Page 42 of Valor

Yet it was hard to imagine Will Minor driving around the state of Wyoming following him and Emily from one location to the next, especially since he didn’t have jurisdiction.

Then again, what did jurisdiction matter if Minor had no intention of bringing them in? All the cop had to do was kill them, make it look like someone hired by Domingo Hernandez had done the deed before turning around to head back to Colorado.

Yeah, the more he considered the options, the more he believed Will Minor was the guy involved with Hernandez. After all, Owen’s team had included a local cop too. It stood to reason that Will Minor had been just as greedy.

Should he go back to the ranger station to share his suspicions with Doug? Owen didn’t move, paralyzed by indecision. It wasn’t as if he had proof that Will Minor was the bad guy working with the Hernandez operation. And he already knew Doug Bridges was inclined to immediately arrest him while working out the pesky details later.

How much later? Weeks? Months? Years?

His chest hurt, knowing that no matter which path he chose in the next few minutes, he’d never have what he really wanted.

A future with Emily.

He wasn’t sure how it had happened, but he’d fallen in love with her. His feelings had flickered to life, penetrating his icy heart back in January, when she’d cared for his infected wound despite how his men had kidnapped her. She’d been sweet and empathetic, begging him to go to the hospital so he wouldn’t die. He remembered listening while pretending to be asleep as she prayed for him.

Her words had touched him deep in his heart.

Spending the past forty-eight hours with her had only shown him what he was missing. A woman who cared. A possible normal life that didn’t include mingling with drug dealers. Somehow, his desperate thirst for revenge had waned. Emily had been right when she’d mentioned that killing Hernandez wouldn’t bring Oliver back.

He lifted his gaze to the sky, wondering if there really was an almighty God. One who had sent his only son to forgive their sins.

Even his? Owen found that hard to believe.

Yet Emily had insisted that was the case. That once he accepted Jesus as his savior, his sins would be forgiven.

It shocked him how badly he wanted to learn more. To understand what Emily experienced while praying.

Lifting his gaze to the sky, he silently begged for guidance.

After several long minutes, he dropped his gaze, feeling foolish. Did he really think he’d hear God’s voice? No way. He closed his eyes and fought a wave of despair. Then he forced himself to shake it off. He reached over to restart the truck when he saw a black SUV rolling down the highway toward the ranger station.

He leaned forward, trying to get a glimpse of the driver. But the guy didn’t look his way, so he couldn’t tell if he was Doug or someone else.

And if the driver was someone else? He abruptly knew he had to go back. But not driving the truck. He’d go on foot. Without giving himself a chance to talk himself out of it, Owen pushed open the truck door and closed it. Then he ran in a diagonal path back toward the ranger station, approaching from the back of the building rather than the front.

His previous exhaustion faded. Fueled with a new energy, he quickly covered the distance. The black SUV was still in front of him, turning into the parking lot. The driver could easily spot him, but that didn’t stop Owen from sprinting toward the side of the building.

When he reached the structure without hearing anyone shouting his name—or worse, firing at him—he lowered to a crouch and caught his breath. His view of the parking lot was limited now, and he couldn’t see the black SUV. After a long, deep breath, he rose and edged closer to the front of the building.

Peering around the corner, his breath caught in his throat when he saw the black SUV parked next to the green forest ranger truck. But where was the driver? He frowned, wondering if Doug had arrived and was currently inside with Emily and Ranger Campbell.

Then he heard voices.

“I told you Owen is in danger!” Emily’s voice was agitated. “Why would you order Ranger Campbell to arrest him when you knew that Owen had been the one keeping me safe this whole time?”

“Emily, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Doug sounded impatient. “I didn’t tell anyone to arrest Owen, although I can’t lie to you, that is my intent. He’s a criminal, remember? He needs to be held accountable for what he’s done.”

Wait a minute. Owen frowned. If Doug Bridges hadn’t issued the arrest order, then who had?

Owen was about to step out from behind the building when a second black SUV came into view.

And that’s when he knew. The bad guy was the one who’d made the call to the ranger station, maybe even pretending to be Doug. And that same guy was heading here, about to confront Emily at any second.

Not Minor, but DEA Agent Colin Granger!

Owen darted out from the corner of the building, doing his best to cut across the path of the oncoming SUV. “Emily! Doug! Look out!” He shouted the warning as loud as he could. “Seek cover!”

The sound of gunfire rang out just as Owen imagined he felt a hand shove him to the side. He tripped and nearly fell to the asphalt. He was vaguely aware of a searing pain along his right side, but he didn’t stop. He ran until he reached Emily and Doug.

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