AJ’s stomach hurt. He had been conditioned to withstand incredible amounts of pressure and still be suited to lead, but that was before the ranch was in danger and his son’s life was on the line.
Everything had just become so real...and they had just had the rug pulled out from under their feet.
Their location had been exposed and there was a bounty on their heads. There was no way they could come back to this ranch in Montana. The bastards had taken his home, his freedom and his child.
They would pay...and he would give his last breath to get his boy to safety.
It had been hard grabbing all of his things and hitting the road as soon as they had learned that Fellini had gained access to them. Zoey had taken a sledge to the computer’s hard drives, making sure to leave nothing behind when their enemies descended...and they would most certainly descend.
Baker was standing beside Amber and they were talking as he glanced over at the detective’s Suburban. Baker had been unusually stoic when they had told him about everything. Yet, the detective had made sure to make it clear that they were welcome to pool resources and improvise as required, in order to get Charlie.
Troy and Mike were standing with a few of their contractors. They were wearing snow-based camo and waiting for orders from him, but before he could take action, he had to take care of a few last-minute things. They were definitely down to crunch time and if they didn’t move into their positions quickly, their trap would fail.
Baker’s phone rang and the man answered. Amber excused herself and made her way over to him and Zoey. “What did Baker have to say?”
Amber pinched her lips. “He has unmarked police cars in both directions coming and going from this road. A mile out from the meeting point, they have guys with Stop Sticks ready to deploy, if necessary.”
“Good,” AJ said, turning to Mike and giving him a nod.
Mike tipped his head and turned back to his men. They were going to take the high points, readying their rifles from a variety of points in the event a firefight broke out.
“Baker also recommended that I put on some clothes he brought. They found some of Tammy’s things in the hotel room, and he thinks I can pull off her look. It might give us a few more minutes to exchange Charlie.”
Goddamn, AJ loved when things started to come together in a way that was advantageous to his team and their goals.
“Great.” AJ smiled.
Zoey was working on her phone. She hadn’t smiled since the moment their cover had been blown, but he could understand why.
“Did you find anything?” he asked.
Zoey shook her head. “No, but I have arranged for travel for us as soon as we can hit the runway.” She glanced at Amber and then to AJ, silently questioning whether or not Amber should be coming along.
He didn’t know what to say or how to react, so instead he pretended not to have seen the silent gesture. Amber wasn’t looking at them; instead, she was turned toward Baker, who was stepping out of his truck.
He wanted to bring Amber to wherever they were going to end up once this handoff with Charlie was over and they had to be on the move to escape the Fellini threat, but it seemed wrong to ask her to run away with him. Besides, she had her own job and her own life to take into consideration.
No matter what had happened between them, she would never want to give up everything for him—including her brother’s legacy and a world she had built for her family. And he couldn’t ask that of her. He cared about her too much.
Baker sauntered toward them carrying a gym bag. “Here you go.” He handed Amber the bag. Taking it, she headed toward the bushes to change and Baker turned to him. “So, my bomb team just called. They have been working down in that mine. Those boxes you found...looks like they are full of C-4 explosives. Whoever they belong to better be ready for federal prison.”
“Holy crap,” Zoey said, finally looking up from her phone.
“You can say that again,” Baker said, nodding. “You guys are damned lucky Amber uncovered this place. Though, it sounds like her job is a goner.”
“What?” AJ coughed out. “What are you talking about?” He looked in the direction in which Amber had disappeared.
“Yeah, the higher-ups are pretty upset with her. Apparently, she didn’t get the appropriate warrants. Your girl is going to be out.” Baker paused. “I asked her for her help on this case and she did uncover one hell of a massive bomb and saved a helluva lot of lives. In an attempt to help, I made some calls to help her out, but minds are made up.”
Why hadn’t she told him that she’d been fired? Had that been why she had been acting off ever since she had run down to her cabin?
She didn’t have to be embarrassed about losing her job, or anything else.
“She deserves a damned award, not to get canned,” AJ growled. “We were sitting ducks down there and we didn’t have a clue. We owe her our lives.”
“I can’t argue any different. I think it’s a load of bull-pucky, too.” Baker sighed.
Zoey didn’t look back up from her phone and her fingers were nearly a blur as she typed. “Don’t worry, I’m on it now. Let’s just say that her bosses are going to get the ass-chewing of a lifetime from ranks and people they didn’t even know existed. They won’t walk right for weeks.”
AJ was equally relieved and oddly sad. For a half second, he and Amber had the chance to make things work. It was selfish of him to even imagine, but if she didn’t have a job, she could join their team and hit the road with them. She was so goal-oriented and dedicated to her work that she would be a tremendous asset when it came to operating the company.
Baker’s phone buzzed. He tapped on the screen. “Looks like my spotters just located Fellini. He is driving a white Silverado north. They are thinking he will be at the meeting point in ten minutes. You guys need to get into position.”
Amber came walking out of the bushes. He did a double take at her wearing Tammy’s tight blue jeans and a button-up white collared shirt with turquoise buttons and a heavy wool jacket. She had a cowboy hat on and her hair was down. She looked entirely too much like the Tammy he had known, the one who could dress up for a honky-tonk on Saturday night and wear the same clothes to work on Monday.
Though, if truth be told, Amber did a hell of a lot better filling out every curve of those jeans. His mouth watered just looking at her.
She was pulling at the collar of the shirt as she made her way over to them. “Well, everything fit, but this coat is tight as hell.” She looked over at him and gave a little laugh.
“Tight can be a good thing. It looks good on you,” he teased.
Zoey turned and started walking back toward her ranch pickup.
“Are you okay with staying back?” Amber lifted the bottom of the white shirt so he could see that she was carrying a gun. “I won’t be going in there unarmed.”
“I’m not worried about how you will carry yourself if this all hits the fan. I’m just hoping that we can get you and Charlie out of there without an incident.”
Amber pursed her lips as she looked at him. “We both know things aren’t going to go well here. I don’t have anything that they are hoping to get—I don’t know what update they were after.”
“I’m sure it had to do with the massive bomb that they had Tammy plant under the ranch.”
Amber’s eyes widened. “The what?”
“Oh, you heard me. Those boxes we found were full of explosives.” He let out a stressed little chuckle. “I’m glad I didn’t go ahead and open them while we were down there. Who knew finding a woman’s purse would be the one thing that probably saved our lives? Well...that, and you. Baker told us you got fired.”
“Not fired,” she said, her cheeks turning red as she wiggled her finger. “I was put on administrative leave. Totally different.”
He smiled. “Well, regardless... I know what you did for me...for my family,” he said, barely managing to get the words out. The realization of all she’d done for him—what she was still doing—threatened to overwhelm him.
She squeezed his hand gently. “I know how much they mean to you. And now, I expect to do everything I can to bring your son safely into your arms as well.” He knew she meant it, and it made her that much more special to him. “If I lose my job because of what I’ve chosen to do, then so be it. At least I left on my own terms and all while being a good person.” She was a good person...and he loved her for it. The truth of that hit him as she continued, “If the government or the lawmakers don’t like it, well... I will deal with that when the time comes—”
Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips, knocking off her hat.
He didn’t care.
Their lips melded hard and hungry against each other, no more reservations or withholding. He was hers. “Amber,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers, “I love you. I can’t tell you enough.”
“I love you, too. No matter what happens out here today, know that I am doing this on my own accord. I want to do the right thing. I couldn’t save my brother, I couldn’t fix my family, but I can stop yours from being destroyed.” She kissed his lips gently. “And when this is all over, I want to stay with you.”
He put his hands on her face and looked deeply into her eyes. They were full of love, love he was sure was mirrored by his own. “You absolutely will, Amber. You will be my wife.”