Page 50 of Marked For Revenge

And injured.

Had to be since he wasn’t getting up and wasn’t in any kind of defensive posture to protect himself.

Harley turned the cruiser, switching to the high beams so they could get a better look. It was Quentin. Ava could now see his holster. No gun though. It was empty. And she could see something else.

Blood.

Harley must have seen it, too, because he cursed. It was on the side of Quentin’s head and cheek. He’d either been injured in the crash or else the killer had done this to incapacitate him.

“Stay put and cover me,” Harley insisted. “I have to go out there. I’ll check the Hummer first and then get to Quentin.”

Ava knew what Harley had to do. This was their job, and a fellow law enforcement officer needed their help. She also didn’t want Harley to be gunned down, but she wouldn’t be able to provide much cover if she stayed put.

“I’ll get out and use my door as cover,” she told him, making sure it didn’t sound like a suggestion. “I can better cover you from over the roof of the cruiser.”

She didn’t add the reminder that she was wearing a bulletproof vest. So was Harley. But that wouldn’t stop them from being killed with a headshot.

Harley hesitated. Of course he did. She was hesitating, too. But she met his gaze and tried to assure him that she would do everything possible to protect herself and their child.

“Don’t leave the cover of the cruiser,” he warned her and then stunned her by pressing a kiss to her mouth.

In the same motion, he barreled out of the cruiser, leaving his door open only a fraction. That way, it’d be easier for him to dive back in if trouble started, and the partially closed door would give her more protection.

Ava got out, too, and she took aim over the top of the cruiser. She silently repeated to herself that she was a good shot, and if she saw anyone coming after Harley and Quentin, she could stop them, especially since Harley was out in the open and at huge risk.

She focused on Harley as he threw open the door of the Hummer and looked inside. “Empty,” he relayed to her, and he jumped over the ditch.

Ava kept her eyes on Harley, but she also couldn’t stop listening for Caleb. If the killer had him, where would he take him? She had to guess that the killer had planned on using the Hummer to escape with Caleb, to take him someplace where he could hold him and use him to bargain.

And draw her out.

But with the Hummer disabled, the killer might not have had a choice but to flee with Caleb on foot. If so, then there’d be some kinds of signs like trampled grass or even footprints. There would have to be something they could use to find him and get him to safety. Ava couldn’t allow herself to believe otherwise.

The cruiser lights created an eerie effect over the pasture. Not quite the jerky effect from strobe lights, but it made Harley’s movements seem disjointed, as if every second he was hitting a pause button. And then there were the shadows. Too many of them all over the pasture and the woods.

It seemed to take an eternity for Harley to reach Quentin, but she figured it was only a couple of seconds. She saw Quentin move and then say something to Harley. Something that had Harley’s head whipping in the direction of the woods that were straight ahead. Ava glanced there, too, but she didn’t see anything.

“Quentin’s been stunned,” Harley called out to let her know. “And he has a head injury.”

“Where’s Caleb?” she immediately asked.

“Someone took him,” Harley quickly supplied. “Quentin doesn’t know who, but he thinks they went that direction.” Harley pointed to the woods again, and that’s when Ava saw the movement.

A flash of someone wearing light-colored clothing.

She didn’t let it pull her complete attention from Harley since it could be a planned diversion. One that could turn out to be deadly. So she volleyed her gaze between Harley and the movement while she kept her gun ready in case she had to fire. Her heart slammed hard against her ribs when she caught sight of the person’s face.

Caleb.

Her son was alive, and he was peering out from the trees as if hiding from someone.

Ava had to fight to stop herself from bolting from cover, and she yelled his name so he would know she was there. Something he likely already knew because of the lights. Caleb’s head whipped up and he stepped out from the trees.

He didn’t get far.

Someone latched onto him, dragging him back. Ava got a glimpse of the gun the person rammed against Caleb’s neck before they disappeared back into the woods.

HARLEY SAW WHAT had just happened to Caleb. While he’d knelt there next to Quentin, he’d seen Caleb’s attacker drag him back into the cover of the trees. And, Harley cursed, because there was nothing he could do to stop it. He certainly hadn’t been able to fire his gun since he couldn’t risk hitting Caleb.

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