

Annie shook her head, wincing at the pain the movement wrought. “He’s using you.”

Heather glowered. “We’re using each other.” She sucked in a breath, the last of her rage melting away behind a mask of determination. “Marcus and I will have our vengeance.” She checked her watch and then drifted over to the shadows again.

Annie heard hinges creak. Watching for Marcus? More than likely. Annie took advantage of Heather’s distraction to wobble the chair. It swayed beneath her. If she tipped over, it was possible she’d be able to free her hands. And then what? It would take several seconds to remove the zip ties securing her feet to the chair. By then Heather would zap her with the stun gun. Plus, she was blocking the only doorway.

If…and it was a big if…Annie could get free, she’d need to get to the loft. The hay would shield her from view, and there was an old door and chute she could use to escape. She pulled on the chair rungs, trying to loosen the rotting wood from the seat. To cover any noise, she kept talking. “How long have you and Marcus been planning this?”

Heather didn’t respond. She seemed to be shutting down, blocking out what would happen to Annie once Marcus arrived. Without a doubt, he was the muscle behind this operation. “He came to see you, didn’t he? Five years ago. Marcus was piecing together what happened to Seth.” He’d interviewed Evan and Caleb. And they told him about Kayla. It made sense that Marcus would want to speak to Kayla’s best friend, which led him straight to Heather. Both of them in pain, both of them wanting to blame someone for what’d happened to Seth.

The reunion provided an opportunity. Heather had known every detail about the event. She had their phone numbers, the itinerary, had installed the wireless cameras, and spied on their conversations. She’d been feeding Marcus information from the very beginning.

Wind rushed into the barn as the door flew open. The light in the kerosene lantern flickered, but then steadied as the door swung shut again. Annie peered into the shadows, her heart racing. She could barely make out the shape of a man. Marcus.

Sweat beaded between her shoulder blades, and she shrank against the chair as he silently came into the light. Rainwater slid down the length of his gray jacket to drip onto the floor and the tops of his combat boots. A rifle was slung over his chest and he gripped a hunting knife. His eyes were devoid of emotion. A flat, icy blue that terrified her more than the weapons he carried.

“What did you do?” His gaze never left Annie, but the question was for Heather.

“She’s our insurance policy. Where’s Preston?”

“I couldn’t grab him,” Marcus growled. “The bomb I threw into the cabin worked, and everyone ran outside, including Preston. But the little snake slipped away, and the Ranger got to him before I could.” His attention flickered to Heather. “Dawn is in three hours. We’re out of options. Let’s kill her and bail.”

Annie’s chest tightened with terror. Prayers filled her heart, but she couldn’t find the words in her mind. The silence that descended over the barn seemed impenetrable. Somewhere overhead in the loft came the sound of another rat, and a few strands of hay fluttered to the ground.

Marcus stiffened. “What’s that?” He whipped a flashlight out and shone it into the loft.

“It’s just a rat. This place is full of them.”

“I hate rats,” Marcus grumbled, flipping off the light. Then he adjusted the grip on his knife, taking a menacing step toward Annie. Desperation pressed her back against the wooden chair. She yanked at her bonds, unwilling to go down without a fight.

“No. There’s another way.” Heather removed a radio hooked to her jeans. Dwayne’s? Or the one she’d used to track their communication? Annie didn’t know. Heather tilted the radio one way and then the other. “We’ll call Tate and have him bring Preston to us. An exchange. Preston for Annie.”

Marcus cursed, whirling to face her. “I told you before, he’ll never agree to that! He’s trained to protect civilians.”

“And I’ve told you, I’ve seen the way he looks at her. Tate’s in love with Annie. He’ll do whatever it takes to save her.”

Annie’s breath caught. Tate would do what he could to save her—not only because of his feelings for her. He’d do it because that was who he was. She knew it. Had seen it. Tate had risked his life over and over again to protect others.

She couldn’t allow them to put Tate in an impossible situation. “Marcus is right. Tate will never agree to bring Preston here.”