Page 54 of Taken by the Lawman

“Getting nervous, Max?” Deegan bit out.

“The plan didn’t work. You were supposed to find out that she was working for Peter Clay and the heat would be pointed in his direction. Once he was in the public’s target, all of his personal life would come to light.”

“The spotlight would be off you, people would forgive you for the affair, almost feeling sorry for you and making you the victim because you were seduced. Is that how it was supposed to go down?” Deegan didn’t take his eyes off Evans.

“He doesn’t have to answer to you. He’s making a difference. One day he’ll be at the very top and the world will see what a great nation we are.” Evans didn’t bat an eye.

“By killing people? That’s not a difference our country needs.”

Max took several steps so he could look at Deegan. “Annie wasn’t innocent. She chose to betray me and then thought I could forgive her? And the homeless kids? They chose to be criminals. If they’d been doing right, they would be alive. They thwarted the plan and I can’t allow anyone to stop me from my goal. Not even you, my friend.”

“You’ll never get away with this,” Deegan forced through tight lips.

“Enough talk,” Evans said in a calm voice. “Put the gun down. There are two of us and only one of you. You’ll never get out alive.”

“And neither will you,” Deegan said confidently.

“I think you’ll want to see this.” Evans reached into his pocket and withdrew a phone, tossing it to Deegan.

He caught it with one hand. “I don’t have any desire to see anything, Evans.”

“Oh, but you don’t care about the woman? Her name is Cade, right?”

At the mention of Kiersten, his heart slammed into his boots. He clicked the phone, holding it up so he could view the screen while keeping Evans on his radar. A picture came up on the screen and his throat constricted. It was Kiersten. She had her hand up over her squinted eyes against the bright light. There was a drop of blood on her nose. The video ended.

“What have you done?” He could barely get the words out.

Max looked at Evans. “I told you. No more bloodshed.”

“And you just thought he’d go with us without leverage?” Evans gritted out. “I told you I would handle this. Clay will look like he killed the aide to keep her from talking. You’ll go on to do great things, sir. I will see this mission come full circle.”

Deegan could have crushed the phone in his grip, but he wanted it to be the necks of the three men who surrounded him. “Leave her alone. I brought her into this and she has no clue what you’ve done.”

“She’s alive, unless you make this difficult.”

“I want proof.” Deegan could barely breathe, but he needed to stay calm and his head in the game. Kiersten’s life could depend upon it. He’d save her, no matter what he had to do. Even if that meant surrendering to these goons.

“I figured you would.” Evans smirked. “On the phone, hit one.”

Deegan pushed the key pad and pressed the phone to his ear. It was answered on the second ring. He heard a female voice say, “Speak.”

“Deegan…is that you?”

He felt like he’d been sliced with a knife. It was Kiersten. “Are you okay?”

“It’s Max. This was all his plan—”

The phone went dead.

“Shit” Max bit out.

Evans smiled. “Just as I said. She’s fine, for now. This can go one of two ways. You can lower your weapon and go with us, or when I don’t show up or call my partner, she’ll burn everything with Cade inside. It’s your choice. But I’m prepared to meet my maker. How about you?”

The man wasn’t rational and that made him dangerous. Beyond dangerous. It made him lethal. Deegan understood his only choice was to hope these men took him to the same location where Kiersten was being held. Once he was there, he’d do whatever it took to protect her.

Lowering his gun, he dropped it to the floor and gave it a small kick. He immediately felt a void.

“Now place my phone on the floor along with yours.”

Slowly, Deegan did as the bastard commanded. He heard the man behind him, then felt his gun pressed against his head. “You won’t get away with this, Max. Mark my words. And if anything happens to Kiersten I’ll slap my cuffs on your wrists myself. I will be back. Just chew on that while you’re plastering a fake smile on your face for the public.”

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