She couldn’t believe it. It really wasn’t about coincidences—it was about fate. Bad luck hung over her shoulders like a shadowy mantel, never letting her even peek at what life could be like without the O’Sullivan curse.

“Are you sure?” Miles asked. “You’re positive this is the same guy?”

Jon didn’t need to ask, didn’t second-guess her. He simply nodded as he worked through the scenario. “I stirred things up when I was in Good Hope last fall. Watt probably saw me, but realized I wasn’t after him because I was working with Shelby and Colton. He put two and two together with me and Jaya, so when Lorna called, that’s why he took the risk of coming out of hiding.”

“He wanted to get back at you for screwing up his life,” Colton said. He looked at Jaya. “Your mom—does she have good days? Did she know about you and Jon and say something to Watt?”

“Sure, I told her, but I tell her a lot of things that don’t actually register with her, you know?” Jaya thought back to the day last fall after Shelby’s ordeal when she explained to her mom and the staff that she was heading to DC for a week or two. Not that her mom had seemed to care one way or the other. “When I followed Jon to DC to make sure he was going to be all right…”

Crud. It all made more sense now. She shook her head in disbelief and pointed at the picture showing on her screen. “He goes by Justin London in Good Hope. He must have overheard me tell Mom about Jon and figured out we had a relationship.”

Jon’s expression was total anger. He clenched his fists. Clench-release. Clench-release.

“Can we blow the security camera at your dad’s cabin, or tap into it and see what’s he up to?” Rage asked.

Jon’s face went blank again, the anger stuffed deep. “The house is totally off grid, but I know all the ways to get in and out. Ways that only my dad and I know about. It’s a risk, though, because Watt will be expecting me to do just that—sneak in and take him out. He’ll be prepared.”

“We’ve got the drone,” Trace offered. “Any way we can use it to create a distraction big enough to force him out? The entrance is above ground. We could throw in some smoke grenades, go in with overwhelming force, and take him out before he can react.”

“Only if push comes to shove,” Jon said. “He’s too likely to have Finn booby-trapped.”

Jaya sucked in a breath, then silently cursed herself at the expression everyone gave her. They thought it was a bad idea for her to be at the table with them. She had to harden herself and not let her emotions get in the way. “Sorry. I’m fine. Go on.”

Percy had been quiet until now. “Jon, you know the cabin, and our perpetrator. What do you think is our best option?”

Tap, tap, tap, his fingers beat a staccato on the tabletop. “Here’s what we have to do.”

He laid out the facts. Their time was nearly up and they couldn’t wait until dark or watch Watt’s movements to try and grab him before he realized they were there. The bunker only had one entrance and there would be cameras. Jon knew their locations, but they had to be extremely careful not to tip Watt off by rushing.

Jaya felt slightly numb, her mind wandering as the men walked through different breach and takedown scenarios. Nyx lay down at her feet and snored softly.

The risk to Finn was high, no matter what they did. If Watt was as clever as Jon believed him to be, even this group of former Navy SEALs had its hands full.

Jon turned to her. “I hate to make you do this, but…”

She snapped out of her mind-trance. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it.”

“We’re going to try and draw Watt out by dangling the cross in front of him. He hates me, but he probably needs money, so the cross is a good incentive.” His hand cupped hers. “We need proof of life. Before we go any farther, we have to make sure Finn is still…alive.”

It took a moment for his statement to sink in. “You think he’s…?”

“No.” Jon shook his head. “Finn is Watt’s ace card. If he doesn’t have him alive, he’s of no use to us.”

Jaya sighed. She’d seen plenty of cop shows and movies where the Feds demanded the same before meeting the kidnapper’s demands. “You want me to text this asshole and ask him to send me a picture of my brother with today’s newspaper or something?”

“He won’t have one. What I want is for him to let Finn talk to you.”

Her chest grew tight. Call the kidnapper? Hear the man’s voice?

A hard chill went down her spine. God, she hated being scared. Scared sucked.

“I know it’s an uncomfortable thing to do,” Jon reassured her. “But I know you can handle it.”

His belief in her was mirrored in the eyes of those around the table. Even Colton’s.

How many nights had she lain awake as a kid, worried her father would never come home? That her mom wouldn’t hold it together? That she and Finn would end up at the orphanage with Colton?

She forced air into her lungs. This was no time to give into fear. “What do I say?”

“We have a protocol for this,” Jon reassured her. His voice was low, soothing. “I have a script for you to read from, and I’ll be here beside you, to coach you if Watt pulls anything weird, okay?”

The others stared at her, their gazes full of support.

What else was there to do?

Jaya licked her lips. “Okay. Let me read it, this script.”

Trace handed Jon a piece of paper and Jon set it in front of her.

Her eyes didn’t want to focus on the words, the idea of hearing Finn’s voice distracting her. He was hurt, but was it worse than before? Did he think she’d forgotten him? Was he counting down the minutes, fearing a certain death if she didn’t produce the cross?

I’m coming, Finn. Just hold on.

Shoving the fear down, she blinked and forced her brain to take in the words. It helped, seeing the black and white letters. Whoever had written the script even had what to say to various scenarios—if the kidnapper said or demanded more than what they expected, she had the right responses in front of her.

And Jon. I have him.

“Okay.” She nodded. “Are we ready?”

Trace handed Jon blank paper and a pen. Jon uncapped the marker and met her eyes. “I’ll make notes on this if there’s anything I want you to say that’s not on your cheat sheet. Go ahead and dial when you’re ready.”

Punching up her contacts, she found Finn’s number and pressed the button.

The phone rang and she hit the speaker button. Her knee bobbed with nerves.

One, two, three. The sound blared through the room with a second ring.

Come on, come on.

A third jangle and no answer, the sound reverberating through her head as if the phone were between her ears rather than lying placidly on the table.

Jaya bit her thumbnail. Please God. Don’t let Finn be…

“Hey, it’s me,” her brother’s voice cut through her fog, making her heart lurch. “Since I didn’t answer, I must not want to talk to you. Either that or I’m sleeping, so go away. I don’t want what you’re selling and my computer doesn’t have a fucking virus so go find some other gullible douchebag to screw over. Text me like a normal person, k?”

The voicemail beep made her spirits fall. Fear raced through her and she looked at Jon. He held up the yellow tablet and she realized he’d been writing a note.

Go ahead. Give your demands—proof of life and then you’ll meet him at Runner’s Break.

Runner’s Break? Her attention went to the map. Jon had marked it on there a minute ago when talking to his team. It was a point where the river made a sharp turn west.

Gripping the table, she cleared her throat. “Justin? Or should I call you Dalton? I know who you are and I have what you want. Before we go any further, I want proof that Finn is still alive. I want to talk to him. Then I’ll bring the cross to Runner’s Break and we’ll make the exchange. Five minutes, Justin. You have five minutes to call me back or this negotiation will take a turn you don’t like. I have at least three bidders who’ll pay dearly for this cross, so consider your options wisely.”

Without looking at Jon, she blew out a slow breath and disconnected the call.

“Damn it, Jaya.” Colton jammed his hands through his hair. “What do you call that?”

Her body trembled as if cold, even though sweat beaded along her hairline. She ignored Colton and looked at Jon. His face was tense. He obviously sided with Colton.

Shit. “What if he doesn’t call back?” she asked.

“I appreciate your gumption,” Jon said, “but it’s not wise with a guy like Watt to throw out a bluff like that.”

A tense snort escaped her. “I wasn’t bluffing. Serial killer or not, he wants the cross, right? I’ve been running around, giving him and the others all the power in this scenario, and I don’t even know if Finn is alive.” She pointed at the phone. “That was me, taking back control, and I happen to know a thing or two about dealing with grifters, thieves, and blackmailers. I grew up surrounded by them. This Watt asshole thinks he’s pulled one over on us, manipulating you, me, and my family with his little game. I just want him to know he doesn’t have the upper hand in this scenario. Not anymore.”

Colton’s hands smacked his legs as he dropped them to his sides. He eyed her with something she didn’t see much from him—respect. “She has a point.”

Jon opened his mouth to say something but the blaring of the phone cut him off.

Their eyes met, Jaya’s heart beating like a drum inside her chest.

He nodded at the phone. The ID showed it was Finn’s number. “Show time.”

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Jaya hit the connect button. “Finn?”

“Jaya?” Her brother’s voice was faint and echo-y. “Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” She shut her eyes for a second. He’s alive. “Are you all right?”

He chuckled. “Define all right.”

Crud. “I’m coming to get you, so hold on, okay?”

“Did you find it? The cross?”

“Yes, I have it. Tell your kidnapper I’ll meet him in…” She glanced at Jon and he flashed all ten fingers at her. “Ten minutes. Runner’s Break. He knows the place.”

The voice that came back wasn’t her brother’s this time. “Jon will bring the cross to me.”

She picked up the phone and gripped it. “No deal, you bastard. How do I know you won’t kill Finn? You’ll meet me with Finn at the Break.”

“And expose myself like that to Jon’s buddies?” The voice was husky, mean. “Put your lapdog on the phone.”

Jon held out a hand but Jaya waved him off, pushing to her feet and sending her chair scraping back on the worn wooden plank floor. “Jon isn’t here. You successfully ruined that relationship for me, you dirtbag, so listen up. I’ve had it with you. You want the cross? Then meet me at Runner’s Break in ten minutes, like I told you. I’m not kidding when I say I have three buyers for it, and one is more than willing to hunt you down and make your life miserable if you don’t release my brother. It’s amazing what a couple million dollars can buy, you know? Assassins, law enforcement, you name it. You hurt my brother and I will make your life—what’s left of it—a living hell.”

Jon was on his feet now giving her a wide-eyed look and making slashing motions across his neck. She’d gone off-script again and he was none too happy about it.

There was a tense silence from the other end and Jaya felt her insides crumbling. Had she overplayed her hand?

“Look you little bitch,” Watt snarled. “I’m not meeting you at Runner’s Break. That place makes me easy pickins for anyone you brought with you. You wanna meet somewhere besides ol’ man Wolfe’s cabin, fine. There’s a cabin near the Break, two hundred yards east of the cistern. Jon knows it. I’ll meet you there. Come alone. First sign I see that you brought company, Finn is dead. You leave the cross outside the cabin and I’ll send your effing brother out. Got it?”

Her eyes darted to Jon’s, and she raised her brows in question.

He nodded, annoyance still twisting his face.

“Jon’s not here,” she repeated to Watt. Her eyes went to the map, to the other red circle. Watt’s cabin. “But I’ll find the place.”

The line went dead.

Legs trembling, Jaya sank into her chair. Jon touched her shoulder then cheek. “You did good, J.”

The strain in his voice said otherwise.

“I’ll get my coat.” The bag with the cross sat next to her phone and she picked it up and forced her knees to lock as she stood. “Let’s get this over with.”

His hand went back to her shoulder. “You’re not going.”

“You heard Watt,” she argued. “I come alone and bring the cross.” She motioned at the group. “Even if you guys are doing your ninja routine in the trees, it has to be me.”

Jon shook his head. “The cross is staying too.”

The other men were already suiting up, checking their weapons, and pretending not to eavesdrop. Parker and Charlotte had no qualms about listening in, however. “Watt won’t take the chance of dragging Finn from my dad’s place to his,” Jon said, dragging a finger on the map from one red circle to the other. “That’s nearly a mile out in the woods, exposed. That means he’s either already got Finn there and that’s where he planned the meeting all along, or Finn’s at my dad’s place and Watt has no intention of hauling him through the snowy woods. We can work with that. Half the team will go to my dad’s with me, the other half to Watt’s cabin. We’ll get Finn back and take down Watt.”

“Meanwhile, I sit on my butt and do nothing?”

“Charlotte and Parker will stay here with you. Ruby’s on her way. I’ll stay in constant contact with you, I promise.”

In other words, yes. “Why can’t I go?” the words were barely more than a whisper.

His fingers lightly touched her abdomen. “I can’t risk it. You and the baby. I’ve done my best, Jaya, through this whole thing to respect your wishes and let you go along, but this time? I’m asking you to respect mine. You’re staying here.”

Resolution made his face fierce. A warrior.

My warrior.

A strand of his jet-black hair had come loose from its entrapment at the back of his skull. She reached up and touched it. “I’ll keep our baby safe, I promise.”

He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “I’ll hold you to it, Wind Catcher.”

Within minutes, he and the others were gone, disappearing into the woods like smoke. Half the team, led by Jon, headed for Jeremiah Wolfe’s underground bunker, the other, led by Trace, to Watt’s cabin. Percy and Nyx went with them. Charlotte babysat the communication center that all of their comms were linked to, and Parker checked the doors and windows, making sure everything was locked tight once they left. Satisfied, she headed to the kitchen to make more coffee.

Jaya paced, the bag with the cross hanging from her wrist by its strap. The coffee smelled good but her stomach was a pit of sludge. She touched the wooden logs of the walls, stared at the map. How long would it take each team to reach their destination? Would both Finn and Jon make it back?

Parker returned to the main room with three fresh mugs of steaming coffee in hand. “I know Savanna wants all of us to put our hair up on Saturday, but I’d rather wear mine down.”

Charlotte looked up from the portable receiver and accepted one of the mugs. “What do the dresses look like? Bare shoulder?”

Parker pulled out her phone and showed Charlotte photos. “Strapless and classic. I think soft curls maybe for the bridesmaids and Savanna can have a fancy up-do if she wants. What do you think, Jaya?”

Seriously? She wanted to talk about her sister’s wedding?

Jaya’s gaze swung to Parker’s, impatience clawing at her. “I don’t—”

And then she saw it—the clever spy at work. Parker was doing her damnedest to take Jaya’s mind off the situation and Charlotte was her partner in crime.

They’d done so much for her, treating her like a friend. Her impatience evaporated as quickly as it had risen. “Let me see.”

The dress Parker was going to wear was, indeed, a classic silhouette, but with a beaded belt at the waist and demure crystals on the bodice. The back revealed a low cut with crystal buttons. “A braid would be lovely,” Jaya said, “and we could insert a few crystal studded bobby pins to bring the eye up from the buttons and compliment them.”

Charlotte and Parker exchanged a look. Charlotte hugged her coffee mug with her good hand. “She’s spot on. That would be perfect.”

“For Savanna’s, I can braid several sections and weave them into an up-do with a few crystals to match as well.”

Something caught Charlotte’s eye and she looked over at the security cam. “Ruby’s here.”

On screen, a curvy gal with dark hair and a penchant for leather hustled toward the cabin from the woods on the north side. Parker went to the door, Jaya following. There, Parker unbolted it and let Ruby in.

Ruby’s lips were dark red, her eyes making contact with Jaya’s before swinging back to Parker. “You’ve got company arriving any minute.”

“Company?” Jaya asked.

Ruby raised her hand and that’s when Jaya saw the compact handgun she held. “Hey, I’m Ruby. Nice to meet you.” She went back to Parker. “Six men, all with hunting rifles, coming down the road on foot.”

“Shit,” Parker swore under her breath, closing the door and throwing the deadbolt once more.

Charlotte appeared from the back. “Who the bloody hell are they?”

“Survivalists,” Parker answered. “Has to be. There are several dozen in this area from what Jon said.”

Ruby went to the window and peered out from behind the lacy curtain. “They look like they mean business. I suggest we disappear into the woods.”

“We can’t just leave,” Jaya said as Parker pushed her down the hall toward the meeting room. “Jon and the others might need us.”

Back at the table, Charlotte shut down the receiver and handed each of them an earbud and comm unit. “We’ll have to keep in touch this way.”

Parker tucked a bud into her ear. Jaya did the same.

But Parker shook her head. “We need to stay put if at all possible. Taking Jaya out of here is as risky as confronting the men outside. Ruby and I will find out what they want. Charlotte, you and Jaya be ready to run if necessary, okay?”

Charlotte grabbed Jaya’s arm and steered her toward the kitchen, where the back door was. “Roger that. Be careful.”

They heard someone pound on the front.

“Never known a situation I couldn’t talk my way out of,” Ruby said, “except for that damn terrorist Jax saved me from.”

The pounding continued. “Hey, you in there!” a man’s muffled shout reached them. “Get on out here. We want to talk to you.”

Jaya made a mental note to ask Ruby about that story someday. Surely a handful of survivalists were nothing compared to a terrorist.

Right?

As Parker and Ruby headed to the front once more, Jaya heard Parker giving Jon and the others a heads-up. “Nickleback, Coldplay, be advised, we have incoming. Six armed hostiles. Will do our best to handle them and keep you updated. Over.”

Jon’s voice came back, low and quiet so Jaya strained to hear. “Roger that. Sending help your way. Over.”

“Roger.”

Charlotte killed the lights and handed Jaya her coat. “Are you armed?” she whispered.

“Not outside of this.” Jaya held up the cross.

In her earbud, she heard Parker answer the door. “Well, hello boys. Can we help you?”

Charlotte ransacked a drawer and handed Jaya a long, wide knife. Something you might use to cut heavy slices of meat.

Okay then. Jaya tried to tuck it in a coat pocket as Parker and Ruby continued to talk to the men out front. The knife didn’t fit in any of her pockets.

Slipping the cross into her coat instead, she held the knife pointed down next to her leg.

Commotion erupted out front, men yelling, Ruby and Parker trying to yell over them. Charlotte pulled Jaya toward the back door and held a finger to her lips, listening carefully.

In the span of a heartbeat, Jaya heard a loud boom, then the sound of breaking glass. Flinching, she started to take a step back when Charlotte fell forward, doing a bellyflop on the floor and whacking her head.

“Charlotte!”

Jaya lunged for her. A shadow fell over the floor beside her. She whipped her head around and her blood went cold at the sight of a man filling the doorframe. In his hands was a bat.

The crashing glass had been from the back door’s window. Through the broken window, he’d nailed Charlotte in the back of the head.

“You must be Jaya,” he drawled as he reached through the opening and unlocked the door.

And damn it all to hell. She recognized that voice.

Shielding Charlotte as best she could, Jaya struggled to make her throat swallow the bile coming up from her tender stomach. “This wasn’t the deal,” she managed to get out.

Justin—Dalton—smiled. “The deal just changed.”

He raised the bat and swung.