Page 105 of Wild Bliss

“He’s on my brother’s payroll.” He had to try. He didn’tlike these guys, but he couldn’t watch them die without trying to warn them.

Marshall sighed, a frustrated sound. “Sure he is. Give itup, man. It’s over. You’re not getting out of this.”

Marshall stepped out of the car just in time for Agent Reeseto pull a gun and shoot Knox right in the chest. Then he turned and popped twointo Marshall’s chest.

Wyatt felt sick.

“Come on, Wyatt.” Another man moved around the squad car.Doug. His brother’s enforcer was here. “You’ve got some explaining to do, son.I’m afraid you’re needed in a meeting of the board.”

So they wouldn’t kill him. Not yet. He would be brought infor what his brother liked to call a trial. Oh, there would be no lawyers orreal rules beyond what his brother says goes. There would be no appeals.

The door came open, and Wyatt felt a heavy hand haul himout. “Take the cuffs off him. We’ve got to make it look like he had a gun onhim.”

“His prints are on this one.” Agent Reese held up the gun,and Wyatt noted the gloves he wore. “I think you’ll find this is the gun hesupposedly used when he murdered Dennis Hill. He gave it to his brother alongwith a fake body in exchange for his freedom. Guess what, your parole has beenrevoked, Wyatt. You’ve been a naughty boy.”

It was worse than he’d feared. His brother was here, and hewas going to make him pay. He stumbled, trying not to trip over MarshallLethe’s still body. Both he and Knox had fallen forward. He’d watched asMarshall had put a hand to his chest and gone face first onto the gravel.

“Hey, we need to move,” Doug said. “Wayne wants us back.We’ll make it look like Wyatt took them out and took you captive.”

Agent Reese huffed. “I suppose he’s going to beat the shitout of me.”

“Well, someone is. Gotta make it look good,” Doug vowed ashe dragged Wyatt along. “As for you, kid, well, you shouldn’t have fucked withthe Horde. I think I’ll put you out for transport. I’m not going to deal withthe berserker again.”

Wyatt tried to twist out of his hold but felt a sharp painin his shoulder.

Drugs. Well, it wasn’t like Doug didn’t have access to awide and varied supply.

The world started to go hazy. The next time he woke up hewould be in hell.

* * * *

“What do you mean he didn’t make it?” Sawyer ground thequestion out. His whole body had threatened to slump at Elisa’s words.

Wyatt couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t. He’d promised Sabrinathey would all be okay. He couldn’t let Wyatt be fucking dead.

“I mean Nate was already on the Creede side of Bliss. Hemade excellent time and Wyatt’s not there, and Marshall and Knox stoppedanswering their radios a couple of minutes ago.” Elisa’s hand slipped backtoward her gun belt as though she wanted to make sure it was still there. “Hesaid the CBI requested they transfer the suspect at an offsite location. He andthe Creede sheriff are heading there now.”

“We’ve got big problems.” Henry strode back up, his cell inhand. “I called a contact of mine at the CBI and she says she can’t find awarrant for Wyatt’s arrest. She found a file about Dennis Hill, but it’s amissing persons report, not a homicide case. I gave her the name of the CBIagent the receptionist in Creede gave me, and she says he’s under investigationwith the department for possibly mishandling a couple of cases involving…youknow who…”

“The Horde.” Sawyer tightened his grip on Sabrina’s hand.“They always have someone working for them.”

Sabrina held on, but it was easy to see she’d switched tocalm and collected mode. She wouldn’t cry. Not now. She would save it forlater, for when they were alone. For when they knew what the rest of theirlives would be like. “Where would they have taken him? Do we think Marshall andKnox are in on it?”

“I would be surprised,” Van said. “I’ve spent some time withthem. They’re cool, but they both have big feelings when it comes to rules andlaws. They see the world in black and white, if you know what I mean. I wouldbe surprised if they would toss out their whole belief system to get back atone man.”

“One man who took what they wanted,” Sawyer pointed out.

“I don’t think they would risk losing their jobs,” Elisacountered. “I’ve worked with them for months. They live to be cops. Theywouldn’t. I’m worried they’ve gotten in the middle of something they don’tunderstand.”

And it might cost them everything. He had to pray it didn’tcost Wyatt. “We should alert highway patrol. Does the Creede station know whatkind of car the CBI agent was driving?”

“I’ve got his name, and Cam is running his plates. We’llcheck the traffic and wildlife cams in the area just in case.” Henry soundedsmooth and competent. “We’ll know more once Nate gets to the meet spot, but I’mafraid Wyatt will be gone.”

“Not dead.” Sabrina took a long breath. “His brotherobviously knows he didn’t kill Dennis Hill. He’ll want that information.”

“You should know I’m having Hill moved. If I found him, theypotentially can. Though probably not. I don’t think these guys are working withhackers on the level of ours,” Henry explained. “Still, I can’t risk the Hordefinding him and taking out our best resource.”

The Horde wouldn’t merely kill him. They would hide him sono one could ask questions, and then they could control the narrative aroundWyatt. He was sure there was some kind of plan in place for the CBI agent toget around the whole authorization issue. Or this was the CBI agent’s way ofpaying his debt to the Horde and getting out.

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