“Really?” Leia said, hope entering her voice. Her hand holding the gun lowered, though she still held the lighter tightly in the other. All it would take would be one flick of her thumb and the place would go up in flames.
“Yes, Leia. Come with me.” Ryder motioned with his hand, his eyes beseeching her to do what he asked. He took another step closer. “Let me take you home where we can be alone.”
“That’s all I ever wanted, to be alone with you.” She softened.
Todd moved to her other side, and her attention swiveled toward him.
“You stay there,” she warned him, the gun coming back up.
“Honey, we can work this out. You don’t have to do this.”
“But I do. Once she’s out of the way, Ryder and I can be together. Just like it was meant to be.” She backed up closer to Gabi.
Gabi took the opening, raising her legs and scissoring them around Leia’s, tripping her. She fell to the ground, and Ryder was immediately on top of her, wrenching the gun and lighter out of her hands.
Leia screamed and thrashed under him. Then Todd was there, taking her in his arms though she struggled to be free of his hold.
“It’s safe to come in!” Ryder hollered, and Jack and Dare hurried in.
“The cops are on the way,” Dare said. “Anyone hurt? Goddamn, it smells like gas in here.”
“Are you all right?” Ryder asked, bending to cup her cheek. His fingers lightly touched her forehead where Leia had smashed it into the floor. His jaw tightened at seeing what Gabi knew would bloom into a colorful bruise. “We need to get you to the clinic.”
“I’m fine, but Derek—”
Ryder went to work untying her. “He’s okay. He’s the one who called and let everyone know what was happening.”
“How did you know where to find us?”
“My foreman, Tobias. I had cameras installed here after the last vandalism.”
“Leia admitted that she started the fire a few months ago.”
“None of that matters—the cops will figure it all out—all that matters is you. You have no idea how scared I was, knowing she had you. I’m so sorry, Gabriella. I should have known how unstable she was and took more precautions.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“If I hadn’t gone out with her to begin with, none of this would have happened. Sorene warned me. I should have listened,” he said under his breath.
“You can’t beat yourself up. Leia’s actions were her own.”
He finally had the electrical wire undone, freeing her wrists and unwrapping the cord from around her chest and abdomen. He scooped her up and carried her outside.
“I can walk.”
“Just let me be the hero, even though you’re the one who took her down. Nice work by the way.”
“Thank you.”
Sirens wailed in the distance, and then suddenly the cavalry arrived with lights flashing and people rushing. Not just the troopers, but firetrucks and an ambulance, her dad, along with Kennadee and Gideon.
Ryder took her over to the bed of his truck, lowering the tailgate and setting her on it.
Everyone rushed around, creating a buzzing in her head. Now that the danger had been neutralized, she felt dizzy and a little sick to her stomach.
Kennadee pushed a can of soda in her hand. “Drink this,” she ordered. “It will help with the adrenaline crash.”
“Thanks.” She popped the top and guzzled the soda. Then her dad was there, wrapping his arms around her.
“My baby. Tell me you’re okay, that she didn’t hurt you.”
“I’m fine, Dad, and you’re crushing me. I can’t breathe.”
He released his hold, stepping back and looking her over. “You’re sure. I think we should take you to the hospital.”
“No, that isn’t necessary, but what about Derek?”
“Gideon just sewed him up at the clinic, and he’s with Morgan and your mom. He’s going to be fine. I’ve already called him to let everyone know we found you.”
Gideon stepped up, setting his black bag on the tailgate next to her. “Let me take a look at you. That’s going to be a nasty bruise on your forehead. Any dizziness, headache, nausea?”
“The soda took care of the dizziness.” And settled her stomach.
Gideon made her follow his fingers and shined a light into her eyes. He listened to her heart and then stepped back. “If you have any of the following, nausea, headache, difficulty concentrating, or blurred vision, I want to see you right away.”
“I’ll make sure of it, Gideon,” Ryder said, taking her hand in his. “I won’t be letting her out of my sight for a long time to come.”
Leia was led out of the log cabin, struggling in the troopers’ hold, her hands cuffed behind her back, screaming Ryder’s name. Todd followed behind, looking resigned and heartbroken. He saw Gabi and veered her direction.
“I’m sorry about the trouble Leia caused,” he said to Gabi and Ryder. “I’ll make sure she gets the help she needs. And Gabi, don’t worry about the zoning commission. I’ll undo what I did. I’ll even talk to the bank manager and get your loan in place. You won’t have any more problems from me.”
“Thank you, Todd.”
“I’m sorry for all the trouble Leia and I have caused you both.” He bowed his head, his shoulders slumped, and then returned to Leia where the troopers attempted to get her into the squad car.
Dare slapped a hand on Ryder’s back. “Bro, you sure have a way with women. Better lock this one down before she wises up.”
Ryder turned to her, his family flanking around them. “I know this isn’t the right place, and you might need more time, but I love you, Gabriella. Will you please marry me?” He produced a ring from his pocket and held it out to her.
Nestled in diamonds was a forget-me-not in sapphires. It was stunning. She wondered briefly where he’d found something so beautiful in the remote town of Heartbreak.
“Yes!” Jack and her dad exclaimed, fist bumping. The rest of the Wilde clan laughed.
“There goes another one,” Kennadee muttered.
“Knock it off, guys,” Ryder said. “She hasn’t answered yet.”
“Like she’d turn you down,” Dare said.
“Gabriella?” Ryder asked, holding his breath. “Will you be mine, make a life with me?”
“Yes, Ryder, I’ll marry you. I love you too.”
He scooped her up and swung her around.
“Excuse me, folks,” one of the troopers said. “I need to get your statements of what happened here.”
“Can’t it wait?” Jack said. “My son just got engaged. We need to celebrate.”
“Congratulations,” the trooper said in a monotone voice. “But the celebration will have to wait.”
“Give us a minute,” Ryder said, and then he kissed her in front of everyone. She didn’t care, kissing him back. All she cared about was him. That and how soon they could be alone to put to use the bag of goodies they’d bought.
Her day had started out so awful, thinking that she and Ryder couldn’t be together, and then gotten worse with Leia kidnapping her and threatening to kill her, but now she was in the arms of the man she loved, and engaged. She giggled. She’d known moving back to Alaska was the right decision.
She’d wanted more adventure, and a life with Ryder promised her that and so much more.
* * *
THE END
Watch for Wild Streak (Alaska Wild Night Book 6) coming in July featuring Dare Wilde, Ryder’s twin. Things are really going to be wild when this player finally falls in love.
About the Author
USA Today Beset Selling Author Tiffinie Helmer is always up for an adventure. Raised in Alaska, she was dragged “Outside” by her husband, but escapes the lower forty-eight to spend her summers in Alaska as often as she can get away with it.
A wife and mother of four incredible kids (now adults) and four furry babies, Tiffinie divides her time between enjoying her family,
throwing her acclaimed pottery, and writing of flawed characters in unique and challenging situations.
To learn more about Tiffinie and her books, please visit www.TiffinieHelmer.com
Also by Tiffinie Helmer
Alaska Wild Nights Series
Wild Heart - Book 1
Wild Cat - Book 2
Wild Fire - Book 3
Wild Card - Book 4
* * *
Romance on the Edge Series
Edge - Book 1
Hooked - Book 2
Shiver - Book 3
Death Cache - Book 4
* * *
Romance on the Edge Bundles
Romance on the Edge - Bundle One (Edge & Bearing All)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Two (Impact & Hooked)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Three (Moosed-Up & Shiver)
Romance on the Edge - Bundle Four (Death Cache & Dreamweaver)
* * *
Wild Men of Alaska Novellas
Wild Men of Alaska Bundle
Impact
Moosed-Up
Dreamweaver
Bearing All
* * *
Wild Women of Alaska
Wild Women of Alaska Bundle
Reel Trouble
Bushwhacked
Fireweed
Icebreaker
* * *
Topless Club Series
Topless - Book 1
Heartless - Book 2
* * *
Short Stories
Bait
Mooseletoe
Wild Ride (Alaska Wild Nights Book 5) Page 11
