Fractured Memories (Badge of Honor #1)

Chapter 25

TWENTY-FIVE

Lightning lit up the sky as Grady slammed on the brakes near a muddy road leading into the woods. Noah hopped out, rain pelting his clothes and skin, to place a flag on the road. More officers and sheriff’s deputies were en route. Marking the turn onto the property cost precious seconds—time Noah wasn’t sure his daughter and Felicity had—but not doing so could mean backup wouldn’t find the right place. He would risk his own life, but not Grady’s. The Texas Ranger had a wife and two kids to get home to.

Noah hopped back inside the vehicle. Grady handed him a bulletproof vest before slipping on his own. Each of them was armed with handguns and rifles. They had no idea what they were about to face. Triple 6 was a widespread criminal organization. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to believe this land was protected by several individuals.

Grady punched the gas, his tires spraying mud behind them. He navigated through bumps and ruts without hitting the brakes. His truck was powerful. The engine revved as tree branches threatened to close in on them.

Noah gripped his rifle in one hand and the handle over the door with the other. “If this goes south, get out, Grady. I mean it.”

“Not a chance.” Grady growled and gripped the steering wheel, never taking his eyes from the road. “Felicity is one of ours. And that’s your daughter in there. No one comes after us and gets away with it. No one.”

His attitude wasn’t something new. Members of law enforcement were a family. It got messy at times, but they’d walk through danger to help each other. Company A—Felicity’s group of Texas Rangers—were particularly close. They supported and cared for each other in good times and protected each other in bad. Noah shared the same bond with the members of his department. Tucker, Jax, and several other officers were racing to the property at that very moment.

Would they get there in time? Noah didn’t know.

The trees parted, and a house appeared. The truck from the church parking lot sat close to the forest. A white nondescript delivery van was near the front door. Gunshots erupted on the property. Noah didn’t wait for the vehicle to come to a stop. He leapt from the truck and bolted across the yard to the house. His boots pounded against the slick grass. Rain fell into his eyes. Noah ignored it all, his sole focus on getting to Felicity and his daughter .

He burst through the open front door. Movement out back caught his attention. He spotted a flash of brunette hair a second before Felicity ducked into the woods. Noah might’ve been imagining things, but he could’ve sworn she was carrying Harper in her arms. Two men were chasing her.

Daniel and another man. Noah’s pulse shot into the stratosphere when recognition hit him.

Kurtis Ferguson.

Noah raced to the back door, raising his rifle. “Police! Freeze!”

Daniel whipped around and fired. Bullets shredded the side of the building. Noah hit the deck, taking cover behind the wall. His breath came in pants. He belly-crawled to the doorway and steadied his rifle. Daniel had dipped behind a rusted-out tractor. He’d been holding a handgun, which had a limited number of bullets, but that didn’t mean much. He could have an extra magazine.

Kurtis was gone. He’d disappeared into the woods in pursuit of Felicity and Harper. Noah was desperate to go after the man but couldn’t cross the yard without risking Daniel killing him.

“It’s over.” Noah shouted. “Drop your weapon and come out with your hands up!”

Silence came in response. Then Daniel said, “I won’t surrender.”

“You’re surrounded.” Grady yelled from the side of the house. He must’ve gone around the building while Noah went through. Smart man. “There’s only one way you walk out of the situation alive. Be smart, Daniel. Drop your weapon and come out with your hands up.”

Noah kept his gun trained on the tractor, holding his breath. Rain and sweat dripped off his forehead. His heart was with Felicity and Harper in the woods, every second fearful that Kurtis would find and kill them, but he forced his attention on Daniel.

Trust in God. The words Felicity had spoken during their last conversation before everything went haywire replayed in Noah’s memory. He would trust. He would have faith. God had given him Felicity and Harper. They were gifts. Precious gifts. But neither of them belonged to Noah. They were God’s and He, in His ultimate wisdom, would watch over them. Right now, Noah’s job was to watch Grady’s back.

Movement showed Daniel was doing something. A gun flew over the side of the tractor, landing in the grass. “I’m putting up my hands. Don’t shoot.”

Noah didn’t relax a muscle. This could be a trick.

Daniel’s hands appeared above the tractor. Then he stepped free of the farm equipment into the open. Noah breathed out. “Hands on your head. Drop to your knees.”

The criminal did as he was told. Noah rose, still keeping Daniel in his sights.

Grady approached with caution. “On the ground, face-first.” When he’d done as ordered, Grady grabbed Daniel’s wrists and cuffed him. He glanced up at Noah. “I’ve got this. Go.”

Noah bolted for the woods. Gunshots erupted, breaking the silence and sending his heart skittering. No. No. No. He used the sound to guide his movements, heading straight for the danger. A flash of color caught his attention. Kurtis. Noah slowed and circled closer. Where were Felicity and Harper? There was no sign of them.

Sirens wailed. Backup was here.

Noah used the sound to cover his approach. Kurt was moving randomly, as if searching for something. For Felicity? It was likely. Hopefully, she’d find a hiding place with Harper. Blood coated Kurtis’s face and his eyes were swelling. A broken nose. Felicity must’ve given him that, and despite the worry deep in his bones, a twinge of pride cut through Noah. He picked up his pace behind the criminal. It wouldn’t take long for the police to flood these woods.

Rain pelted Noah’s skin. His clothes were soaked, his hair wet. Water dripped in his eyes and the ground was slippery. He didn’t care. Kept moving. As long as Kurt was in his sights, then the man couldn’t hurt Felicity or Harper. He kept tracking him. Where was the backup?

At some point, Kurtis bent over at the waist. His breath was coming in short bursts. Noah took the opportunity to make his move. He shifted behind the man and held the rifle to the back of Kurtis’s head. “Drop it.”

Kurtis hesitated. For a heartbeat, Noah feared the man would ignore his order and attack.

Then Tucker stepped out of the shadow of a tree, gun raised. The former Army Ranger’s footsteps had been silent as he’d tracked them in the woods. “I’d listen to him if I were you.”

The gun hit the earth. Tucker lifted his gaze to Noah’s and then shifted to communicate that he would secure Kurtis. “Hands on your head.”

Again, Kurt complied. Noah kept his gun trained on him until Tucker had him secure. Once the deed was done, he lowered his rifle. “I’m going in search of Felicity.”

“It’s too late.” Kurt glowered. Hatred poured from every inch of his body as Tucker hauled him to his feet. “They’re dead.”

Noah’s world tilted as the ground underneath him swayed. The gunshots. But Kurt had been searching the woods… “You’re lying.”

He grinned triumphantly, the expression horrifying with all the blood coating his face. Kurt met Noah’s gaze. “No, I’m not. You’ll see.”