“Please.” She instantly regretted that she’d uttered a word.
“Adriana?” Brent growled the whisper. “What are you doing out here?”
At the sound of his familiar, welcome voice, she nearly slumped, but he caught her, kept her from sliding all the way down the tree.
“Answer me,” he demanded.
“I heard the warning go off. I couldn’t let you face the danger alone.” Her heart palpitated at his nearness in the shadows.
“I didn’t recognize you geared up like a soldier. And body armor?” He touched her vest. In the moonlight, she barely made out a half grin, then it disappeared and his voice turned somber, laced with weighty emotion. “I...could have killed you.”
“I’m grateful you didn’t.”
“I told you to stay in the house, where you would be safer than out here. Why can’t you follow my instructions?”
She hated to hear the accusation, the disappointment in his tone. “I couldn’t let you face Rio alone. Besides, I’m here now. We can talk about this later. How many are there?”
“What?”
“Who set off the trap? Have you caught anyone? And how many did you find?” She caught herself—too many questions.
That half grin again. So he thought she was funny? “Just one so far,” he answered.
Oh. He meant her. “Earlier, I saw movement in that direction.”
“Let’s go, then.”
She stayed behind Brent as he tracked low to the ground in search of their intruder. The whole scenario seemed surreal, but she couldn’t dwell on that right now and focused on their search. She wasn’t sure whether or not she hoped they would find anyone. She didn’t want a confrontation. Still, someone had been there. Someone had triggered that alarm. And fear would keep hanging over their heads until they found the person responsible.
When she’d set them up, she couldn’t have known how it would feel to hear the alarm and the subsequent need to respond. To march across her property armed and in body armor, ready for a fight to the death. At least she’d prepared—collecting everything she would need—in case she needed to take that kind of action. But for a few weeks, maybe months, she’d been content to live in her delusion of a safe haven.
God, please let us find only one person out there. Maybe the man after her today had nothing at all to do with her brother’s cartel, but Rio would come back for her nonetheless. Anything else would be hoping for too much.
“Brent,” she whispered. “What if...”
He paused and stepped back to her. Stooped to lean his head closer. “We really shouldn’t talk. That could get somebody killed. I don’t feel like dying tonight. How about you?”
She shook her head—no, she didn’t want to die tonight, either, and she definitely didn’t want to get him killed—and followed him. He’d stopped crouching now and walked tall and confident, as if he had no fear. She didn’t feel his confidence but kept close to his solid form.
Suddenly he turned and pulled her close. “Get low on the ground and wait for my signal.”
“What? No.”
“I’m here to protect you, Adriana. Why do you fight me on this? Please, do as I ask or someone is going to get hurt.”
The painful desperation was a powerful force behind his words, so she dropped to the ground and let him go. She had never seen this side of the man, even when she’d saved his life and helped him to escape. She shut her eyes, only for a moment, and images of that time flashed in her mind. She’d assisted him in getting away from the area where Rio’s men were searching for him, and the next day he’d hidden in her car while she drove him to safety. Just before he fled across the border to meet up with his team, he’d pulled her close to thank her. He’d been so near she could smell the masculine scent of him.
She’d known then that she’d made the right decision to risk everything to protect him, and for a moment, she’d wanted more time with him, wondering what it would feel like to be in this man’s arms, this powerful hero’s arms, for something more than simple gratitude. To be loved and cherished by someone who fought for good in the world, rather than being linked to someone who spread insidious fear and death everywhere he went.
Then Brent had asked her if she would be all right. He’d been worried about her safety. Even offered to take her with him.
Crazy. The man had been crazy to make such an offer. And she’d been even crazier not to take it. And, God help her, she’d wanted to go with him. She had reassured him she would be fine, but that turned out to be untrue. It had taken more than a year, but eventually Rio had discovered her betrayal and demanded her life in forfeit.
Now, to find herself here with Brent, seeing this side of him, sent her senses, her emotions reeling.
A shout broke the silent night. Adriana shot from her hiding place and ran toward the sound.
SIX
Brent snatched up the scrawny guy and held his weapon to the man’s head. Were there others, and if so, how many?
But wait. Confusion rolled through him as he took a closer look at his captive. “Who are you?”
“I...I’m sorry.” She held her hands up in front of her face as though she expected him to strike her.
She.
It was a woman. Garcia’s lieutenants were all male. But there were women in the cartel he could use and manipulate as he pleased. And her presence here could be a trick. “Are you alone?”
“Yes, I...”
Could he believe her, someone who’d sneaked onto the property? “I’ll ask again. Who are you?”
“My name is—”
“Rosa?” Adriana shoved past him from behind.
Her sudden appearance startled and angered him. Not so much at Adriana for not doing as he’d asked and staying put, but that she’d been able to sneak up on him. He paused a few seconds to take in their surroundings again to make sure this wasn’t a trap and that they were indeed alone.
She hugged Rosa to her, then released her, gripping her arms. “What are you doing here?”
Before Rosa could answer, Adriana turned her attention to Brent. “This is Rosa Morales, the young woman I told you about whom I mentored.”
“Are you the one?” he asked, unwilling to divulge any additional information. Let her tell him what he needed to hear.
“And what is your name, please?”
“I’m Texas Ranger Brent McCord.”
Rosa nodded. “If you’re asking if I sent you the letters, then the answer is yes. My English isn’t so good. But I see you found her, just as I have.”
He wouldn’t be relieved just yet. “This isn’t some kind of trick, is it?” Why he thought she’d tell him the truth if it was, he didn’t know. But maybe it was more that he hoped, and he needed to ask the question.
She vehemently shook her head. “No, please believe me. I only wanted to help by sending those letters. I’m here now, on my own. No one followed me.”
He had no choice but to believe her. For now. Besides, if she’d wanted to lead Garcia to his sister, she would have sent the letters to Rio instead of Brent. “Ladies, I say we take this gathering back to the house.”
Once inside, Brent paced and watched out the windows. Exhaustion threatened his reflexes and mental acuity, but he would watch over Adriana and her friends until his buddies arrived. Then, and only then, would he consider getting any rest. He wished the llama would give birth already so Adriana would be satisfied all was well, and then he could take her somewhere safe.
Inside the house, he noticed that the young Rosa appeared somewhat malnourished. Though it was now after three in the morning, Adriana placed home-baked bread and a warm bowl of stew in front of her. Rosa ate like she hadn’t eaten well in far too long. While she wolfed down the food, Adriana suddenly remembered Inez and brought her out from a hi
dden tunnel she hadn’t told Brent about. Interesting. Nor had she told him about her supply of weapons and ammo.
He’d been impressed when he’d realized it was Adriana who was armed for bear and dressed in tactical gear. Impressed and horrified at how close he’d come to taking her down, thinking she was a dangerous intruder. She wore it well, but though she’d acquired a tough veneer through her life experience, a softness in her expression remained behind her gaze. To his way of thinking, it took a special person to protect and keep that softer side after the horrors she’d witnessed.
Maybe Brent was the only one who could see it, which could be a good thing. Otherwise, that would be a dead giveaway to others she might encounter, and if faced with a battle, she wouldn’t come across as someone to fear. Unlike her brother, she wasn’t willing to torture or kill.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You that we haven’t had to face Garcia and his men tonight. And please let my Ranger brothers get here in time to protect these people.
Brent was contemplating moving Inez, Adriana and now Rosa, even against their wills, if his team didn’t show up in the next few hours. Maybe sooner. The risk was too great to continue using Adriana as a lure for the criminal kingpin. Sure, they wanted to get their hands on Garcia. But at what price? Sacrificing Adriana was one that Brent wasn’t willing to pay.
“Tell me everything, Rosa.” Adriana pulled up a chair, as did Inez. “How did you know where to find me? I think my brother knows where I am now. Do you know anything about when he’s coming?”
Brent wasn’t sure how Rosa would find a chance to answer the way she was scarfing down the food as if ravenous. Her mouth full, she shook her head, then between chewing and swallowing she told her story.
She began in broken English for Inez or Brent’s benefit, but when he told her that both he and Inez were fluent in Spanish, she switched to her native tongue. “I didn’t know for sure. I thought back to things you said to me before. I knew you loved llamas. I once asked you if you could leave, where would you go. I remember that distant look in your eyes when you said you could never go too far away from your home because you were anchored there, but maybe across the border. You laughed then, but I thought... I thought you would have gone to a llama ranch close to Mexico if you could.”
Adriana cupped her hands over her mouth. A tear rolled down her cheek. “Gracias Jesucristo,” she said, before returning her attention to Rosa. “I can’t believe you found me. I barely made it to safety, as it was, and to make it to a llama ranch, especially one with a wonderful caretaker like Inez, I can only give thanks to God. And I am also grateful to God that you listened, took to heart my words.” She glanced Brent’s way, her eyes locking with his. “And you helped Brent...Ranger McCord to find me.”
Her words made him realize he’d yet to hear the full story of her escape. He’d have to ask her later.
Rosa shrugged. “It was all I had to go on. You had mentioned him to me—said that you trusted him. I knew that you would need protection. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Thank you, Rosa,” Brent said. “I appreciate your help. I might never have found her otherwise, but what of her brother? Maybe she mentioned her love for llamas to Garcia, too.” Regardless, after someone tried to take her yesterday, they could be pretty sure Garcia had located his sister. But Brent wanted to hear if Rosa knew something more.
She sagged and pushed her empty bowl away. Inez took it and filled it again, warming the stew in the microwave.
“I don’t know if he has any idea where to look for you. I escaped weeks ago. Sent the letters when I had the chance. I’ve been hiding and living in the woods on my own since then. They’re hunting me now, too, though. When skirting the towns in search of food, I’ve seen his men and heard them asking if anyone had seen me, so I knew I had to stick to the woods completely. I’m not nearly as important to them as you. I promise I didn’t lead anyone here, but I had to go away from the cartel. You taught me so much—made me realize how wrong it was—and I wanted to escape. Plus, if I had stayed, they would have tried to make me tell them where you were. Where I thought you would go and hide. They knew you had been helping me. It wasn’t a secret anymore after you left. Rio questioned everyone. It came out that you had been mentoring others to help them get out of that life and live for good. I...I couldn’t stay.”
Adriana rose, moved around the table and hugged Rosa again. “Well, no more running for you. You found a home here with us. With me and Inez.”
Brent frowned. Was that even a good idea considering how close the cartel was to coming down on their heads here? He cleared his throat.
When Adriana glanced at him, she nodded. She understood what he was thinking, he hoped. “At least until I can figure out where you can go to be safe. I’m afraid the ranch is no longer a safe place. One of Garcia’s henchmen found me here—”
“I know,” Rosa said. “It was Gregario. I threw a rock at him.”
“That was you?” Brent asked.
She nodded.
“Why didn’t you show yourself earlier?” Adriana asked.
Shivering, Rosa wrapped her hands around the newly warmed bowl of stew Inez offered. “I was scared. I had to be sure it was safe here. And I’d seen him on the ranch.” She gestured at Brent. “A Texas Ranger. I wasn’t sure I could trust him. He could send me back across the border, even though I sent the letters. Was it Brent McCord, the one to whom I’d addressed them? I couldn’t be sure.”
“There’s no need to worry about you getting sent back right now. You’re a material witness and in my custody for the moment.” Brent winked, hoping that would disarm Rosa. Both Rosa and Adriana were witnesses to Garcia’s crimes. As far as Brent was concerned, the Texas Rangers needed to keep them close. And safe.
With the possibility of Garcia’s cartel descending on them at any minute, the llama ranch no longer looked like an option for Adriana, and she wasn’t going to like Brent’s solution. The distinct sound of vehicles approaching drew his attention—at this time of the morning it wasn’t the neighbors.
He readied his weapon.
* * *
Adriana ushered Inez and Rosa to the tunnel, then ran back to find Brent standing at the window, peering out without disturbing the curtains too much.
“Stay back,” he said.
She remained behind him, wishing she hadn’t removed her body armor. This might be the day they’d all waited for. The day they’d all dreaded. She held her breath until Brent’s shoulders dropped and he lowered his gun.
“It’s my backup.” He tossed her a glance. A relieved grin spread across his face as he rushed out the front door, letting the colder night air rush in.
She almost followed him out but remembered these men were the Texas Rangers who had been hunting her. Yes, Brent was one of them, but she had an understanding with him. A connection. She believed that he genuinely wanted for her to be safe and for her brother to go to jail. She wasn’t yet sure she could trust the others in their group the way she could trust Brent. There had been a traitor within the law enforcement ranks before—Greg Gunn, the man she’d supposedly killed.
Adriana wasn’t sure she could share Brent’s relief at their arrival. Still, whether there was a traitor among them or not really didn’t matter anymore. Rio knew where she was already, now that Gregario had found her. How long had he been combing the area in search of her? She’d been foolish to think she could remain so close to the border.
She pressed her back against the wall and drew in a long breath. Her quiet, safe haven at the llama ranch hadn’t lasted nearly long enough. In truth, she’d known it wouldn’t last. That was why she had prepared for the day Rio would find her, even while she hoped it wouldn’t happen. But she hadn’t considered the Texas Rangers would find her first. And now that they had, it was all happening too fast for her liking. She’d have to adapt. No sense in
avoiding the inevitable. She was about to face Brent’s Ranger brothers, whether she liked it or not.
Opening the door to go outside and face the Texas Rangers, she found them clomping up the steps to the porch—seven men wearing cowboy hats. Brent’s fist was in midair, to knock as if he didn’t come and go freely here. Feeling overwhelmed, Adriana took a step back, deeper into the house.
Brent acted quickly to encourage her out the door and onto the porch, into the cold night air.
She reached back to flip on the porch light, but he caught her wrist and shook his head. “Just in case someone is watching. The moon gives us enough light for now.”
He introduced her to Austin Rivers, Colt Blackthorn, Trevor Street, Christopher Rook, Ethan Hilliard and Ford Morrow. They all eyed her with not a little curiosity.
Adriana didn’t know what to do or say next. “Come in.” She swung the door wide.
“If you’ll excuse us, ma’am, we have work to do.” The tall blond guy—Trevor, if she remembered correctly—tipped his hat to her.
She nodded, noting that two of the Rangers remained on the porch and another two went marching off onto the property, their breath puffing out white clouds. Were there more of them already out there? Others she hadn’t been introduced to? Her nerves teetered on the edge. Hold it together, just a little longer. Jesucristo, see me through.
The remaining Rangers—just three—crowded into her small living room, making it feel even smaller, and removed their cowboy hats.
Brent ushered her to the sofa and sat next to her, but not too close. Her hands trembled and he took one of her moist palms in his bigger, calloused hand, then squeezed, reassuring her. It felt too good, too comforting. She wanted to snatch her hand back. She didn’t want to appear so needy and unsure of herself. She’d survived this long without anyone’s help—well, except for Inez’s.
“Ma’am,” Blackthorn said. “Don’t you worry. We’re going to keep you safe from your brother. You’re in our protective custody now.”
It sounded strange, hearing a Ranger call her ma’am. Hadn’t they considered her a murdering, conniving extension of cartel leader Rio Garcia? How could he be that kind? Maybe his manners didn’t let him show the disgust he truly felt for her. Still, at protective custody she bristled and sat taller. Glanced at Brent.
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