Page 50 of Ranger Bravery

Piper’s eyes drifted open, and she winced as the light hit her irises. Pain radiated out from her chest. Every breath was excruciating. Confusion muddled her brain. She processed things in slow motion. Leather. She was sprawled across a leather couch. Cool air washed across her cheek from a vent above her. The carpeting on the floor was thick and plush, the color of a clear summer sky. A short distance away stood a pair of legs. They were clad in dirty jeans and expensive tennis shoes.

Todd Hutchinson.

With a jolt, Piper remembered getting hit by the truck. Being placed in the extended cab. That’s why every inch of her body hurt. Judging from the way her chest ached, she had a broken rib or two. The pain was washed away by a rush of adrenaline as fear took hold.

She battled against it. At the moment, Todd was facing away from her. He hadn’t noticed she was awake. It was a small consolation, but it gave Piper a moment to fully assess how bad the situation was. Then she nearly laughed out loud. She’d been kidnapped by a sadistic serial killer. It didn’t get much worse.

“I didn’t tell you to bring her here!”

The voice was fueled with rage and frustration. Piper’s gaze slipped toward the window on the far side of the room. She inhaled sharply in surprise, sending a bolt of pain arcing from her ribs.

Standing on the other side of the home office was Paul Kingston. His face was mottled with fury, gaze locked on Todd. “Do you understand how police investigations work? She’s bleeding all over my couch! My carpet! Not to mention that a neighbor could have seen your truck driving in the neighborhood. The sheriff’s department already suspects my son is involved. It wouldn’t be a leap for them to suspect me too.”

“But they don’t. You told me yourself.” Todd’s tone was calm and controlled. He’d changed his appearance, probably to avoid detection by law enforcement. His head was shaved, and he’d grown a beard. “Your contact in the sheriff’s department has kept you informed. I know you’re aware my brother has been arrested. Nothing will go according to plan until you figure out a way to get Wally out of this.”

“Your brother blew up a cabin with law enforcement nearby. He’s not getting out of this anytime soon.” Paul jabbed a finger in Todd’s direction. “You should’ve kept him out of it. In fact, you were supposed to take the money and leave after Elena was killed. You’ve created this mess!”

Todd stalked closer to Paul. “No one knew about that cabin except me, Wally, and you. So how did law enforcement find out about it?”

Paul threw up his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe Wally told his girlfriend about it? Deputies have interviewed her several times.”

“No. My brother has never trusted women.”

The energy pouring off Todd was palpable. His expression was controlled, his voice calm, but Piper sensed it wouldn’t last. Like a panther sneaking up on its prey, Todd was deadly. Paul didn’t realize what a precarious position he was in.

Thankfully, the two men were paying attention to each other and not her. She shifted her weight slowly and agony swept up her arm. Her left elbow was swollen and horribly bruised. Broken? Likely. She gritted her teeth and tried to push into a sitting position. That made the pain in her chest explode. Darkness clouded her vision. She was in bad shape. God, please help me. Give me strength.

Paul noticed her slight movements and his face flushed an even deeper shade of red. He pointed. “Look! Now she’s awake.”

Todd turned, and a smile lifted the corners of his lips. His gaze swept over her with a hunger that sent ice running through Piper’s veins. Her breath stalled. This. This was the real Todd Hutchinson. The man she’d interviewed before the bombing was an alter ego, carefully crafted to make Todd appear like a disorganized and sloppy alcoholic. It was a clever ruse to keep anyone from suspecting his true nature.

A cold-blooded killer.

She met his gaze. Her throat was dry and her lips cracked, but she managed to croak out, “You murdered Elena. And Gerdie.”

Todd laughed. “Finally. Although I must say, Piper, I’m disappointed. I thought you’d figure out it was me much earlier.”

She hadn’t. Not really. Jackson had seen through Todd from the start though.

Jackson. Her throat clogged, and tears pricked her eyes at the thought of him. Was he still alive, or had he succumbed to his injuries from the cabin bombing? Even if she survived this—which was unlikely—Piper still might not get the chance to answer the question he’d posed to her last night. He didn’t know she was ready to stay and fight for their love.

Regret and sorrow threatened to drown her. Piper forced it back. As long as she was still breathing, there was hope. She’d run away from Jackson too many times. She wouldn’t do it again. Not physically, mentally, or emotionally. Fighting for their life together started now.

“You need to get her out of here,” Paul ordered, reigniting the argument between him and Todd. “This wasn’t the plan. You’ve mucked things up from the beginning. If you had just taken the money and left town as we planned, then none of this would’ve happened.”

Piper’s mind whirled. She suddenly understood that Paul had hired Todd to kill Elena. They’d suspected Shawn, but they were wrong.

Todd snarled. “I’m not going through with anything until you figure out a way to get my brother out of this mess.”

Once again, the men were focused on each other. Piper scanned the surrounding area. She needed a weapon. The small table next to her held books and a magazine. Nothing helpful. Bookshelves lined one wall. A few paperweights were used as decor, but there was no way to know how heavy they were. Or if she could lift them. To her shock, Todd hadn’t restrained her. Maybe he thought the injuries she’d suffered from being hit by the truck would keep her from moving quickly.

He wasn’t wrong. Every part of her hurt when she breathed.

Paul puffed out his chest and stepped closer to Todd. “Wally shouldn’t have gotten involved. That stunt he pulled with Marcus? It was reckless and stupid. You were supposed to manage him. It’s not my fault that he got himself caught.”

“It is your fault. No one knew about the cabin. You told the cops.”

“No, I didn’t.” Paul’s ire increased, along with the volume of his voice. “Don’t forget who you’re dealing with. I know all of your secrets. The crimes you’ve committed, the women you’ve killed. Do you want me to start sharing information with law enforcement?”

---