“Okay.”
“You’re the only one not hurt. Can you tell me what the hell happened?”
“We were driving back to the Gibson ranch when Denver and I heard a shot, and then Gage and his wife’s vehicle lost control and flipped over into a ditch. As Denver reached Mrs. Gibson, another shot rang out and hit him in the shoulder. Then he gave chase while I tended to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson.”
“What’s your relationship?”
“We’re their hired security.”
“Hired security? Why would they need security?”
“Aside from the obvious? Are you new to the area?” Mike couldn’t fathom that this cop hadn’t heard of their situation since they were well out of Austin and the only major incidents had to do with the Gibson ranch.
“Yes, actually. Today’s my first day. I’m from Illinois.”
“Well, they were supposed to testify against her father. The charges were dropped, but they know he’s a threat.” He made it short and to the point.
“We’ll be escorting them to the hospital just in case we have another attack. I may have more questions for you.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. I have to check on the rest of the family.” When they were all secured in the ambulances, they drove off.
Mike rushed to the ranch as fast as the rain would allow. Once he pulled into the driveway, he realized the outdoor lights weren’t on. Then he looked at the camera and saw it wasn’t working either. Immediately, he put the two incidents together. The main house lights were on, so he parked in front of the house. The security guys that Mike and Denver hadn’t cared for were nowhere in sight.
He ran up the stairs and unlocked the front door without seeing a soul outside.Where the fuck was everyone else?Mike knew the house should be guarded by some of the ranch handsand the extra guards.When he entered the house, to his surprise he saw Baxter Cummings holding Ethan.
Chapter Eleven
A smile crept over Cummings’s face when he didn’t see anyone behind the one guard. That meant his man had done the job. Now, all he had to do was get out of here with the little bastard and leave no witnesses. Babies are a valuable commodity that he could sell and add to his current financial rebuild.
“Let him go, Baxter.”
He scoffed, turning his smile into a maniacal laugh. No one but these four fools had known that Cummings had his men cut the power as the storm struck. All their systems went down just long enough for him to break into the house. “Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do?”
“Don’t make me kill you right here.” Mike had killed people in this position, but there was a baby at risk at this point. Baxter had everything to lose by surrendering, so Mike knew it wouldn’t be easy. His main priority would be getting little Ethan to safety. Nothing else mattered. His job has been to protect the family, and he’d already failed once today. He wouldn’t let it happen again.
“You won’t. I’ll kill the boy.” Cummings brought the baby closer to his body with the gun aimed at the boy’s midsection. Any gunshot wound would be fatal to the little guy at that range, so Mike had to think of a plan, and quickly.
“I’ll kill them all.”
“I don’t negotiate with terrorists.” The housekeeper was passed out on the floor behind Cummings. Gage’s mother, Grace, was tied up in the corner of the room with a giant bruise on her face. Mike bet it came from the butt of the gun. His eyes returned back to the target.
“Where’s everyone else?”
“A couple are dead and the others are chasing the cows in the field. My ride will be here any second and we’ll be leaving with the baby.”
“Do you mean the guy in the pickup?”
“How did you know? Lucky guess. I know you wouldn’t have spotted him in this weather.”
“No?”
“Well. I don’t think he’ll be coming, since he sped off in the opposite direction.”
“Bullshit. Shut the fuck up before I cut my losses.”
“You mean your only bargaining chip? You hurt him and there’s nothing to stop me from tearing right through your chest.”
Mike slowly stepped around to the side, forcing Cummings to sidestep as well. They circled each other until Cummings’s hip had butted the arm of the sofa and that split second gave Mike his chance. He took his shot, striking Cummings dead in between the eyes. The baby fell onto the sofa, bouncing twice but luckily not rolling off.