by Shauna Allen
Keep the boy quiet.
Protectiveness surged through me like a tidal wave and it took everything I had to keep from bolting for them and taking them down like a raging bull. But I had no idea what I was up against and I couldn’t risk Nathan’s life.
I took two calming breaths, just like before a long shot, and kept crawling until I was close enough to see through the slats.
There were three of them, one at the barn door, one in the back on his phone, one hovering over Nathan, who was tied up with a gag shoved in his mouth, tears streaming down his face. Nathan stared up at his captor, his eyes pleading for mercy, but the scumbag just leered down at him, evil emanating from him like radioactivity. He kicked Nathan in the gut, making him cry out behind his gag, but the man just laughed and cursed him in Spanish.
I saw red.
We were done here.
Stupid or not, I moved to my feet and rounded to the back of the building. I pulled the knife from my boot and took out the asshole on his phone first with a clean slice to the throat. He never saw me coming and he fell silently. I tossed his body out the back door and inched inside. I rounded the wall, hiding behind hay bales, until I was within five feet of Nathan.
I saw the moment he spotted me.
His eyes got big and round as half dollars, his tears starting all over again. He began to wiggle and jerk against his bindings.
I shook my head and lifted my finger to my lips in a shushing motion.
He got the idea and quickly fell quiet just as the bastard watching over him glanced down in disgust and told him to shut the fuck up in Spanish, following it up with another kick to his tiny ribs.
Nathan met my gaze.
I nodded once, hoping he’d understand my silent promise that I had this and that he would be safe. I motioned with my hands over my face for him to close his eyes. I didn’t want him to witness any more ugliness than he had to, and it was about to get real damn ugly.
He did as he was told and squeezed his eyes closed.
I waited a beat then screwed the suppressor onto my pistol and took aim for asshole number one, who was guarding the barn door. He needed to go first so I could take my time with asshole number two, who obviously took pleasure in tormenting little boys. I planned to show him who was the little boy now.
One shot to the back of the head and the first guy dropped like a sack of potatoes.
Fuckface spun around in shock, saw his friend’s brains splattered on the ground, then quickly turned to look for his other buddy at the back. Just an open door. Pale-faced, he shot Nathan a panicked glance then backed up a step as if to run.
Pussy.
Too late now.
I stepped out of the shadows. “Don’t move, asshole.” I didn’t figure I needed to whip out the Spanish. He got my meaning well enough, thanks to the gun aimed center mass.
But he was more ballsy than I thought. He snatched Nathan up by the armpits and held him to his chest like a shield, his pistol pointed to his head. “You think I won’t kill him?” he spit out.
“Oh, I know you would.” I did not hesitate. I did not flinch. I did not give him or his miserable life one moment’s consideration. I pulled the trigger and shot him right between the eyes, dropping him like a rabid dog.
He fell to the ground with Nathan still in his grip.
I rushed over and kicked the gun from his limp hand.
“Mr. Johnny!” Nathan cried, scrambling to be free. He leapt up into my arms and clung to me like he might never let go. “I didn’t want the bad men to hurt Nugget. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry,” he cried over and over again.
I rubbed his back. “I know, buddy. I know you are.”
Suddenly, another shot rang out in the distance. I ducked and covered his body with mine, my hand cupping his head, but I knew it was too far away to be meant for us.
More shots.
A scream.
The house.
Fuck.
They were under attack again.
My mind raced. I needed to get back. I couldn’t leave Nathan.
“Mommy?” Scared eyes met mine.
“She’s at the house, buddy.”
His gaze darted in the direction of the gunfire. He was as torn as I was. Half of my heart was back at that house, too. I scouted the barn once more and made a heart-wrenching decision. “Can you be brave for me, Nathan?”
He hesitated, but nodded. “I think so.”
“Okay.” I climbed the ladder with him and tucked him into the far corner of the hayloft. “I want you to hide up here and stay quiet as a mouse until I get back. No matter what happens, don’t make a sound and don’t come down for anyone but me, your mommy, or someone from my team, understand?”
He nodded again. “You’re gonna go get my mommy and Daniel?”
“I am.”
“Okay.” I could tell he was scared, but determined to be a big boy for me.
I tapped the tip of his nose. “I’m proud of you, son.”
His eyes lit up at the endearment and he wiggled himself farther into the corner.
I slid a haybale in front of him to hide him from view then climbed down and made a run for the house as gunfire continued. I drew my weapon and rounded a tree, my eyes peeled for where the shots were coming from. The tip of Caroline’s rifle peeked from her assigned window as she fired toward the garage.
Muzzle fire shot back to the house, pinging on the porch rail and shattering the front glass.
A shadow ducked from behind the garage, making toward the back door. Wood splintered. A spray of bullets rained as I ran toward the fight. Then it was silent.
I skidded around the corner and careened up the steps and in the open back door. I stopped short when I found a very dead cartel member on the floor and Fiona standing not two feet away, covered in blood, her gun still aimed at his chest.
Summer came in next, her eyes wide. “Fiona.” She put a hand to her arm, pressing her gun down. “Are you okay?”
I made sure the guy was good and dead, took his weapon, then approached and grabbed her gun.
She began to shake violently then sunk to the floor. “I don’t know . . .” Her eyes sought mine. “I think so.” Tears began to tremble and fall down her cheeks. “The boy? Is he . . .?”
“He’s fine,” I hurried to reassure her. “He’s okay.”
She wilted against Summer, who’d knelt to hold her. “Thank God.”
Cheyenne poked her head in. “Please tell me there aren’t any more of them and that you’ve heard from the guys because this is all kinds of bullshit.”
“No word yet. Sorry.”
She huffed out a sigh.
My dad called from the other room, “But it looks like we got ‘em all. No more movement on any of the security cameras. Just a bunch of dead cartel assholes.”
Cheyenne leaned against the doorframe. “Well, at least there’s that.” She glanced around. “What a mess.” Her eyes caught on Fiona. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
Fiona glanced down and seemed to see the blood all over her for the first time. “Shit. I don’t know.” She stood on wobbly legs and shot a look to the dead guy on the floor. “I think this is his?”
“Or not,” Summer said. “Did you get cut by the glass from the door?”
“Oh.” She lifted her hands. “Maybe.”
Cheyenne and Summer took her to the sink to wash up and I took the chance to duck out and find Scarlett and Daniel.
Mom had them in an upstairs bedroom, where Scarlett’s eyes were still swollen, but she looked much better. She bolted up the moment she saw me. “Did you find him?”
I sat next to her. “Yes, baby. He’s fine.”
She glanced around. “Where is he?”
“I had to hide him since there was still trouble. I’ll go get him now.”
“I’m coming, too.” She jumped to her feet.
My mom took Daniel and offered me a small smile. I tipped my head in a silent apology for all the trouble, but what could
I really say? My life and career had brought this ugliness to their doorstep. How could I ever fix that?
Scarlett and I ran down to the barn and I let her climb up to get Nathan in the loft. Both of them were crying by the time we got back to the house, and I think we all felt like we’d survived WWIII.
I tried the teams again, but still no answer, so I left another 9-1-1 message on all of their phones that would be waiting when they were back online, hopefully really damn soon.
We called the police, though we kept all information about our operation to ourselves. As far as they were concerned, this was all part of the ongoing gang turf wars that had just spilled over onto our ranch, and we were caught in the middle. Not one officer questioned us protecting ourselves or how we did it, and we didn’t volunteer any more information. Don’t ask, don’t tell if you ask me, and if they suspected anything with my presence there, they didn’t say. If anything, the sheriff seemed appreciative that he hadn’t had to deal with the cartel himself.
After that was done, the scene was cleared, and Pete’s body was taken to the funeral home. We helped my parents clean up the best we could, ate a quick meal, then everyone collapsed for a nap. Except for me. I was too wired. A part of me was still waiting for the other shoe to drop. I still hadn’t heard from the guys and that left me with a nagging sense of unease.
Scarlett found me a couple hours later, pacing in the den by the security cameras. She slid in behind me and hugged me from behind. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. You saved us. You saved my baby. Again.”
I twisted in her arms and held her tight. “You don’t have to thank me. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. You and those boys have become my life.”
She lifted wide, emotional eyes to mine. “I need you to know you’ve saved more than my life, Johnny.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, as I sat up there with gunshots ringing all around me, thinking I might die . . . then when I thought I might’ve lost my son . . . I realized there is more than one way to die.” When I tried to speak, she shushed me with a fierce shake of her head, so I closed my mouth and let her say what she needed to say. “I’ve been beaten down before. I’ve been bruised and battered, and I’ve wanted to die a few times.”
My hands clenched and unclenched in her sweater, drawing her closer as my heart thumped painfully at her words. Still, I remained silent.
“But I never did. I couldn’t. Not with two boys who needed me.” She looked me square in the eye. “But now, these past weeks, this is the first time I’ve really wanted to live. For me. You’ve made me so happy, Johnny. So, yes, you might’ve saved my body, but it means so much more to me that you healed my wounded heart.”
“Scarlett . . .” I had no words for that. None. How could I? I hadn’t really saved her. She’d saved me.
“I love you, Johnny Ray. I love you so much. I think I always have, and I couldn’t possibly let you leave here without knowing that. No matter what happens between us, it wouldn’t be fair to either one of us if I didn’t tell you.”
“Scarlett, baby—”
My words were cut off when my cell rang. I wanted to ignore it so badly, but it was Tito’s ringtone. I squeezed my eyes closed for a second, debating if I could ignore the call and have this moment with her, but I knew I couldn’t.
She stepped back, understanding clear on her face as I grabbed my phone.
I mouthed I’m sorry before I took the call and she left the room to give me some privacy. “Tito! What the fuck, man?”
“Sorry, bro. We got ambushed with a firefight at the safe house, then we went on a wild fucking goose chase.”
“Tell me you at least caught the goose?”
“Not exactly.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose and squeezed my eyes closed. “Are you serious? What the hell?”
“Same old song and dance, man. We did find some computers in the house though, and Tex is looking them over now, but he says he’s not sure they were ever here. It might’ve been a trap. We do have one more lead to follow with Mendez’s niece, Grace Trevino. Lucky’s volunteered to have a run at her since his Spanish is passable and he fancies himself the ladies’ man. I’m betting it’s another dead end.”
“Damn it.”
“So, what was with all the 9-1-1 messages? Something happen at the ranch? The guys are all antsy now about their families.”
“Hell, yes, something went down. We were hit.”
The line went silent. I could tell he did not want to repeat that out loud for fear of how the men would react.
“Don’t worry. Everyone is safe. Other than Fiona getting cut by some glass and about ten dead cartel fuckers, all is well. Those women are badass. They’d be proud.”
He blew out a breath. “Damn, Bubba. We should’ve known they’d try something like that. Some of us should’ve stayed behind.”
“Tried what?” Red demanded behind him. “What happened?”
“Are the girls okay?” Tex added, alarm making his voice loud.
“Everyone’s fine,” Tito assured them. “Simmer down.”
He put me on speaker phone so I could give the entire team the dirty lowdown. They were understandably pissed, but I pacified them with tales of how bravely their women fought and the fact that all was well that ended well other than old Pete getting killed when they stormed the place.
“Still, it never should’ve happened,” Wolf gritted.
“True,” Kid said.
“We’re going to have to work smarter. This can’t keep happening,” Benny added, surprising me since he rarely spoke. “We’re starting to look like chumps.”
“Well, your women certainly didn’t look like chumps,” I said with a grin. “They might’ve even put you to shame.”
“I’m sure,” Maverick said.
“You’re sure they’re all good? The kids, too?” Cookie asked.
“I’m sure. Fiona was the only one who got a little cut up when she took out the last guy, but it’s all superficial, I promise. You can check it all out when you get back.”
“Roger that,” Tex said. “We’ll load up and be back in a few hours.”
“The girls will be happy to hear that,” I said.
We ended the call so they could get on the road, and I sat down, suddenly exhausted. What to do now? I needed to talk to Scarlett, but what should I say? Would it be more painful to tell her I loved her too, then turn around and leave with my team? Should I make a clean break?
I rubbed my forehead, unable to think. Aim a gun at me, I can take you down, no worries. Take aim at my heart, and I am apparently a bumbling idiot.
Sixteen
Scarlett
I knew he was leaving from the moment his team arrived at the ranch. It was only a matter of time before the excitement of his life as a Marine beckoned him back. Yes, I knew he loved his family and the ranch—he may even love me and the boys—but none of that could ever compare to the thrill of what he’d found in the world outside.
And, honestly, I couldn’t blame him.
Did it hurt?
Hell, yes.
I’d gone and fallen madly, stupidly in love with him, but I knew what I was signing up for from the word ‘go’. He was a military man, through and through, and that was part of the appeal. He was a good man and I was incredibly proud of him.
I clutched the keychain he’d given me for Christmas in my palm and watched him walk Nathan around on Nugget’s back in the round pen while his men loaded up the vans with all their gear and suitcases.
It had been an eventful visit, and I’d enjoyed meeting them all, especially the women. It had opened my eyes to what life could be like being with him, but he’d never indicated that he might want me and the boys to be a part of his life outside of the ranch, and I’d never dream of pushing for that. We were perfectly content here. If he wanted us, he’d say so.
But what did I want? Could I give up the life I’d
so comfortably carved out for us, risk the security I’d created, and take the biggest leap of all? What about the boys? What would be best for them? They obviously adored Johnny and he them, but was it fair to ask him to be a father to them?
God, this was all so confusing.
I watched him walk next to Nugget, grinning up at my son and my heart melted in my chest. I’d confessed my love to him with all the words I could find, spilling my entire truth at his feet. That was the bravest I’d ever been, the most vulnerable I’d ever allowed myself to be since Todd, and I couldn’t bring myself to regret it. If Johnny hurt me now, it would be because I’d allowed it, not because he chose it, and I wouldn’t regret that because I’d freely given my love to a good man. Not one who intentionally mistreated me. That was a victory in my book.
He glanced my way, his dark eyes smiling.
I lifted my hand in a wave.
“I’m gonna miss him.”
My head snapped around at Mrs. Ray’s words, not realizing she’d walked up beside me. I turned back. “Me, too.”
“I wish he didn’t have to leave, but I understand that ranch life isn’t for him.”
I hummed my agreement, wondering what she was getting at.
Her hand cupped mine on the fence. “It isn’t for everyone, dear, and sometimes, we have to explore what’s out there for us in the world to know for sure.”
I blinked against the burn of tears. “Maybe.”
She patted my hand. “Maybe.”
She left me alone after a moment, and eventually, the teams got ready to leave, so Johnny hefted Nathan down and we moseyed over to say our goodbyes. I was glad he wasn’t leaving with them, but I knew our days were numbered.
Caroline popped over and collected me into a hug. “Bye, Scarlett. It was so nice to meet you.”
“You, too.”
Danielle was next. “Bye.”
Then all the other women and guys and kids, until I was a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way. They were all so kind, treating me like family.
Rebekah approached last with a big hug. “I hope to see you soon.”
“Sure,” I agreed half-heartedly.
She grinned. “I’m opening my café, Maverick’s, over spring break. Maybe you and the boys can come out to California and celebrate with us. It’ll be fun.”
