Cut and Run 5 - Armed and Dangerous

didn’t respond, he merely looked at Julian, his eyes glazing over. The door popped open at Julian’s elbow, and Ty reached in to unlock his handcuffs. Ty pulled him out of the car, and the blast of cold was enough to make Julian gasp.
    “Cold, isn’t it?” Ty asked through gritted teeth as he pushed Julian chest-first against the sedan.
    Julian waited until Zane had freed Cameron. Then he rammed his elbow into Ty, catching him on the chin. Ty stumbled back and Julian turned, finally having gotten the drop on the man. He swung at him and Ty leaned away from his fist, dodging the blow. Instead of squaring against him to prepare for the brawl, Ty lunged at him. He jumped, turning sideways in the air, kicking out at Julian. He wrapped his arm around Julian’s neck. One foot went between Julian’s legs, the other on the outside of his knee. Then he wrenched his body sideways as he fell, wrapping Julian up and taking him to the ground.
    By the time they hit the snow, Julian was completely immobilized, his legs tangled in Ty’s, in a headlock as he struggled to free himself.
    “Ty!”
    “We’re okay,” Ty called back, his voice freakishly calm as Julian tried to find a pressure point or something to fight back with. “Get the kid in the car. I need your help.”
    Julian gritted his teeth. “Why is an ex-Recon Marine trained in Russian Sambo?”
    Ty didn’t answer, merely tightened his hold on Julian so he couldn’t speak as they both shivered with the cold seeping into them.

    Z ANE hastily secured Cameron in the sedan before rushing over to the other side of the car, his gun drawn.
    Both men were on the ground, Ty wrapped around Julian and restraining him with his body. It looked a little too much like they were spooning.
    Zane grumbled under his breath and bent over them. “Quit messing around. I’m freezing,” he told them, and then he put the muzzle of his gun to Julian’s forehead and grabbed him by his collar.
    They stood him up, Zane keeping his gun on him as Ty bullied him over to the other vehicle.
    Zane didn’t know where Ty had found the old Bronco II, but Zane was glad he had. Ty used every bit of bungee cord, rope, and handcuffs they had to strap Julian down in the back of the Bronco. Then they moved Cameron over and tied him down too.
    When they were finally all in the car, the heat chugging, Zane felt like he could breathe easily again. He glanced at Ty.
    “Where did you find this thing?” he asked, unable to keep from being amused.
    “Old barn near that water tower we passed. It had a cracked cylinder head. I found one to replace it in a Ranger nearby and hotwired it. It won’t go far, but it’ll get us to a hotel.”
    Zane stared at him for a second before glancing behind them. Both of their prisoners were tied down, blocked by the rear seat. Zane reached out and set his hand on Ty’s thigh, squeezing. “Nicely done,” he whispered.
    Ty set his hand on Zane’s, letting their fingers lace together. He looked at Zane and gave him a tense smile. Zane didn’t move his hand as they drove on into the night.

    “W E FOUND the car, sir,” Agent X told his boss as he stood on the side of the road in the freezing cold.
    “They dumped it?”
    “No, sir. It appears it broke down. I suspect the gas tank is the culprit.”
    “Why?”
    “The engine is fine. The car won’t start. I believe Cross sabotaged it. They left the keys in it, and there are signs of a struggle on the side of the road. Another car was here, possibly a truck or SUV. I believe they stole the car and switched over.”
    “Do you have a plan?”
    “Yes, sir. They took their toll ticket. They have to have it to get off the highway. As soon as it comes up, we’ll know what exit they’ve taken and we’ll go from there.”
    “Very good. Keep me apprised. We have to get Cross before they deliver him.”
    “Yes, sir.”

Chapter 10

    T WENTY minutes after Ty had dropped them off and told them he was going to stash the stolen car, Ty still wasn’t back. How long did it take to dump a broken-down Bronco in rural Macedonia, Ohio? Zane sighed and looked at Cameron, who was sitting uneasily on the other bed, looking toward the bathroom where Ty had left Julian cuffed to the plumbing again.
    “Go on,” Zane said gruffly, waving a hand toward the bathroom.
    Cameron blinked at him and then smiled gratefully. “Thanks,” he said, and he hurried to join Julian.
    “Leave the door open,” Zane said as Cameron