Mastered by Mavericks [Doms of Destiny, Colorado 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Chloe Lang

  “Ethel, get on that thing and find out what the bloody hell just happened.” Gretchen looked stricken, as her friend, also white as a ghost, nodded.

  Ethel punched a number on her cell and then brought it up to her ear. “It’s ringing.”

  Nicole could feel her heart beating in her chest. Maybe they went out the back of the building. Please be okay. Please.

  “Patrick. Thank God. What happened down there? No.” Ethel shook her head and said quietly, “The second floor collapsed?”

  Oh God!

  “Ask him if any—” Gretchen said.

  Ethel held up her hand, which was shaking. Everyone seemed to hold his or her breath, hoping for news. “Yes. Okay. Okay. I love you, too.” She clicked off the phone and addressed the crowd in a steady, authoritative tone. “Folks, please remain calm. At this point they do not know what caused the fire or what exploded. They are working to control the fire so it doesn’t spread to the hotel or other buildings nearby.”

  “My house is on the opposite corner of McDavish and Big Elm,” someone said. “Is it okay?”

  “So far only the clinic is in danger,” Ethel informed.

  “What about the patients inside the clinic,” a man to the back of the throng shouted. “Is anyone hurt?”

  “No news on that, but my husband Patrick just told me they would be sending someone to us with an update shortly.”

  “Ethel, you’re not just stalling are you?” Gretchen asked quietly but loud enough for Nicole and those closest to hear.

  The judge shook her head. “Six were still inside when the explosion happened.”

  Six? God, don’t let it be them.

  Nicole swallowed hard, trying to quell the dread wrapping its claws around her throat. Being positive was never something that came natural to her. She was more of an expect-the-worst-and-you’ll-never-be-disappointed kind of girl. Right now, she wanted to be the opposite but was having a difficult time turning her old habit around.

  A figure in full fire gear ran toward them from the clinic. Nicole could instantly tell by the person’s height they weren’t either Reed or Sawyer, both of whom had a full six or more inches on this one.

  When the firefighter removed his hat, Nicole realized this person was a woman. The firefighter’s long, dark hair spilled down to her shoulders. Her lips were red and her eyes were deep blue.

  “Phoebe, what’s the news?” Amber asked the question everyone was longing to have answered.

  Breathing hard, Phoebe took a bottle of water and downed half of it. “I’ve got news,” she said between more sips and breaths.

  “Spill it, counselor,” Ethel ordered.

  “It’s not good. Looks like the clinic will be a total loss.”

  “Was anyone hurt?” Nicole asked, fearing what the truth might be.

  Phoebe closed her eyes. “It’s bad,” she choked out.

  Her insides tightened into a horrific knot. She’d never let her attention move from the clinic, hoping against hope for two figures to emerge from the blaze. They hadn’t.

  Nicole wanted to scream, wanted to run, wanted to pound her fists on something hard until they bled.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nicole’s head swam as she stared at Phoebe. “Who? Are Reed and Sawyer okay?” The pit in her stomach tightened like a vise.

  “They’re fine. Heroes even. Ask anyone.”

  “Thank God.” Nicole felt relief spread through her. They’re okay. Her cowboys were safe.

  “They were inside when the floor collapsed but their firefighting expertise ended up saving their lives and others. They were able to escape out the back.”

  That’s why I didn’t see them.

  “Doc is in bad shape but Eric and Scott are with him. I think he will pull through. The Russian guy is dead. Smoke inhalation got him.” Phoebe closed her eyes and sighed. “Charlie didn’t make it, though. He was unresponsive when they found him.” Then she choked out, “Charlie died as they were carrying him out.”

  Nicole’s own eyes brimmed with tears. The only time she’d been around the deputy was on her first day in Destiny. Nicole wished she could’ve known him better. Charlie seemed like a very nice man and a good cop.

  “Not Charlie.” Ethel shook her head and her lips quivered. “He was only a few days away from seeing his kids again.”

  Wiping the tears from her eyes, Ethel put her arm around Gretchen, who was weeping, too. Amber, Belle, and Phoebe were also expressing sadness and holding on to each other in an attempt to soften the blow.

  Nicole had never seen a place like Destiny, where people felt for each other so deeply and honestly. Being a neighbor here meant something. This lovely respite from her life had been wonderful, but it was only a dream. Reality waited for her return to her desk. She would hate to leave it, having already fallen for two of its sons, but she must. Her case had blown up and brought tragedy to Destiny. Better to keep the Russian mob in Chicago than out here. With Reed and Sawyer safely out of harm’s way, it was past time for her to go back to where she belonged.

  “Flowers, you look like person who just ate bad Solyanka,” Alexei said to her, pulling her back from the women who were trying to console each other over the loss of one of their own.

  “What?”

  “Solyanka. Sour soup. You have tried? No? Probably for best.” Alexei’s odd speech didn’t put her off. In fact it held an endearing quality. “I see much on face of yours. Mitrofanov man death troubles you, yes?”

  She nodded. “I might’ve gotten something I could’ve used to clear my friend back in Chicago.” Henry? God, where could he be? “Now, I’m back at square one.”

  Alexei frowned. “Square one?”

  “I have to start over on my case.”

  “Ah. Square one. Yes. I understand. I have information to help with case of yours, Nicole. Square two.”

  “What do you know?” Nicole hoped it was something useful, something that would lead her to Henry’s whereabouts.

  “I tell CIA agent already. He does not tell you?” Alexei pointed to Dylan.

  “Former,” Dylan corrected. “We should wait for a better time when the sheriff is here, Markov. And we definitely shouldn’t discuss this in the open.”

  Alexei snorted. “Why?” He looked around the area. “No Russians here, CIA. Only citizens of US.” Alexei pointed to his own chest. “American. Safe to talk.”

  “Tell me what you know, right now,” Nicole demanded.

  “The lady wants to know, CIA. Her I tell now. Mitrofanov send only one direct report to here for you. Niklaus is be keeping someone in his pants at your station back in Chicago.”

  “What?” she asked, shaking her head. “Why would he have someone in his…pocket. You meant pocket. For a minute I thought I had a much bigger problem. Yes. I already know about that.”

  “Word on streets is Niklaus’s insider be very nervous. I hate to say this. It is hard thing. Do you think about fact that this man in pocket is Henry? I know he is being your friend, but I have many suspicions.”

  Henry? She couldn’t believe he would be involved with the Russians. It just didn’t fit his personality. “It’s not Henry.”

  Alexei shrugged. “I would be placing bet that insider is worried you have evidence to make charges that stick to him and Niklaus.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Yes, but this is not what Mitrofanov’s man thinks. He thinks you are singing like the pigeons. You know what happens to many singing pigeons in prisons.” Alexei took his thumb and traced it across his throat. “They make the pigeons dead. Are you understanding, Nicole?”

  “Yes, I get you. Sort of.” If Henry was the insider, God forbid, Nicole had to find him before Niklaus did. She owed him and the memory of her grandfather at least that. “All the more reason to get back to Chicago.”

  “Maybe,” Alexei said. “Or maybe we should be setting trap for insider here.”

  “In Destiny?” She nodded, believing Henry wasn’t involved. “How?”


  “In this case, truth is best. Sheriff will call. He will ask why a Chicago police officer is asking questions about a closed case.”

  She nodded. “That should get people hopping.”

  “You are suspended. They must to investigate. Your commander will put a team together. The real mole will pass on information to Russians. Though the mole will likely look more like badger. I have long argument with partner. Stubborn man, but he insist I call mole and he has tranquilizer gun. So the mole badger will tell Russians. They will send someone here hoping to cover all of the tracks. We trap hit man. Unless he actually looks like mole. Then I step on him. You see my point? At least badger has claws. This is faulty metaphor.”

  Dear God, she had to stop him now. “How do we get the hit man to talk?”

  Alexei sent his left fist into his right palm with a smack. “I know how to get people to be talking. We have many ways. The Mitrofanov man will lead us to mole.”

  “So you want to use me as bait?” Could her commander be the mole? Maybe.

  “You should not to be worrying about this. You have two capable bodyguards and you have gun of your own. I suspect you know how to use.”

  “Yes.” Sawyer and Reed might not think she could handle a weapon given the moth incident, but she knew she could. She grinned. “I’m a good shot, Alexei.”

  Alexei smiled. “Get rat to poke head around Destiny, then we pounce. Sheriff might frown on idea, but will work. Rat. See, rat is better than mole. Mole is blind. No one is afraid of mole.”

  Sheriff Wolfe, for all his words, hadn’t been treating her like an equal, like a fellow officer. Alexei seemed more inclined to trust her with such a dangerous mission. That pleased her. It made her feel like a real cop again.

  His idea wasn’t bad, and it would allow her a few more days with Reed and Sawyer.

  Not a bad idea at all. “Make the call, Alexei.”

  If they could trap the real insider, she had a better chance of finding Henry. Her thoughts were on Reed and Sawyer. She turned her attention back toward the clinic for any sign of them.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sawyer didn’t wait to shed the rest of his fire gear, and neither did Reed. They both ran down West Street to Nicole, who was standing by the sawhorses Jason had put up as a blockade. Even though exhausted from fighting the blaze, the relief of seeing her safe and sound gave him and obviously Reed, too, a much needed boost of energy.

  “She’s okay,” Sawyer panted out.

  “Thank God,” Reed responded.

  Standing near Nicole, along with other Destonians, were the three bodyguards they’d entrusted with her safety—Dylan and Cam Strange, and the Russian consultant, Alexei Markov. Those three men had earned his utmost respect. He wasn’t sure how to repay them, but he would do his damnedest to find a way.

  “Nicole,” he shouted.

  She ran past the sawhorses and they met in the middle of the street. He and Reed wrapped her up in their arms.

  Nicole’s whole body was shaking and tears were streaming out of her eyes. “You’re safe. You’re okay.”

  Reed kissed her first. “So are you, Chicago. So are you.”

  Tell her Reed. Tell her how you feel.

  But Sawyer was certain his brother was still struggling with how to voice those three words that came so hard for him ever since their parents’ death. Reed clearly needed more time to speak his true feelings to Nicole.

  She turned to him. “Sawyer, your face is covered in soot. Did the medical guys check you two out already?”

  He cupped her chin. “No, sweetheart. I couldn’t wait to see you. I wanted to make sure the woman I loved was safe.”

  She smiled broadly and kissed him. Then she glanced over at Reed.

  Tell her now, bro.

  “Nicole, want to come with us while we get looked over by the EMTs?” Reed definitely wasn’t ready yet.

  “I would love to go with you,” Nicole said. “It will make me feel better to hear the official word on your health.”

  “You heard the lady,” his brother said to him. “Let’s go.”

  They placed her between them, Reed’s arm around her shoulders and his around her waist.

  “I want to hear everything that happened in the clinic, guys,” she told them, assuming her law enforcement demeanor once again. God, everything about her was so incredibly sexy.

  “You will, Chicago,” Reed said as they headed back to the EMTs.

  Sawyer could see such hope in both of them. They had a lot in common. Together, they could find comfort and a future with his help. He wasn’t about to lose Nicole, so he silently vowed to do whatever it took to get Reed and her to open up and be honest with each other—and with him.

  * * * *

  Reed sat in the booth by the center window of Lucy’s Burgers with Nicole and Sawyer across from him. It was their latest stop in Alexei’s intricate trap. Against his and Sawyer’s better judgment, they were following the former mobster’s plan to the letter to fool the Mitrofanov’s insider. Dylan and Jason had deputized several citizens to be close at all times. Though a good step, it hadn’t swayed him or Sawyer into going along with the idea. Nicole’s safety meant everything to them, and her touring the town alone to flush out the rat was too dangerous. What had pushed them to give in was Nicole’s insistence to try Alexei’s trap combined with the agreement by all parties that he and Sawyer could be at Nicole’s side at all times, play-acting as tour guides instead of their real job as her bodyguards.

  Alexei’s plan was very precise and tiring. Every second of the day was scheduled. Most thought it was the only way to get the job done right.

  This was only day two.

  Everyone but her believed the insider was Henry Underwood, and most thought he was going to show up here in Destiny soon to get her. Playing superspy in town didn’t fit into what Reed wanted. What he really desired was to go back up the mountain to his beloved Coleman Territory and get inside the cabin with Nicole. Even though he and Sawyer were getting to spend time with her, it wasn’t under the best conditions. How could it be with so many of Dylan’s overzealous Destonian recruits for this project—to catch a mole—always so close and in earshot?

  “Where are we supposed to go after this?” Sawyer motioned Lucy over for a refill of tea.

  How that woman could twirl her Hula-hoop around her waist through the tiny aisle without knocking over customers’ dishes had always been a mystery to Reed.

  Nicole checked the iPad, which had Alexei’s plan spelled out for them. TBK’s newest programmers, Sean MacCabe and Matt Dixon, had added a tracking device to it. Dylan trusted the two Texans, having worked with them when he was at the CIA. The addition to the tablet was so that if anything went wrong, Jason and Dylan could still find them.

  Nicole read off their next stop on the iPad. “Central Park by the Red Dragon for a picnic. Chinese food from Phong’s.”

  “Not again. We had that yesterday, too.” Sawyer groaned. “My horse is going to buck my fat ass off when I get back to the ranch if Alexei doesn’t come up with something other than eating to flush out the insider.”

  She smiled. “I like Chinese, and Phong’s is the best I’ve ever had.”

  Reed moved his hand into his front pocket to touch the fortune he’d gotten his first meal with Nicole. When his finger touched the edge of the slip of paper, he quietly pulled his hand out.

  Happiness is right in front of you.

  Yes, she is.

  His plate had the hand-cut French fries and double cheeseburger he loved. Just getting a whiff of his favorite meal here would have his mouth drooling normally. But even though two days had passed since the fire, his nose still only detected noxious smoke.

  Doc Ryder was recovering nicely at the courthouse, which had been set up as a temporary hospital. He’d filled them in on the events that led up to the moment the fire started. He and Charlie had gone into the Russian’s room and found him with his hands on an oxygen tank’s open valve.
The gas was on fire and had already spread to the walls. The doc had spotted a discarded Zippo on the floor that told him the fucker had set the blaze. How the man had gotten his hands on an oxygen tank and a lighter was still a mystery. Doc and Charlie had worked together to secure the creep to the bed. They’d even gotten the valve closed on the tank, but it had been too late to stop the blaze. The fire had spread out of the room and into the hallway, blocking their only exit.

  The preliminary findings also showed that the explosion that had come later, destroying the second floor, had been the result of the fire spreading to the closet that held more tanks of gas.

  Reed looked down at his plate and shook his head. It would likely be several more days before his smeller got back to functioning properly.

  Unlike Sawyer, he could always make room for more food. Put it in front of him and he would eat it, hungry or not. “How long before this Henry guy shows? I’m tired of this act.” Reed took a bite of the cheeseburger, chewing on the flat-tasting sandwich. Apparently flavor resided more in the nose than on the tongue. “This is so bland.” He leaned across the table and placed both hands on the sides of Nicole’s face. “I know you taste better than anything I’ve ever had on my lips before.” He kissed her, sending his tongue into her sweet mouth. The feel of her quivering lips made him instantly hard. Damn, I want to get you up to my cabin. He leaned back and enjoyed the look of her reddening cheeks.

  “Reed, everyone is watching us,” Nicole whispered.

  Reed looked around the restaurant at his neighbors—all of them armed. “So? Besides, that was their choice to play covert operatives.” Closest to them were Gretchen and Ethel, who sat together with Ethel’s husbands, Patrick and Sam. The Stone brothers sat in the booth closest to the entry door with Amber. The Knights were on the opposite side of the aisle with their new lady, Megan. There were other gun-toting citizens in Lucy’s ready to act. Phoebe Blue sat at a table with her older brother, Corey, a US Marshal. Outside, too, were more neighbors on guard. Leading the self-proclaimed posse was Dylan, Jason, and Alexei. “You gotta love this town, Chicago. We do come together to protect our own.”