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flashing through his mind.
    When one of the men on the floor stirred, Jack kicked him in the head, and he went still again. He would have liked to shoot these two bastards so they couldn’t give Trainer any information, but he wasn’t going to make Morgan accessory to what the legal system would consider murder. Never mind that the two men on the floor burst in with murderous intent.
    Morgan came back with cord.
    â€œKeep them covered.”
    While she held the gun on them, he worked quickly and efficiently, tying the hands and feet of both men, then testing the bonds. By the time he finished making sure they weren’t going to cause any more problems, Ryder and Danforth were both stirring.
    â€œTime to wake up.” When he gave Ryder a light kick in the ribs, Morgan winced.
    The man’s eyes snapped open and focused on Jack, his expression turning malevolent as he realized the tables were turned. Yet his words were defiant. “You’re dead meat.”
    â€œOh yeah? You’re in kind of an inconvenient position to make that statement,” Jack countered.
    â€œWe’re not the only guys beating the bushes for you. When we don’t come back, Trainer will be all over it.”
    â€œThanks for the heads-up.” He swung toward Morgan, who was staring at him as though she couldn’t quite believe what was happening.
    â€œWe’d better take his advice and get out of here,” he said.
    â€œI wouldn’t count on it.” Ryder gave him a satisfied smirk, and Jack felt his stomach knot. Turning to the window, he looked outside. There was only one car in sight.
    â€œYou drive a Prius?” he asked Morgan.
    â€œYes.”
    Which meant Trainer’s men had come on foot, or parked their vehicle down the lane, out of sight. He searched through both men’s pockets and found no keys. No cell phones. They had nothing with them except the two handguns they’d brought. And two extra clips. As per Trainer’s rules, they’d carried off the operation with nothing that could identify them if they ended up dead or in police custody. Of course, if the militia leader thought they were going to keep their traps shut, he was being highly optimistic. These guys would crack like rotten eggs if they thought it would save their own miserable hides.
    â€œYou keep them covered,” Jack said. “Where are your car keys?”
    â€œIn my purse. In the pantry.”
    He hurried to the kitchen, retrieved the purse, and fished inside for the keys. When he returned, he took Ryder’s gun. Pushing the damaged door open, he waited for signs of activity outside. When there was none, he stepped onto the porch and looked around. The ground was strewn with leaves and small branches from last night’s storm. The place was a mess, but as far as he could see, there were no other men lurking in the woods. Not yet.
    He crossed to the car, unlocked the door, and slid into the driver’s seat, but when he tried to start the vehicle, he didn’t even get a cough from the engine. Remembering Ryder’s smirk, he was pretty sure the man had disabled the vehicle before ever knocking on the door.
    Shit!
    When he returned to the house, Morgan took in his worried expression.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLooks like we’re not taking your car.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œThey put it out of commission.”
    â€œWhat are we going to do?”
    He glanced at Ryder, who was listening avidly. “Tell you later,” he said as his mind worked on a plan.
    They couldn’t risk looking for the militiamen’s car down the road. They’d have to go through the woods and take the long way around, because the road would probably be too dangerous, but he wasn’t going to say that in front of the enemy.
    As he sensed the problem, Ryder grinned at him.
    Repressing the urge to kick the man in the face, Jack crossed to the kitchen, grabbed two dish towels, and used them