Page 39 of Ranger Bravery

Piper lowered her handgun and stepped closer to the table. She studied the equipment. “He was building bombs.” She glanced at Jackson, her mind racing. “What if we’re focusing on the wrong brother? Todd went to high school with us, along with Lionel Islip. They likely knew each other. Plus, Todd was at home when the explosion at Elena’s happened.”

“It’s possible. Marcus never told us Wally gave him the gun. He only remembers being here with Wally. Todd could’ve returned while he was high.” Jackson blew out a breath. “Then again, Marcus also said Wally crashes here from time to time. Who’s to say he doesn’t use Todd’s place to build his bombs? A lot easier to do it here than in the pay-by-the-week motel he was staying in.”

She nodded. “True.”

“I never liked Todd though. Especially the way he looked at you.” Jackson stepped toward her and a click echoed through the room.

He froze. Fear tightened his features.

Piper instinctively moved toward him.

“No!” Jackson’s tone was sharp, but he didn’t move a centimeter. Sweat beaded on his brow. “Don’t come any closer. You and the rest of the team need to evacuate the house immediately. And call the bomb squad.”

Her breath hitched as she tried to make sense of what he was telling her. Fear ordered her back, but love demanded she move closer. As a result, she was frozen in place. Her mind wouldn’t accept what her body already knew.

Jackson met her gaze. “Get out, Piper. Now. I’m standing on a pressure plate. If I move, or even so much as breathe wrong, this entire house is going to explode.”

TWENTY-ONE

Sweat trickled down Jackson’s back.

Every muscle in his body was locked. It’d been twenty minutes since he’d stepped on the pressure plate and there was no end to this living nightmare in sight. The bomb squad was en route, but meantime, he was left alone with nothing but his thoughts. The stench of his fear mingled with the scent of trash. Rain beat against the window. A cockroach, emboldened by his lack of movement, scurried closer. Jackson watched it with trepidation. If that thing crawled up his pant leg…

Don’t think about it.

He squeezed his eyes shut. “God, thank you for giving everyone a chance to get out of the house safely. If this is how I die, then I accept Your will?—”

“This is absolutely not how you’re going to die.”

Jackson’s eyes snapped open. Derek entered the room, wearing a bomb suit. The thick padding added bulk to his already thick frame, and coupled with the helmet and shield, made him look like some kind of alien. A walkie-talkie in his hand crackled. Derek pressed the button on the side. “Jackson is holding still. What’s the ETA?”

“Unable to determine, sheriff. We’re working on gaining access to the bomb located under the house.”

“Move quickly, but not so fast you blow us to heaven, got it?”

A chuckle came over the line. “Yes, sir.”

Jackson blinked as sweat dripped into his eyes. The temperature in the house was sweltering. His mouth was cotton dry and his muscles trembled. “You need to get out of here, Derek. Procedure requires you to stand clear until the bomb squad?—”

“Don’t bother lecturing me. I already got it from the head of the bomb squad.” He set his flashlight down on the table. “Want to know the best part of being sheriff? I’m in charge of this jurisdiction. No one outranks me. I’m here, Jackson, and I’m staying until we walk out of this house together.”

Jackson clenched his jaw to keep the tears burning his eyes in check. “My dad was right about you. He always said you’d make the best sheriff Rock Fort has ever seen.”

Derek chuckled. “Your dad cussed me out more than once for putting you in danger during our ride-alongs. Remember that time I had to chase down the robber and he doubled-back? You tackled him.”

Jackson smiled at the memory. He’d been eighteen, fresh out of high school, and had gotten special permission to ride along with Derek to learn what it was like to be in law enforcement. “You nearly kicked my behind for getting out of the car.”

“I told you to stay inside.”

“But he was running right past me!” Jackson’s heart skipped a beat as his muscles nearly loosened. “Don’t crack jokes. I can’t laugh.” He fell silent. “My dad would really curse you out if he knew what was happening right now.”

“I know. That’s why I’m in here. If you die, I die too, and that way I won’t have to face your dad’s wrath.”

Jackson smothered another laugh to keep his muscles from moving. “Stop, Derek. Please.”

“You started it.” Derek fell silent for a moment. Then his mouth quirked. “So you and Piper, huh?”

Jackson groaned. “Another topic I can’t get into.”

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