Page 74 of Wyoming Cowboy Undercover

She spun around and crept down the hall toward her father’s office.

“Pick. Up,” Cormac demanded.

Passing the mural of the Shining Light’s symbol on the wall, she looked around for any guards. There were none lurking.

“I know you can hear me, Marsh. Pick up, you son of a—”

Static cut through the line. “I’m here, Mac,” her father said. “Did you take care of our little problem?”

She stopped outside his office and peered in through the open door.

Her father strode to a window with the radio in his hand.

“You didn’t tell me everything,” Mac said.

“What do you mean? Of course, I did.”

“Rocco is more than an ATF agent.”

Her heart seized. Mac knew the truth. Rocco was in danger.

“Was he Special Forces?” Cormac asked “SWAT? What the hell is he? A former assassin?”

“I have no idea.” Her father sounded confused, overwhelmed, two things he never was. “I told you everything I know as soon as I learned it,” he said, and she tipped her head back against the onslaught of pain at yet another of her father’s betrayals. “Does this mean he got away?”

“Yeah, he got away. He’s more slippery than a prairie rattlesnake. Deadlier, too. He killed two of my guys. Wounded me and two others before he escaped.”

Praise be.Relief flooded her. She thanked the Light.

“It was a mistake to hesitate,” her father said. “You should’ve dealt with him immediately.”

“The mistake was yours, sending an undercover agent into my camp.” Her uncle’s anger radiated over the wireless.

“I’m sure there are things you’d like to furtherdiscusswith him. His task force has an office here in town.” Her father gave him an address on Second Street. “Ground floor. Perhaps this time more preparedness is required.”

How did he know where their office was located? Did he have Nash and Becca followed after they left?

“We’ll take care of Rocco,” Cormac promised. “Then we’re coming to the compound for you and Mercy.”

She tensed, thinking about the hundreds of innocent Starlights that had nothing to do with this.

“As I’ve stated, I only just learned the truth. Mercy was devastated to hear her intended was a deceitful Fed.” The radio chirped. “Mac?” Her father pressed the button on the radio several times. “Cormac?”

“What have you done?” Mercy asked, storming into his office.

Her father spun on his heels. “My dear, what are you doing out of your room, scurrying around the halls, like a rat?”

“You disgust me. How could you betray Rocco after I came back like you wanted?”

He set the radio down. “If that man lives, you will leave again. But if he dies—”

“I would hate you forever.”

“A price I’m willing to pay, so long as you stay where you belong.”

Mercy shook her head in disbelief. “You made an agreement in good faith with Agents Garner and Hammond and Rocco.”

“I signed no papers. Gave no oaths. My only obligation is to this commune and the Shining Light.”

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