Page 49 of Under Fire in Big Sky

“Don’t you get it? Shepherd just upped the ante. Escalated things to a whole new level.” Dread settled in his stomach. “It feels like Audrey might be right.”

Liv held his gaze. “About what?”

“This is no ordinary ecoterrorist. His methods, his tactics, his contingency measures, it’s all…” Astonishing. He shook his head, not wanting to admit it out loud. “Audrey may have been right that there’s no stopping him.”

“I can’t believe that. I won’t let you either,” Olivia said, so determined, so fierce, her eyes gleaming with defiance.

Glancing back at what was left of the power plant, he combed through his mind for the right words to alter her perspective, some way to bend it just a little, but nothing came to him. At last, he decided on blunt and clear. “What if Shepherd keeps winning? It’s only a matter of time before someone gets killed.” And he didn’t want it to be her.

Olivia turned his head back toward her and moved her palms from his face to his chest. “We’ll figure it out and find a way to beat him. This was one battle.”

“This is the second time he’s won.”

“We’re going to focus on the endgame.” Her tone grew steely and her posture rigid. “We have to because, come hell or high water, we won’t let him win.”

It was hard for him to dismiss the idea that Shepherd might be an unstoppable force.

But one thing was certain. Once Liv set her mind to do something, she became an immovable object. If he had to put money on anyone, he was all in on Olivia.

He’d bet on her every single time.

Chapter Eleven

The adrenaline had worn off and fatigue was setting in. Olivia steered clear of any personal talk for most of the car ride from the High Country sheriff’s office, where they’d left Eli’s truck, and back to the motel. Instead, they discussed the assignment. Potential next steps. There wasn’t much for them to go on, aside from having Aegis search for any other projects in the state that had drawn environmental controversy. Lauren had analysts on it.

They were almost at the motel. Her heart was still heavy with all the things she wanted to say to him.

“It’s too bad a forensic artist can’t get in until tomorrow morning,” Eli said. “The sooner we have a sketch of Shepherd, the better.”

The sheriff had given them an update when they picked up the truck. No available sketch artist and the New Dawn Revolution suspects had been transferred to county jail.

“There aren’t many full-time forensic artists in the country, much less smaller towns and rural areas. Here in Montana, they even have to share medical examiners.” She debated whether to engage and decided it was best not to avoid it any longer. “Earlier at the facility, when you asked me to go, it was hard for me to leave you.”

Eli turned into the parking lot of the Second Home Lodge. “I’m glad you listened and left.”

“It’s not simply that I’m adjusting to the fact I’ve got another person onboard to consider.” She took a breath, giving herself a moment to muster the courage. “It was also because I’ve never told you how I feel about you.”

Eli sighed. “No need to start now,” he said, and a deep pang went through her.

He pulled into a spot in front of a lamppost on the other side of the lot that gave him a clear view of the truck from their room. Killing the engine, he grabbed his hat and slipped it on.

Refusing to be derailed, Olivia set her hand on his forearm. “I didn’t want to say anything back there while you needed to disarm the bomb. I didn’t want to jinx it.”

“Good thinking. But this mission is far from over, so how about we don’t tip the scales. The odds are against us and I’ve already got bad luck tattooed all over me. Don’t make it any worse.” He got out of the truck. “Come on.” He slammed the door and started across the lot.

She hurried after him, catching up on the staircase. “I don’t understand how having an honest conversation about how we feel is going to make things worse.”

Reaching the top landing, he glanced at her. “Everyone I’ve ever cared about has either left me or died. My father. My mother. My aunt. My wife.”

Her pulse thundered in her ears. “You never talk about her. Your wife.”

Turning, he stalked down the walkway.

She was right on his heels. “Why not?” He shared things about his mother and aunt, but not his wife.

“Not much to say. It didn’t last long.”

“If she was the great love of your life, I want to know.” Catching his forearm, she moved around to stand in front of him. “You can tell me. I can take it.”