Guardian Ranger (Shadow Agents #2)(45)
Author: Cynthia Eden

Everything had been destroyed.

Was the guy still in there? Only one way to find out. Another fast hand gesture, and he and Logan swept through the kitchen. Sydney had her weapon out now, too, and she flanked them. Room by room, they searched.

Downstairs.

Upstairs.

Broken furniture. Overturned chairs.

But no Jimmy Jones.

Jasper peered down from Veronica’s window. “He could be in any of those buildings.” Just like before. Only this time, the guy was watching them, not Veronica.

“If he’s out there, why hasn’t he taken us out?” Sydney asked. “He could have gotten shots off when we came on the porch.”

“Maybe our cover was too good. He didn’t have a clean shot,” Logan said instantly. “Maybe—” He broke off, frowning, then pulled his phone out of his back pocket. The phone made no sound, but Jasper knew the device would be emitting a small vibration. “It’s Gunner.” Logan put the phone to his ear. “Area isn’t secure yet. We’re—”

Jasper saw his eyes widen.

“When? Damn it, yes, we’re on the way.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket. “Gunner says we aren’t going to find the deputy out here. He’s back in town, shooting at Wyatt.”

“He lured us away,” Sydney said with a shake of her head even as they all raced for the stairs. “That guy wanted to separate us so he could attack better. He left his phone for us to track.”

Now he was heading in to take out Cale. And Veronica. They rushed out of the front door. The porch creaked beneath their feet.

But then they heard the peal of a ringing cell phone, a sound that came from within the house. Jimmy’s phone? Sydney glanced back at the house. “Why…” Then her eyes widened. “The bomb at the sheriff’s station—it was triggered by a cell! He could be doing it again! Run!”

But there wasn’t time to run. The house exploded behind them. The force of the blast sent Jasper flying into the air, and then he hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud.

* * *

VERONICA RUSHED BACK down the hallway. There was no more gunfire. Just silence. She crouched low, not wanting to make a target, and turned the corner that would take her back to the small lobby.

“Wyatt?” Veronica whispered. He was bent near the front desk.

He turned around, eyes widening. He had his phone in his hand. “I can’t get Logan and the others.” Worry hardened his words. “No one’s answering.”

She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “And Cale’s gone.”

Wyatt tensed. “What?” Then, suddenly, Wyatt was right in front of her, grabbing her arm and pulling her close. “Hell, he’s supposed to be cuffed back there.”

“The handcuffs were on the floor. The room was empty. He’s gone. H-he must have picked the lock and managed to pry the boards off the window.” The EOD had underestimated him. Her brother had gotten out of plenty of tight spots over the years. As if that little room would have held him for long.

Wyatt glanced over his shoulder. “Is that Jimmy out there shooting at us…or Cale?”

Shock squeezed her heart. “B-but you said…Jimmy…”

“I never saw the shooter.” His confession was a rough rasp. “I just assumed…” He shook his head. “Never mind. We have to get out there. Gunner needs to know who he’s facing.” His gaze penned hers. “You stay low and you move fast, got it?”

She had it, all right. But she’d feel better if she had a weapon. If she had something. Her gaze flew around the room. The filing cabinets. The desk.

She swiped out with her hand, grabbing the small weapon that probably wouldn’t do her a bit of good.

Then she followed Wyatt. She stayed down. She moved fast. Just as he’d told her. Just as…

“Get in,” Wyatt ordered roughly.

They were at his patrol car. He was trying to push her into the back.

There was no gunfire. No sign of Gunner or Cale or Jimmy.

And Wyatt was sweating so much. From fear. From adrenaline. From…something more?

Her fingers were curled around the small letter opener that she’d grabbed from the desk. “You didn’t say we were going to leave Gunner.”

“I don’t see him.” His gaze darted to the left. To the right. “So the only thing we can do is go to the ranch and try to find the others. Then we’ll come back.”

“But Jimmy could get away. Cale could—”

He pushed her toward the backseat. “We don’t have time to argue, Veronica! Let’s go!”

But she hesitated. Something just felt wrong.

“Veronica!”

Cale’s voice. She started to smile then. It was going to be all right. It was—

Wyatt spun at Cale’s shout. He brought up his gun and fired.

She screamed when her brother fell back. Screamed—and shoved that letter opener into Wyatt’s shoulder. The bellow of pain was his, but she was already moving, trying to jerk his gun away. He was strong, though, far stronger than she’d realized, and he shoved her, sending her tumbling into the back of his patrol car. She lunged up in an instant.

And found herself staring down the barrel of his gun.

“Didn’t want it to be like this,” Wyatt muttered, with a shake of his head. “Not for you. I had other plans for you.”

“Wyatt?”

Another gunshot rang out. It ricocheted off the open patrol car door. Wyatt swore and dropped low. She rushed forward, but he slammed the door, sealing her inside.

There were no handles on the back door. No way to lower the windows. A wire cage separated her from the front seat.

More gunfire erupted. One bullet hit Wyatt in the shoulder. He was snarling and lifting his gun, spinning around and seeming to fire right up into the air. Then he was lunging into the front of the patrol car. Revving the car’s engine and racing away. Veronica was yelling for him to stop. But he wasn’t.

She spun back to look behind her. Cale was trying to sit up. His chest was soaked with blood and his hand was up, as if he were reaching for her.

Gunner ran up behind Cale, a gun still gripped in the agent’s hand. Gunner lifted that gun, as if he’d fire.

Then his gaze locked on hers.

Help me.

Gunner didn’t fire.

Wyatt left them with a scream of his tires.

* * *

JASPER PUSHED TO his feet. The house was an inferno, blazing out of control. The house that Veronica had loved.

“That’s how he did it at the station,” Sydney murmured. She didn’t seem to be aware that a one-inch gash was dripping blood down her cheek. “He had the bomb already wired. He knew we were bringing in the kidnappers. He just had to press a few buttons, make one call.”