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Remaining low to the ground, I shifted to the second window, taking a few seconds before glancing inside. Bingo. The asshole had two hostages. The fact he hadn’t killed them could mean they had nothing to do with the case against Bruno, but their chances at survival were slim no matter how I looked at it. The look of terror on their faces was easy to see. Fuck. He was pacing back and forth in front of them. While he didn’t have a weapon in his hands, that meant nothing. This wasn’t the best scenario, but I’d need to use the element of surprise. I wasn’t about to call the marshals and wait until they arrived. The hostages could be dead by then.
I moved around the house, keeping low to the ground. I had two options, both highly dangerous. But I wasn’t getting any younger biding my time. As I returned to the front, I gave Sam the signal to wait. Somehow, I suspected that he’d have a difficult time doing so.
A shudder of the earth beneath me sent a wave of anxiety into my system. I pulled back, moving to the edge of the house, glancing toward the peak. This was the time of year when spring collided with winter. Avalanches weren’t unheard of, although it had been a long time since one had occurred. Still, I had a very bad feeling about this entire situation.
Get moving, bud. You need to get this finished.
Very slowly, I returned to the same spot, looking over my shoulder at Sam. He was as agitated as I was, his keen senses better than mine. It was definite. I was getting too old for this shit.
After checking the fugitive’s location, I moved to the front door, taking a deep breath then kicking it in.
A sudden wave of vibrations bore into my legs, the energy pitching me forward. Everything in the house was shaking.
This wasn’t good.
As he spun around, the weapon in his hand, he didn’t hesitate to shoot.
Neither did I.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
CHAPTER11
Lily
“What the fuck do you mean he’s missing?” Scorpion snapped as he passed by the bar. “A fucking avalanche? Not possible.”
Avalanche? Was he kidding?
No. No. My mind was screaming but I couldn’t utter a word, terror skidding through me like wildfire. I moved closer, straining to hear at least a part of the conversation.
A cold shiver skated down my spine. Then I glanced at the closest television over the bar. There was no report of an avalanche. Was he talking about in the mountains? The news had been all over Maverick’s attempt to track down the fugitive, but he hadn’t been heard from in over twenty-four hours.
“There damn well better be a search party out for him. If you don’t do it, I’ll contact the smokejumpers myself,” Scorpion snarled, shaking his head. I’d never seen him so angry.
Meanwhile, I was sick inside, barely able to function. At least I had work to keep me occupied or I would have lost my mind.
“You’re mighty interested in the news tonight.”
I glanced at Missy. She’d been the one to take me by the hand, leading me through every aspect of working the bar. I was grateful for her patience since my mind had been elsewhere for most of the time. “Just worried about the tracker. The weather conditions seem to be worsening.”
“We have the craziest weather this time of year, but I wouldn’t worry about it down here. We rarely get anything but lovely snow.”
“I hate snow. But it sounds bad up there. An avalanche?”
“They rarely happen and usually not too bad. I heard you knew Maverick,” she said as she grabbed some cocktail napkins for her tray.
A warm blush swept across my cheeks, and I quickly gave her a glance.
She laughed. “It’s not a small town but you wouldn’t know it by the gossip. Don’t worry. I think it’s cool. He’s a hot guy but a little rough around the edges,” Missy said.
“Do you know him very well?”
“Nobody knows Maverick. He’s a loner. And before you ask, no, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him with a woman. Lucky you.”
Laughing, I nodded, uncertain I knew anything about him other than I craved his touch, his kisses, and the way he held me when we fucked. Oh, I was such a bad girl.
“Oh, and that table over there in your station,” she added, pointing toward a large round top near the door. “They’re bad news. A rowdy bunch Scorpion has tossed out before. If you can’t handle them, let Scorpion know. He doesn’t tolerate bad behavior.”
