Page 172 of Cautious Love

“Team one in place,” the team lead radios.

A few minutes later. “Team two in place,” the lead radios.

“Ready on my signal,” Lawrence says.

The clicks come through the radios and I check my vest again, making sure it’s tight.

“Alright, boys, let’s get this done, get our man, and go home,” I call.

Everyone nods, and we get into our vehicles, and I gun it.

Beckett holds the radio to his mouth, ready to tell the teams to move in when we get to the top of the driveway.

I speed down the driveway, kicking up gravel, like my heart in my chest.

“Teams one and two move in,” Beckett calls.

“Rodger, team one moving,” their lead says.

“Copy, team two moving in.”

Adrenaline thrums through my veins as we speed around the curve of the gravel driveway.

We stationed guys to come in through the pastures, knowing it could get nasty real quick.

We hop out ready for response, but it’s quiet.

No one comes out to meet us.

“Is this normal?” Beckett calls.

Hand on my gun and head on a swivel, I look around. “It’s too quiet.”

Then there’s a whizz and Beckett goes down.

“Gun, gun, gun!”

The chaos ensues.

Chapter 43

Shiloh

Ifflipthehastilywritten note in my hand, reading it over and over again.

Morning, had to head out to work and didn’t want to wake you.

I’ll call you later.

Stay with Sterling, please.

I love you.

He’s acting like it’s a normal day, not like he’s about to go up against a drug kingpin and a ton of guns, and … I can’t even finish the thought, but the tears come anyway.

I take a deep breath and roll myself out of bed. I find a fresh set of sweatpants and what looks like an old sheriff’s sweatshirt and pull it over my head.

The smell of coffee wafts into my nose as I come down the stairs to find Sterling Simmons sitting on the couch watching TV with the volume down, and I don’t miss the shotgun leaning against the cushion right next to him.