Targeted

to him. Her heart might still be beating in her chest, but it wasn’t working. As a young woman she’d loved Sam, but she loved Jack, the man he’d become, just as much. More, even. Something she could finally admit and it didn’t matter. He not only didn’t feel the same but was just like everyone else.

She was disposable. A means to an end.

Her throat and muscles were so tight from holding back the avalanche of tears pressing at her, she was practically shaking.

As Chadwick tapped his gun against the center console, Sophie forced herself to stay calm. She was terrified that any overt movement would set this maniac off. She had one foot inside death’s door, and time was not on her side.

Every time Chadwick glanced at his watch, the more antsy he got. At least he wasn’t chatty. Since his last call to Jack he’d said a few words to her, but only to give her directions. If he wanted to talk she’d start crying and she’d never stop. God only knew how he’d react to that. Probably knock her out or cut her again.

Her yellow sweater sleeve had turned a crimson red, but the bleeding had stopped. Now the dried material was stiff against her arm. Every time she moved she was afraid she’d open the wound again.

They were parked just off the road, right before a long bridge in a gravelly spot that couldn’t be called an actual parking area. From where they sat she had a good view of the new bridge and the older, crumbling one that ran parallel to it.

The turquoise water glistened under the bright sun and there literally wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It seemed impossible that she was being held at gunpoint on such a beautiful day. Cars zoomed past in sporadic intervals, but traffic was fairly light. Every time she saw a dark vehicle in the rearview mirror, she nearly jumped.

Then she cursed herself for the reaction. She had to stay immobile and not give Chadwick a reason to lash out at her.

When the SUV she was watching started to slow and turned off the road she automatically swiveled around in her seat. Chadwick did the same.

“You’re going to do everything I say or you’re getting a bullet in your back.”

Ice slithered through her veins. Swallowing hard, she nodded. The SUV pulled up next to them on her side, but she didn’t make a move to get out.

Chadwick glanced around nervously, then motioned with his gun. “I’m getting out on this side. Climb over the center console.”

She did as he said and the moment her feet touched the ground, he grabbed her by her injured arm, then shoved his gun into her spine.

Little needles of pain splintered up her arm, but raw fear overtook any agony.

Sophie watched as the passenger-side window of Jack’s SUV rolled down. Miguel Vargas was handcuffed to the side handle and Jack was in the driver’s seat.

“Miguel, did he toss his phone?” Chadwick asked.

“Yes.”

“Were you followed?”

“No.”

“Jack, get out where I can see you.” Chadwick’s voice rose.

Blood rushed in Sophie’s ears, but she kept her focus on Jack. It killed her to even look at his face knowing he cared so little for her, but she knew he’d save her if he could. Even if she wasn’t a priority in this trade-off. The small consolation did little to ease the clawing ache in her chest.

Jack got out but stayed behind the front of the vehicle. “I want what you promised me,” he shouted.

“First come out from behind the SUV. I want to see you.” Chadwick’s voice rang in her ears.

“I’m not putting my weapon down.”

“Fine. I still want to see you.”

Without moving her head, her eyes strayed to Vargas. He sat immobile, looking so calm, as if this were something he did every day.

She was barely keeping it together.

Jack still had his gun drawn as he walked around the vehicle toward them. “Let the girl go, Chadwick. I’ve held up my part of the bargain.”

The girl. God, he didn’t even say her name. She truly meant so little to him.

“First you unlock Miguel.”

Jack’s pale eyes narrowed. “Not until you give me what I came for.”

“Take the minicomputer in the middle seat.”

Gun still pointed in their direction, Jack sidestepped until he opened the door, retrieved it, then transferred it to his vehicle. He then unlocked Vargas with one hand, jerked him from the vehicle, and clasped the man’s hands behind his back and secured the cuffs again. “We exchange at the same time, Chadwick.”

“After the exchange, we leave first,” her captor snapped.

Jack nodded in agreement. “If the information you gave me doesn’t pan out, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth. You know that.”

“I haven’t stayed alive this long by being stupid. All I want is to get out of here alive and get my fucking money,” Chadwick snarled. “And if you try anything, I’ll take her down with me.”

Shit, shit, shit. She had no doubt he meant it. Could only imagine what it would feel like to have a bullet ripping into her.

Jack, however, didn’t seem to break a sweat, which further embedded that dagger in her chest. “On the count of two. One, two.”

When Chadwick released her, Sophie jerked her arm close to her chest. Without the gun pressing into her back, she no longer felt as if the Grim Reaper was about to claim her. Keeping her steps measured, she resisted the urge to sprint. Everything around her funneled out as she walked toward Jack. This entire time he’d barely made eye contact with her, but even now she knew he was aware of her gaze on him.

Jack was aware of everything—even if he didn’t give a shit about her.

When she and Vargas passed each other, he tossed her a disdainful glance. She picked up her pace.

As soon as she was a foot from Jack he spoke low enough for her to hear. “Get behind the truck.”

She nodded and continued past him, rushing the last few feet to gain cover. A second later Jack joined her. “Stay low. I’m letting them go and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

The sound of the other engine revving, tires squealing, then the loud pop of gunfire sent her diving for cover. Sophie shielded her ears and hit the ground. This sound was becoming all too familiar.

“Damn it!”

She looked up to find Jack pounding on the hood.

“What happened?” Standing, she brushed off her hands on her jeans.

“They shot the engine.” He holstered his weapon in the back of his pants, then rubbed a hand over his face.

She couldn’t find it in her to care. All she felt was betrayal and she just wanted to see that Hannah was truly safe, then go home.

Recovering quickly from his outburst, Jack assessed her from head to toe in such a clinical fashion she felt like a specimen under a microscope. “Is this your only wound?” He gently held her arm and moved the material of her shirt to the side.

Even though what she really wanted to do was strike out at him and hurt him the way he’d hurt her, she just nodded.

“Did that bastard hurt you in any other way?” There was a sharp bite to his question.

Still not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head.

“We’ll take care of your wound later. I hate bringing you with me, but we’ve got to go after them now, Sophie.”

She nodded again. If she started talking, she feared she’d open the floodgates and would never stop crying. And God help her, she refused to let Jack see how much he’d affected her. How he’d basically flayed her insides.

•   •   •

Sophie was safe and with him. The reality went a long way in letting Jack focus and do his damn job.