Griffin sped down the two-lane road that headed out of the city, toward the address his boss had given him, praying his instincts were right. Because if he was wrong, he was looking at another dead end. The officers had checked the address Jinx had told Tory to go to, but there had been no sign of her there. Something that didn’t surprise him. He gripped the steering wheel, angry that Jinx had somehow won another round. Tory had been safe—or at least that’s what he’d thought—but Jinx had still managed to get through to her.
He punched the button on his steering wheel and used the voice-command option to call Sheriff Jackson.
“How far out are you?” he asked, dispensing with formalities.
“We’re about ten minutes behind you.”
“Good,” Griffin said. He wasn’t willing to take any chances that something went wrong with this rescue. It was time to put an end to it all.
“I know you’re worried about her,” Sheriff Jackson said, “but you need to wait for backup before you go charging in there.”
“I agree, but ten minutes might be too late.”
“Then go ahead and survey the situation and find out what we’re walking into, but don’t do anything that could risk your life or hers, Griffin.”
“I won’t.”
Because he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. He couldn’t. Not after everything they’d been through together. He ended the call and stepped on the gas. His motivation scared him. He’d only known her for a few days and yet, somehow, he knew he’d never be the same again.
His mind shifted momentarily to Lilly. Was she the underlying factor to what he was really feeling? His chance to redeem himself? He still remembered every detail leading up to the moment he’d found out she was dead, every chance he’d had to ask just one more question that could have in turn changed the circumstances and saved her life.
But Lilly was dead and nothing was going to change that fact. This was not redemption; it was simply another life on the line. One he was determined to save, because that was who he was.
He stopped at the end of the long drive leading into the gated property, completely focused now on the task at hand—despite the fact that he had nothing more than a basic plan in mind with backup still minutes behind him. The two-story house sat back from the road, the property enclosed by an iron gate that surrounded the large slice of land for as far as he could see. From his vantage point, he couldn’t spot any security cameras, but that didn’t mean they weren’t there. He also knew that Jinx wouldn’t be there alone and that he and his men would all be armed.
Griffin’s heart pounded as he exited his truck, jumped the security gate and slipped down into the yard, his boots crunching against the gravel drive. He moved into the shadows of the tree line, hoping to get the information Sheriff Jackson had asked for. How many men were they up against? Where were the girls being held? These were the questions he had to answer, but in the process, he couldn’t take a chance and give away his approach.
He started across the yard and heard men’s voices. It sounded like they were at the back of the house, but from where he was, he couldn’t see them. He continued toward the house, approaching cautiously. Another dozen yards and he’d be on the south side of the house, where he could tell there was a door.
Hearing rustling in the bushes ahead of him, he held out his weapon. A Doberman approached from the left, clearly aware that someone had just breached the property. Its ears were up and forward as the dog’s stare pierced straight through him.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Griffin quickly ran through his options. Going back to the fence where he’d come over wasn’t an option. He was too far away now. The house was in front of him, but there was no way he was going to be able to simply run in through the front door. That left the giant oak tree in front of him. It had branches with access to the roof. If he could climb high enough, he might be able to avoid getting caught.
He didn’t take time to second-guess his decision. The dog started barking as it ran toward him. Griffin holstered his weapon and quickly scrambled up the tree. The higher branches were narrower than he would have liked and swayed slightly with his weight, but if he hurried and timed it just right, he could make it onto the roof.
The dog continued barking at the foot of the tree. It wouldn’t be long until someone noticed. He needed to ensure he was out of sight by the time they arrived, which probably gave him five, maybe ten, seconds at the most.
He shimmied his way along the branches toward the roof, thankful for all his years on the ranch climbing trees and building tree houses. His father had always called him Mowgli from The Jungle Book because of his hunting and tracking skills. Now he just needed to use them to save Tory and her sister.
Someone shouted from below as Griffin jumped onto the slick tiled roof then scrambled up to the crest and onto the other side. A second man responded. Griffin held his breath, bracing himself to make sure he didn’t fall. But if they came around to this side of the house, they’d see him. He needed a better place to hide.
He pulled himself back, out of view, praying they didn’t hear the scuffling on the roof. He could smell the musty scent of cigarette smoke as two men—neither of which he recognized—ran around the corner. The dog barked louder at the foot of the tree. One of them shouted out a command and then all was quiet.
One of the men held back the dog. “Probably just one of the neighbors’ cats.”
“Or it was them.”
“Are you sure she left through that window?”
“The window was open...they were gone...”
“Maybe that’s what she wanted you to think, but there isn’t enough snow to show footprints.”
“Well, if they’re not out here, they have to still be in the house.”
“Where’s Jinx?”
“Still searching down by the pond.”
The men headed back to the house, making any more of their conversation impossible for Griffin to hear. But he’d heard enough. Tory and her sister had managed to escape. What he didn’t know was where they were. The two men believed they were still inside the house...
Griffin glanced below him. There was a balcony he assumed led to one of the rooms on the second floor. If he could find an unlocked window...reach them first...
His boots began to slide on the icy roof. He grabbed onto a metal vent and managed to stop himself from falling. His fingers were almost frozen, but he ignored the discomfort. He needed to get inside the house, do a quick search and find out if Tory was still inside. He moved down to the gutter, jumped onto the balcony and found an open window. Another ten seconds and he was inside the house. The sheriff would be here in four to five minutes. His job now was to make sure he found Tory before Jinx did.
The men’s voices grew louder as they came toward the house. Tory and her sister had unsuccessfully searched the downstairs for a phone, but not being able to call for help wasn’t the worst thing they were facing. They were trapped. Her plan had been to escape the house, but now not only were the men outside scouring the property, they also had a guard dog. Elizabeth’s anxious expression reflected her own fears. She wasn’t sure how much longer they could evade Jinx and the other men. And when they were found this time, he wasn’t going to listen to her excuses. Jinx would probably just kill them.
Tory squeezed her fingers around Elizabeth’s hands. “We need to go back upstairs.”
They hurried up to the second floor. There had to be another place to hide. She’d seen the entrance to an attic at the end of the hallway, but there wasn’t time to pull down a ladder and get up there.
She heard movement in the bedroom ahead of them and felt the panic ensue. Had one of them come through the window she’d left open?
She squeezed her sister’s hand tighter as a man stepped out of one of the bedrooms in front of them.
“Griffin?” Her heart pounded at the sight of his familiar form. “You found us.”
He pulled her into his arms, hesitated, then leaned down and kissed her firmly on the lips. Her heart pounded at his nearness as she automatically responded to him. In any other situation, she could see herself exploring what she was feeling, but right now she couldn’t get her heart involved. There was too much at stake.
“I’m sorry.” He pulled away from her. “I don’t know what I was thinking... I was just so worried I wouldn’t get here in time. So worried about you. About both of you. Are you okay?”
“Now that you’re here, I am. Griffin, this is my sister, Elizabeth.”
He nodded. “I read Jinx’s email and, long story short, managed to figure out where he’d brought you. I’m just relieved you’re both safe.”
Tory tried to stomp down the wave of guilt that rose in her. She might have done what she’d thought she’d had to do, but she should have trusted him. “They threatened to kill Elizabeth if I didn’t come alone. I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did what you had to do to protect her.” His glance shifted to Elizabeth. “Because you’re the other witness, aren’t you?”
Elizabeth nodded.
“I remember most of what happened that day.” Tory took in a deep breath, wishing she could erase the flood of elusive memories that had finally surfaced. “I tried to make a deal with him. Told him to let her go and I’d take him to the other witness.”
“And somehow you managed to escape?”
“Yes. They’re on their way back into the house, leaving us trapped.”
“I saw two outside and Jinx is out there, as well. Are there any more?”
“Far as I know, that’s all.”
He squeezed her hand. “Backup is on the way and these guys aren’t going to get away with what they did.”
“What are our options in the meantime?”
“Avoiding confrontation, which means I need a place to hide the two of you.”
They slipped down the hallway, listening for signs that anyone else was still in the house, but she didn’t like the slim chance of them getting out alive. It might be three against three, but Griffin was the only one of them that was armed, leaving them at a huge disadvantage.
A floorboard creaked downstairs.
“They’re back inside,” Tory said.
Griffin nodded as they passed a bathroom door. “Go in here and stay back, away from the door.”
“You can’t do this on your own, Griffin—”
“Trust me.” He reached into his pocket and gave her his pepper spray. “Use it if you need it, but we have the advantage. They don’t know I’m here.”
There was no time to come up with a plan, but the element of surprise turned out to be exactly what he needed.
Griffin took the first man down in two sharp punches and then quickly pulled his limp body into the bathroom. With Tory’s help, they hoisted him into the tub and Elizabeth shoved a washcloth into his mouth to keep him silent once he came to.
“I know where some rope is.” Tory scurried out of the room, returning seconds later with enough rope to secure him and at least one more.
One down. Two to go.
A second man ran up the stairs, clearly angry as he shouted something at his downed partner. Griffin didn’t give him time to react. His elbow struck the man’s jawbone, knocking him onto the carpet. Griffin let out a sharp huff of relief.
Two down without firing a bullet.
He finished confirming the men were securely tied, knowing this wasn’t over. Tory stood beside him, looking tired, but there was still a fight in her eyes. Her loss of memory was probably the only thing that had kept them alive, and now that she remembered...
Griffin’s jaw clenched. He wasn’t even going to try to imagine what might have happened if he hadn’t managed to find her. And that kiss... He didn’t know what he’d been thinking, but the thought of losing her terrified him.
He spoke into his radio. “Jackson, how far out are you?”
“A minute...two at the most.”
Griffin frowned. He wasn’t sure they had two minutes.
“Where are you?”
“Upstairs with the women and two of the men.”
“Try to hold off a confrontation with Jinx until we get there.”
“I’ll try, but even if I don’t do anything, I can guarantee he’s going to come to us.”
That was inevitable.
The stairs at the end of the hallway creaked.
He’d been right. Jinx was coming.
Griffin motioned for Tory and her sister to stay in the bathroom, guarding the men. Then he stood waiting in the recessed doorway, senses on alert and ready to defend them if necessary.
Jinx started clearing the rooms. “Robert! Carl! What’s going on up here?”
While Griffin had planned to do his best to wait for backup, he knew Jinx wasn’t going down without a fight, and he had to keep Tory and her sister out of the line of fire.
“Police!” Griffin stepped into the hallway, recognizing the man from his mug shot. “Put the gun on the floor, then raise your hands in the air!”
Jinx frowned, clearly taken aback by Griffin’s presence. “You just can’t stay out of this, can you?”
“This never should have happened.”
“Oh, but it did. And if you think you’re going to just walk out of here, you’re wrong.”
“Your men have been subdued, which means it’s just you and me now. There’s nowhere to go, Jinx. This is over.”
“Oh, it’s far from over. Where is she?”
“It doesn’t matter where she is. You’re done using her.”
“You’re wrong. I’ve arranged for a way out of the country. The good thing for you is that I’ll disappear. The unfortunate thing is that you won’t get to enjoy it. All I have to do is take you down and she and her sister will come with me as leverage to ensure I get out of here without any issues.”
“Put the gun down, Jinx, because as much as you’d like to think what you just said is true, none of that is going to happen,” Griffin said, moving back against the recessed door. “Backup will be here within the next minute. I’ve got your men secured, which means you’ll be outmanned and outgunned.”
Jinx’s gun went off and slammed a bullet into the doorframe behind Griffin. Griffin returned fire, hitting his mark. But before Griffin could move toward the injured man, Jinx fired off a second round. Griffin felt the impact as the bullet ripped through his leg. A moment later he collapsed to the floor.