Page 83 of Under Fire in Big Sky

Rounding the corner, they saw the ornate double doors. Although there were no guards posted outside, whoever was inside the library must have heard the gunshots and were now on high alert.

Agent Lenek went to one side of the doorframe. Eli took the other with Olivia behind him. The two men communicated silently with hand gestures.

The agent counted down with his fingers. On one, Eli kicked in the door.

Finch swept inside the library, stepping to the left. “FBI!”

Eli went in next, going right. Taking a deep breath, Olivia brought up the rear, clutching her weapon at the ready.

Inside the library, Sean stood with his back to the right corner of the room, holding the governor in front of him, with a gun to the back of Forrester’s head. A sound suppressor was attached to the muzzle. In the other corner, behind a leather chair, was Brandon, disguised as a law enforcement officer, the barrel of his gun, silencer attached, positioned on top of the backrest.

Finch had taken cover behind a sofa, and Eli had done the same, using the couch on the other side of the room.

“Hold!” Sean said.

Keeping his finger on the trigger, Brandon did as Sean instructed, not firing.

But the sound of gunfire came from below.

“Olivia, you disappoint me.” Sean stared at her, his eyes full of menace. “All you had to do was stay away. The governor was almost finished confessing to his crimes on video. Then I was going to quietly put a bullet in his head and leave. Now, how many others are going to die today because of your relentless interference with Lover Boy?”

“Get down,” Eli said to her.

She wasn’t entirely sure whether Sean would shoot her, but she doubted it. He could’ve let her die in the barn fire, shackled to the horse stall, if he wanted her dead.

Then again, that was before she’d brought the FBI into this. She had no idea how he’d respond.

“What happened to the state troopers who were supposed to be protecting the governor?” She slowly eased closer toward Sean. “Did you kill them and take their uniforms?”

“Come now, Dove. I don’t take innocent lives. Only those who deserve it. I’m the good guy, remember. Paige drugged them. They’re sleeping like babies, but they’ll wake with a doozy of a headache.”

“Please,” the governor said, hands raised, terror etched across his tanned face. A fit-looking man for sixty-eight, salt-and-pepper hair and sharp features, decked out in his golf apparel. “Don’t let him shoot me.”

“You already had your chance to speak, Arlo.” Sean’s voice was calm and steely. “Now shut up.”

Olivia crept forward, one small step at a time. “How do you see this playing out?”

“With you putting your weapons down, turning away while I finish my objective, and letting me walk out of here,” Sean said.

“That’s never going to happen. You’re outnumbered and outgunned.” Eli had his weapon aimed at Sean while Lenek stayed focused on Brandon.

No one could take a shot at Sean until he redirected his gun away from the governor’s head.

“You’re a sick, twisted man,” Eli said, “if you think you’re the good guy.”

Brandon’s eyes shifted around the room, bouncing between Lenek, Eli, and her. His knuckles wrapped around the handle of the gun were white, but his grip was rock steady.

“Shepherd,” Agent Lenek said, a tremor running through his hand, “we’ve engaged with your men and already took down two. The rest will follow shortly. We’ve got backup from the sheriff’s department inbound. This is going to end. Soon.”

“Yes, it is.” Sean pressed the muzzle against the governor’s skull and looked at Olivia. “I guess you didn’t betray me completely.”

She assumed he was talking about not revealing his real name. “I never wanted to at all, but you left me no choice.”

“There’s always another option,” Sean said, laser-focused on her. “Choose the one where you don’t lose your heart’s desire and drop your weapon.” A cold smile played on his lips, and her chest tightened with an icy fear that froze her lungs. “You, too, Lover Boy. You’ve got three seconds to decide.”

Agent Finch and Chance charged into the room.

“Drop your weapons!” Finch said, aiming at Sean, but there still wasn’t a clear shot. “Release the governor, Shepherd! Hands on your head.”