He walked for about an hour, his boots and lower legs soon coated with mud. The smell of smoke on the breeze caught his attention, and he lifted his head. Maybe somebody had a fire going. But the smell was different. Like an outdoor campfire instead of an indoor fireplace.

His instincts humming, his face aching, he increased his pace.

The dirt road forked in three directions, and he paused, looking toward the horizon. A faint glow showed from what he guessed was north. What the hell was that? Was something on fire?

He pivoted and launched into a jog, running full out after about a mile as the glow turned the clouds a tumultuous orange. Was that the house? It couldn’t be.

His heart rate accelerated and he ran faster, soon seeing fire extending toward the sky. It was the barn. He ducked his head and ran faster. Was Brigid in danger? Trying to put out the fire? He turned and ran through a row of tall alfalfa, taking a shortcut and forgetting the road. Stalks whipped at his cheeks and arms, but he ran faster, bursting out of the crop behind a black SUV.

A man with a gun in hand partially turned, and Raider reacted on instinct.

He dodged to the side, ducked his head, and charged, hitting the guy square in the chest before he could get off a shot. They landed on burning wood and rolled toward the creek, both already punching and trying for leverage. Raider knocked the gun out of the guy’s hand, charged up, and landed on the gunman’s chest. It took him a second to recognize Jonny P. What the hell was the mobster doing there?

Jonny punched beneath Raider’s chin, and Raider’s head snapped back, more pain exploding in his already damaged temple. He swayed, and Jonny shoved him off, trying to stand.

Raider fell to his side and kicked out, knocking Jonny back down. He scrambled for purchase, punching the mobster in the side before Jonny turned and manacled him, rolling them both into the damn water.

“Stop or I’ll shoot her,” a male voice called out, the tone low and calm.

Raider blinked water from his eyes and shoved himself away from Jonny to stand. Then the world narrowed in sound and focus. Josh the Bear held Brigid in front of him with a Glock pressed against her temple. Rain had soaked the pink shirt and yoga pants she’d worn to bed, and her dark red hair curled wildly around her face. Her eyes were a wide and shocked green.

Raider slipped over wet rocks to reach the grass. “Put the gun down.”

“No.” Josh kept his grip firm as the fire raged through the destroyed barn behind him.

Jonny sloshed out of the creek and shook off water. He ducked to grab his gun and stomped toward the SUV. “Let’s get out of here.”