Alexa stirred. “Aunt Rowan? Where are we going?”
“Shh. I don’t know, sweetheart,” she whispered into Alexa’s ear. “I guess we’re going on an adventure. Go back to sleep. I’ll keep you safe.” Somehow.
The driver raced from the collection of buildings toward the back of the property where a dirt road cut through the forest.
Her heart sank the farther they drove from the house. She prayed Brent found them before the plane left the ground.
Within minutes, the SUV exited the tree cover, turned onto another back road, and sped further away. Rowan studied the terrain, hoping for something to orient her. She didn’t miss the fact the men hadn’t blindfolded her this time, maybe because she had no reference point. More likely, though, they didn’t expect her to escape with a child in her arms and she wouldn’t leave Alexa behind.
More turns led them to an asphalt road. Fifteen minutes later, the driver took a sharp left, throwing Rowan against the passenger-side door. Alexa woke with a start. “We’re okay, Lex.”
“Where are we?”
“Not sure.”
Alexa sat up and looked around. “Look.” She pointed out the windshield. “A plane.”
Rowan’s stomach knotted. A jet waited on the airstrip. No law enforcement in sight or a Fortress SUV. Brent and his operatives would have to find her and Alexa farther away than any of them wanted.
“Are we going for a ride?”
“We’ll see.”
Hard Hands smirked at Alexa. “Yeah, kid, you are. A nice long ride.”
“Shut up.” Phillips scowled at his employee.
The driver stopped at the edge of the airstrip.
“Go back to the compound. We’ll have company soon if they haven’t arrived already.”
“Any orders, sir?”
He shook his head. “Walters knows what to do.”
Rowan studied Phillips’ expression. Something in his tone made her suspicious. Apparently his man didn’t hear the same thing Rowan had. Phillips’ voice indicated he’d planned something. Couldn’t be good. She hoped the plan didn’t hurt or kill law enforcement officers or Brent and his operatives.
Hard Hands opened his door and motioned with his gun for her to follow. Right. Scooting across the seat with her niece in her arms was no picnic.
Once she stood outside the vehicle, Hard Hands and Phillips escorted Rowan and Alexa to the plane. She glanced back before entering the cabin. The SUV was gone and there was still no sign of the police or Brent.
After a sharp jab in the back from Hard Hands’ gun, Rowan entered the cabin. Her eyebrows rose. Wow. Plush interior, leather seats. Looked like a top-of-the-line plane. The drug business must be lucrative for Phillips to afford this type of luxury.
“Strap yourself and the brat in, Ms. Scott. Todd, tell the pilot we’re ready.”
“Yes, sir.” Hard Hands walked to the front of the plane.
Rowan chose two seats at the back. The idea of one of these guys sitting behind them left her uneasy. Once she and Alexa were belted in, the plane taxied down the strip. A moment later, they were airborne.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
“Turnoff to the compound is on the right, Eli,” Jon said.
Brent unstrapped his seatbelt, dropped the ice pack, and leaned forward. Up ahead, a police barricade had been set up. “Slow down. We don’t want the cops to open fire on us.” Their rides were reinforced, but he couldn’t afford extra time explaining to ticked off cops why they hadn’t slowed down or stopped at a manned barricade. Brent wanted to save his favors for situations he couldn’t control. Hopefully, this delay wouldn’t take more than a minute.
Eli slowed to a stop. Brent climbed out and walked toward the officers, hands out to his sides, clearly visible. “I’m Brent Maddox from Fortress Security.”
“ID,” snapped the senior officer, his hand resting on his weapon.
Though chafing at the delay, Brent complied. He couldn’t afford to be shot again. The cemetery sniper had shattered the ceramic in his vest and Brent hadn’t commandeered a replacement. He’d been too anxious to find Rowan. Handing over his identification, he waited until his credentials were examined and confirmed.
The cop motioned for his fellow officers to allow them to pass.
Brent returned to the SUV. “Go, Eli,” he snapped before closing the door.
“An SUV just left the compound,” Jon said. “There’s a dirt road through the woods at the back.”
“Rowan?”
“She’s in the SUV, Brent. Her tracker is showing movement away from the compound.”
“Go, Eli.” Brent contacted the drivers of the other two Fortress SUVs and instructed them to proceed to the house on the off chance Alexa had been left behind. He couldn’t imagine Rowan willingly leaving her niece behind. She may not have had an option. Alexa was the bargaining chip to keep Rowan’s cooperation.
As soon as they cleared the tree line and saw the compound, the Volunteer militia opened fire on them from all sides. Eli pressed down on the accelerator. He guided the SUV through a sharp right turn and barreled toward the forest road.
Two militia members exited the woods near the man-made road and stood in the SUV’s path. “Stupid move,” Jon murmured.
Brent agreed. If these guys thought Eli would veer off and risk hitting a tree, they were mistaken. Playing chicken with his operatives could have deadly results for the challenger.
Eli stayed on course for the road ahead. At the last moment, the men dived out of the way with shouted curses and gunfire at the vehicle. The SEAL didn’t slow down as he steered onto the road.
“Jon?”
“Still on the move.” His fingers flew over the keyboard. Seconds later, the second half of the screen shifted to a satellite view of the area. Jon magnified a section, growled.
“What is it?”
“Activity on the airstrip.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Phillips is heading for the plane.”
“The question is, will he take Rowan and maybe Alexa with him?” If Phillips learned Brent’s identity and what he did for a living, the man would run scared and use every bargaining chip at his disposal to save his miserable hide.
His jaw flexed. Keith Phillips should be afraid. The man had put his hands on the woman
