Lang, Chloe - Wilde Love [The Brothers of Wilde, Nevada 6] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Chloe Lang

  “Shut up, please.”

  There’d been so many close calls on her life since coming to Wilde, she should’ve been used to it by now. She wasn’t. Jessie didn’t doubt that Rich was driving her to her death. An idea formed with a sharp clarity. If successful, she would be free of Rich and find out if Austin was alive. If a failure, she would die, but by God, it would be under her terms and not Rich’s.

  She uncrossed her legs. Rich didn’t seem concerned. She looked ahead through the windshield. The road twisted and curved. She waited for the perfect sharp turn ahead. Wait for it…

  Jessie swung her leg over the top of Rich’s and jammed her foot on the brake pedal. She grabbed the steering wheel and pulled it to turn the car right.

  “Fucking bi—”

  The car didn’t just turn but flipped over on the highway. Her body spun inside the car like clothes in a dryer. Even though she expected to die, Jessie felt proud that she’d actually made the attempt to escape the young killer. Before meeting the five men she loved with all her heart, she would’ve never even tried such a thing. They’d changed her life, even if it was about to end.

  * * * *

  Denver turned left onto one of the county’s less traveled roads. As the seconds continued to tick away with no sign of Jessie or the bastard who had taken her, Denver’s dread grew.

  After he and his two youngest brothers had found the car tracks near the ancient oak tree, they’d followed them to the highway next to their eldest brother’s place. Of course, there were no tracks on the pavement.

  Denver, Jackson, and Phoenix had made the decision to split up in order to cover more ground. They’d sped back to his place to get their trucks. Without hesitation, they’d headed off in three different directions to search for Jessie.

  Another text popped in from Jackson. “Still no sign of her.” Phoenix had called moments ago with the same news.

  His cell rang. He looked at the screen and saw it was Dallas. “Yes?”

  “Mom and dads are here at the hospital now. I’m heading out to look.”

  “How’s Austin?”

  “Doctor says he’ll be okay but isn’t sure how he survived such a massive dose.”

  Denver let out a big sigh. “Because he’s too mean to die, thank God. I’m up north on 226. Jackson’s working the east part of the county, and Phoenix is going south toward Elko.”

  “Okay. I’ll head west. If I find the motherfucker who took her, I’ll kill him.”

  Denver wanted to tell his brother that everything was going to be okay, but he couldn’t. He didn’t know that, and Dallas hated lies. “We’re checking in every ten minutes.”

  “Got it.”

  The call ended, and Denver slowed his truck, scanning in every direction. When his headlights illuminated an overturned car ahead, he came to a stop.

  Fuck! I don’t have time for this.

  About three or four times a year, outsiders would get lost in the back roads of the county. Most would show up at someone’s hunting cabin or ranch house, begging for directions. A few would make it to Wilde. Fewer still would take one of the hairpin turns and either flip their car on the road or end up down the mountain.

  Denver grabbed Smoke Pole and opened his car door. As he got closer, he saw a woman giving CPR to a man on the ground. The woman was naked, and he immediately recognized—

  “Jessie!”

  “Denver?” She finished breathing into the guy then started pushing down on the center of his chest. “One. Two. Three.”

  “It’s me, sweetheart.” He crouched next to her, listening to her count the chest compressions.

  She turned and smiled weakly at him, continuing her whispered count.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Ten. Eleven. Bruised, but I’m fine.”

  Rage rolled through him when he looked down at the bastard she was trying to save—Rich. “You’ve done enough for this creep.”

  “Twenty. Twenty-one. Do. You. Know. C. P. R? Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty.” She tilted the teenager’s head back and lifted his chin. Then she pinched his nose and covered his mouth with hers, delivering the first of two breaths.

  “Yes. I do.” Denver took over the chest compressions, counting silently.

  “Where’s your phone?” she asked.

  “In my pocket. Six. Seven. Eight.”

  He felt her fish out the phone.

  She asked, “What road is this?”

  “County Road M, right off of Highway 226.”

  She dialed 9-1-1. “Yes. There’s been an accident.” She repeated the location to the operator. “Thank you.”

  “Twenty-eight. Twenty-nine. Thirty.”

  Once again, Jessie sent two one-second breaths into the unconscious asshole. Before Denver could start another round of chest compressions, the kid coughed, moved slightly, and began breathing shakily.

  “Thank God,” Jessie cried.

  Denver felt acid hit his tongue from the back of his throat. “He should be dead for what he’s done.”

  * * * *

  Jessie grabbed Denver’s arm. “He’s just a kid.”

  “Who tried to kill you more than once.” The angry cowboy stood up and looked at the rifle he’d placed on the ground.

  “I know he did, but please, don’t think about killing him.” She couldn’t imagine he would actually send a bullet into the injured teenager, but she wasn’t going to stay silent and risk it. “I don’t know the whole story, but I think Paul might’ve put him up to it.”

  “Paul King is dead.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Murdered, likely by this fucker.”

  Her whole body began to shake, and the shock of what she’d just been through filled her.

  Denver quickly stripped off his shirt and wrapped her in it. He pulled her in tight and squeezed. He kissed her cheeks, and the dam of anxiety she’d been holding back finally broke inside her, releasing a flood of tears from her eyes.

  “Shh. I’m here, Jessie. I won’t hurt him, even if he deserves it.”

  She sobbed into his chest.

  “Let it out, sweetheart. I’m here. You’re safe.”

  She sniffled. “Thank you. Did you find Austin?” Please let him be okay.

  “He’s fine, Jessie. Mom and dads are with him at the hospital.”

  “I need to talk to him, Denver.” With shaky hands, she clicked the screen on his cell.

  “He’s still unconscious, but I promise you, he’s okay. This fucker dosed him real good, but my brother’s got the constitution of a grizzly bear.” His tone was filled with real admiration and affection. And her heart sank.

  “I couldn’t turn him around, Denver. In time, maybe I can. Right now, I’m not so sure.”

  “Shh. We’ll sort this all out later. Understand?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I’ve got a few bruises. That’s all.” Jessie truthfully didn’t think she’d broken any bones, though her body ached in more places than she cared to count.

  “I’m still having the paramedics check you out when they get here.”

  “Sure thing.”

  “Stupid bastard should’ve known not to take this curve so fast. He’s local. You could’ve been killed. Still, I’m glad you’re here. I suppose we’re lucky he did.”

  “He didn’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw the curve and thought I had a chance to escape. So I took it.”

  “My God, you are smarter and more courageous than any woman or man I know.” He leaned in and kissed her.

  The press of his lips made her feel protected and cherished. Slowly, her nerves settled back a bit.

  When he ended their kiss, he stared at her. “I love you. I almost thought I’d lost you.”

  “I’m here now.”

  “And that’s where you’ll stay, sweetheart.”

  As Jessie listened to the approaching siren off in the distance, s
he wondered about what lay ahead.

  Austin was in the hospital with enough drugs to kill two or three men. She’d almost lost him.

  She thought about telling Denver what she’d learned from Rich. Rich had never admitted for certain, but she suspected that another person was behind the accidents and murder attempts. She’d seen Denver’s anger when he’d found her helping Rich, and she couldn’t bear to risk losing Denver to some vigilante rage. Better to wait for the sheriff to divulge that news. He’d likely be at the hospital, waiting for Austin to wake up.

  She couldn’t wait to see with her own eyes that the eldest Wilde brother was safe and sound. But then what would she do?

  If Austin couldn’t be swayed, there was no way she could stay in Wilde. She would never split up the brothers. They came as a set, not to be broken up. She must get Austin to open up and let her in on the real reason he wanted her to make such a choice. If successful, she believed there was still a chance to work things out between the brothers.

  When the ambulance arrived, Jessie vowed to herself to do whatever it took to get the forever she longed for.

  Chapter Five

  Jessie didn’t give a damn that she was only wearing Denver’s shirt as she walked with him into the hospital. The only thing she could think of was that she needed to see Austin.

  Daniel, one of the Wilde brothers’ dads, was waiting for them by the door. “Hi, son. Hi, Jessie.”

  “Where’s Austin?” she asked.

  Daniel grabbed her hand and squeezed. “I’ll take you to him, kiddo, but shouldn’t the doctor take a look at you first?”

  “The paramedics already did. I’m fine.”

  “See what I have to put up with, Dad.” Denver shook his head. “The EMTs said your vitals looked good, but you still needed to be seen by the doctor.”

  “That can wait until I see Austin.”

  “No, it can’t.” His tone told her he wasn’t giving her an inch.

  “Denver, stop manhandling her.” Maude rounded the corner.

  Jessie had been drawn to the woman the very first night she’d come to Wilde and checked into the Hotel Cactus—which Maude actually owned. To Jessie’s five cowboys, the woman was Aunt Maude.

  Maude smiled at Jessie. “Come here, honey.”

  “But she needs to see the doc,” Denver argued.

  “She will. One minute to peek in on Austin will calm her mind and may be better medicine than any sawbones could give her.” The old gal knew how to keep him and his brothers on their toes.

  “Son, let Maude take her to him.” Daniel Wilde’s tone was comforting. “You and I can go find the doctor.”

  “Listen to your dad, nephew.”

  Denver shook his head in defeat. “One minute. That’s it.”

  “Thank you,” Jessie breathed.

  “Then you will see the doctor and do whatever he says you need to do.”

  “Yes, Sir. I will. I promise.”

  Maude held out her hand. “You look pretty good for what you’ve been through. You’re really okay?”

  Jessie nodded and took her hand. They headed down the hallway.

  “I took the liberty of going in your room at the hotel and getting you some clothes. They’re in Austin’s room. I thought you could change in there.”

  “You’re amazing, Maude.”

  “So are you, honey. Awesome even.”

  They passed the nurses’ station, and Maude pointed to the door of room four. “He’s in there, Jessie. His mom is with him. She’s expecting you.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  “Go. I’ll try to hold off the cowboys, but I can only do that for so long.”

  Jessie grinned and quietly opened the door to Austin’s room. She saw him first. Her hands shot up to her mouth. The IV in his arm, his eyes closed, and the hospital room stunned her. He was a rock. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

  She closed her eyes and fought back the tears. She felt an arm wrap around her.

  Mrs. Wilde whispered, “He’s okay, Jessie. Really, he is.”

  She hugged the mother of her five cowboys. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Whatever for? You didn’t do anything to cause this.”

  “Rich wanted me, not Austin.”

  “True. But that doesn’t change anything, dear. Now, let me take a good look at you. Considering what you’ve been through, no wonder you look so shook up. You okay?”

  Jessie nodded. “Has Austin come to at all?”

  “No. Shouldn’t be long now. He’s going to have a lot of guilt, Jessie, when he does.”

  “Why?” Jessie was the one who brought the trouble to Austin. He had no reason to feel guilty.

  “He didn’t protect you. Sure, he didn’t have a chance, but that isn’t how the Wilde men look at things. They have to be perfect when it comes to their women.” Jessie could see the pride on her face as she spoke of her sons.

  “He is perfect. I’m the one that’s flawed.”

  “You sound like a woman in love.”

  “I am.” Jessie couldn’t help but smile as she thought of her men. “But I don’t know if that’s enough.”

  “Trust me. It will be. Austin is all thorns and steel on the outside, but on the inside—”

  “He’s wonderful. It’s just…that…” Jessie wanted to tell Mrs. Wilde about Austin’s demand for her to choose between him and his brothers but hesitated.

  “Something’s wrong? You’re torn up about more than the kidnapping and Austin being here, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Sweetheart, we’re going to be family. I always wanted a daughter, and now I’m going to have one. I’m here for you.”

  Jessie trusted this woman more than any other. “He’s asked me to choose.”

  Mrs. Wilde looked to Austin, and then turned back to Jessie. “I’m not surprised.”

  “You’re not.”

  “Actually, I’m thrilled. You’ve got him.” A big smile lit her face.

  Jessie prayed she was right. “I’m not so sure.”

  “Don’t give up on him, honey. I’d almost lost hope for my boy, and then you came to town. You can do it.”

  “I’ll try. I promise.”

  “Good enough. Now, let me leave you alone with him.” Mrs. Wilde kissed her cheek. “I hung your clothes on the hooks in the bathroom.”

  Mrs. Wilde shut the door, and Jessie walked up to the side of the bed. Austin was completely out but breathing easily. She touched his cheek, and felt a single tear run down her face. “Master, I’m so sorry. Please be okay.”

  Jessie leaned down and kissed him. He didn’t wake up as she’d hoped he might.

  She looked up at the clock on the wall that reminded her of Denver’s obsession with time. Even with the invincible Maude working to keep Denver away, Jessie knew he’d be busting through Austin’s hospital room door at any moment. She rushed to the bathroom to dress. When finished, she sighed. It felt good to be in clothes again.

  Jessie left the bathroom and looked once again at Austin, asleep on the bed.

  “How in the world am I going to get through to you, Mr. Wilde?”

  * * * *

  Jessie flipped through another outdated magazine, trying to tamp down her impatience. The waiting room was filled to the max with Wildes and Strongs. Maude and her two husbands sat across from them. All but one of their sons had gone to the cafeteria, not because they were hungry, but because they wanted to kill time. The one left behind was one of the eldest, Tobias. Mrs. Wilde had gone back to Austin’s room with her three husbands. Jackson and Phoenix sat on one side of Jessie, and Denver and Dallas on the other.

  After she’d left Austin’s room, Jackson, Phoenix, and Dallas had arrived in a whirlwind of testosterone. Not taking “no” for an answer and with the help of Denver, they’d guided her to the doctor. After answering a bunch of questions, saying “ah,” and suffering through other typical medical intrusions, Jessie was given a clean bill of health by the physician to the re
lief of the four overprotective cowboys surrounding her in the examining room. That seemed like forever ago to her now.

  Jessie waited for him to wake up. The doctors had told them all that it could happen any time. As the seconds ticked away, Jessie’s worry began to expand.

  She’d been stretching out her brain, thinking about what she’d learned during her investigations and interviews, and turning over every fact and discovery, no matter how insignificant. All her mental aerobics were to find any inkling of who might be behind the accidents and danger to the mine, to her, and now, also to her men.

  Paul King had been the obvious choice of villain, but he was dead. Who then? No name rose to the surface.

  “What time is it?” she asked Denver.

  “Five minutes after you asked me the last time, sweetheart.”

  Maude snapped, “Don’t be a smart-ass, nephew. Answer her. I want to know, too. You’re our unofficial timekeeper.”

  He laughed. “Six fifteen.”

  Jessie peeked around the corner at the hospital’s glass doors. The sun was coming up. It had been a very long night. Please wake up, Austin. Her anxiety vibrated inside her like a live wire.

  “Honey, did I ever tell you about how I came to Wilde?” Maude asked, clearly hoping to distract everyone.

  “Maybe, but tell me again.”

  “I came here to talk some sense into my crazy sister’s head. Guess what?”

  “What?”

  She laughed and grabbed her husbands’ hands. “I went crazy for these two cowboys.”

  “Tell me how that happened.”

  “You’ve gone and done it, Jessie.” Tobias stood up.

  “What did I do?”

  “Don’t you want to hear how your dads and I met, son?” Maude giggled.

  He shook his head and turned to Jessie. “You’ll enjoy the story. It’s a good one. But after you’ve heard it five hundred times—”

  Maude sent him a loving wink. “But you were so cute back then.”

  Jessie grinned. “You’ve got to be exaggerating, Tobias. Five hundred?”

  “And twenty-five, at a minimum. That’s it. I knew I should’ve gone to the cafeteria with my brothers. Cousins, have any of you thought your girl might be hungry?”