“Yep. Figured I’d send you on a wild goose chase trying to figure that one out.”

  “Well, we did,” Ryleigh said. “I need you to put the pin back in the grenade, and I’ll have to arrest you.”

  He lurched back. “Not happening. I have nothing to lose, and I’m not going to prison.” His gaze frantically searched the area.

  “Don’t do anything dumb,” Finn said.

  Vick jerked his hand in the direction of a small opening in the cave wall. “Over there. Both of you. Inside. Now.”

  She studied the tiny entrance, and her skin crawled with her fear of tight spaces. “But where does it go?”

  “Just crawl in until you get to the opening at the end and wait for me.” He waved the grenade. “Try anything funny, and I’ll let this go. The visitors might have a head start on us, but this will still take them out.”

  “You don’t want to die,” she said, panic settling deeper as she eyed the tiny opening.

  “You’re wrong there.” He flashed a sickly grin at her. “I’d rather die than spend a lifetime in prison. And if I die, you go with me.”

  The area smelled earthy and yet held a chemical odor as Finn clawed his way through the narrow opening on the heels of Ryleigh’s boots. Finn’s shoulders scraped the rock, and he seriously questioned if he would fit, but Vick claimed he would. Before Ryleigh had climbed in, he’d wanted to hug and assure her that he would find a way out of this mess. But he’d kept his hands to himself. No way Finn would let Vick know he had a personal connection with Ryleigh. That would just give the killer further ammunition to use against them.

  Ryleigh’s feet disappeared down an incline, and he followed to spill out into a small room with low ceilings. Ryleigh huddled over near the far wall. Fear darkened her eyes already dusky in the shadows of her phone’s light.

  “Focus your light on the opening,” Finn said to Ryleigh and scrambled to his feet to crouch near the space they’d just exited.

  She changed the light’s direction, illuminating the thick cave walls and leaving herself in the dark. Even if he wanted to comfort her now, he had no time. Vick was crawling right after them. If he came out arms overhead, Finn could clamp his hand over the jerk’s grenade hand to stop it from detonating, then Ryleigh could extract the grenade from his grasp.

  Vick’s head poked from the opening, his grenade hand tucked tight against his body.

  “Back up, He-Man,” Vick said, eyeing Finn. “To the far wall.”

  Finn let out a frustrated breath and moved away. No way he could take over now. This guy’s buff build said he was strong, and Finn had to take that into account for when he struck. And strike he would as there was no way this man was going to get away with terrifying Ryleigh. Or killing two men. Finn would just have to bide his time and be sure of his move before he took action.

  “Okay, now what?” Ryleigh asked, keeping her flashlight beaming at Vick.

  He wiggled out and got to his feet. “We go deeper into the cave.”

  “Then what?” Finn asked.

  “Then I leave you here and take off.”

  “We’ll just come after you,” Finn said, not caring if that upset this creep.

  “If you do, I let go of the grenade and blow up those lovely people you just met. Maybe bring the whole side of the mountain down and kill the other visitors too.” He fixed his gaze on Ryleigh. “Do you want that to happen?”

  She glared at him. “You know I don’t.”

  “Then let’s move. Go ahead to your left. Over the boulder.”

  Ryleigh went first, the light fading with her as she scrambled over a large rock and into a narrow crevice. Finn followed, his body brushing against the stone worn smooth by others who’d taken this route before him.

  He exited the tight path to find Ryleigh bent over in a smaller space where they couldn’t fully stand. She searched the area with her phone’s light.

  “Is this the off-trail route?” Finn asked the moment Vick emerged to join them.

  “At one time, but this section’s closed now due to the potential for collapse. Just think of it as my own private little tour for you.” He cackled, and the sound bounced off the low ceilings. “Keep going, veering to the right. The walls on the right side are the most unstable. Try not to touch them.”

  Finn took out his cell and flashed the light down the narrow path he would have to traverse upright this time, catching a glimpse of Ryleigh ahead. No way his shoulders would fit through there without scraping against the wall. He would have to sidestep through it. At least the ceiling was high enough to stand upright.

  He turned to enter, but two feet in, he shone his light back at Vick, wondering if he could take him before going deeper into the caves.

  The guy gave him a nod of approval. “Dumb-looking jock like you. I didn’t think you’d figure out how to safely move through there.”

  “Not a jock at all.” Finn fired back at Vick. “But still no sweat. As a Navy SEAL, I was in situations far more dangerous than this.”

  Shock and awe, coupled with unease and uncertainty claimed Vick’s face. Good. Just the reaction Finn was going for.

  The creep held out his fist again, waving the grenade. “Keep going.”

  Finn probably should’ve kept his mouth shut—don’t poke the bear and all of that. But he figured if the guy was a little less certain, he might be easier to overpower.

  Finn put away his phone and sidestepped his way down the narrow path and into another small room. Bats fluttered to the ceiling. Ryleigh cringed as her light revealed guano caking the room.

  Vick eased out of the opening, and Ryleigh pinned him with her light.

  He had that same grin, the one that said he wasn’t mentally all there. Delusional in his conspiracy theories. “Take the last opening you see ahead, and you’ll be done.”

  “Then what?” Finn asked. “Is that when you leave us?”

  Vick nodded, the smile turning snide and uglier. “And you shouldn’t try to follow me. If not for the visitors’ sake, then for yours. Too many side shoots and false paths. You’ll never find your way out of here.”

  “Then what do you expect us to do?” Ryleigh asked, her tone higher than normal, her fear cutting into Finn’s heart.

  “Wait an hour, then backtrack to get out.” He cocked his head. “But you should know if you’re dumb enough to think you can track me, there’s no cell service, and no one will come looking for you on this route. No one at all.”

  25

  Time had run out. Finn had to act fast. But what should he do?

  He couldn’t let the guy leave. Finn couldn’t be left behind to die in this rocky hole either. Avery needed him. And he sure didn’t want Ryleigh to suffer any more than she already had.

  Vick eased toward an opening in the rock that he could back through and keep an eye on them at the same time. His shadow in Ryleigh’s light was long, narrow and fluid, looking other-worldly.

  “Wait,” Finn called out, his mind racing to figure out how to get close to this guy. “Don’t leave yet.”

  Vick spun and snorted. “Begging isn’t an attractive quality for a big bad SEAL.”

  Finn swallowed down his anger at the taunt. He wanted to rush the guy. Punish him. Take him out. But he shoved his hands into his pockets instead. All rushing him would do was give him time to release the grenade.

  No one wanted that to happen.

  But if Finn got close enough, he could simultaneously clamp his hand over the grenade and throw two swift disabling punches. He knew the moves—had used them often enough. One to the back of Vick’s head and one to his liver. Finn would strike with lightning-fast precision. Vick wouldn’t know what hit him, and he would take a nosedive into the stone.

  Problem was, Finn had to get close, and so far, Vick had been too smart to allow it.

  Then outsmart him. It’s now or never!

  Finn had to try some subterfuge or Vick would get away. Maybe kill someone else.

  Finn pulled his right hand from his pocket, fist closed around a quarter. “You’ll want to take this with you.”

  Vick’s eyebrow rose. “Take what?”

  Great. He’d taken the bait.

  “It’s better if I show you.” Finn held out his closed fist and started forward. If Vick were as smart as he thought, he would tell Finn to stay put, but he focused on Finn’s hand just as Finn wanted.

  Perfect.

  Finn quickly closed the distance.

  Vick’s focus remained on Finn’s fist.

  Finn flashed his free hand out to clamp the grenade. Vick startled but Finn smacked him behind the head with his closed fist. His head and upper body jerked to the side.

  Vick’s hand loosened on the grenade.

  Finn clamped tighter. Threw another punch to the area just below Vick’s ribcage—to his unprotected liver.

  Vick cried out and plummeted to the ground. The pin went flying. His fingers released the grenade.

  Finn took firm control, holding tight to the grenade so it wouldn’t detonate. Protecting him. Protecting Ryleigh. The others.

  All over in five seconds or less.

  Ryleigh rushed forward, dropped her phone, and flipped Vick over. The light shone up at the ceiling and reflected down. Just enough for Finn to see her put a knee to the back of the man who was writhing and moaning and trying to clutch his gut. She got out her cuffs and slapped them on his wrists behind his back.

  “Got him.” She grabbed her phone, shone the light up, and grinned at Finn.

  Wow. Amazing. The most joyful grin he’d seen to warm his heart. Well, maybe it equaled the one from Avery before she’d kissed his cheek. His heart was full. Complete. More love than he could ever imagine he would experience.

  Another rush of adrenaline flooded his body. Right. Forget the love for now. He still had a job to do. Secure the grenade so they could get out of there. “I need to find the pin.”

  “Yeah.” She let out a shuddering breath and picked up her phone. She focused the light in the direction the pin had gone flying.

  Finn got down on his knees. Swept his free hand over the rough floor. His finger felt the cold metal butted up to a boulder. He picked it up and slid it into place. Safe. They were safe.

  He let out a long breath.

  Thank You!

  He pocketed the grenade and went back to Ryleigh. Tears flowed from her eyes and down her cheeks.

  Vick continued to writhe in pain and didn’t seem as if he even noticed they were in the room.

  Finn touched her cheek. “It’s okay, honey. You’re safe now and so is everyone else.”

  “I’ve seen guys disabled like this in the movies but never in person.” She gave him a wobbly smile. “You were impressive.”

  “All in a day’s work.” His face heated with a blush. He didn’t take compliments well. “Or it was for me. Once anyway.”

  He waited for the pain of loss to take hold and it didn’t. At least not that gut-wrenching, sick-to-your-stomach feeling. Sure, he had a niggling of unease, but more than that, he was thankful he possessed the skills needed today and in the end, he was still alive to care for Avery. And just as important, Ryleigh was alive and well too.

  Because he wanted her in his life. He didn’t know how he would make that happen, but she would be by his side for life if he had anything to say about it.

  A grenade. The guy had actually pulled a live grenade on them. Unbelievable.

  Ryleigh fought against her weak knees to exit the last tunnel with Finn, her rescuer and rock. What a takedown! She’d experienced some hairy situations as an agent, but this one would go down as the scariest day of her life.

  They’d had to remove Vick’s cuffs to let him crawl out but she slapped them on him again.

  “Not so tight,” he complained.

  She had no sympathy for him.

  “Move.” Finn took a solid hold on Vick’s arm and prodded him ahead until they stepped into the sunshine that was beaming down on the cave.

  She took in a deep breath and let it out, the air tasting and smelling sweeter.

  She was alive. Alive!

  Thanks to Finn. The man who saved her. Saved so many people as he’d done for years as a SEAL, but she’d never been witness to his prowess before. Some might say his move was foolhardy, but not with his skills. No, it’d been a calculated attack he knew he would win. Or he wouldn’t have risked their lives.

  There was nothing she could face that would be harder to overcome than this. At least nothing with Finn at her side. She wanted that. Him with her for the future. For sure. Facing death at the hand of a killer had made it crystal clear. Her other problems were small. Minor. Tiny. And conquerable.

  And she planned to tell Finn that—after she got Vick solidly locked behind bars.

  She scanned the area ahead until she spotted the deputy and his patrol vehicle. She took out her phone and called Russ. She gave him a brief version of what had happened. “I could bring Vick in, but is that what you want or do you want the local deputy to book him?”

  “As much as I’d like him under my control,” Russ said, his voice tight. “Let’s not call attention to being out of jurisdiction and let the locals book him. You go along and bring back a copy of the booking report for the feds.”

  “Will do.”

  “And, Steele, I’m surrounded by feds, and you speak their language, so double-time it back here.” He laughed and ended the call.

  She chuckled too, releasing some of her adrenaline, and then shared the information with Finn. She pointed at the deputy. “Let’s get Vick transported.”

  Finn shoved Vick ahead, visitors staring. If they only knew the danger they’d been exposed to, but the grenade remained in Finn’s pocket. It was freaky to her, but probably something he’d carried many times in the past.

  The deputy frowned at them and took control of Vick. He pressed him up against the car for a thorough search, read him his rights, and put him in the backseat. He secured the door and turned. “Not gonna lie and sugarcoat this. You should’ve waited for me. Won’t help our agency goodwill.”

  “Couldn’t be helped,” she said, trying to diffuse the situation. “Besides, we’re giving you the collar. Bringing in a bomber and murderer will give you bragging rights. That should count for something.”

  “Yeah, yeah, it will.” He cracked a half smile. “I’ll meet you at booking to take your statements.”

  He slid behind the wheel, and she didn’t wait for the door to close but started for Finn’s truck before her wobbly knees gave out on her. He strode by her side, their fingers close but not touching. Man, she wanted to reach out. Feel his solid presence. She wouldn’t. Not with the deputy still in the area.

  They reached his truck well out of view. She waited for him to open the passenger door as he always did. He came close. Stopped. Pinned her against the door and kissed her—hard.

  Wow! Oh wow! Her senses swam. Her head dizzy. Her knees now threatening a total rebellion.

  He came up for air, his forehead furrowed as he gazed into her eyes. “I could’ve lost you.”

  She felt his worry deeply inside. Echoed it. “But you didn’t, and I could say the same for you.”

  “It’s just, I never should’ve broken up with you. I hope you’ve truly forgiven me, and we can make a go of it now. I can’t lose you again. Not to a grenade and not out of my life at all.”

  “I have, and we can.”

  He swept her into his arms and kissed her again. More gently this time, but his lips were insistent. Urgent. Needy.

  She let herself enjoy it. Feel all the feelings. Deepen the kiss even more.

  But he soon lifted his head. “You know I’d move to Portland in a heartbeat, right? But I can’t ask Avery to move right now.”

  “It’s okay.” She ran a finger down the side of his face, enjoying her exploration of the plains and valleys up close. “We’ll have to figure out logistics, but if we have to date long-distance for a while, I’m okay with that. As long as we don’t give up on each other again.”

  “Never,” he said emphatically. “Never.”

  26

  Labor Day.

  On the long dock on the Maddox property, with Avery on one side and Ryleigh’s grandad and father on the other, Finn cranked in his fishing line. The bait skimmed across the glistening lake, cutting a path toward him. Summer was coming to a close and rain would soon set in again for the winter and spring, but the sun shone bright over Shadow Lake today. A glorious day for fishing.

  A glorious day to be alive.

  Finn turned to look across the beach at Ryleigh, who reclined on a lounger next to her sister Teagan. Ryleigh’s shorts revealed her creamy long legs and a tank top displayed her toned arms. He couldn’t see her eyes behind her dark glasses, but she still looked beautiful. And peaceful.

  He knew the feeling. He hadn’t felt such peace, such calm, since he’d broken up with her. And today was the last day he would be in her company. Or her family’s company for that matter. As much as he enjoyed the afternoon on the Maddox property with all the Steeles who had commandeered Shadow Lake Survival’s property for a family reunion of sorts, he would rather grab her hand and find a secluded spot for just the two of them.

  Then what? He’d tell her that he loved her and demand she move here to be with him?

  Yeah, right. That wouldn’t work. The opposite. She’d hightail it out of there faster than the deer he’d seen bounding across the meadow on the drive in today.

  She did still have Tobias’s account to manage. For now, but once he felt sure that the threats were over, and he’d rebuilt, Tobias would likely cancel the contract. He’d been upfront with her about that, so she knew what to expect. But for now, she would occasionally come to Shadow Lake.

  Artie nudged him. “You gonna keep staring at her all day, son, or go talk to her?”

  Finn flashed a surprised look at the older man. “Who says I want to talk to her?”

  “Come on, now. Even little Avery can see you’re in love with my granddaughter.”