Cowboy In The Crossfire(56)

"Careful," Blake warned.

"Too late," Johnson said. "Take your chances with my plan, or die in the warehouse after the boss has some fun torturing you and God knows what else. He's gone crazy. He thinks he's above everyone and everything."

Johnson pulled a zip tie from his pocket and faced Amanda. "If you want a chance to save your son, give me your wrists."

"It's too risky," Blake protested.

"If it will save Ethan, I have to take that risk." She cupped his face. "I know what will happen the moment he gets the evidence. At least this way, we have a chance."

Amanda sidestepped Blake and walked to Johnson, hands in front of her. "Do it," she said.





Chapter Thirteen


Blake stared at Amanda's stiff spine, her wrists waiting to be bound. How could things have reached this point? All he'd ever wanted to do was protect her.

Rafe put his hand on Blake's shoulder. "It's our best option. You know that."

"It's not right. I'm putting her in the hands of a killer." He clutched Johnson's collar. "How do I know you're on the level?"

"If we don't follow my plan, you all end up at the warehouse in handcuffs. There are too many men. You won't survive."

"Blake, please, let me go with him."

Amanda turned to Blake, her face pale as the ice that had brought her into his life. He couldn't allow this. There had to be another way.

"I know what you're thinking," she whispered. She framed his face with her hands. "Let me protect my son. You'll get there in time. You will save me. I know you will."

Johnson turned to him. "I'll do everything I can to keep them safe."

Blake covered her small hands with his and gripped them tight. He let out a stream of air and hugged her close. "Listen to me. You be smart. You stay alive, however you have to. I'll be there, Amanda. I'll save you and Ethan. I promise."

She smiled at him, her lips trembling. "I know that, Blake. I've always known." She held him close, and her warm breath bathed his ear. "Just like I've always loved you."

His soul split into two. He gripped her tight for one second, then released her. She turned and lifted her arms to Johnson. "I'm ready."

He snapped on the zip ties. "Where's the evidence?"

He held out his hand, and Blake handed over the fake documents, then tucked a thumb drive into Amanda's pocket.

As Johnson escorted her out the door, she looked back at him and smiled, the faith in her eyes nearly knocking him over with its strength. How could she do that?

Blake clutched his Glock as his entire body went alert. She was everything he'd ever wanted.

And he'd let her walk away. Alone.

Not for long. Blake grabbed extra ammo and tucked a knife into his boot. "We have surprise on our side. Amanda will do her part. Now we've got to do ours."

*

JOHNSON GRIPPED HER TIGHT as he led her into an abandoned warehouse. A man waited across the room, his demeanor calm and satisfied, spinning the revolving chamber of an old handgun. The Colt that belonged to Blake's granddad. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place him.

She didn't think he'd been to Vince's house, so where had she seen the man's face? Television, newspaper?

He crossed the room to Johnson. "Did you get the evidence?"

Amanda's hands shook as Johnson passed over the fake evidence and the thumb drive.

His boss paused. "Where's Blake?"

"I had to kill him," Johnson said, his gaze down low. "I'm sorry. He came at me. I had no choice."

The man's face flushed. "You'd better hope I get the right answers from this file, Johnson. It might put me in a mood where that's not your third strike."

Johnson swallowed and nodded as he shifted closer to Amanda.

"Are these the only copies?" Johnson's boss gripped Amanda's face and stared into her eyes. Terrified, she looked at the man who'd killed Vince, who'd murdered Blake's family.

A thin smile creased his clean-shaven face. "Scared of me, are you? No need. I get what I want, you go free."

She didn't believe him. He had cold eyes. He wouldn't let them go. And when he found out the files were fake... She had to stall for time. Blake was coming. He'd be here soon.

"I want to see Ethan," she said, channeling the courage the man she loved would have shown in the same situation.

"Yancy, get out here!" Another man walked into the room with a laptop. The boss handed him the evidence. "Check it out. Find out who the traitor is."

"You have the file," Amanda said. "Where's my son?"

"Standing up to me." He ran his hand down her cheek. "Something your brother didn't have the courage to do. He cowered. I could've used someone like you in my organization."

Amanda shivered in disgust, but didn't shrink away from him...or run. Blake had taught her to face her fears. Hiding was no solution. "My son."

"I like your guts," he said, a tinge of regret in his voice. He walked across the room and opened a door. Ethan sat bound to a chair, cringing away from the door.

He was alive.