Chase scraped his hand down the length of his face, looking weary and deflated. Sierra swallowed as an onslaught of guilt washed over her. He’d done nothing to deserve this. He rolled his shoulder as if pain from his gunshot wound plagued him—the same gunshot wound he’d received saving
her
life.
“He’s a cold blooded murderer, and he’s after you. Stop trying to handle this all on your own. You made a mistake in trusting Eason, now, the biggest mistake you can make is
not
trusting me.”
Sierra’s guilt deepened. “It’s not because I don’t trust you. I do,” she whispered.
“You’d rather take your chances alone”—he met her gaze—”than to allow me to help you?”
She had hurt him. Pain registered deep in his eyes. Anger she could deal with, but this… Sierra clasped her fingers together to steady her shaking hands. She drew in a breath, grasping at one last hope as she began to cave. “If I tell you, will you promise you’ll let me go alone?”
He gripped the steering wheel tight, but his voice softened. “You know I can’t make a promise like that.”
“Please, Chase…”
“Did Eason call you?” The look he gave her suggested he’d already guessed the answer.
Sierra ducked her head and studied her intertwined fingers. “He called while you were talking with Jake.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I was right there, in the next room.”
Sierra looked up at the sound of his injured voice. Moments passed before she gathered her courage. “Kevin’s taken Piper hostage in her own house. He told me to come within one hour. He said he would kill you if you showed up.”
Chase dipped his head and lifted his brows. “So, you were going to walk right in and demand her release?”
“I have to do something.”
His jaw twitched, and he looked ready to drag her over hot coals. “What makes you think he’d let Piper go?”
“It’s me he wants.”
“He can’t have you.”
The possessive note in his voice proved her suspicions. Chase would put himself in harm’s way again, no matter the risk. “This is something I have to do.”
“Not alone, you don’t.”
“You’ve been shot once for me. I don’t want it to happen again.”
“Tell me something. What do you think Eason will do when you get there? Take you, release Piper, and forget about me? Honey, I’m not only on his radar, I’m in his sights. Did you forget I can testify against him too?”
“Well...” She hadn’t thought much beyond the immediate need to rescue Piper. “I can only think of one thing right now. I have to get to my sister.”
“We will. Together. Where does she live?”
Sierra hesitated.
Chase sighed. “One phone call and I’ll have the address.”
Sudden panic seared through her. “No. Don’t call anyone. No one else can know.”
“We’ll need back-up.”
“Kevin said to come alone.”
Chase lowered his voice. “Of course he said that. He wanted to scare you.”
“It worked.” She rubbed her temples as mounting pressure formed a dull throb in her head. “I’m terrified. What are we going to do?”
“That depends”—he turned on the blinker and pulled the truck onto the road—”on how much you trust me.”
23
“Stop fidgeting.” Kevin warned his quarry as she struggled against the binding ropes. He checked the knots, although he knew Sierra’s sister could not escape.
Piper tried to dislodge the gag he’d placed in her mouth. She heaved, probably from the accelerant he’d soaked the cloth in, but he didn’t care. This woman was inconsequential.
“Your sister is nothing like you.” He straddled a kitchen chair and faced Piper, flicking a lighter and watching the flame rise high in the dim room. “She’s a fighter. I’ll take great pleasure in making her beg for her life.”
Tears slid down Piper’s cheeks.
Anger boiled to the surface. Kevin could not tolerate weakness. He picked up the gallon container of kerosene and doused the kitchen. The stench burned his nostrils and stung his eyes.
Piper shook her head violently from side to side. She struggled to speak through the dirty cloth clogging her mouth. Something resembling the word ‘why’ made it past the barrier.
He tossed the empty can across the room, and it landed with a metallic clang. The noise made Piper shrink back, like the coward she was. “Not yet. I want Sierra to watch.” He paced the room. “No doubt she’ll bring her
boyfriend
with her.” The thought of another man touching his property sent another wave of fury through him. Detective Price would pay for his actions. The man had been a nuisance ever since he’d been forced to teach Amber a lesson.
Kevin checked his utility bag for his new ID. It was ready and waiting. He’d paid an exorbitant amount for it, but it was worth it. He’d finish this business, and then start a new life. He’d open up his own law practice. Somewhere warm, he decided. And sunny. That’s where he’d find his perfect mate. At one time, he’d thought Sierra was that perfect woman. What a fool he’d been.
He wouldn’t make the same mistake again.
Kevin reviewed the plan again in his mind. He had every detail sorted out, and every possible anomaly accounted for. His strategy was infallible. Nothing and no one would get in his way. He hadn’t graduated top of his class on a whim. He’d worked hard for his degree, and his career. No two-timing woman was going to ruin his success, and no misguided detective would stand in his way.
Kevin clenched his jaw, and took out a photograph. “Wait till Price gets a look at this.”
His triumph over the detective gave Kevin a high like the purest of cocaine. He only wished he could stick around and see the look on Price’s face when he saw the picture of Amber, on her knees begging for mercy.
Kevin looked at Piper and boasted, “In case you’re wondering. This is what I’m going to do to Sierra.” He held out the picture.
Another sob escaped his hostage and he sobered. “Stop sniveling.” He took care not to step in the accelerant as he stood and maneuvered a small explosive device from his bag. He set it on the table, and made sure the remote detonator was armed.
Sweat seeped from Piper’s brows, and her eyes shone with renewed fear.
“It’s only a matter of time now.” Kevin’s heart beat at a fast, but steady pace as he stepped to the window, peering into the inky darkness. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see what was out there. He’d placed numerous alarms across the property. If anything so much as breathed on Piper’s land, he would know about it.
A few moments later, the alarm sounded. A surge of adrenaline coursed through Kevin and a feral grin lifted his lips.
Justice was about to be served.
24
“I don’t like this. If Kevin even suspects I’m not alone, he’ll kill Piper.”
Chase cut the lights and parked in Piper’s driveway, well out of sight of the house. He turned to face Sierra. “We have the advantage.”
Her eyes rounded. “How?”
“We already know Eason. We know his motivations. We also know he has only one hostage and you’ve given me a detailed layout of the house and property.”
“True. But we don’t know exactly where he’s holding her, or what kind of weapons he has. What if he’s outside waiting? Watching us already?” Sierra shuddered and looked around the darkened landscape. “There are acres of woods surrounding this house. He could be anywhere.”
“We’ll know more after you establish a line of communication with him.”
“Me?”
“Yes.” Chase didn’t like the idea of Sierra speaking with Eason again, but if everything went well, tonight Piper and Sierra would both be safe and free from this terrible man.
Sierra lifted her chin and nodded, courageously accepting the task. “Tell me what to do.”
Chase’s respect for her grew as she faced her fears head-on. “Just wait, for now.”
On the drive over, he’d called in back-up. Anticipating the officers’ arrival, he allowed himself a moment to consider what would happen when Eason was in custody. Sierra would testify. He would testify. Eason would be put away for a very long time. Sierra could live her life again. She’d be free.
Then, she wouldn’t need him anymore.
A strange sensation ignited in his gut, leaving him with the pang of loneliness, even as he sat alongside her in the parked truck. He’d grown used to being with her. He didn’t know if he could ever stop the urge to protect her.
“How many officers will be out here?”
“Enough.” In an effort to keep the situation under control, Chase hadn’t called in the hostage negotiation team. Instead, he was relying on a few, select fellow officers he could trust.
He checked his ammunition and removed the safety on his gun. He’d given orders that Eason be brought in unharmed. But, if it came down to saving Sierra, he wouldn’t hesitate to fire a kill shot.
Sierra’s gaze followed his movements. “I don’t suppose I could have one of those.”
“You know how to handle a gun?” Not that he had any intention of handing one over.
“I’ve used BB guns to shoot tin cans.”
Chase cracked a smile. “In that case, no. Besides, you’re staying in the truck, remember?”
“When will the others get here?”
“It won’t be long.”
“I don’t know about all this.” She nipped at her lower lip.
“I need to get a closer look. This all could be some kind of elaborate set up.” Chase moved to open the door, but Sierra stopped him with a hand on his arm.
“Why don’t you wait until back-up gets here?”
“Because we need to be ready to move in on Eason. The more we know now, the better off we’ll be when help arrives.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
He didn’t want to go, but had little choice. He leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her soft lips. “Lock the doors. I’ll be back in a few.”
The cool night air enveloped him and he zipped his jacket as he darted between the trees. The house was dark, except a faint light glowing from the kitchen window. Chase gripped his gun tighter, eager to take down Eason. Adrenaline spiking, he had to restrain himself from entering the house immediately. Waiting for back-up was the best way to tip the odds in his favor.
He circled the perimeter, gauging the distance to the back door. An inadequate back porch light illuminated an approximate three-foot radius. Good. Once assembled, his team could approach the house virtually undetected.
He studied the house, committing the layout to memory. Satisfied he had good point of entry, he headed back to the truck—it was time for Sierra to make contact with Eason.
The breeze rattled branches overhead, and carried a faint scent of smoke. The darkness obscured his vision, but not his senses. Something wasn’t right. Goosebumps raised on his arms. Neck hairs stood on alert. He looked toward the house. The faint glow from the kitchen had brightened into a dancing, amber hue.
“No.” With a quick glance down the driveway, he willed Sierra to stay inside the truck. He dashed toward the house’s rear, knowing there would be no time for reinforcements to arrive before flames consumed everything within reach.
He placed a quick call to 911 before kicking open the back door. Gun drawn, he made his way toward the fire’s source. Smoke seared his lungs, and he bent low to avoid the worst of it as he rounded the corner to the kitchen.
Heat waves scorched the air, devouring oxygen. Flames consumed the area surrounding a terrified woman bound to a chair. The woman looked enough like Sierra for Chase to know this must be Sierra’s sister.
Eyes wide, Piper violently shook her head side to side.
“I’m Detective Chase Price. I’m going to get you out of here,” he shouted above the din of crackling flames.
Piper continued to shake her head, her dark hair whipping around her face, but her gaze wasn’t on him. She was focusing on something across the room.
His gaze followed hers. A photograph, its edges curling into gray ash, rested on the kitchen table. Chase’s stomach plummeted and his blood ran cold. “Amber.” Bruises marred her face. Wide, pleading eyes beckoned her ruthless captor to let her live—the picture must’ve been taken moments before she died. Sucker punched in the chest, Chase fought to remain vigilant. He couldn’t help Amber now, but he could help Sierra’s sister.
A whooshing sound blasted the room as the fire discovered a new fuel source. Curtains lit up as they became ensconced in the fury, illuminating the kitchen as if it were midday. A small black object, resting near the table’s edge, caught his attention. He’d dealt with enough explosives to recognize the potentially deadly, volatile device. The remote detonator would be close by, no doubt in Eason’s hands.
Training and instincts took over, and Chase dove toward Piper, praying he wasn’t too late.
25
Cold air seeped into the truck’s cab and Sierra shivered, wishing she’d thought to borrow a coat along with the truck. It had been only a few minutes since Chase left, but it seemed like an hour. She wavered between the need to do something, and the desire to follow his request to stay put. She couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong, and the longer she waited, the worse the sensation became.
Unable to sit still any longer, she shoved open the truck’s door and stepped into the darkness. Smoke immediately filled her lungs and thoughts of remaining with the truck fled. She raced down the driveway, coming to an abrupt halt in view of Piper’s house. Dark clouds billowed from the windows, eaves and chimney. Soot and ash rose high and then rained down on the earth, blanketing the lawn.
Sierra darted toward the house. “Piper!” Any threat Kevin imposed now paled in the light of what could happen to her sister in the flames. The unbearable thought had her scrambling up the porch steps with little heed to the dangers ahead.
The wraparound porch’s dry, weathered boards would go up fast once the fire reached them. She might have to find another way out once she entered, but she didn’t care. All she could think about was getting to Piper as quickly as possible.
Sierra had just reached the door when someone emerged from the shadows. “Chase?”