Chapter Forty-seven
Oh oh, bad guy.Jennie flinched and watched as Lance added two last words to his message before he hit send. In the same movement where he drew out the gun that Jennie had politely handed back to him after their scuffle, she saw him pocket his phone.
Hoping the darkness hid his maneuver, she turned with Lance doing the same. Once their guns were on the ground, Jennie removed the rifle from her back holster and laid it upright against the nearest tree.
Before she knew what hit her, a slap across her face left her writhing on the ground. “FBI bitch.” A foot rose to follow up and Lance put himself in the way to stop it connecting.
“Hey, man, cut it out. You want to beat on someone, pick on a man. One your own size.” Fists up, he stood waiting, blocking Jennie.
The stranger lifted his gun, pointing it in Lance’s stomach and Jennie could see how much discipline it took for the tightly held gun to finally be lowered.
Jesus – that was the closest she’d ever come to seeing someone murdered in front of her and probably with her being next in line.
***
Lee couldn’t believe he’d be stumbling on a cop right outside the very place they’d been expecting him to show up. Didn’t these idiots believe in guards? He’d have taken the man for just that if he hadn’t overheard the bitch claim her status as an FBI agent.
Then the next bit of their conversation gave proof of a spy inside. Fuck, did this mean the whole operation could be tainted? Tomorrow was to be his big moment. Hell, he’d bragged to everyone back home that the TV stations across the country would have breaking news they’d never seen before. Could he walk away now? After everything he’d planned?
Sticking the gun threateningly close to Lance, he demanded answers. “What’s the name of the bastard you call boss?”
Without blinking an eyelash, Lance fed him bullshit, sounding like a down-home country boy, “Hell if I know who the guy is. I’m new on this detail and was told to hang back unless fireworks became involved… and only then call for help.” Putting his arm in front of Jennie, trying to force her behind him, he added, “This here’s my girlfriend’s mom. She’s got nothing to do with anything. If you let her go, I’ll do whatever you say.”
“Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. Move, both of you. We’re going to the cabin together and get to the bottom of what the hell’s going on. I’ll know your boss soon enough. Threatening to kill either one of you should bring him forward.”
Without pushing the psychopath’s buttons, Lance watched for any small chance he might have to force the Commander into a fight. Somehow, he knew Jennie did the same thing. But with the gun now held firmly in her back, it let him know they probably wouldn’t have a chance to turn the tables.
He hoped Kane could keep his reactions to a minimum because this bastard would be paying attention to every expression he saw. And when Kane got a look at Jennie having a weapon against her, no doubt his face would be filled with murderous fury.
They stepped up the stairs and unexpectedly, the door opened, spilling enough light for them to make out a number of fellows holding tubs of flowers. With one uniformed man on each side, they marched past, intending on carrying them to the cars. Moving out of the way, Jennie pushed back against the gun-holder, but he also moved back so neither Lance nor Jennie had a chance to make a move.
By the time the basket carriers had cleared the space, they could see that only three men at the back of the room were left in sight.
“Let’s go in and say howdy.” Pure ice filtered the Commander’s tone.
Lance moved in front of Jennie so his look of caution could warn Kane not to react. That didn’t work because when the boss’s eyes first took in Jennie, he jerked slightly. But the ultimate shock lit up his features when he saw the gun-toting dude behind her.