Part 28 (1/2)

”Jake, you can't get away,” Zack said from beside Wyatt as he lay p.r.o.ne on the cracked, hot macadam. ”Half of all the law in Texas is looking for you. The Border Patrol have been alerted to your plans to cross into Mexico.”

”Shut up! Just shut the f.u.c.k up!” Jake raged. ”You have five seconds or Rosalita here meets her maker.”

Wyatt glanced at Zack and the deputies before voicing the order. ”Stand down.”

The deputies reluctantly obeyed the Texas Ranger, but Zack continued to aim his Glock at a man he'd once considered his best friend.

”Zack?” Wyatt spoke with determined authority. ”Don't make me regret bringing you along.”

Zack eased back and crawled behind the front fender of the Guadalupe Sheriff's department Crown Victoria with the other three men. Wyatt pulled out his iPhone and called in the situation to his boss, who would notify everyone else involved in the manhunt.

Jake stood with the frightened woman, staring out at Zack with a hatred he didn't understand.

”Johnny, his mother and his son Matt were caught trying to get over the border. They're in custody in San Antonio.” Wyatt slipped his phone back into the holder on his belt. ”The captain has a hostage negotiator and backup on their way. He wants me to find out what he wants.”

Zack slowly nodded, then called across the pavement, ”Jake, what do you want?”

”You can't give me what I want, Cartwright.”

”Try me.”

”f.u.c.k you!”

”Zack, don't agitate him,” Wyatt said. With a snort of derision, he added, ”I'm beginning to think there's something wrong with all the Blackwells. First Leon and now Jake.”

Zack didn't respond, just stood up.

”Zack, what the h.e.l.l are you doing?”

Zack ignored his friend and the cautions of the deputies as he held his hands high. ”Let the hostages go, Jake. It's not them you want to hurt. It's me. You blame me for taking away your chance at playing football. And for it you've made me pay dearly. You took away the woman I loved.”

”Yeah, I got the b.i.t.c.h away from you, but then you went off and got richer riding rodeo, then married a d.a.m.ned beauty queen. I was stuck in f.u.c.kin' Colton with nothing.”

”My life was far from glamorous. I may have married, but I never stopped loving Tracy. I spent a total of six years fighting in the war, Jake. I watched men I called friends injured and killed. I watched the man who saved my life take a bullet in the chest that should've been mine.” Zack swallowed hard. Framed within the broken window of the door, Jake still held the gun at the sobbing woman's head. ”I came home and suffered depression and watched my marriage fall apart. Then my wife died. I've suffered plenty for my part in the injury that prevented you from getting a football scholars.h.i.+p, Jake. Don't you think it's time to stop?”

”You haven't suffered anywhere near enough.” Jake spat, and his tone became high pitched and wild, proving to Zack that he was clearly unstable. ”I don't want my son anywhere near you. I'll kill him before I let you turn him against me, Cartwright. You hear me?”

Brent stood back and listened to Zack's admission and the vow made by his brother. He had to act, despite his own fear of Jake and his lack of weapon. Bobby clung to his side and turned his face into Brent's belly as he shook with the violence of his silent sobs.

He'd never been the brave sort. h.e.l.l, this whole rustling operation had scared him s.h.i.+tless from the beginning. But as he had his entire life, Brent followed Jake's orders and took his abuse.

He was done being Jake's sheep.

Brent took hold of Bobby's shoulders and held him away from his side. He tried to offer the boy a smile, but he knew it was pitiful at best. One of the customers stood beside him. It was obvious she was scared, but seemed to have it somewhat together. Dressed in jeans and a green b.u.t.ton s.h.i.+rt, she was pretty, with blond hair, big blue eyes, and a nice round a.s.s and enough t.i.ts to get lost in. Brent let himself wonder what she did for a living. She was exactly the kind of woman he'd have liked to settle down with someday. She met his regard with narrowed eyes. Of course, she was afraid of him. He was this madman's brother, after all.

Brent looked back down at his nephew, a boy he loved with a heart only an uncle could have. He forced a slippery smile again. ”Whatever happens, T-Rex, remember that I'm not like your dad.”

He pushed Bobby into the pretty blonde beside him, who reached for the boy and held him, steadying herself as she was knocked off balance. Brent immediately took off on a jog and came up behind his brother.

Jake must have heard him coming and turned, with his gun swinging around. He let go of Rosalita, and she fell to the floor with a scream when the gun went off. Brent held his breath as the bullet hit him in the chest, but he didn't stop. He hit Jake with enough momentum to knock him through the door of the restaurant.

Jake tried to shove him off. When the second gunshot sounded, Brent wasn't sure if it hit him or if the bullet aimed for Jake, but bang was the last sound he would ever hear.

Bobby clung to the woman as she held his face against her heaving chest. Too many sounds swirled around him. Gunshots. A scream, sirens, shouts of men, running feet. The woman's rapid breathing and heartbeat.

”Bobby, are you okay?”

He turned and looked into Zack's face. He crouched next to him and held out his arms. Bobby immediately fell into them and held him close as Zack wrapped him up.

”I was so afraid, Zack. Dad started talkin' crazy. He pulled the gun on Uncle Brent and made everyone stand in the corner.” He pulled away and met Zack's gaze. ”Uncle Brent, is he okay? How about Dad?”

Zack pulled him close again and said near his ear, ”I'm sorry, buddy. Brent... Brent didn't make it.”

”He's dead?” His voice cracked. He couldn't believe his next question, but he had to know for sure. ”He killed...Uncle Brent?”

Zack swallowed and nodded.

Bobby couldn't hold in the sob, then croaked, ”Dad?”

”He's being taken to the hospital.”

Another sob ripped through him. How could Dad kill his own brother? He hiccoughed. ”Diddid you...?”

Zack's voice was deep and husky at his ear. ”I had no choice, Bobby. After he shot Brent, he might've hurt someone else or you. I couldn't let that happen. You mean too much to your mommaand to me.”

Chapter 20.

Tracy ran off the porch as soon as she heard a vehicle come up the long driveway. Her family followed close behind. Dylan, Charli and Annie had landed in Dallas just that morning. When they arrived home, Tracy called them to alert them to Bobby's kidnapping and they came to Oak Springs immediately. Her parents had been called and hoped to be home that night. Logan hadn't left her alone since last night and was by her side now, with Mandy in his arms.

Thank G.o.d he was here. The phonecalls from concerned neighbors, friends, far-flung family and the mediahadn't stopped ringing since the Amber Alert had been posted.

She caught her lip between her teeth as the Tahoe came to a stop in front of the house. Her heart raced like a captured bird beating its wings against its cage. Zack had called, and she knew her baby was alright, but she had to see him. She wouldn't believe it until she held him to her.

By the time she reached the side of the SUV, Bobby scampered out with Zack and Wyatt right behind him.

”Momma!” Bobby lurched himself into her arms as she fell to her knees on the pavement.

”Oh, my baby,” Tracy sobbed and clung to him. She placed kisses all over his face, and he even kissed her back. She dried his tears with her lips.

”Momma, I was so afraid. I thought I'd never see you again.” He buried his face into the side of her neck. His body shook with the force of his sobbing relief.

Tracy looked up and met Zack's gaze. With Mandy in his arms, he smiled and kneeled beside her and Bobby. She tried to swallow past her swollen throat and whispered, ”Thank you.”

Mandy let go of her dad to hug Bobby while Zack encircled all of them within his arms and held on with a force that set the caged bird in her chest free.