Page 60 of Twilight Tactics

With a plan in place, he pulled the guy to his feet, and thethree of them began the trek back to where he hoped and prayed Elena would be waiting with the vehicle. He assumed Maya, and maybe even Van, had gone to the hospital with Billy. He checked his phone and found a text from Elena. Relief loosened the knot of worry in his chest.

Rode with Maya to the house. Doctor on board ambo, so Maya and I are with Ollie and Piper at the cabin. All is quiet.

He tapped a response.

On the way back to the house. Can you call the sheriff and tell him we have the shooter in custody?

He tucked the phone into his pocket. They finally reached the vehicle. They settled Spencer Barnes in the back with Sully next to him. David climbed behind the wheel, and the engine rumbled to life.

As they pulled away, Sully shot a glance at the blind where they’d found the shooter. One piece of the puzzle secured, but still so many questions left unanswered. His thoughts turned to Elena, to the picture of her sitting on the gym mat, laughing in between tugs to cover the Wonder Woman boy shorts and the infectious way she’d pulled Ollie into the fun while being mindful of the girl’s illness. She was strong, but she wasn’t invincible.

He’d get answers as to why someone wanted to snuff out that light.

His hands fisted against his thighs.

He’d figure it out. Whatever it took.

12

Elena glanced at her phone. No word from the guys. Worry pounded her, and she paced from one end of the cabin’s great room to the other. Ollie had fallen asleep on the couch, and Piper stood by the kitchen window. Every so often she would move to a different window. She kept her weapon in her hand.

Maya was in the kitchen cooking spaghetti noodles, and Gideon was at the back of the house, also on guard. Maya caught her watching. “I did the right thing, right?”

“Absolutely,” Elena said.

She’d sent nearly all the staff home, including the cook, housekeeping, the stable workers.

“Most of the vets won’t leave,” Maya said.

“You were honest with them. They made their choices.”

“I don’t think they understand that this ranch isn’t safe.” Her fingers gripped the tongs, snapping them together.

“They understand. They’re also fighters. They don’t run from trouble.”

“Maybe they should. Maybe we all should.”

“You don’t mean that. You’ve survived too much to just give up. War. An avalanche, someone trying to kill you...”

Maya had been at a Colorado ski resort that had an avalanche come through it, covering up the only way in or out. The cell towers had come down with it, the landlines sabotaged, and they’d been cut off from help. The geomagnetic storm that had happened at the same time was the kicker because it had cut off even satellite communication. But it was also where she’d connected with her childhood friend and secret crush who was now her husband.

“I know. It just seems like too much this time around.”

Gideon walked in, spotted Maya, and went to wrap her in a hug. “You’ve got this.”

“You heard us talking?”

“Yeah. And we’re going to take care of this as a team just like we do everything else.” He kissed the top of her head, and Elena bit her lip. The two of them had beaten the odds and found a way into each other’s hearts and arms.

Maybe she’d have that one day too. Maybe. Why Sully’s face popped into her head, she had no idea. “I think it’s me they’re after,” she said. “It has to be.”

“They shot at Billy and Van,” Maya said. “Why would you think it’s about you?”

“Well ... while they had us all distracted taking care of Billy, no one came after Ollie. That would have been the time to attack here.”

“Maybe they didn’t know where she was.”

Elena shook her head. “I don’t know. I’m convinced it’s me.” Even saying the words sounded self-absorbed. Like everything was about her. It wasn’t. And yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling thatthiswas definitely about her. But ...why?