Page 94 of Bravo

“My thoughts exactly.” Tucker shakes his head. “It just all seems?—”

Bravo lets out a warning bark, and both Tango and Echo join in.

The dogs are staring off in the distance, their hackles standing on end.

“What is it, boy?” I ask, turning to face the same area they are. I half expect to see Kennedy strolling toward us, tired of being cooped up, but there’s no one coming.

Something shifts in the shadows above us a heartbeat before the soft whirring of a motor fills my ears.

“Get to cover!” I yell seconds before the gunshots begin.

Grabbing Lani, I throw her behind my truck and cover her with my body as I withdraw the pistol that stays holstered at my waist. In the pause between the firing, I peek up over the bed of my truck, take aim, and fire.

One hit.

Two.

The bullets tear through the metal, and a drone crashes down onto the ground in front of us. I’m momentarily stunned. What in the world is a drone doing?—

“What on earth was that thing doing?—”

Elliot doesn’t even have time to finish vocalizing my question before I’m jumping into the UTV he drove here and racing up toward my house. The adrenaline in my system is nothing compared to the fear.

Please, God. Please let her be okay.How did I not plan for this? Why did I think she was safer alone?

But I know the answer.

I got emotionally involved and lost sight of the fight ahead of us. I was too afraid one of the ranch hands would collect on that reward money and turn her over. To me, that was the bigger risk. I was wrong. So, so wrong.

Throwing the UTV into neutral and shutting off the engine, I jump out and race up to the front door. “Kennedy!” I bellow.

She doesn’t answer.

“Kennedy! Please answer me!” I sprint down the hall, checking every bedroom and closet then heading back down the hall and into the kitchen. Panic claws at my chest, tightening around my heart and bringing the walls crashing down on top of me.

I turn in a slow circle, trying to find anything that might clue me in, and then I see it—a note on the counter along with a cell phone—and her Bible.

Rushing over, I read the note.

Bradyn,

I’m sorry. He told me that he was going to kill you all, and I can’t risk him following through with it. No one else can die because of me. I hope you understand and that, someday, you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving. If I can get the key and escape, I’ll contact you.

He caused the explosion and is using drones to bypass your security. He also used one to deliver this phone. I thought you might be able to use it to put him away even after I’m gone.

But don’t come looking for me, Bradyn. Not this time.

Just turn him in. Let the authorities do it. Please don’t risk your life.

Always,

Kennedy

I crush the paper in my fist, my entire world crashing down around me. I left her here…alone. Vulnerable. Because I was too absorbed in what was growing between us and lost sight of the fact that she was a job.

And now she’s gone.

Breathing ragged, I stare straight ahead, though I see nothing but red.

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