Chapter 21

21

Melissa

I ’m still reeling from the first real Christmas I’ve had in years and it’s already New Year’s Eve. The guys have not left my side, and neither have Darla or Sammy. Heck, even Kyle and Jason keep finding reasons to check on me once in a while. In the meantime, I’m still hiding my pregnancy, still trying to cope with the nausea and the sudden bouts of hunger without arousing suspicion.

“We’re all set for tonight,” Colton says as he walks into the kitchen.

Ethan and Mitch are already here, halfway done with their hearty breakfast. Since it’s a special day, I decided to sneak out of bed and away from their strong arms about an hour earlier than usual so I could put this veritable feast together.

“You got the champagne,” Ethan replies, half-smiling.

“Two cases. You know, in case we decide to go wild,” Colton chuckles and joins them at the breakfast table, but not without dropping a kiss on my cheek first as I load his plate with a hefty serving of everything. “Morning, beautiful.”

“Morning,” I reply, feeling warm and golden on the inside.

His blue eyes search my face. “So, this is why you ran off before dawn.”

“Figured you could use proper sustenance,” I reply with a giggle. “We’ve got a big lunch before the New Year’s Eve dinner as well. You boys better show up hungry.”

Mitch chuckles. “Oh, you bet your gorgeous ass we’re gonna show up hungry. We don’t have much to do for the rest of the day. Darla’s upstairs in her home office closing up the admin year for the ranch. Sammy’s got Kyle and Jason patching up the last damaged section of the northeastern fence.”

“All we have to do is handle the cattle feed, check on the rest of the livestock, and take the horses out for one last ride of the year,” Ethan adds. “Oh, Colt, the fireworks.”

“Already in the garage,” Colton replies, clearly satisfied with himself.

My eyes pop wide with excitement. “Y’all do love a raucous New Year’s Eve, huh?”

“Normally, we’d just go out to the Cavalier and celebrate with everyone else, but we figured we’d try something special this year,” Colton says in between morsels of food. “My Lord, Melissa, this is one of the best omelets you’ve made so far.”

As I watch my men work through their breakfast, I think of ways I could tell them about the baby. They should know. I’ll start showing soon enough, and when that happens, I have no idea what will happen.

I’m suddenly struck by a terrible thought. What if the guys don’t want anything to do with me or the baby once they find out? My baby will be born in prison and end up in the foster system like I did. The thought is enough to bring on another wave of nausea.

I’m biting my lower lip, and Colton is the first to notice. “Are you okay, Melissa?”

“Yeah, a few things on my mind, that’s all.”

Ruckus erupts outside. Engines roaring. Horns blaring.

Instantly, everything changes. Time speeds up. The guys jump from the table and head for the front door. Instinctively, despite my rapidly beating heart, I run after them.

I barely register the moment in which Colton, Ethan, and Mitch each grab one of the rifles mounted in the hallway cabinet before they step out onto the porch. I don’t register the warnings they give each other either.

“Melissa, stay inside,” Ethan tells me.

“What?” I’m just about to join them on the porch when I’m not-so-gently pushed back, the front door shutting abruptly in my face.

I need a few seconds to catch up, but as soon as my brain is back online, I rush into the living room and peek through the window. The view unraveling before my eyes fills me with a sudden wave of dread and horror.

Three black SUVs have pulled up outside, right in front of the house. How they got past the security gate, I have no idea.

The air feels thick and practically unbreathable as Colton, Ethan, and Mitch reach the porch steps, rifles locked and loaded in their hands.

Two men get out from the car in the middle. They’re clad in black, their winter parkas thick and unzipped.

“Bring her out,” one of them shouts, a hint of a Hispanic accent coloring the words.

My blood runs cold. I’m frozen on the spot, face practically glued to the frosted window.

“Who the fuck are you, and what are you doing on my property?” Colton replies, firmly gripping his rifle. Mitch and Ethan are already pointing theirs at the strangers.

“You know who we are. You were warned,” the guy replies.

The other one whips out a weapon of his own, but—BAM!

“Oh, shit!” I yelp.

Ethan shoots him in the leg. The man falls to the ground with a scream as the first guy pulls a gun from the back of his pants. Mitch swings his gun toward him and fires inches in front of the man’s toes.

“What the fuck!” the startled man yells as he takes a step back.

“That was a warning. Don’t be stupid,” Mitch warns. “You’re on our turf.”

Another man jumps out to help his injured comrade, pulling him into the SUV.

The first one speaks again. “Give us Melissa Carson, and we’ll be on our way.”

“You need to be on your way, period,” Colton says. “Or we will fire again. And again. And again. I’ve already called the sheriff. He’s on his way.”

I doubt that. There was no time. But these cartel pricks don’t need the truth. They just need to know someone’s coming. That we’re not alone out here in the middle of nowhere, theirs for the picking. Instinctively, I cradle my lower belly with both hands, terrified of what might happen if these men get past Colton, Mitch, and Ethan.

Ethan descends the first porch step. “You heard my brother,” he shouts. “Get the fuck out of here, or I will shoot you.”

“Give us Melissa Carson,” the first guy insists.

“Apparently, you didn’t get my message,” Mitch says and fires a second round, even closer to the previous.

It makes the driver jump. “You fucker!”

“Not going to say it again.” Colton stands his ground as well.

I’m pretty sure they’re outnumbered and outgunned, but the cartel already has one injured man and the Averys aren’t afraid to shoot.

“Oh, God,” I whisper as Ethan points his rifle at the chatty driver.

“One last time. Are you pricks leaving on your own, or will we be burying bodies in the back pasture?”

“We’ll be back,” the driver says, backing toward the SUV. “Either deliver the girl or the money, or you won’t like what happens.”

To my relief, the men get back in their cars. The three black SUVs turn around and bolt up the driveway leading back to the gate, while Colton, Ethan, and Mitch stay right where they are.

Watching.

Waiting.

Ready to fire if needed.

“I can’t believe it,” I whisper, shaking like a leaf. The adrenaline courses through me like an endless, unstoppable surge of electricity, making my chest feel heavy and my knees weak.

Me or two million dollars.

Anything other than that will result in something much worse than what just happened.

Next time, there won’t be three cars. Next time, I wager my guys won’t have the precious few seconds they’ll need to grab their rifles to defend me. Good grief, I almost believed there might be a way out of this hot mess.