by Shayla Black
Her brow furrowed. Beck saw her fighting the encroaching pleasure to give Seth what he demanded. “I love you.”
It was more of a breathy moan than a statement, but it clearly did something to him, just as it did to Beck.
“Tell me you’re ours.”
“I’m yours. Always.”
“Fuck. Angel…” Seth’s strokes ramped up, harder, faster. He bared his teeth. He chanted her name.
Then he gave a loud, strangled cry, body shuddering for long moments as he pressed in as deep as he could and emptied himself inside her. Under him, Heavenly grabbed at him, clutching him, as bliss dawned on her face.
As she opened her mouth and let out a silent cry, Seth yanked free. “Fuck. She’s mid-orgasm. Finish her.”
Gladly.
Quickly, Beck wedged himself between Heavenly’s thighs again, ignoring her cry of frustration. He tilted her up to him, then filled her with firm, unfaltering thrusts designed to finish unraveling her. In seconds, her whimpers turned to moans. She tightened, dug her nails into him, then screamed with a sound of ecstasy that almost didn’t seem human. She clamped down, then pulsed hard and fast, sweeping him away with her.
He closed his eyes, held her as tightly as he dared, then gave himself over to the bliss of being inside her—to fate—and poured his seed into her endlessly.
Moments—hours?—later, he finally caught his breath, feeling punch-drunk on pleasure, and so fucking in love. He’d never known a heady feeling like this existed. And he hated that he’d found it when it might be too late.
“I love you, little girl. We’re with you, no matter what happens next.”
Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes as her heavy-lidded gaze slid between the two of them. “And I love you, too. No matter what. I’ve never felt more whole in my life.”
Then her seeping tears became sobs. Beck felt her worry. It made him want to kill Jedediah now.
He and Seth covered her together, each winding an arm around her. Beck didn’t care that his arm was half buried by the other man’s ribs or that the big guy nudged a thigh with his own. They were surrounding their girl, reassuring her, consoling her, alternately kissing her as they filled her heart up in case they had no tomorrow.
In minutes, Heavenly drifted off. Beck smiled adoringly. Sometimes she was like a child; the moment her lids shut, the world fell away from her. She slept, curling into them with so much trust it made Beck’s heart clench.
Finally, Seth stood, stretched, his shoulders slumping with exhaustion. “I feel like a semi ran me over.”
Beck managed a grin. “She has that effect on me, too.” Then he caressed Heavenly with his stare, feeling his chest squeeze with fear. “I’ve got a bull’s-eye on my back, man. Jedediah is ruthless; he takes after Esther. Promise me… If I don’t make it, you’ll take care of Heavenly.”
The big PI nodded. He didn’t try to make assurances or downplay the danger they both knew was real. “Absolutely. I’ll never let anything happen to her. And if she conceived tonight—”
“Chances are slim.”
“I figured you had some idea about the timing of her cycle.” Seth shrugged. “But no matter what, I’ll be here.”
Beck sensed that promise cost the PI a lot. “Thanks. I’ve thought about this. I know something happened in your past and—”
“Now’s not the time. Let’s make it through this shit first.”
He nodded. “Fair enough. I just want you to know that if our roles were reversed, if your past was coming back for you, I’d be there.”
Seth disappeared into the bathroom. Beck heard the water run, listened as the other man dragged in a bracing breath, then he came out with a warm washcloth and cleaned Heavenly up in silence. It was a testament to her exhaustion that she didn’t rouse or move.
On his way back to the bathroom, Seth finally gave him a solemn nod. “I know. Thanks.”
“And if we both make it out—”
“We’ll talk then,” the PI promised. “Our girl needs a ring on her finger.”
“Yes, she does.” Beck was glad they were on the same page about that. “I don’t know what our commitment looks like, but I know I want it.”
“Yeah. I have a few other…issues to address, but I don’t have to question whether I want us forever. I know.”
“Same. Now all I have to do is not die.”
Chapter Eighteen
Friday, April 19
* * *
As early morning filtered golden sunlight through the windows, Seth glanced at the group eating Ngaire’s breakfast feast around the kitchen table. Conversations bantered around them. He tried to ignore the tension thickening the air.
Beside him, Beck perched Heavenly on his lap, thick arm banded around her possessively, while Seth fed their girl a forkful of fluffy scrambled eggs.
They should be enjoying each other now, damn it. Heavenly had finally committed to him and Beck—and proved her love in every way. Under normal circumstances, he and the surgeon would whisk her home so they could start the rest of their lives.
But nothing about now was normal.
How long would they be here at the lodge? Would Jedediah and his “Saint Squad” catch up to them in a day? A week? A month? How many of his friends would still be standing after the war was through? Seth fucking hated not knowing.
All they could do was be as ready for the onslaught as possible. After all, Liam’s lodge was miles from the rest of town—and any other civilization. No one would hear their gunfire. No one would call for help.
They were on their own.
Thankfully, River, Dean, and Adam had worked tirelessly through the night to prepare them for The Chosen. The caretaker had retrieved several deer stands from deep in the forest and reattached them to tall trees that flanked the driveway and would create a triangulation of fire. After River rigged up some incendiary surprises for the battle, he laid down a couple of motion detectors at the base of the private gravel road. In the meantime, Dean remounted half a dozen wireless game cameras along the drive leading to the lodge. Then they filled sandbags with soil from Ngaire’s freshly tilled garden and stacked them high to block the lodge’s plate-glass windows and fortify the dual balconies to provide cover for the shooters around the house. When the trio finished, Adam checked the perimeter. River positioned their arsenal under the grand staircase to ensure everything they needed to defend themselves remained within easy reach. Dean gave a head’s-up to the local police, who could do nothing until a crime had actually been committed, as well as a buddy at the FBI field office in LA, who said he’d be on standby.
Just before breakfast, Liam had shown the men the passageway to the roof. The large deck, designed to take in the vast view of the lake and the forest, also afforded a perfect observation point so see who—or what—was heading up the mountain.
Grateful to the others for finishing the preparations on his to-do list so he and Beck could spend the night with Heavenly, he handed her a mug of coffee.
As their girl took a sip, Gloria leaned close to Beck. “Looks like you three took Liam’s advice and got your house in order last night.”
Beck sent his ex a wide grin. “Oh, yeah. She finally said those three little words we’d been dying to hear.”
“Do me again?” Gloria teased.
“Ha ha,” Beck drawled as the woman chuckled.
Heavenly giggled, too.
“I’m happy for you three.” Then she sent their girl a wink. “About damn time you put them out of their misery, honey.”
“Past time,” Heavenly agreed with a smile.
Seth plucked up a piece of bacon. “Open up, angel.”
She complied, biting down before he leaned in and kissed her lips, tasting the lingering hickory-smoked flavor.
When breakfast was finished and Ngaire cleared away the dishes, Seth walked everyone through the plans he, River, Dean, Adam, and Beck had brainstormed last night. When he was done, Buddy leaned back in his chair and fro
wned.
“I’m honored you want me to guard the women in the gun dungeon, but I’m a damn good marksman. You boys are going to need my skills up top when the shit hits the fan.”
“And I’m not happy about being locked up like some fragile doll,” Gloria groused. “I can shoot, too. After what those cocksuckers did to me, I’d love the chance to send some straight to hell.”
“I’ve never shot a gun, but I could learn,” Heavenly piped up.
“I’ll teach you someday, but becoming proficient takes time we don’t have right now.” And the thought of his angel being anywhere near flying bullets made Seth’s blood run cold.
His angel didn’t look happy. “Then let me find some other way to be helpful.”
Beck shook his head. “You, Raine, Gloria, and Ngaire need to be someplace safe. It’s not up for discussion.”
“Your attitude is old-fashioned and sexist,” Raine pointed out.
“It’s practical. You don’t know shit about firing a gun, princess.”
Raine opened her mouth to rebut, but Hammer shut her argument down with a stern glare. “Don’t even think it, precious. The answer is no.”
Beck nodded in full agreement. “Besides, if you tried to fight, Hammer and Liam would be too busy losing their minds with worry to focus on neutralizing the threat without dying. And if someone kills you, they take three lives with one bullet. We can’t risk that.”
“Exactly,” Hammer bit out. “You and our children will stay in the gun dungeon until we drop the last bastard. Is that clear?”
She didn’t answer, simply sent her man a tight-lipped stare.
“We’ll be more effective if we’re not worrying about whether you ladies are safe.” Seth shrugged. “I’m sorry, but that’s a fact.”
“Did you hear that?” Gloria snorted, nudging Buddy’s elbow. “Seth just called me a lady.”
Amid the soft laughter, Liam’s fork clattered to his plate. Seth snapped his gaze around to find the Irishman’s eyes unfocused, seeming to stare straight through Dean across from him. A split second later, a shrill beep sounded from the transmitter next to the coffeepot.
“We’ve got company.” River grabbed his gun, silenced the alarm, and pocketed the device.
Instantly, the tension in the air became choking.
“Already? Fuck,” Beck muttered.
Seth’s blood turned to ice. “Showtime, everybody.”
They had between three and four minutes to get everyone in place. And he couldn’t help but wonder if, after the smoke cleared, anything would ever be the same.
Beck laid a brutal kiss on Heavenly’s lips, then gently lifted their frightened girl off his lap.
Trying to ignore the worry in her eyes and the way it made his gut clench, Seth dragged her in for a brief, powerful press of lips, then forced himself to let her go and urged her toward Buddy. Then he sent up a silent prayer that he and his loved ones would still be here when this fight was done.
While Adam brushed a peck on Ngaire’s cheek and sent her a tender smile, Liam and Hammer were reassuring a worried Raine. Fear lined Gloria’s face as she left Buddy’s embrace, but she stoically gathered the other women.
“I’ll keep ’em safe,” Buddy assured. “Let’s get downstairs, girls.”
“No, I’ve got them,” Gloria insisted. “There are still weapons in the gun dungeon. We’ll hole up there. I’ll get armed and be their last line of defense.” She gestured to Heavenly and Raine. “Buddy, stay with the men. You’re right. They’ll need every gun they can get on our front line.”
No one argued. A part of Seth wanted to…but Gloria was right.
Then with one last kiss, Buddy watched his fiancée lead the other women away. Seth’s throat clogged with choking worry as the most fragile part of his heart headed toward the back stairs, giving him one last blue-eyed glance back.
Beside him, Beck moved close, grimly clutching his weapon. Resolve and determination rolled off the surgeon. Dean was the only one still sitting at the table, eyes narrowed, studying the images on his cell phone.
“Talk to me,” Seth instructed once the girls were out of sight. “How many?”
“So far, only one vehicle. A white truck. Single driver, zero passengers,” the cop relayed.
Seth didn’t get it and he didn’t like it. “Assume your positions, people. This guy’s either a threat or a distraction. Stay frosty and be ready for anything.”
Adrenaline pumping, he and the others raced to the great room and retrieved their weaponry. Dean loaded up first, pausing to bump fists with River before he sprinted out the front door to position himself in one of the deer blinds. Adam, who had asked to claim another hunting stand in the trees, darted out behind him.
“The man coming up the road now isn’t here to harm us.” Liam turned to Beck. “You need to hear what he has to say.”
“Fine.” He and the others could listen fully armed. Seth refused to let his guard down or risk a single life based on Liam’s psychic instinct. He dealt in cold, hard facts—like the one making his way up the mountain now.
Gripping heavy ammo cans, River headed to the roof. The numerous automatic weapons strapped to his back clattered and bounced as he bounded up the stairs.
Hammer and Liam gathered their cache and jogged up to their respective balconies, flanking each side of the house. They settled in behind the sandbags. Seth stepped onto the wide porch beside Beck, braced and waiting.
The sounds of an engine and gravel crunching grew louder. As the pickup rounded the curve, they both raised their weapons, aiming at the stocky man behind the wheel with plain clothes and pale hair. He pulled to a stop and killed the engine.
“Zacharias,” Beck murmured. “My youngest brother.”
As soon as the man leapt from the truck, Seth saw the resemblance—same eyes, same chin, same grave expression. But when his eyes fell on Beck, Zacharias looked as if he’d seen a ghost.
“Gideon.” Awe transformed his face. “Praise God. I can’t believe it’s really—”
“Stay where you are.” Beck raised his weapon, completely unmoved by their reunion.
The smile fell from Zach’s face. “I’m not your enemy, brother. I’m here to warn you.”
“Before this conversation goes any further, I need to pat you down,” Seth insisted.
“I’ve got a knife in my boot,” Zach readily admitted.
“Take it out, nice and easy, then place it on the hood of your truck,” he instructed, keeping his AR at the ready.
Zach did. “I’m glad my brother has you for reinforcement, but it will take more than two of you to stop Jed.”
Seth patted the man down thoroughly and found no threat. Despite Zach’s easy compliance, he still wasn’t convinced the man didn’t have ulterior motives. But it was also possible he had valuable information that might mean the difference between life and death. So Seth stepped back and gave the surgeon a nod, determined to hear this intel. “He’s clean. Proceed.”
“Is that cocksucker coming for me now?” Beck asked his brother.
“I don’t know exactly what’s happening, but he’s actively on the hunt, Gideon.”
“My name is Beck now. Don’t ever call me Gideon again.”
“If you wish.” Zach nodded.
Beck raked a hand through his hair. “How did you find me?”
Guilt settled over Zach’s features. “I’ve spent months looking for you. The closest I came was the private eye’s office. I finally saw you pick him up yesterday, but you were already halfway down the street before I could even start my truck. I waited, hoping you’d come back, but a dark-haired man went into the office instead. When I tried to talk to him, he wasn’t very forthcoming, so I left my warning…then I put a tracking device on his truck, hoping he would lead me to you. And he did.”
The hair on the back of Seth’s neck prickled.
“Is there any chance Jed and his army followed you here?” Beck demanded, obviously not caring that Zach see
med pleased with himself.
“I-I don’t think so, but he’s not talking to me these days. And he hasn’t been acting like himself for the last few months. That’s why I’m here. I’m worried that—”
“Jed is coming to kill me?”
“Yes, among other things. I don’t want you to die, and I don’t want your blood on my hands.”
“Isn’t it dangerous for you to consort with ‘Satan?’” Beck sneered.
“Very, but I-I wanted to see if you could help. Things back home are…bad.”
So Zach wasn’t simply here out of the goodness of his heart. He wanted something…
“What do you mean?” Beck remained tense, as if he hadn’t heard the dread in his brother’s tone. Either he didn’t believe Zach and his motives or he just didn’t care. “Tell me what’s happened since I left Messiah City.”
“I’ll have to go back that far to explain. Mother watched you leave with Father after Blessing’s funeral. She was already singing hymns and laughing. In hindsight, it was like she knew—”
“Good ol’ Dad intended to make sure I wasn’t coming back?”
“Exactly. But when Father didn’t return and dark fell, she sent the Saint Squad out to find him. It didn’t take long for them to bring his body back and tell her they couldn’t find you. She went insane and sent them out to search with orders to kill you on sight because Satan had taken your soul.” Zach drew in a deep breath. “I never prayed as hard in my life as I did that day. It would have crushed me if they’d brought your dead body back, too. Finally, after months of searching the desert, Mother decided that you’d crawled back to hell and told them to stop looking.”
“Because she’d found a way to override the covenant and let Jed claim the title of Messiah then, even though he was only fourteen?”
“No. Things were still touchy. A few more ambitious elders made power grabs, but when Uncle Peter assumed the role of Messiah until Jed turned sixteen, they were all forced to accept him.”
Beck snorted. “Peter has the spine of a noodle. I’m assuming Mother really ran the show?” At Zach’s nod, Beck’s mouth took a bitter twist. “Of course she did. And since Jed was always a mama’s boy, I assume he’s been her puppet every day he’s been the Messiah.”
