No Ordinary Day by Tate, Harley (best large ereader .txt) 📕

They’re already burning gas stations and looting stores meant for those most in need. What’s it going to be like a month from now? A year from now?”

John flexed his fingers. “Worse.”

Emma threw up her hands. “Then what’s the point? We should just stay in one place and let Dane come. Let him take us all out and be done with it.”

“You can’t mean that.”

“Why not?”

John slowed the Jeep. “Because that’s not who you are.”

“How do you know?”

“You risked your entire career to tell the truth. To blow the whistle on a seed development gone horribly wrong. You wouldn’t have done that if you were weak or soft or a quitter. It takes courage to do what you did. Same as now.”

She flopped back on the seat. “I don’t feel courageous.”

John cut her a glance. “Neither do I, but I’m not giving up. You aren’t either.”

“Why do you care so much?”

The Jeep bounced over the side of the road, coasting to a stop half in the ditch. John released his seat belt. Emma’s heart thudded in her chest. He reached forward, arm grazing her bare skin. A breath caught in her throat.

He popped the glove box and fished out the handgun. “We should check it out. There might be something inside.”

She blinked in confusion, glancing up to see a tipped over tractor trailer sprawled out across the weeds. “The truck?”

John nodded. “You coming?”

What an idiot. Emma swallowed down a wave of embarrassment as she reached for the door handle. “Sure thing.”

She followed as John strode through the weeds before hoisting himself up and over the bumper of the trailer.

“See anything?” Emma squinted as he blended into the dark interior.

“A fair number of boxes. We’ll have to cut into them to see what they are.”

Emma glanced behind her. “Are you sure we have time for that?”

“Any better ideas?”

Emma shook her head.

“Then get up here and help me.”

She hauled herself into the trailer and together they dragged boxes toward the open doors and the light. John pulled a knife out of his pocket and flicked it open. He cut the first box and pulled the cardboard flaps wide.

Emma dug through the Styrofoam and plastic, revealing a bright pink ceramic pot. She pulled it out and held it up to John. “Looks like a pallet full of garden planters.”

He cursed. “There’s got to be something else in here.”

He stomped back to the other boxes, cutting them open and rifling through the contents. Each subsequent box received rougher treatment than the last, until John kicked one clear across the trailer in frustration.

“This is a waste of time, come on.” He strode across the metal truck bed, irritation bunching the muscles in his back. “Let’s get back and break the news.”

“Vince will understand.” Emma waited as John hopped down to the ground. As she reached out to take his hands for balance, John grabbed her wrist. He tugged her hard and she fell out of the truck, crashing into him and knocking them both to the ground.

Anger rose hot and fast as she pawed his chest to get away.

He put a finger to his lips. “Quiet. Someone else is here.”

Chapter Nineteen

John

John held his hand to his lips until Emma slackened in his grip. “You stay here. I’ll check it out.” He eased her to the ground as pain radiated from his wounded torso. He pulled the handgun from his waistband, wishing he’d brought the rifle instead. At least he had a weapon for a change.

The edge of the trailer loomed ahead as John rose into a crouch.

A familiar voice carried through the metal. “I have to say, when I heard you’d gone rogue, I didn’t believe it. John, fail a mission? No way.” Willy rounded the front of the trailer, rifle in his grip. “You’re, what, thirty for thirty confirmed kills? Best guy on the team?”

“Something like that.” John stood to his full height, ignoring the discomfort of the days-old bullet wound. He aimed the handgun at the ground, visible but nonthreatening.

Willy looked the same as ever. Head-to-toe tactical gear, sunglasses, blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. Poster boy for some B-rated, last-action-hero flick. He smirked like he owned the road. “So, is it true? You’ve gone soft? Fallen for some research chick with mush for brains?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” John stepped away from the trailer, padding the distance between himself and Emma. If Willy didn’t know she was there, maybe escape was a possibility. “I’m still on mission.”

Willy tipped his head until his right eye peeked out above his sunglasses. “That’s not what I’ve heard.”

“Then you heard wrong. My targets are accounted for. Everything is under control.”

“But they aren’t dead.”

“You know that, or you wouldn’t be here.” John took another step. He had no idea how Willy found them. He’d smashed the sat phone and the tracking device as soon as Raymond agreed to let him stay at the cabin. He’d swept the Jeep for bugs. He needed information. “I have my reasons.”

Willy’s smirk widened into a grin. “Don’t tell me they’re both into hitmen. A little redhead and a sexy Latina. Mmm-mmm. I can see it now. Just like Lawrence in Office Space.” He made a lewd gesture and John shrugged as if it were true.

“Like I said, I have my reasons. I figure with everything going to shit, I should get a reward. Don’t you?”

“I knew it!” Willy laughed. “When Uncle Dane told me you went soft, I said no way. There’s got to be an angle. I can’t wait to tell him I was right.”

John ran his tongue across his lip. “I bet they’d be into you, too, if you’re interested.”

“Damn straight I am.” He strode toward John. “You take me to them, we’ll get our rocks off, and then we can kill them together.”

John winked like it was all part of the plan, counting down in his head as Willy neared striking distance. He held out his hand for a shake. “You’ve got yourself