Page 59 of Seized by the Lawman

Chapter 20

NIX GLANCED AT his watch. Spider was five minutes late.

Time seemed to stand still as Nix waited in the hidden spot of the brush. He glanced ten feet away where Jamison was flat on his stomach. Nix hated that they couldn’t just arrest Spider when he showed up, but they needed to get the incriminating evidence against him to seal the case. It was maddening and annoying. Melly was supposed to sit in her vehicle until he showed up, but as far as Nix was concerned, she was a sitting duck. Although he and his team were close, they had to stay back at a safe enough distance so they wouldn’t be spotted.

“This is fucking crazy,” he mumbled. “Where the hell is the fucktard?”

Jamison looked up, nodding. “The shithead wants the money. He’ll be here.”

Nix rubbed his chin. He’d had his jaw clenched so tightly that his teeth hurt. He tried to keep his head on straight, focused on the mission, but couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything but Melly. His team had suggested that he sit this one out, but there was no way in hell he could have stayed back and not played a front role in catching the bastard. He trusted his men, but he had to be here to make sure not one hair was hurt on Melly’s head. They’d gone over the plan twice and her safety was of utmost importance. Carson made it clear… get the information and get her out of there.

It would take a lot of constraint for Nix not to physically hurt Spider. To know how he’d scared Melly made Nix’s protective side grow by leaps and bounds. Spider wanted revenge because Nix had put him away after a drug bust. Just because the asshole didn’t have the drugs in his hands when he was busted didn’t mean he wasn’t guilty. He was a drug dealer and getting him off the streets had hopefully saved lives. Nix didn’t regret it, not a sliver. The only thing he regretted was not being on his toes. One wrong move from Spider and he’d die.

As if Jamison could read Nix’s mind, he growled, “I know this is hard, Cade. I’d be the same way if my girl was here doing this. But you know the drill, man. Under no circumstances do we go in using lethal procedures. We use nonlethal to take him down.”

“Sure,” Nix grumbled. “We both know he’ll have a gun. Real bullets. Not for a minute do I think he plans on letting Melly live.”

“We’ll get to her. Don’t worry. We’re trained for this shit. That asswipe will lose. But to keep the government off our asses, we must do this by the book. Killing the bastard is too easy. There’s only one of him and there are five of us. Use lethal and we’ll be accused of stomping an ant.”

Nix hated it, but Jamison was right. The elite team prided themselves in taking down criminals with the most minimal efforts necessary. They could get pissed off, but they never lost their control. Always staying calm was what made them logical and good at their jobs. They were the best of the best in special forces. These were the men he’d want coming to find him if he was in Melly’s situation. “Copy that.”

“Remember, rubber bullets are just as effective.”

“Let’s make sure Melly is in and out,” Nix said in a low, menacing voice. A flash of light made Nix hunker down. From his position he could see the dark vehicle pull in. “Looks like our target finally decided to show.”

Jamison gave his thumbs up and steadied his rifle. Nix did the same.

~~~**~~~

Melly saw the headlights. Her stomach twisted, but she inhaled, keeping her nerves in check. She touched the mace vestibule in her bra just for safety measuresand slid out of the driver’s side of her Lexus. She watched the oncoming vehicle pull up along the edge of the woods, shut off the lights and then the engine. Melly knew she had nothing to worry about. Nix would take care of her. “It’s him,”’ she whispered, hoping the men could hear her. She guessed Nix was going crazy as this was unfolding and she almost felt sorry for him.

Squeezing the handle of the case that held the fake bills, she repeated the safe word “elephant” in her head. If at any time she felt unsafe, she could say the word and the men would come rushing in.

The driver’s door swung open and a flashlight was shone in her eyes. She lifted her hand to protect her eyes. “Andy? Is that you?”

He lowered the flashlight, focusing the beam of light on the ground. “Let’s cut the bullshit. My name isn’t Andy.”

“Then what is it?”

He laughed. Scumbag Cade will know in good time.” Spider wasn’t wearing his hat or his sunglasses which, although it was late enough in the evening, Melly knew what this meant. He planned on killing her, otherwise he wouldn’t want her to see his face. She got a good look of his blonde hair, beady eyes, and wide jaw. Acid rose in her throat, but she focused on the fact that Nix was out there, watching.

“Got it?” Spider said in a low, intimidating tone.

“All fifty grand as you asked for is here.” She gave the case a toss into the dirt. As expected, he bent, unzipped the case and fumbled through the money. Nix assured her the counterfeit bills could be passed off as real if Spider didn’t inspect it too closely. When he took out a stack of bills, Melly felt her stomach drop. Would he know it was fake?

Several century-like seconds passed until he dropped the money back into the bag and stood. And then a smug grin crossed his expression. “I knew you could follow orders.”

She swallowed, hoping her voice worked. “Now I need you to promise me that you’ll leave me and Nix alone. I followed through and so should you.” Her voice trembled.

The man took several steps that brought him closer. Knowing this could bring the team out of hiding before they had the information, she said, “I’m okay. And you should be okay now too.”

Spider was full of himself and his arrogant expression proved it. “I won today, bitch. That was the easiest fifty grand I’ve ever made.”

“You’re not answering my question. You said if I brought you the money, Nix and I would be safe.”

“You can’t honestly think you’re going to walk away from this scott-free, do you? This isn’t enough to make that piss-ant Cade pay for what he did to me. I’m going to slice your throat and enjoy watching that bastard lawman suffer each day as I have,” he sneered.

“And you can’t honestly think you’re going to get away with this, do you? That’d be like missing the elephant in the room.”

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