Page 77 of Under Fire in Big Sky

Sean stared at the fiery barrier and then his gaze flew to Olivia. Some indecipherable emotion crossed his face. He lowered the gun and dug into his pocket. “Get her out!” He tossed Eli the key to the handcuffs.

As Sean fled the barn, with a volley of bullets still being exchanged outside, Eli hurried to Olivia. He unlocked her wrist, grabbed her hand, and they ran for the other door on the opposite end.

Opening the door, they sucked in fresh air. He spotted Chance speeding across the grass toward the barn.

Eli made certain they had a clear path. Wrapping his arm around Olivia, they bolted outside. They sprinted toward Chance’s approaching truck.

Glancing over his shoulder, he checked to make sure no one was coming up behind them. Farther back, the house was also ablaze.

Takoda and Bo laid down suppressive fire, keeping anyone from going after them. Two vehicles raced away from the property, down the driveway, and hit the road.

Chance skidded to a stop and Autumn launched paintball smoke grenades, giving them concealment from the gunmen still at the farm.

Eli flung open the door, and they both scrambled inside the truck.

As Chance sped away, the entire barn was engulfed and the roof collapsed, a raging pyre against the backdrop of gunfire and chaos. A scorching reminder the escalating danger wasn’t going to end.

Not until they stopped Sean Gannon.

Chapter Seventeen

Anxiety and guilt tangled, spreading through Olivia like choking vine.

In the state park, she had asked Eli to trust her judgment and left to meet Sean. A decision that almost cost Eli his life.

At the hospital, the doctor said he had bruised ribs but no broken bones. They tended to his lacerations and checked her oxygen levels, which had dipped slightly, but were restored quickly. She would be fine. By tomorrow, Eli would be covered in bruises, his face and body a tapestry of black and blue.

In the barn, Sean had his finger on the trigger, ready to shoot him, and if not for that beam falling, he might have killed Eli. Despite her pleas.

A hot flash of fear cut through her, thinking about it.

She’d messed up and jeopardized the entire team trusting Sean. Her old partner was truly lost to her. Even after everything, she cared for him, as foolish as it made her, but if it came down to Sean or Eli, it was no competition.

There was only one choice. The man she loved, the father of her child.

At the rented house, the entire team sat in the living room, and Olivia told them everything she remembered about the farm and her hours-long discussions with Sean.

Once she was done, the sun had set below the horizon, and a chill ran through her from rehashing it. But they still had to figure out Sean’s next target.

“I’d kill for a whiteboard,” Chance said.

“I picked one up.” Bo stood. “Got it after my trip to the summer camp. Figured we’d need it. I’ll grab it from my truck.” He headed for the door.

Sitting beside Eli, Olivia turned to him. “Summer camp?”

“We need to fill you in on a few things as well.” Eli gave her a brief update.

Bo returned, set up the whiteboard, and handed Chance a pack of dry-erase markers.

Eli took the ice pack he’d been holding against his ribs from beneath his shirt. Sitting forward with a groan, he placed it on the coffee table.

Olivia ran a hand through his hair. “Do you want me to get you a fresh one?”

“If I need one, I’ll get it.”

“It’s almost time for you take another ibuprofen.”

“No need to fuss over me,” Eli said, his voice low and sharp.