Page 64 of High Density

“Good…you’re awake. I need them to hear you scream.”

Clenching my jaw, I’m determined not to make a sound. He may think it’s the feds outside and maybe has some deluded idea he can use me as a bargaining chip for the drugs, but I know better. I have no doubt the moment I scream, JD will come barreling in here, and when Mackey realizes it’s not the FBI out there, he will shoot JD.

I don’t think the man is functioning on all cylinders if he thinks the agents are just going to hand over those packages. He’s desperate, and a desperate man is a dangerous one.

The next moment he removes the gun from my ear. I jerk at the deafening bang too close to my head, but it’s not until a second later I feel the hot burn of the bullet entering my leg.

Then I scream.

JD

I’m waitingby the connecting door, ready to barge in as soon as Jackson gets in position.

The plan is for me to draw the shooter’s attention, hopefully giving Jackson a clear target from the barn door. He was a sniper before his discharge from the Army, and is the most accurate shot.

I’ve been picturing the layout of the barn, anticipating where they might be and how I might find cover in case Jackson doesn’t have a good visual.

But as soon as I hear the man start talking inside, I realize time is running out.

The moment I hear the shot, I reach for the door. It’s followed by Janey’s scream, and I’m already busting through.

I’m moving on blind faith my teammate is in the right place, because there is nothing holding me back.

Ignoring the small hallway to my right I’d thought of potentially using as cover, I’m banking on the element of surprise as I head straight for the direction of the sound.

I’m vaguely aware of Red, kicking the boards of his stall in distress, and to my left I see Jackson coming in through the barn door in my peripheral view, his rifle at the ready.

He’s taking aim at the last stall on the right side, where the right shoulder and arm of a man are just visible. I just catch the glint off the gun when it goes off, the bullet shooting splinters off a post right next to me.

The sharp crack of Jackson’s rifle is loud in the enclosed space, and the man is already down before I make it to the stall.

Inside I find Mackey on the ground, clutching his shoulder, and behind him I see Janey, her blue eyes blinking wide as blood runs down her face.

Enraged, I kick the gun Mackey dropped on the ground out of reach, before hauling back and aiming my boot for his injured shoulder, making him howl in pain. Then I step over him and crouch next to Janey.

That’s when I notice the blood streaming from her leg.

Chapter Twenty

JD

“Where is she?”

I’m not surprised my mother is the first to show up.

I’m sure word has gone out to the team the guy they were looking for showed up at the clinic, but it would take them some time to pack up and head back to the ranch.

Jackson stayed behind at the clinic to deal with law enforcement, and look after Ginger and the horses, but I expect the feds to show up here at some point.

Agent Wilcox—whose first name is Shane, apparently—was transported by Life Flight to Logan Health in Kalispell. He was barely hanging on, from what I picked up. I’m not sure what happened to Mackey, because I hopped in the ambulance with Janey, who was brought to Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby.

“X-ray. They told me I had to wait here.”

I wasn’t happy being relegated to a waiting room, but Janey insisted she’d be okay, so I went.

“Talk to me,” Ma insists, taking the seat beside me.

“Gunshot wound to her lower leg on the right side. Looks like it may have missed the bone, but they’re looking to make sure. That fucking bastard pistol-whipped her and split her face open right along her cheekbone, and she probably has a concussion.”

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