Jack looked at Shane and rolled his eyes.
“What’s my name got to do with it?”
Maxine looked over her shoulder at the men and smiled. “Jack and Jenn. Max and Mia. Now Shane and Sage,” she pointed out. “And the best part is, you don’t have to change your initials when you get married.”
“Christ, she’s planning weddings now,” Shane muttered.
“Better tell Chester to steer clear of women named Christina,” Jack advised.
A buzzer rang out and the conveyor began to turn, indicating the luggage was on its way out. Shane turned and stepped forward along with Max and Jack to wait.
“My buddy in the FBI will be here in the morning,” Jack said. “Got a call from Chester while you were in flight. National Guard is on its way to help search. They’re putting up roadblocks between Trails End and Fairbanks. If he heads that way, they’ll detain him.”
“What about Sage’s mother?”
“Anchorage PD has been alerted. Mrs. Sloan was interrogated and shocked to find out she’s still married. Seems she’s been in a relationship for the past six months and they were discussing marriage. The boyfriend made her pack a bag and move in with him.”
“That’ll help Sage relax,” Shane answered.
“You got someone you can trust runnin’ the company?” Jack asked Max.
“Buddy’s handlin’ it until we can return. We need to find this bastard quickly, though, Jack. I’m not goin’ through what we did before. If he comes near Mia or Mom, I’ll kill him the same as I did Stetson.”
“You’ll have to get in line,” Shane rumbled.
Jack raised his hand and silenced both men. This was why he’d suggested they lay low in Gunnison. He knew Heller was a dead man if he got near Mia or Maxine. Killing one man in self-defense was one thing, twice would raise eyebrows. He didn’t want his cousin in prison for protecting his family.
“There’ll be no killing in my jurisdiction,” Jack ordered, pinning each man with hard eyes . . . “Unless it’s me who’s doing the killing,” he added.
“He’s taken a shot at Sage twice in the past twenty-four hours,” Shane bit out, his voice ice cold. “We nearly drowned because of this guy and I’ve got a hole in my shoulder. If you want me to restrain from killing Heller if he shows his face, then you better lock me up.”
Max crossed his arms and raised a brow at his cousin. It was clear he held the same sentiment as Shane. Lock him up or he’d kill Heller the minute he saw the white of his eyes. Looking back and forth between both men, Jack sighed, raising a hand to his neck to rub the tension of the past twenty-four hours free. Max was as much a stubborn Gunnison as Jack. He should have remembered that.
Their luggage tumbled onto the conveyor and Max pointed, moving toward it. When Shane moved to retrieve his own bags, Jack stayed him with a hand on his chest.
“I understand how you feel, Shane, but I’m tryin’ to protect you and Max from prosecution. Especially Max. He’s already killed one man, and as you well know, that chips away at your soul, justified or not.”
“I already have one black mark on my soul, one more won’t matter. If Heller shows, I’ll be the one doin’ the killin’. Plain and simple.”
“You do know you just confessed to an officer of the law you’re ready to commit murder.”
“No,” Shane answered, shaking his head. “I’m tellin’ Max’s family I’ll protect what’s mine and his if need be. I’m a soldier. I’m better trained to handle Heller than you. I read his file. He was Army before he became a cop. I know how he thinks; I know how he was trained. I’ll be able to anticipate his next move better than anyone if he finds us.”
Jack noted the hate burning in Shane’s expression, his stubborn chin, and knew he wouldn’t be swayed to leave it to him. Jerking his head in acknowledgment, he slapped Shane on the left shoulder, mumbling, “Let’s get you to Gunnison.”
“Jack,” Shane said between gritted teeth.
Looking back at Shane, he answered, “Yeah?”
“Bullet hole in my left shoulder.”
Jack looked down where he held his arm stiffly and grimaced.
“What’s takin’ so long?” Maxine shouted, causing all three men to turn and look. “We aren’t in Trails End where the sun stays out all day and night. I want to see my town before the sun sets, then hit Tully’s for a drink.”
Jack grimaced again.
“I hope they catch this fuckin’ guy soon,” he mumbled low. “I’m not sure Gunnison can handle Maxine for long.”