“I heard that’s how Kendalls do things, as well.” Phillip’s quip put smiles on the faces of the Kendalls in the vehicle.
“Jessops are like that, too.” Marc’s disembodied voice reached them from Adam’s phone in the console of his cruiser. That particular cousin’s humor held a fine, wry edge that Jason appreciated.
I guess I know my family here better than I thought I did. There was no question that Jason was scared out of his wits at the moment. But his faith in all these cousins—in his family—was absolute.
“Okay, they’ve turned off onto the road that leads to the barn. I’m driving to the secondary entrance. I’ll let you know when I have them in sight again.”
“That’s where we’re headed, too,” Jake said. “So don’t shoot when you see us approach.” To Jason and Phillip, he said, “There’s an unpaved road that wends its way to a small rise, over which you can see the barn and everything going on around it. And, of course, there are the security cameras.”
“An abandoned barn has security cameras?” Phillip asked the question before Jason could.
Jake turned around and shot them both a look that wasn’t too hard to interpret. “What do you think? We already told you. Too many rat bastards find this place. So of course, we installed security cameras—inside and out. I’m pretty sure that, especially in the dark of night, Bateman won’t see the ones outside. And I know he’ll never see the ones inside. I couldn’t see those suckers, and I knew they were there.”
Jason guessed he was getting into the same mindset as his Texan cousins. In that moment, it didn’t seem strange to him at all to have security cameras on and in an abandoned barn.
“Of course. Well, then, let’s get this dog and pony show wrapped up, shall we?”
Chapter Eighteen
“Stop your car now. Open your window, pop your trunk, turn off the ignition, and sit still, with your palms on your knees.”
Leesa had been surprised when, the moment she’d slid behind the wheel, Bateman had called her again—and kept her on the line during the entire drive here. She wanted to call him a dumbass because the time he should have been listening in—while she’d still been in the restaurant—he hadn’t bothered to do so. Or maybe he’s stupid and didn’t think of it.
Leesa followed his orders and waited to see what would happen next. Behind her, headlights on high beam blinded her. She couldn’t see if Bateman was moving behind her, but of course, he likely was. That was confirmed when she heard the trunk lid raised.
She’d thought she’d completely forgotten all of the safety classes she’d taken in Kabul. Defensive posture drills, what to do if she was approached or taken. Classes, she thought now, she’d never had to utilize while in enemy territory.
No, she’d had to come home to Texas to do that.
It’s just a damn good thing that now that I do need that information my mind has decided to bring it all back from my personal archives.
She blinked when a flashlight hit her in the eyes. Then Bateman used it to examine the interior of the car.
He grunted then stepped back. “Get out of the car and keep your hands where I can see them.”
“Well, I have to undo my seatbelt first.”
He let loose an expletive she barely heard then sighed. “Do it.”
Her heart pounded in her chest as she obeyed. Then she was standing outside her car, with her hands raised. He motioned her back toward his vehicle, and Leesa wondered if the asshole was going to take her somewhere else in his car.
He used his flashlight to illuminate the interior of his trunk. “Asshole has a glass jaw. Pick him up and carry him inside that barn. I know you know how to do that. You were a soldier for fifteen years.”
She did know how to carry someone more than twice her weight. It was all balance and leverage. Bryce groaned when she lifted him, and she didn’t know if he was awake or not.
“Easy, jerk. I’ll try not to hurt you.”
Leesa saw a chance when Bateman let her get too close to him. She could have heaved the weight she carried onto him and taken him down. But not without risk to Bryce, and like she’d told Adam, he was an asshole but didn’t deserve to die.
Just before they reached the barn, Bateman stepped ahead. The barn door was locked, a sturdy padlock barring the way. Bryce aimed his weapon and fired. At the last moment Leesa closed her eyes and turned her head. She felt a sting on her cheek and knew a piece of metal had gotten her.
He opened the door and kept it open. He hadn’t turned his car headlights off, so there was just enough light for her to see where she was going.
Bateman looked around then walked to where a string dangled. One pull, and the barn was illuminated, but not brightly.
“That was a new lock. Figured there might be something in here, but it’s just an old abandoned barn.”
“I think the lock was to deter teens from using it as a party palace.” Leesa had heard about this barn and the interesting uses it had been put to over the last couple of years. She’d once heard Adam and Jake quibbling about whether or not the damn thing should be torn down.
“Put him down.” He looked around. “Hell, there’s not even a water source in here.”
Leesa saw what appeared to be another room. “Maybe in there? That would have been the tack room, when this was a working barn.”
“Doesn’t matter. You won’t be here that long.” He pointed at Bryce with his gun. “Wake him up.”
Leesa didn’t know how the hell she was going to do that. She looked down at her ex and met his gaze.
“I’m awake. What the fuck, Bates?”
“Not Bates,” Leesa said. “Bateman, and he’s with the DEA. He was undercover when we
