Page 99 of Scorched

Declan had a plan, too. And it was time to implement it. He stepped behind his brother, waiting as he fumbled with the truck’s door handle. Distracted, he didn’t see Declan rush him. Anger fueling him, Declan grabbed Michael by the collar and yanked him back, spinning him around. He leveled a punch on the kid’s jaw that sent him to the ground. Michael jumped up, staying just out of Declan’s reach.

“Big mistake, brother.” He took a cell phone from his pocket and turned it on. “We were going to wait to blow the place until we were clear of the area, but I guess now’s as good a time as any.” His thumb hovered over the keypad.

“The hell it is,” Lee said, running up and tackling Michael.

The phone went flying as the older man wrestled with him. Declan scooped it up, powering it down, then jumped into the fray. He pulled Michael off the ground, away from Lee, and twisted his arm up behind his back.

“You know, your plan was actually pretty good,” Declan said. “But you had one fatal flaw.”

“Oh, yeah?” Pain laced Michael’s voice as Declan leaned on his arm. “What’s that?”

“You were too arrogant.”

“Whatever, man.” He glared at Declan over his shoulder. “You’re as bad as them. Dad was never going to let you go, you know. Maggie’s probably already dead.”

Declan knew that was a distinct possibility. He’d been trying not to think about it. “For your sake, you better hope she’s not. I’m not normally a violent man, but I’ll have no problem snuffing out your and Dad’s miserable lives if he laid a finger on her.”

“Man, she must be a helluva good fuck for you to commit murder over.”

Declan saw red. He shoved Michael’s arm higher and heard a pop as his forearm broke. Michael screamed. His legs sagged, but that only increased his pain, so he stood on his toes.

“Say another word about her, and I’ll do more than break your arm. Get in the truck.” He shoved him forward. Michael let out a shout of pain and lurched forward.

Lee ran around them to open the door. “You want to tell me what’s going on now?”

“In a second. There’s a rope in the toolbox. Get it.”

Lee jumped into the bed and opened the bed box, pulling out a length of rope. He hopped down and helped Declan tie up Michael. They put him in the backseat on the floor, then got in the front.

“Explain, Declan. Now.”

“Where’s Jenny?” he countered.

“At the inn. Please tell me what’s going on.”

“My dad’s the one behind the fires.” Declan put the car in gear and shot down the drive. “He’s pissed at you for sending him to prison all those years ago. His vendetta carried over to dipshit back there who planned all of this. Maggie’s at a hunting cabin up the mountain with Dad, and he’s threatening to kill her if I don’t help Michael. Which reminds me, we need to evacuate the ranch. We put a bunch of bombs on all the houses before coming here. They’re active, but I don’t think they’re armed. I think I got the phone away from him before he could send the signal.”

Lee sat next to him, wide-eyed, and stared for a moment. “Is that all?” He swallowed hard. “We need to call Seb.” He patted his pocket. “I don’t have my phone. It’s in the house.”

“He took mine. I think it’s in the truck bed.” He braked.

“I’ll just use the radio.” Lee reached for the mic on the dash.

“No!” He put the truck in park. “Dad had a police scanner at the cabin. I think he’s monitoring the traffic. We need to use other means. I’ll get my phone.” He climbed out and vaulted into his truck bed, scrabbling through the tarp and blanket for the device. It clattered on the metal as he lifted the blanket and shook it. He scooped it up and jumped down, climbing inside the cab.

“Call him. Put it on speaker.” He tossed the phone at Lee and put the car in drive, only slowing for the gates to open.

“Where the fuck are you?” Seb’s angry greeting echoed through the truck. “Reeves said you left the scene with the witness. That I wanted him to give his statement at the station. Oh, and that Cole said hello. The only Cole I know is your dad. What does he have to do with any of this shit?”

“Dad took Maggie. My brother is Jameson Gehring, whose real name is Michael James. I’m in my truck headed up the mountain, with him trussed up like a turkey in the backseat. Your dad is with me. Oh, and there’s about a dozen bombs on the ranch, so you might want to call the bomb squad.”

Silence met his speech. “Sweet Jesus. Okay. I’ll radio dispatch—”

“You can’t use police radios. Dad’s got a scanner. Until I get Maggie away from him, it’s not safe.”

“Phones it is, got it. I’ll get the bomb techs there. Where do I need to send backup for you?”

“Lee, open the notepad app and read him those coordinates.”

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