“It was easy,” he said. “We would take shifts being Shadow while the other led law enforcement on a merry chase.”
Maren’s gaze searched the forest beyond the henchmen, hoping for a sign Colt and Emmett were closing in. “I’m sure I’ll regret asking this, but why?”
Daniel tucked his chin and gave her a look that said,Seriously?“Why do you think? Money, of course. You think a man like me can live on the salary of a DEA agent?”
“Why become a DEA agent in the first place?”
He shrugged. “There was a time when I thought I could make a difference, but that’s a fantasy. So why not profit off the activities of others?”
Burning questions rose to the surface and she had to ask, “Are you in league with the baby smuggling ring operating through Colorado? Do you know Dr. Derek Rolls? Do you know where Mia is?”
He arched an eyebrow. “I know that’s why the task force was formed. But my organization has nothing to do with any of that business. And if I had any information, I would give it to you.” His brow creased. “I really would, but alas, even if I had information, you wouldn’t be alive to do anything with it.” He gestured with the gun. “Let’s get moving.”
Noise off to the side in the trees had everyone turning as Colt and Rusk rushed into the clearing. The pair skidded to a halt. Rusk barked frantically. Haven joined in. Both dogs focused their attention on Daniel.
Maren’s heart leaped into her throat. She sent up a prayer that somehow all of them would get out of this alive.
* * *
Terrified by the sight of Maren and her sister surrounded by gunmen, Colt holstered his weapon and held up his hands. He couldn’t let anything happen to the twins. To Maren. She’d become his world. But right now he needed to buy time for the other task force members to find them. “Daniel, you don’t have to do this. You can walk away. We won’t say anything. You need to let Maren and Opal go.”
He heard Maren’s small gasp. Didn’t she know by now he would do anything for her? He hoped she saw the gesture for what it was.
A declaration.
He loved Maren with all his heart. And he would gladly give up his mission for her, if that was what it took. He’d give up his badge and his life to protect her.
But they weren’t out of the woods yet. Daniel had his finger on the trigger and the barrel of his gun was aimed at Maren’s forehead. The sight so enraged Colt that he had to use every ounce of energy to keep from launching himself at the man and throttling him.
“I’m surprised it took you this long to get here,” Daniel said. “I knew you were following her. My people have been following you.”
The hairs on Colt’s arm rose. Were there more gunmen?
Daniel gestured with his weapon. “Stand by your girlfriend and her loser of a sister. You’ll want to die together.”
He moved to stand next to Maren and met her gaze. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner. I lost the connection through our comms.”
“I’m sorry! I took off without making sure you were within range.”
“Stop your blathering,” Daniel said. “I know the perfect place for the five of you to go off a cliff.”
Colt’s blood turned to ice. The man was truly deranged to want to kill the dogs. Daniel must not know about the baby Opal carried. Or didn’t the man just not care?
Ignoring him, Colt continued to hold Maren’s gaze. “We’ll do what we have to.”
“By any means necessary,” she finished. Her gaze pointed at the leash in his hand and then to the ground.
He didn’t need to be a mind reader to understand. He inclined his head slightly to indicate he understood her intent.
They both dropped the leads on their K-9s at the same time. Exchanging a subtle nod, they shouted at the same time, “Attack.”
Confident that the dogs would do as instructed, Colt launched himself at Maren and Opal, taking them to the ground just as Daniel fired the gun. The bullet hit Colt smack in the back.
All around them, chaos ensued as the task force members and their K-9 partners erupted from the forest, the dogs barking as the team members took down the gunmen.
Daniel screamed as Haven’s teeth sank into his forearm, forcing him to release the gun and driving him to his knees. Rusk jumped on his back, pushing him to the ground, and latched on to the back of Daniel’s shirt, shaking his head back and forth.
“Out,” Maren shouted. Haven released but Rusk continued to growl and shake his head.
