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“Got it.” Bridger made a hard right onto the two-lane frontage road. His pulse pounded as he turned down a side street, tires squealing. They were close now, just a few minutes away. He could only hope they’d make it in time.
As he blew through a stop sign, Tai braced one hand against the dashboard. “Easy there, Speed Racer.”
Bridger eased off the gas slightly. Tai was right. He needed to keep it together. Jane was counting on them.
The store came into view up ahead, familiar and innocuous in the afternoon sunlight. He turned sharply into the lot, brakes protesting. His keen gaze swept the area and landed on Jane. Relief crashed over him at the sight of her in front of the store, hands cuffed behind her back. They hadn’t disappeared with her yet.
He threw the Jeep into park, vaulting out with Tai on his heels. Adrenaline flooded his veins as he strode toward Jane and her would-be captors, heightening his senses. Tai flanked him, muscles coiled, ready to unleash his formidable skills.
Bridger’s piercing gaze fixed on the men surrounding Jane. Four suits, just like on the video feed. They turned as one to face the new threat, hands hovering near concealed weapons.
Bridger’s voice was steel. “Let her go. Now.”
The leader, bald and sharp-jawed, smiled thinly. “Walk away, Cowboy.”
Bridger planted himself firmly between Jane and the suits. Beside him, Tai crossed bulging arms and glowered. “Not happening.”
Jane made a small sound of relief.
“We got you, Jane,” Tai rumbled.
The leader nodded sharply. Two of the men started forward, their intent clear.
Bridger’s muscles tensed. He caught Tai’s eye, gave a slight dip of his chin.
Go time.
Tai moved in a blur, his powerful fist catching the first suit’s temple with crushing force. The man dropped like a stone.
The leader tore off his sunglasses. “Take them down,” he bit out.
Bridger braced himself as the remaining suits charged. The bearded agent came his way. Bridger ducked under a wild swing, then drove his shoulder into the man’s midsection. They crashed together into a display stand outside the door, scattering packets of seeds across the pavement.
The man grabbed his arms, body tensing as he tried to flip Bridger onto his back.
Bad move.
Bridger went limp, allowing the man to roll him over, then he attacked, pulling the man straight over and digging a knee into the man’s midsection, cutting off a curse in mid-stream. The man tried to pummel him with his knees, but with Bridger on top, he couldn’t get any leverage.
Bridger reached back, cocking his fist. Time to put this guy down and get to Jane. A gunshot ripped through the air. At least he thought it was a gunshot. His ears were buzzing so hard from adrenaline he wasn’t certain.
The man beneath him bucked hard, heaving him skyward. It took all Bridger’s attention to wrestle the fool back to the ground. This time, he didn’t hold back, punching his attacker in the jaw hard enough to knock him out.
He rolled off the limp form and sprang to his feet. There had been a shot. The bald leader had drawn his weapon, the muzzle aimed unwaveringly at Bridger. Cordite spiked the air, sharp and tart. Beside him, Tai grappled furiously with the remaining suit, massive fists pummeling.
“Enough!” The leader’s shout cut through the grunts and impact sounds. “Stand down or I’ll drop him.”
Tai froze, knuckles white on the other man’s jacket. The bearded agent Bridger had tackled wheezed painfully.
Bridger met the leader’s cold gaze.
“We’re not the bad guys here,” Bridger said evenly. “But we’re not going to let you take Miss Reilly.”
The leader’s mouth twisted. “I don’t care who you are. That’s not gonna work for me. We’re the law.”
Bridger tilted his head. “You don’t look like the law. Or act like it.”
Jane made a small, distressed noise. Bridger kept his focus on the leader. “Last chance. Let her go, and we all walk away.”
