“What the fuck are you laughing at, Jordan? I don’t need to keep you alive if there’s no fucking letter.”
Jake used a key command, and then they were looking at a split-screen. The interior, yes, but now also the exterior and from the viewpoint of the barn’s front door, looking out toward them. Bateman had left the door wide-open, which was good for the advancing team. He had a light on inside, which pretty much guaranteed he wouldn’t see anyone approach in the dark.
But regardless, and as Jason could see, Adam, Peter, and the others were being careful—and strategic—in their approach.
“Fuck.”
His gaze shot to the other screen, where Bateman moved, taking his gun off Jordan and aiming at Leesa.
Then Jordan kicked out, Leesa charged, and Bateman’s gun fired for the second time that night.
“Damn it to hell, woman!” Jason could have sworn he’d just aged ten years in those few seconds.
“Just like every other one of them,” Jake said. “Our women delight in trying to give us heart attacks.”
“Federal agents! Bateman, stay on the ground!”
The command sounded in stereo, on the screen and in real life, just a few hundred yards away inside the abandoned barn.
Jason didn’t wait, and neither did Phillip. He felt his best friend, his partner, his co-husband hard on his heels as he took off at a dead run, heading for their woman.
Out of breath, anxious, Jason ran into the barn and scanned. Bateman was on his belly on the floor, being cuffed. Marc was crouched next to Bryce Jordan. Jason saw blood on the ground and then found Leesa. Their woman was standing off to the side, brushing her jeans off. The dusty imprint told the tale of a meeting with the floor—but otherwise she looked all right. Uninjured. Not shot. He took a few extra seconds to let those two words echo in his mind.
She looked up, met his gaze, and charged again. Jason caught her, and Phillip closed them all in an embrace of privacy. Jason thought they all three of them were shaking. He kissed the top of her head.
“Scared the shit out of me, woman.” he said.
“Me, too. Seriously scared,” Phillip said.
“Me, too.” Leesa said. For a long moment they just stood, holding on, letting their heart rates even out. Jason closed his eyes and let himself absorb the miracle of Leesa Jordan, in his arms, out of harm’s way. He lifted his head and saw something on her left cheek. A spot of blood. He lightly brushed his finger over it. Just a speck and it didn’t appear to hurt her.
“When he shot the lock off,” Leesa said.
“You’re all right, Leesa?” Jake Kendall joined them. The intrusion brought Jason back to the present. And Phillip, too, apparently, because he stood back, leaving Leesa in Jason’s arms.
She slid her arm around Jason and looked at Jake.
“Yeah, I am.” She looked down at Bryce. Marc was on his knees beside the man, giving him a quick once-over.
Then Marc looked up and met Jason’s gaze. “My cousins the paramedics are on their way. The bullet caught the edge of his right arm. I think it’s just a graze. They always look worse than they really are.”
“Easy for you to say,” Bryce said. “Fucking stings like a bastard.”
Until that moment, Jason hadn’t realized the man had been wounded.
“I know how getting shot feels,” Leesa said. Then she nodded to the man who was still on his back on the floor. “Thanks for kicking out at him. That gave me the chance to attack.”
“First time we ever worked together,” Bryce said. Then he looked from her to Jason. “And I think that is mostly my fault.”
“But not all,” Leesa said. “I know I became a real bitch in Kabul.”
“Well, I didn’t enter into our marriage with right motives in the first place. Can’t blame you for the way you reacted to what I dished out. I have the feeling that won’t be a problem for you next time…Sarge.”
Jason looked from the wounded man on the floor to his woman. He flicked a glance at Phillip, who’d been paying attention and who then nodded to him.
“It won’t be,” Jason said. “And I’ll add my thanks to Leesa’s.”
“The medics are here,” Adam announced. He stood aside as two Jessop cousins—Warren and Edward Jessop—came into the barn, a stretcher between them.
Marc got to his feet, stepped back, and let the professionals get to work.
“Robbie at the clinic?” Marc asked them.
“He probably is by now,” Warren replied.
“I don’t think I need the clinic.” Bryce Jordan seemed uncomfortable receiving the kind—and professional—attention.
“Grandma Kate says you get the clinic,” Warren said. “And if all’s well, a room at the B&B, all free of charge.”
“Take it,” Adam Kendall said. “We still have statements to take and reports to make.”
“I’ll take you three home,” Jake said. “Big brother here can get your statements in the morning.”
“Damn good plan.” Phillip nodded and headed out, following Jake.
Jason wasn’t surprised by Kate’s generosity. If he knew her—and he understood that he really did—she likely had already been apprised of the major points of this…what had Peter just called it? The latest dust-up? He looked down at the man who’d just been lifted onto the stretcher. “We’ll see you in the morning, Bryce.”
The other man nodded, his face showing no sign of his belligerence from earlier in the evening.
Jason took Leesa’s hand and led her in the direction of the car. Since Jake and the sheriff were giving the three of them the rest of the night to deal, he was determined that they were damn well going to take it.
Chapter Nineteen
Leesa was so happy to have her men on either side of her in the back seat. Both Jason and Phillip sat close, holding her hands. Jake, behind the wheel of Adam’s cruiser, drove them home. He’s not a cop. Why is he driving a cop car?
Leesa blinked. She had noticed a deputy’s badge on
