by Becca Van
Niki gazed up at him over her shoulder. The smile she gave him was full of love, happiness, and the future.
He couldn’t wait to build a solid, happy life with the woman of his dreams.
After Vinnie and Thad had eaten the dinner they’d ordered from room service, they’d talked and planned while drinking a few beers. Thad had retired to his room an hour ago, and while Vinnie was tired, he was also wired and knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
He’d told Thad he thought it best if his 2IC went out and scouted the town while he kept a low profile. He’d been pacing back and forth for the last half an hour but still hadn’t come up with a feasible plan.
With a sigh of frustration, he sat at the small table and started going through the tourist pamphlets. He was about to throw the leaflet about the library on the floor but turned to glance at the back page. When he saw a familiar face behind the woman smiling in front of her, he started laughing.
His life had just got a whole lot easier. Now that he knew where one of the bitches worked, it would be easier to get his hands on her. When he had Katerina in his clutches, he’d be able to draw Nikita out of hiding.
He was hoping to have Russo’s daughters back under his control by tomorrow night, but if not, he’d stay in this Podunk town until he did.
Vinnie didn’t care who he hurt or killed as long as he got what he wanted.
Nikita Russo at his feet and in his bed.
Niki followed Hes out the door and to the barn. She was going out with him to ride the southwest border of the ranch. Even though she didn’t like it much, she’d also remembered to bring the Glock with her. Brent had found a thigh holster for her to carry it in, and since she was still a novice rider, she was thankful she would be able to use both her hands.
She breathed in the clean, fresh air and tacked Rusty. Hes checked the girth and bridle to make sure she’d done it right and winked at her. “Good job, honey.”
“Thanks.”
Hes led his mount from the barn, and she followed leading Rusty.
“Do you need help mounting, Niki?” Hes asked.
“Yes, please.”
Hes bent over and cupped his hands together. She put her foot in his hands and as he gave her a boost, she swung her leg over the mare’s back. “How am I supposed to get up here if none of you are around?”
“You’re not to ride alone, honey. You’re still learning and if Rusty got spooked, she could throw you.”
“Brent said Rusty didn’t get frightened very easily.”
“That doesn’t mean she won’t get scared. If she saw or scented a snake, she’d buck and run.” He gripped her thigh. “Promise me you won’t ever ride by yourself.”
“I promise, unless there’s an emergency.”
Hes sighed and nodded. “Fair enough, but if something happens and we aren’t here, you’re to call us on your cell or the radio. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Hes caressed her thigh, moved to his own horse, and mounted. Niki shivered with lust. He and his brothers were so damn sexy and manly, but when she saw them on their horses, she couldn’t keep her eyes off them.
“Tell me if you start getting sore, Niki. I don’t want you riding until you can barely walk.” Hes nudged his horse and she copied him.
She gazed about as they rode, taking in the cypress and pine trees in the distance and watching the antics of a couple of calves. Her heart melted when she saw a calf nursing from its mother’s teat, and she couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to have a baby of her own.
A deep-seated yearning seared into her heart and soul, and though she tried to ignore it and dislodge it, the craving wouldn’t budge.
Niki wanted to have a baby. Someone she could nurture and love unconditionally and have that love returned by.
She tried to convince herself that it was way too soon for such thoughts, but it didn’t work.
Even though her men loved her and she loved them, they were still getting to know each other, and she wanted more time to be with them before bringing another person into the world.
Thankfully, her common sense had the craving of her ticking biological clock easing.
Chapter Eighteen
Vinnie was so eager to get the ball rolling he couldn’t sit still. He’d been waiting for hours for Thad to return to the motel with good news. He paced from his bed to the window and back again, stopping occasionally to peer out the window in search of his right-hand man. He had no idea if the cops had a photo of him, but it wouldn’t surprise him if they did. That was the reason he was wary about showing his face around town. Thad walked along the main street to the diner this morning to get them coffee and breakfast and came back looking concerned. When Vinnie had asked him what the problem was, Thad told him that the growing town had deputies galore. He’d said he’d seen at least four sheriff cars and when Thad realized he was being watched, the back of his neck had prickled.
Vinnie didn’t think small-town hick sheriffs and deputies were going to be a problem, but he also wasn’t about to draw attention to himself. So, he’d stayed put.
His stomach grumbled since he hadn’t had any lunch, but he wasn’t about to order room service because he didn’t want any of the motel staff seeing his face. Last night when they’d ordered dinner, Vinnie had had the meals sent to Thad’s room.
He was antsy and felt as if the walls were closing in on him, but he wasn’t about to go outside. There were security cameras on strategic places on the building, but he hadn’t been too concerned about them last night since it had been dark and he’d been wearing his hat and sunglasses. Plus, he’d kept his head lowered to make it hard, if not impossible, to catch his face on camera. Thad had never had a run-in with the law, either, so he didn’t think there was anything to worry over.
Vinnie was too impatient to wait any longer and wanted to find out what was going on, so he picked up his cell phone from the small table. Just as he swiped his finger over the screen, it rang.
“Talk,” Vinnie ordered.
“Katerina is working at the library, but I don’t think I’ll be able to get to her. There are too many people around.”
“You can’t think of something that would cause a distraction?” Vinnie asked.
“I’ve thought of a few, but it’ll be pure luck for me to snatch her without getting caught.”
“What are your plans?” Vinnie asked.
“I thought about starting a fire, which would set off the fire alarm and the sprinkler system. There’s an evacuation plan on the wall behind the serving counter and the designated meeting area, which is out the front. There are several exits—the front, the back where the loading dock is located, and a side door near the restrooms. I could lose her in the confusion and panic.”
“Is there any other way?” Vinnie asked.
“Other than having a bomb go off, no.”
“You know, that just might work.” Vinnie rubbed his chin as his mind spun.
“What?” Thad asked.
“A bomb.”
Thad sucked in a breath. “I don’t want to kill her, boss.”
“You don’t have to,” Vinnie said. “It doesn’t have to be a big explosion. Try and find out what days she works and what her hours are. I’ll look online to find out what we need to make our surprise and send it to you. Don’t buy anything here. I don’t want you to rouse suspicion. Drive to the next town over and get what we need there. When you get back, we’ll have dinner and then get to work.”
“Are you sure this will work, Vinnie?”
“As long as you’re in the library when the bomb goes off, I think we’ll both have what we want tomorrow night at the latest. As soon as the shit hits the fan, snatch her and take her out the back. Everyone will be scrambling to get out the main entrance and will hopefully be too terrified to worry about anyone but themselves.”
“Makes sense,” Thad replied. “I should be out of here in five minutes, and hopefully I’ll be back at the motel with
in an hour or two. Do you want me to pick up something to eat, or would you prefer to order room service?”
“The food here is good, but I don’t think I can wait for room service. I’m too hungry since I haven’t had lunch. Get something on your way back.”
“Sure. See ya soon.”
Vinnie disconnected the call and started searching the net. As soon as he had what he wanted, he copied the text with the list of ingredients they needed to create their bomb and sent it to Thad via email.
If everything went according to plan, he and Thad would have Katerina and Nikita right where they wanted them.
The next day…
Kat had just passed the borrowed books over to the elderly lady and watched her leave with a smile on her face. It was just before lunchtime, and there were only a few people perusing the bookshelves. She was thankful that today wasn’t as busy, and while she was relieved from the hectic pace she and the others had been dealing with, she’d rather it wasn’t as quiet as it had been. Being idle gave her too much time to think. If she’d been busier, she wouldn’t have time to ponder over the three men she was currently staying with.
Jalen, Dante, and Mica Donnybrook were so damn handsome just thinking about them got her motor revving. At first she’d had no trouble keeping up her icy demeanor, but the three Donnybrook brothers seemed to see right through her façade to her heart and soul.
She snorted. There was no way they could know that deep inside she wasn’t the brave woman she portrayed.
Was there?
She shook her head and snorted.
Kat loaded the cart with books she needed to reshelf and then walked toward the back aisle. Just as she replaced the book which had been on the top of the stack, a loud explosion rent the air.
Her ears began ringing and she coughed as smoke filled the air. She heard someone scream and was about to go and see if everyone was all right and find out what the hell was going on, but before she’d taken two steps, someone covered her mouth with their hand and wrapped an arm of steel around her waist. She yelled and struggled, but her efforts didn’t seem to register with her assailant. When he dragged her backward, she snatched a book from the trolley and started beating the arm around her waist with it. The arm was removed but before she could spin around to confront her attacker, something slammed into the side of her jaw.
Pain pierced her face and head and she saw stars. She gasped, trying to keep herself conscious, but it was a hopeless endeavor when she was hit again. Kat succumbed to the beckoning darkness.
Niki spent the next morning on another riding lesson. Thankfully, there were plenty of leftovers and desserts from yesterday, so she wouldn’t have to worry about what to cook for lunch. Dinner was already planned out in her mind, and she had the steaks defrosting in the refrigerator. All she’d need to do was cook some potatoes in their jackets and load them with bacon, cheese, and sour cream and add a salad.
Hes had been so patient with her, explaining what she was doing wrong and showing her what to do if she didn’t understand. She and Hes had just come inside to wash up and set the table. Everything was ready to go, and the other men should be heading inside within minutes.
“I just need to make a quick bathroom pitstop,” she told Hes before hurrying toward the bathroom.
Just as she entered the bedroom, her cell, which she’d accidentally left on the dresser, started chiming. She knew by the ringtone it was Kat calling her. Niki wondered if her sister was on her lunch break. She swiped her finger over the screen and answered, “Hey, Kat, what’s up?”
“If you ever want to see your sister alive again, do exactly as I say.”
Fear skated up Niki’s back, and her blood turned to ice. Perspiration sheened her skin and trickled down between her breasts. Her heart pounded so hard it hurt, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She’d know that voice anywhere since the bastard had been taunting her for months and living in the same house she and her sister had.
“Get to the motel on the east end of town. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going or let anyone see you leave. If you aren’t here within half an hour, your sister will start losing body parts. Take back roads into town, and there’s a narrow pathway off the side street that leads to the rear of the motel and the far end of the parking lot. Don’t let anyone see you, or Katerina will suffer. Knock on the door of the last motel room.” Vinnie hung up.
Niki didn’t even notice she was shaking until she removed the phone from her ear. She rushed to the bathroom, used the facilities, and tried to think of how to leave without Hes being aware.
She raced back toward the kitchen but paused when she was level with the study. After rummaging around in the desk drawer and finding the keys to the gun safe, she unlocked it and grabbed her Glock and then making sure the cartridge was full, shoved it into the back of her jeans’ waistband. Since she didn’t want Hes to know that something was wrong, she tried to act normal when she got back to the kitchen. She asked him to help her put the food on the table, and as he carried a heavy tray over to the dining room table, she pocketed the keys to his truck.
“Are you okay, honey?” Hes frowned when he met her gaze.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said. “I’m just a bit tired after all that riding this morning.”
“Maybe you should take a nap after lunch.” Hes smiled and winked at her. She smiled back but wasn’t sure her effort was good enough. Thankfully, he turned from her. When she saw Brent, Rig, and the others ride into the yard, she knew her time was running out.
“Do you mind taking the rest of the food over?” Niki asked. “I just remembered that I didn’t put the washing machine on after I loaded it earlier.”
“Sure, honey.” Hes kissed her softly on the lips, and Niki had to battle to keep her tears at bay. When he stepped away from her, she walked toward the utility room. There was a door leading outside and she’d be able to make her way toward the carport where Hes had parked his truck while remaining out of sight. She just hoped that one of her men didn’t come looking for her before she managed to leave.
Niki hardly dared to breathe as she opened the back door and slipped out. She hadn’t lied to Hes—she had forgotten to start the washer after filling it with clothes and soap powder because he’d distracted her with something. As she’d walked through the narrow room, she’d turned the washing machine on. Now she was hurrying along the side of the house. She pushed the fob button to unlock Hes’s truck and didn’t bother putting her seat belt on. She was in too much of a hurry.
She started the truck, backed out of the carport, and drove toward the road as fast as she could. When she was out on the road, she pulled her seat belt over her shoulder and clipped the buckle into the slot.
Niki hoped none of the men had heard the truck start or seen her driving down the driveway.
Even if they had, she wasn’t stopping. Her sister had been kidnapped, and Niki was going to do everything she could to save her. It didn’t matter that she was scared shitless or that she could end up getting hurt. She’d survived countless beatings and she would survive many more.
She wasn’t so sure she’d survive Vinnie touching and raping her, and she had a feeling that was what he wanted. He’d been lusting after her for months, and she’d gotten away from him.
But none of that mattered right now. Kat had stepped in time and again when their father had raised his fist toward Niki. Her sister had taken punishments for imagined errors from their father so many times she’d lost count.
Niki owed Kat her life, and she was going to repay her older sister for all the love and care she’d given her over the years. Even if it meant giving up her own life.
“Where’s Niki?” Brent asked as he entered the house. He glanced at the set, food-laden table and then met Hes’s gaze.
“In the laundry. She said she forgot to put the wash on.” Hes frowned when he realized she’d been gone for more than five minutes. It didn’t take that long to put a load of laundry on, did it?
The hair on the back of Hes’s neck stood on end. Without saying a word to the others, he hurried out after his woman.
The laundry door was closed, but he could hear the washing machine working. He shoved the door open, and his gut knotted up when he saw the room was empty. He backed out of the laundry and raced toward the bedrooms, then peered into each room and bathroom, but he didn’t spot her. Hes wondered if she’d gone outside to the clothesline, so back to the laundry he went and out the side door.
There were clothes on the line flapping in the breeze, but of Niki there was no sight. Figuring they’d passed each other without meeting, he headed back to the kitchen. Still no Niki.
Hes gazed around frantically, trying to keep his growing panic from taking hold. His gaze snagged on one of the empty hooks they kept the vehicle keys on. The keys to his truck were missing.
“She’s fucking gone,” Hes yelled. Chairs scraped as he turned to face his brothers.
“What the fuck do you mean she’s gone?” Rig shouted.
“How long since you’ve seen her?” Brent asked through clenched teeth.
“Five, six minutes tops.” Hes rubbed the back of his neck. “My truck keys are missing.”
“Let’s go,” Brent commanded in a hard voice.
Hes grabbed Brent’s truck keys and tossed them to him. Jay snatched his keys from the hook, and all of them raced out to the carport and garage.
“Where the fuck could she be?” Hes voiced his thoughts.
“Did something happen?” Brent asked as he sped down the gravel drive.
Rig was already on his phone to the sheriff’s department.
“If there’s something wrong, she didn’t fucking tell me,” Hes said in growly voice. “She was fine until she went to the bathroom. When she came back, she was pale as a fucking ghost and trembling, which she tried to hide from me. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me that she was tired after her horse-riding lesson.”
