by C. J. Miller
The most lethal Colton is out for revenge in the conclusion of The Coltons of Shadow Creek!
Real-estate tycoon Declan Sinclair has a score to settle with on-the-run felon Livia Colton. He can’t change his tragic past, but he can demolish her onetime estate. But while coming to terms with his most hated enemy, Declan bumps heads with Livia’s youngest daughter, the alluring Jade Colton...
Having always felt isolated from her own family, Jade finds satisfaction in rescuing and rehabilitating Thoroughbred racehorses. And when she finds herself in Livia’s crosshairs, Jade turns to Declan for comfort and protection. Can she really trust a man who’s sworn to take down the entire Colton clan—once and for all?
Jade stumbled over her words and then cleared her throat.
“If you’d like to come by the farm, you are welcome anytime. I’d love to show you what I’m doing with my horses, and it would be great to have another person looking out for me. My family is worried about each other, but they have their lives and I’m here alone a lot.”
Declan didn’t like those odds. Being alone on the farm left her open to an attack by Livia or one of her henchmen. Though the authorities had torn down the crime ring Livia had worked for over the years, they had not rooted out every person who’d been involved with Livia or who felt loyal to her. Livia was the queen of manipulation. Nothing else explained how even after all she’d done and the hundreds of people she had ruthlessly hurt, anyone would carry their loyalty to her.
Declan had loyalty to no one except Edith. Livia Colton had torn his family apart and he had sworn no one would get the better of him the way Livia had with his father.
Yet here he was, sitting in the dark with Jade Colton, Livia’s flesh and blood, and thinking about how he wanted to protect her.
* * *
The Coltons of Shadow Creek:
Only family can keep you safe...
* * *
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Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Shadow Creek!
Jade Colton is, in many ways, an outsider in her own family. While her mother’s escape from prison has brought her closer to her siblings, she has never really felt like a Colton. An abusive mother and the loss of her father in her youth has affected her in profound ways, and Jade struggles to feel safe, even in her own home in the town where she grew up.
Jade’s brother’s engagement to Edith brings Declan Sinclair into her life. Jade is drawn to him, but her fear of trusting another person and her professional challenges—her newly opened horse rehabilitation clinic—keep distance between them. But Declan can offer her something no one else can—closure on the past through his connection to La Bonne Vie, her mother’s former residence.
As Jade revisits memories, she and Declan are drawn closer by a common enemy—Jade’s mother, Livia. They will have to stand together to keep Livia from exacting revenge on the entire Colton family.
I hope you enjoy this final book in The Coltons of Shadow Creek series!
Happy reading!
C.J. Miller
CAPTURING
A COLTON
C.J. Miller
C.J. Miller loves to hear from her readers and can be contacted through her website, cj-miller.com. She lives in Maryland with her husband and three children. C.J. believes in first loves, second chances and happily-ever-after.
Books by C.J. Miller
Harlequin Romantic Suspense
Hiding His Witness
Shielding the Suspect
Protecting His Princess
Traitorous Attraction
Under the Sheik’s Protection
Taken by the Con
Capturing the Huntsman
Delta Force Desire
Special Forces Seduction
Escorted by the Ranger
The Coltons of Shadow Creek
Capturing a Colton
The Coltons of Texas
Colton’s Texas Stakeout
Conspiracy Against the Crown
The Secret King
Guarding His Royal Bride
The Coltons: Return to Wyoming
Colton Holiday Lockdown
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com,
or cj-miller.com, for more titles.
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To Brook. Without you, no books would be
written and my muse would sleep far too often.
Thank you for everything you do.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Excerpt from Fatal Threat by Marie Force
Chapter 1
Declan Sinclair was accustomed to the heat and humidity of an August night in Texas, but he was not accustomed to being this uncomfortable. If anyone other than Edith Beaulieu was getting married, Declan wouldn’t willingly be within a hundred yards of a Colton—and this place was crawling with Coltons.
Despite Declan’s reservations about Edith marrying the son of a criminal—a criminal who had escaped prison and was currently on the run—he had to admit that his foster sister looked happy. Her smile was bright and glowing and she seemed to almost dance as she walked. She held on to the arm of her fiancé, River Colton, as they circulated through the large gathering. The scene was something out of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. White candles in lanterns were hung on shepherd’s hooks surrounding the party. Long tables were covered in white linen cloths and the floral centerpieces provided bursts of color in pale purple, blue and pink.
Declan hadn’t been involved in the planning of this soiree. This was all Colton planned. The engagement party was being held at the horse rehabilitation facility of River’s sister Jade. From what Declan had been told, Jade ran the farm for off-track horses, but she also grew a few crops and had other barn animals, managing this almost by herself. The barn doors were open and lit, the glow of the light reflecting off the hay and wood, but the guests gathered outside beneath the pastel-colored paper lanterns strung together with Christmas lights. The air smelled of citronella and honeysuckle.
After Declan said hello to Edith, he could leave. Obligation fulfilled. It was a quick twenty-five-minute drive to the charming bed-and-breakfast where he was staying, where a comfortable bed awaited him. He wasn’t looking forward to having a stilted conversation with River and from the way the couple was hanging on to each other, tonight they were a package deal. Though he and River had discovered that they were half brothers, neither seemed to be able to overcome the awkwardness and tension. Competition over Edith or anger over what their parents had done? He couldn’t put his finger on it.
Neither he nor Edith had much biological family. Churned through the foster care system in Louisiana, they’d had each other and not much else. She’d recently connected with her uncle Mac and now Edith also had River, a fact that bothered Declan more than a little. He’d lose her to Shadow Creek and the Coltons. The thought burned through him. Wouldn’t be the first time a Colton had stolen from him; wouldn’t
be the last.
Declan wouldn’t find another friend as loyal as Edith and may never find another assistant as capable and as intelligent as she was, but as long as she was happy, he accepted her decision.
Declan was an outsider here and he wasn’t working hard to become part of the scene. Sitting on a metal folding chair as far away from the party as possible, he was removed and his beer was rapidly growing warm. He had accepted the proffered drink from the bartender out of habit and social decorum, but he wasn’t in the mood to drink.
His mood was dark and drinking would make it darker.
If nothing else, Declan admired Hill Country Farm for the prime piece of real estate that it was. He knew a lot about land and nothing about horses. This place would turn a profit soon, if it wasn’t already. The thirty acres of pristine land, the riding ring, the stalls and the barn created the right setup for a Thoroughbred to rest and recover, and were also picturesque enough to draw donations and interest. The small touches indicated Jade took pride in her home and business: the weeded gardens, the carved wood signs with the farm’s name and the manicured lawns were a giveaway that she cared.
Or it was part of the facade. When it came to the Coltons, trust couldn’t be given too quickly or easily. Their mother, Livia, was the definition of evil and he didn’t know how much of that had rubbed off on them. Livia had engaged in an affair with Declan’s father and that affair had destroyed Declan’s, his mother’s and his father’s lives.
Livia’s escape from a maximum security prison hadn’t shocked Declan; she had connections to get what she wanted and to stay on the run indefinitely. Edith’s recent brush with her proved Livia still had courage in spades. Approaching people she had a score to settle with while the authorities hunted her was the ultimate in boldness.
Restless energy struck him and Declan rose to his feet. He walked the outer perimeter of the party. A dark car was parked across the street, the driver sitting in the shadows, his face hidden. Declan had noticed the car when driving into the party. The FBI was watching for Livia Colton. If she made the mistake of approaching her children, the FBI would be ready for her. She had slipped through their fingers too many times in the last five months. Working old contacts and lying had kept her hidden.
Declan watched the crowd and realized he was looking for Livia. He wanted her to show up today. With the dark sedan parked outside the party, he doubted she would be stupid enough to appear, but he had an ax to grind with her. Though ice water ran in her veins and she cared only for herself, he wanted her to look at Edith and see that she was safe and happy with River. Livia’s attempts to hurt her had failed. Edith, like so many times in the past, had risen above her trials and was only stronger and better for them.
Declan took a deep, cleansing breath. This evening was about Edith and he wouldn’t fixate on Livia. She had destroyed huge parts of his life and she didn’t get tonight, as well. Every moment he spent thinking about Livia, was a moment of joy he was robbed of.
His eyes fell on a woman exiting the small, red-roofed cottage located on the property. The house was surrounded by tidy gardens protected by a brown wooden fence. The riding area and stables were located on the other side. She turned toward the barn, and the party, her blue dress moving around her shapely calves, her dark hair pinned back, but pieces framing her face. She was hauling a cooler.
Declan rushed to her. “Let me give you a hand.”
Her brown eyes met his. She was young, midtwenties, and her beauty and the expressiveness of her eyes knocked the breath out of him. “Thanks. I’ve been hauling ice all evening. It’s hot tonight.”
He took the cooler from her. “I’m Declan, by the way. I’m a friend of Edith’s.”
She brushed her hair away from her face, tucking the stray strands behind her ears. “I’m Jade. I’m River’s sister. He has mentioned you.”
Jade was Livia’s youngest daughter. Though River was the product of an affair between Declan’s father, Matthew, and Livia, Declan didn’t think of him like a brother. Blood had little to do with those bonds. He considered Edith family and they weren’t related. “It’s complicated,” Declan said. Discussing it tonight wasn’t a good idea.
Declan should deliver the cooler where it needed to go and then leave the party. Interacting with any of the Coltons should repulse him. Yet, here he was, walking beside Jade Colton.
“You won’t get any judgment from me. I hope you and River can work something out and be friends, but I know that might be asking too much. Just know that my brother is a good man. He’s been through a lot with our mother. We all have. But he’ll do right by Edith.”
Her loyalty surprised him. He didn’t want to discuss Livia Colton though. His anger was buried beneath his careful control and under the circumstances, and given the stressful events of late, it was ready to come roaring out. “Where do you want this?” He nodded toward the cooler.
She pointed to a table with five galvanized party tubs filled with beer and wine coolers. “On the ground there.”
He set the cooler in the location she’d indicated.
A friend called to Jade and she waved in her direction. “Excuse me, please. And thank you, Declan. Thank you for coming. I know it means a lot to Edith.”
He nodded to her. “You’re welcome.”
She rushed off to speak to her friend and Declan took the opportunity to fade back into the shadows.
* * *
Being the hostess of the party kept Jade busy and it was a role she enjoyed. Having many tasks meant she didn’t get caught in small talk and avoided the complicated politics of her family. Her mother’s sordid history had left scars on each of her half siblings, and Jade didn’t verbally navigate problems well. Though Jade felt they had made strides recently, they were all still struggling. Until their mother was caught and returned to prison, Jade guessed it would remain the case.
Declan Sinclair, the man who had purchased her mother’s crumbling estate—Edith’s boss and River’s half brother—was a total surprise. She had looked him up online. Young real estate mogul in his midthirties, multimillionaire. No one seemed to know why he had wanted La Bonne Vie. Seeing Declan’s photo online had not prepared Jade. In person, he was almost larger than life. Dark brown hair, expensively cut, and those green, intelligent eyes. He was broad shouldered and dressed well for the occasion. Whereas she had needed her sister Claudia’s help selecting an outfit for the evening, Jade guessed Declan’s sense of style translated into every event.
Worldly. That was the word she wanted to describe him. The total opposite of her.
Jade had never traveled outside Texas. She had plans to one day, but between the chaos of growing up a Colton and then starting her business, she had no time or money to explore the world. Opening Hill Country Farm had put her deep in the red and it would be five years before she was turning a profit. Either that, or shutting down.
Declan likely had good business instincts. She could ask him about hers. Get his take on her plans. He likely didn’t know anything about Thoroughbreds, but he might offer advice to steer her. Though no one had said it directly, Jade sensed her siblings and Mac, her father figure, thought she was too young and inexperienced to have bitten off this venture alone. Proving to herself and her family she could do this meant everything to her.
Her older sister, Leonor, had recently brought her five newly retired racehorses, whom Jade had renamed Tinker, Tots, Trace, Toy and Tiny. They were amazing specimens and Jade was enjoying working with them. Rehabilitating them and selling them would be another feather in her cap and she wanted to show her family her work had value and that she was good at what she did.
She searched for an excuse to talk to Declan again and wondered how to segue into a conversation about business. Every step of the way toward opening Hill Country had been a struggle, and her inexperience networking was showing. She couldn’
t ask River to help her. Declan and River’s relationship was tense and complicated by Declan’s relationship with Edith, who spoke only good things about her boss, but others seemed to believe Declan was cold and harsh. Having met him and spoken with him for a few minutes, Jade sided with Edith’s opinion.
Jade looked around for Declan. He may have left. The idea disappointed her immensely.
Taking a deep breath, Jade took in the scene around her. River and Edith were only recently engaged and they were planning to marry quickly. It hadn’t given the other Coltons much time to plan the wedding festivities. Edith looked beautiful in a blue dress. Claudia had a hand in selecting her outfit as well as the shoes she was wearing. The dress fell just above her knee and was the right amount of sweet and sexy. Jade admired her ability to pull it off.
Her brothers and sisters were there, surrounded by spouses and boyfriends or girlfriends or fiancés, and everyone seemed so happy. Jade felt a twinge of loneliness and tried to brush it away. Feeling alone while surrounded by her family and friends made no sense.
The party could go on for several more hours and the idea exhausted her. Offering to host had been her attempt to further her connection with her siblings. With the exception of her relationship with Knox, the Coltons had not been close after Livia was arrested and it was a fact Jade regretted. Since Livia had escaped prison, it had gotten better between the siblings as they united against their mother. Jade wouldn’t ask anyone to leave, but she had to get an early start in the morning. Her animals needed her and as a new business owner, she didn’t have extra funds to hire many hands for around the farm. She kept pigs, chickens and goats and, of course, her horses. With the extra noise of the party, Jade needed to check on them to be sure they weren’t riled up.
First she looked in on her barn animals. Feeling secure that they weren’t upset by the party sounds, she walked around the back of the barn, cutting behind her house and into the stables. Her path was deliberate. Though her siblings were friendly and warm toward her, while she couldn’t put her finger on it, she didn’t fit in. Trying in her own way hadn’t taken her far.
