but by then, she’d already started asking questions. I’ve never seen Randy so angry.”
“That’s why there’s an ongoing investigation,” I said more to myself.
He sighed, barely able to look me in the eyes. “Maybe so. All I know is that Randy sent in his goons to try and warn her, something that kinda surprised me. Dear God, I hope she listened. Randy is one dangerous man. He won’t stop at anything to get what he wants and Holt, he’s capable of murder. I’m finished with him. I’m packing up and getting out of town.”
A part of me wanted nothing more than to exact my revenge, but the broken man standing in front of me didn’t deserve my full retaliation. Law enforcement would take care of that. “Where is Randy?”
“I don’t know, son. He doesn’t have any real roots as far as I can tell.”
“Where the hell does he live, old man? I’m through with being threatened. He’ll have to deal with me.” I took long strides, clamping my hand around his shirt and dragging him closer.
“He’s likely with his partner, Holt. They have a big meeting tomorrow.”
“Partner. Who the hell is that?”
As he told me the rest of the story, a cold wave washed over me.
“You better be telling me the truth. If I find out otherwise, I’ll be back.”
No. No. I had no doubt Danni’s life was in danger. I had to get her to safety. Then I would take down the bastards.
No matter what I had to do.
As I pulled into the driveway, my sixth sense kicked in, an empty feeling pooling into every pore. There was a second set of tire tracks. I jumped out of the truck, racing toward the front door, finding it unlocked, the dogs barking furiously.
“Danni.” There were signs of a struggle, furniture turned over, a lamp broken. But there was no sign of the woman I loved. As I yanked out my phone, dialing the sheriff, the dogs headed for the still cracked front door, Zorro managing to paw it open.
“I need to report a break-in.”
The second the dogs raced out, both snarling as they headed toward the forest, I dropped my phone, yanking the gun from my waistband and heading in the same direction. There was nothing but snow-covered trees and a blanket of white until I noticed the set of tire tracks had made its way through the forest. Fuck. Then I noticed two sets of footprints. The asshole had tried to follow her in his truck, finally taking off on foot.
I scanned the horizon before following the animals, praying to God they would lead me to her.
The dogs continued ahead, obviously following a scent of some kind. While every step was labored, I could feel her presence.
Please God. Let her be alive.
The commotion did little to hide the single scream I heard in the distance. With the gun in both hands, I pushed harder, moving deeper into the forest. Seconds later, I heard a shot, then a series of snarls.
“No. No!” Danni screamed, her voice echoing.
As soon as I cleared a group of trees, everything became a blur, the dogs going wild. “Danni!” My bellow was barely heard over the snarls and barks and I could see a string of blood.
No. This wasn’t going to happen.
“Stop him. No. No!” Danni called again.
“Zorro. Rattler. Heel. Now!” As the asshole holding the weapon prepared to take another shot, I raised my arms, waiting for the right moment. While I had no way of knowing whether the dogs would obey, I had to make a choice.
“You’re a damn good shooter, Mustang, the best in our unit, but you have to learn to make the shot when all odds are against you. No emotion. No hesitation. Then you have to make a choice whether to take a human life. It’s not something you should do lightly, buddy. That will stay with you for the rest of your life.”
As Snake’s words filtered into the back of my mind, the gunman shifted his aim in Danni’s direction.
And so, I followed Snake’s advice; however, there would be no regret.
Pop!
Danni
“You’re certain about this?” Mustang asked as he shoved the gear into park.
“This is something I need to do,” I said in a hushed voice. The last twenty-four hours had been horrific, a chill remaining and one that I wasn’t entirely certain I would be able to get rid of. Even though the big, tough Marine, a man I could now officially call my hero twice over had