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“No.” Crest nodded at Taryn. “I’d like to speak with you before we’re swarmed with feds.”

Taryn felt her stomach clench at the thought that either she or Ethan were about to be shit-canned from their job at CSA. Of course Crest had witnessed what Ethan had done. He’d been watching and listening the entire time. She’d been waiting for the other shoe to drop and this was it. She would just have to make sure that it was she who was discharged and not Ethan. Her technical skills made her useful in any IT department in the world, where Ethan’s close combat skills could only be utilized by a short and very select list of organizations.

“Crest, I—”

“Ethan didn’t turn his earpiece off during your little spat, so let’s set some things straight.” Crest got straight to the point. “If I felt like either of you couldn’t handle this assignment, I would have sent you both back home yesterday. His principal mission is to protect you. You’re his primary duty assignment. It’s that simple. Your task is to apply your talents where needed to bring Ryland in. The two intersect, so deal with it. At the end of this assignment we’ll reevaluate positions. In the meantime, do your damn job.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

“Y
ou held your own today, man,” Jax commented in a low voice to Ethan as they walked side by side up to the front door of Bowers’ residence. The moment they’d hit the hotel, Taryn had used the SIM card that they’d found in one of the two phones that Neonni had been carrying with him to connect the calls that Art had been making. They were now two steps behind Crest, who was flanked by two federal agents assigned to issue the arrest warrant on Bowers. “You saw how I acted when Emily was in Ryland’s crosshairs. You kept your shit together and did what needed to be done, Bravo Zulu.”

Before Ethan could reply he heard Taryn’s footsteps coming up behind them. They hadn’t had a chance to talk after leaving the cemetery and by the time Crest had presented the evidence to the feds and they’d had an arrest warrant issued and signed, it had been too late for them to engage in anything other than briefings. Jax and Connor had confirmed that Bowers had holed up in his residence. If things went smoothly, Ethan and Taryn would be back at the hotel where things between them could be sorted out. This rift among them had to be eradicated and she sure as hell didn’t get to make decisions about their future without consulting him.

The feds had an additional agent go around the back of the large estate while Connor handled the two guards in the pastures. Ethan could see from this distance that his teammate was already in the process of explaining what was taking place and asking them for their weapons and any radio or cell phone in which they could contact their employer. When the front door opened, the staff member immediately backed up and allowed them entrance.

As the agents announced themselves, Bowers’ voice could be heard booming through the long hallway. Taryn was now standing beside Ethan, her hand on her weapon, just like everyone else. As Bowers was read his rights, he sought out Taryn and a look of disgust crossed his features.

“You bitch!” Bowers spit out before being turned around so that cuffs could be placed on his wrists. The action seemed to have cut off his tirade and he composed himself. “I demand to know what I’m being arrested for. I want my lawyer.”

“You’re under arrest for the attempt on Taryn Sisal’s life. You’ll have your one phone call after we execute our warrant,” the lead agent said, while indicating to the other to start conducting a search of the house. The agent who’d gone around the back had now joined them. “Wood, take him to the front of the house while we begin searching the house. Rice should be here soon to take over.”

Crest didn’t hesitate to follow Agent Wood, whose hand was wrapped around Bowers’ arm guiding him into the foyer. When they came upon a chair, Wood had Bowers sit down and stay there while a search of his home was conducted. The vein in the side of his temple throbbed and his face was red with anger. Taryn played her role perfectly, as Agent Wood stepped aside per an agreement with Crest. No doubt it was a favor owed at some point in the man’s career.

“You’re going away for a long time, Art,” Taryn said softly, standing in front of the man who was struggling to maintain his fury. His eyes swept from side to side but there was nowhere to escape. Ethan stood at the ready should the man be reckless enough to try anything. “I’ve got to say I’m sad that you wanted me dead after all the things I’ve done to help you.”

Art compressed his lips and turned his head to watch as more men and women came through the door to assist in the search. His features were finally setting into stone and his posture was flawless. This man wasn’t going to crack and spill his guts no matter what Taryn said or did. Ethan leaned down, placing a hand on the back of the chair.

“By the time we’re through we’ll have connected you to the deaths of Madeline, Sabrina,
and
Charles. Shit, if you’re lucky you won’t get charged in the murder of the body inside Travis’ coffin. Can you imagine the field day your prosecutor will have tying all of this together?” Ethan asked, keeping his voice low. He was throwing all of this shit out there, eager to make Bowers admit to those crimes he
did
commit. “It’ll make his or her career to bring down one of the wealthiest men in the state. Come to think of it, none of this will be yours for much longer. Once it’s been proven that Travis isn’t in that coffin, all of this will end up in state probate court pending disposition. You couldn’t do it on your own, so you took your brother’s wealth. Did you and Travis work something out on the side? Are you slipping him money? Can you feel the noose around your neck? You’re one greedy son of a bitch.”

“You can’t tie me to anything,” Art said, a confidence enveloping him that unsettled Taryn. Ethan could see her suck in the right side of her cheek as she studied Bowers. The man’s bravado could only mean he destroyed evidence. Did that mean the pictures in the safe had been disposed of? Ethan didn’t want to give away that they could tie his phone calls to that of Neonni. It had been enough for the judge to issue an arrest warrant, but they were banking on the evidence in the safe as motive. “I’ll be out in a few hours and then we’ll see whose neck feels the noose.”

Ethan closed his fingers to form a fist, wanting nothing more than to take this man down with one blow. He reined himself in, knowing it would not do any of them any good. Crest would ensure the interview process was done correctly and Ethan hoped like hell that they roasted Bowers over the coals. The man would eventually crack. He may be confident now, but once he realized that he wasn’t going to get bond and that he was facing multiple charges, including murder for hire, that would all change.

“You’ll be lucky if you see daylight in the exercise yard for the next twenty years.”

With that said, Ethan could see Crest indicate they should wrap it up. The agent had only been able to give them a few moments to speak with Bowers and they were cutting it close. They’d all hoped that Bowers would give Taryn some answers, but it looked like that wasn’t going to be the case. They’d already strung most of the case together, but there were still things that didn’t add up.

What they did know was that Art Bowers had killed Madeline and Sabrina due to his greed. Sabrina had murdered Charles, thus giving Art a hand in achieving this massive wealth that surrounded him. Now all they needed to do was prove it. As for Ryland, he was still outside of their reach and a goddamned thorn in their side.

The four of them headed to the front door, which was still wide open due to the incoming and outgoing traffic. Ethan took the lead with Taryn, Jax, and Crest succeeding him. He’d just stepped onto the large portico and repositioned his sunglasses when Taryn yelled out his name and shoved him hard from behind, hard enough that he stumbled. She might be petite, but she wasn’t lacking any strength. He turned to see what the fuck she’d done that for but he caught her instead when the weight of her body kept their momentum moving forward. Ethan did the only thing he could and wrapped both arms around her, using his back to take the brunt of the impact as they landed on the hard surface of the front stoop.

“Take cover!”

Crest’s voice could be heard loud and clear, finally giving Ethan the answers he needed. Why the hell hadn’t Taryn just said that instead of screaming his name? In under a second he’d situated both of them behind one of the massive pillars and had his weapon in the palm of his hand. He glanced to his left and saw that Jax had taken up position behind the second pillar while Crest was just inside the doorway. They made eye contact and Crest then gave a hand signal to indicate to remain where they were.

Exchange of fire could be heard, indicating that federal agents were now involved, and since they must have had eyes on the target, it shouldn’t be long before the situation was contained. He knew it couldn’t have been Ryland, for there was no way he would have ever gotten this close to them to risk capture. Ethan turned his head to speak with Taryn when the pallor of her face immediately alerted him to her condition.

“Fuck.” Ethan scrambled to his knees with his heart racing at the sight of Taryn’s blood. She was holding a hand to her arm, although he couldn’t tell if it was a graze or if she’d been shot straight through. Either way the amount of blood was grave and it needed to be stemmed. “Pressure.”

“I know that,” Taryn said through gritted teeth. Her brown eyes were filled with pain, but they were scanning his body as she rested her head back against the pillar. “Are you hit?”

Ethan bit off what he was going to say, because it would do neither of them any good to fight about it now. She had the audacity to get angry with him earlier for something she just did herself not sixty seconds ago. Yes, both of their behaviors had changed as a result of their relationship and yes, it needed to be addressed—but he’d be damned if he’d get into it now.

“Man down! I need a pressure bandage and some clotting agent ASAP!” Ethan called out, alerting Crest to the fact that they needed an ambulance. He ignored the deep-seated fear settling into his bones at the image of Taryn’s blood covering her fingers and concentrated on what he needed to do. Tugging at his waist, Ethan pulled off his canvas belt. Shoving her hand out of the way, he looped the belt around her upper arm to create a makeshift tourniquet to slow the blood flow. The bullet
had
torn through the muscle and from the amount of blood he wasn’t so certain it hadn’t hit an artery. “I need to apply more pressure to slow down your blood loss. It’s going to hurt a lot.”

He spared a glance toward the doorway, finally seeing Crest give the all clear and also giving him a thumbs up that the ambulance was on its way. Ethan turned back to relay that to Taryn when he saw her eyes close and her head fall to the side. His heartbeat faltered in terror at the certainty that she was bleeding out and he cradled her cheek, tapping his fingers against her cheek. He realized that they needed to elevate her feet to treat for shock and he asked for help. Her eyes fluttered and he placed his left hand against her wound, squeezing it as tight as he could.

“Stay with me,” Ethan said gruffly as Jax suddenly appearing at her feet to raise her legs. His friend passed that responsibility on to a marshal and then moved up to take over the pressure on her injury as Ethan lifted her into his arms. Crest was already leading the way down the steps and opening the doors to the vehicle that he’d rented. Ethan tried his best not to jar her too much in his arms, but time was of the essence. The ambulance wouldn’t get here in time. He shifted himself and Taryn into the backseat, Jax attached and not releasing his hold on Taryn’s wound. Crest adjusted her legs above the level of the injury and then slammed all of the doors. Within seconds they were speeding down the drive. Ethan pressed his lips against Taryn’s forehead, the icy impression of fear finally penetrating his chest. “Come on, baby. Stay with me.”

*   *   *   *

Connor handed Ethan a Styrofoam cup filled with steaming coffee and while he took it, there wasn’t a chance in hell he could drink it. They’d gotten Taryn to the hospital and within a blink of an eye nurses and doctors had whisked her off behind two large double doors. He hadn’t let go of her the entire time they’d been in the car, and when they’d forced him to at the hospital his chest felt as empty as his arms. His clothing was drenched in her blood as he stood there in shock staring at those doors. The ache hadn’t gone away and wouldn’t until he laid eyes on her once more. They had all been ordered to stay in the emergency room waiting area. Connor had joined them at around the half hour mark and Crest had used his presence to make some calls regarding the perpetrator.