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Jessica
Jessica was trying not to let them see that she was shaking. “Look, I don’t know who you are or what you want. The only time I’ve ever seen you was at the diner with… Tucker.” Her voice wavered. “And he never told me anything about his friends or what he was involved with. Sorry, but I can’t help you.”
Something clattered outside. Four heads turned toward the distraction. The man who hovered in front of her waved off his henchmen to find out what was out there. They took off toward the back of the house, leaving them alone.
The man’s rageful expression reddened, and he rubbed his forehead with his fingers and thumb. “Tucker had the flash drive that day at the diner. He brought it in exchange for his life.” He checked the chamber of the gun, and her eyes widened, eliciting a smile from him. “Tucker might be dumb, but he had great survival instincts. He had it.”
“Then why are you after me?”
He frowned. “Because you were the only one he interacted with that day. It wasn’t on him when we searched his body. So you must have it.”
“What if I do? This house is pretty big. I doubt you’ll be able to find it before the sheriff gets back.”
His eyes glinted like he was a crocodile ready to snap up his prey. “The sheriff is tied up with more important things at the moment. He’s not going to be back any time soon. There are ways to get you to cooperate—certain people we can hurt until we break you. What’s one more dead body?” He rubbed his fingers against his thumbs, studying his hands as if he had all the time in the world. “Or seven? My guys had a lot of fun with that fire the other night. Perhaps we’ll set our sights on a larger target.”
How did he know she’d grown close enough to the Bakers to use them against her? Without realizing it, her gaze darted toward the chair where she’d stashed the device. The man’s focus followed the movement. A sinister grin curled his lips. He made a tisking sound, shaking his head.
“You shouldn’t have done that.” He rose to his feet and wandered across the room.
If he got the flash drive, she was done for. Tucker had kept it from them for a reason. She couldn’t just let his death be for nothing. Jessica dove onto her stomach and reached under the couch for the firearm. Multiple gunshots echoed through the air from outside. She flinched just as her fingertips grazed the metal object. Still on her back, she pulled it out and aimed it at the man across the room. The cushion was on the floor and he held the USB device in one hand.
His dark eyes landed on her and he laughed. “What are you going to do?Shootme? You don’t have it in you. Tucker didn’t either. I guess you two were perfect for each other.”
Jessica cocked the gun and steadied her aim. The smile on his face went flat. He put the flash drive in his pocket and shook his head. “I almost thought I might let you live. But leaving a loose end like you would be bad for business.” He moved to aim at her.
She pulled the trigger, tensing, waiting for the thunderous sound of the bullet exiting the chamber. But it never came.
His menacing laugh bounced off the walls. “That’s too much firepower for such a timid woman. The bullet lodged in the chamber.” He lowered his weapon so it pointed at her. She fumbled with the gun. How was she supposed to get the bullet out? No one had shown her what to do.
A shot rang out and she screamed, dropping the gun and covering her head with her arms. The man in front of her crumpled to the floor, a loud groan emanating from him. His gun had clattered to the floor and skidded across the wood. He rolled over, his arm reaching for it when a boot stepped on his hand.
Jessica’s gaze traveled up the leg to find Ian pointing his weapon at the man. Behind her the front door burst open. She ducked again before turning around to find the rest of Ian’s brothers along with one woman she didn’t know. Sirens screamed in the distance, growing closer.
The woman moved across the room, pulling cuffs from a utility belt she wore. Everything past that point was a blur. The woman arrested the man, retrieved the jump drive, and shouted instructions to Ian’s brothers.
Sheriff Donahue, some officers, and an ambulance arrived. The chaos of the situation dulled her senses. At some point Ian was at her side. He was talking to her, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. Her heart was beating at an abnormal rate, and it was difficult to breath.
“Someone get a paramedic over here.” Ian’s voice sounded like he was speaking underwater. He wrapped a blanket over her shoulders and pulled her close. He pressed his lips to her temple as a paramedic shined a light in her eyes. “It’s going to be okay. I got you.”
Jessica closed her eyes and collapsed beside him, retreating into a restless sleep.
* * *
Light pierced through her eyelids.The smell of food permeated her mind. Jessica’s eyes fluttered open. The room she was in was familiar, but she couldn’t quite place it. She yawned and rolled over to find Ian hunched over in a rocking chair, his forearms on his knees. His hair was a mess, and the clothes he wore were wrinkled.
Memories flooded her conscience. Tucker’s death… running from drug traffickers… falling for Ian. Carefully she sat up.
Ian’s head whipped up. Blood-shot eyes focused on her before he scrambled from his seat and sat on the edge of the bed. He took her hands in his and brought them to his lips. “How are you feeling?” His voice sounded hoarse.
Jessica shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Better now that I know you’re here.”
A small smile tugged at his face. Stubble had grown out along his jaw. “That’s good.” His eyes were guarded. What must he be going through? Not only had he confessed his feelings for her without getting any reciprocation, but he also had to deal with her running off—making the biggest mistake of her life.
She cleared her throat. “How long have I been out?” She looked toward the window. The sun was setting, not rising. Her gaze flicked to meet his. She squirmed under his steady gaze. After everything she’d said and done, she wouldn’t have blamed him for dismissing her.
“Almost a whole day. The paramedics said you went into shock. You had a panic attack, too.” He squeezed her hand. “I insisted they let you come home with me. No way I was willing to let them put you in a hospital bed where you would have woken up alone.”
