First Surrender (Chance Encounters #3)

Chapter Forty-Eight

Jackson

“ W e don’t know what’s waiting for us on the other side of that gate but be prepared for anything.” I look at each of my deputies directly in the eye as I speak so I know they hear me. This is a dangerous operation because we’re going in blind.

The iPad’s last location pinged near Jameson’s old farm. It should have been abandoned, possessed by the bank, but I know Declan must’ve brought them here. It’s too close to be a coincidence but I’m still relying on my gut.

I look to Nathan and Jesse next, they’re more qualified to handle whatever happens next compared to my four deputies but it doesn’t mean I can ignore the risk they’re taking.

“Let’s go get your family, Malec,” Nathan says with a nod.

Jesse’s staring blankly down the empty road. We’re about a mile from “the farm” where he almost lost his life last year.

“Jesse,” I say, getting his attention.

“We should have burned this place down when we had the chance,” he admits cooly.

“Yeah. Maybe this time we’ll get the chance.” I smack the hood of my SUV. “Let’s go!”

Everyone loads into their respective vehicles and within seconds we’re speeding down the road and toward Jameson’s old farm. I see the entrance but instead of slowing down, I speed up. I’m not giving them the chance to expect us. Law be damned.

The brush guard on my front fender slams into the metal gate, blowing it off the hinges. That type of entrance is anything but subtle so as soon as the drive opens up to the main property, the vehicles behind me spread out to create a wall of force.

There are too many outbuildings to stay together as a group, so each side breaks off to clear their flank. Jesse and Nathan follow close behind me as we approach the main house but before I make it to the porch, I see Natalie’s Honda parked off to the side.

I motion for two deputies to clear the house while my attention stays on the dark head of hair in the backseat. Her head lulls to the side of the headrest as if she sensed me and I watch her eyes widen. Her forehead is visibly damp with sweat, her hair is stuck to her temples.

She’s baking alive in that car.

As we move closer she shakes her head subtly. She’s warning me not to come closer but I’m two steps ahead as my shoulders swing around the corner of the house as soon as we clear it. A man leans against an old a/c unit with a gun on his lap. It’s pointed in her direction, but he looks half asleep. Or, doped up.

“Sheriff’s department. Don’t move.” My Glock is inches from his head before he realizes I’m there. “Cuffs,” I direct Nathan. He does so easily, throwing the man on his stomach into the grass.

“I have one in custody,” I relay into my radio, my eyes never leaving Nat’s. Every cell in my body urges me to go to her, to erase the fear in her eyes. She’s pleading with me to help her but I need to do so safely. Her car’s parked in the open field and I don’t want to walk into an ambush.

I would if it meant saving her, but drawing any potential fire in her direction only puts her at risk.

“Our side was clear, Sheriff. We’ll take him.” My deputy grabs our arrestee and hauls him back to one of the cruisers with his partner so my group can continue.

“Ready.” Jesse claps Nathan on the shoulder.

“Ready.” Nathan does the same to my shoulder.

We continue forward to Natalie’s car, scanning left to right. It’s a large property and there are too many places for someone to hide. We’re within ten feet when I hear the telltale sound of the car door creaking open, drawing my attention to her instead of my surroundings.

“Nat. No, wait!” I yell, trying to stop her but she doesn’t hear me. She runs straight for me where we have no cover.

“Gun!” Nathan shouts to my right, firing his weapon toward an old shed behind the house.

“Left side. Left side,” Jesse shouts, discharging his rifle. I don’t have a chance to look as Natalie crashes into my front, collapsing at the knees. My left arm wraps around her damp back on instinct to keep her from hitting the ground as I try to shield her.

“Clear.” Jesse’s voice reaches me almost at the same time Nathan’s does.

“Clear,” he echoes.

Just as Jesse and Nathan return to my position, Declan Randolph steps out from behind an old tractor drawing my attention forward.

“You motherfucker!!” He rasps from the depths of his chest, running at us full speed.

“Declan Randolph, you’re under arr-” Before I can finish my sentence, his arm raises, mirroring my already raised right arm.

I don’t think, I only react, dropping the woman I love and leaving her in a heap at my feet as I pull the trigger.

POW!

Jesse and Nathan are already discharging their weapons over my left and right shoulder as I step over Natalie’s shrunken form, putting her behind the gunfire.

POW! POW! POW! I fire in rapid succession until my clip empties, Declan’s body bearing each bullet brutally before collapsing backward.

His gun hits the grass before he does.

Threat eliminated.

“Shots fired. Send multiple EMS,” my words drone robotically into the radio.

Declan Randolph won’t need an ambulance. He’s dead, I already know it but Nathan jogs over anyway to check for a pulse. A subtle nod in my direction is all I need to confirm.

“Jackson, we need to go. Please, let’s go!” Natalie’s voice reaches me but it sounds hollow in my ears. My actions are catching up to me.

I just killed Dec’s dad.

“Malec. Get your head out of your ass,” Jesse grips my right forearm, forcing me to lower the weapon that I haven’t reholstered.

“The rest of the property is clear?” Nathan asks, communicating with my deputies for me while I’m still stuck in a haze.

“All clear.”

“Jackson, Dec’s not here. I told him to run and they went after him. We need to find him, please.” Natalie grips my shirt, forcing my focus on her.

“Where?” Dec needs me.

“I don’t know, the last curve. I don’t know. We jumped out of the car and I told him to run.”

“Okay, let’s go. Nathan and Jesse, stay with us. Everyone else, secure the scene!” I shout, restoring my authority and flipping the switch I need to complete my mission. Find Dec.

He might hate me once I find him, but at least he’ll be safe.

I tuck Natalie into my passenger seat and look at her closely for the first time since seeing her in the car. “Are you okay?”

“No, Dec’s gone,” she crows. Her skin is still damp from overheating and I take two seconds to wipe her hair out of her face. She has a laceration on her forehead but the blood is dried. I can already see the bruise forming but she doesn’t mention it and neither do I. I know it’s the least of her concerns.

“I’m going to get him back, I promise.”

“I know. I knew you’d find us.” She presses her forehead to mine and squeezes her eyes shut. “Declan’s dead isn’t he?”

“Yeah.”

A soft cry escapes her throat and her body shakes in my arms. “I’m sorry, Jackson. You shouldn’t have had to do that.”

“Doesn’t matter, I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep you safe. We’ll talk about it later.” I kiss the tip of her nose and shut her in the air conditioning, when I turn around Jesse’s standing there with a water bottle.

“She’s dehydrated. The heat exhaustion is going to catch up to her soon. Whatever comes next might be rough.” He hands me the water and looks deeply into my eyes. Whatever comes next .

That could mean anything but I know what Jesse is insinuating. These mountains, these woods, are dangerous and unforgiving. We don’t know what’s out there and we don’t know who Declan sent out looking for Dec already. We just have to hope that we find him first.