Chapter 15: Ruth

This must be what it's like to be a college dormitory room mother. My small cabin is bursting at the seams with five men who are all larger than life. I offer to make breakfast, and find myself going through nearly two dozen eggs, a pound of bacon, and an entire loaf of bread. I thought I was doing good to stock up on the necessities yesterday at Maggie's, but I grossly underestimated how much food I'd need. I should have bought three times what I purchased.

Jack's hovering over me in the kitchen, offering to help, but I keep trying to shoo him away. "Go sit down and eat. This kitchen isn't big enough for the both of us." But I say it with a smile, and as he passes me, he pats my ass, sending shivers up my spine.

Aleksa and Lenny are seated at the table, drinking coffee and scarfing down breakfast like they haven't eaten in a week. I offer them seconds, and then thirds, and they keep saying yes. At this rate, I'll run out of food soon.

Mike is on watch, seated by the front window with a rifle within reach. Diego is outside placing motion sensors along the driveway and in the woods.

"This siege had better not last long," I say, "or we'll run the risk of starving."

"Don't worry," Jack says. "Once it starts, it'll be over soon. We won't starve."

"I do have plenty of nonperishable rations in the pantry," I say. "We can survive a long time on beans and rice."

Jack returns to my side. "Sit down and eat. I'll take over here." He reaches across the cabinet for the coffee pot and refills my half-empty cup.

"Thanks," I say, picking up my mug.

He grabs a plate, fills it with food, and hands it to me. "You want some toast?" he asks as takes the spatula from me and turns the bacon in the skillet.

Jack seems to be going out of his way to be agreeable this morning. I guess that surprises me after our conversation last night, when I confessed to him that the only reason I slept with him was because I thought he was about to leave town.

I'm sitting at the table eating when I hear the rumble of an approaching engine. I recognize the familiar sound.

Mike grabs the rifle, as Lenny and Aleksa both draw their side arms. Even Jack is reaching for his holstered Glock.

"Wait!" I shoot to my feet. "It's just my brother, Micah."

They all ease their posture a bit, although they're clearly still on alert. Then it dawns on me that Diego is out there, in the woods, somewhere between the cabin and the road. He might mistake Micah for one of the mobsters. "Shit! Diego's out there." I'm out the door in a flash, running down the front steps.

"Ruth, wait!" Jack races outside after me, followed by Aleksa.

The sound of the motorcycle draws near, and I'm running across the yard and toward the gravel lane. "Don't shoot!" I yell, praying Diego can hear me. "Don't shoot!"

Just as Micah's bike rolls into view, Diego steps out of the trees, his handgun pointed right at my brother.

Micah's dressed in black and wearing a bike helmet with a tinted visor. Admittedly, he looks menacing.

"Don't shoot!" I yell, still running forward. "That's my brother!"

"Ruth, stop!" Jack yells as he races after me.

As Diego steps directly into his path, gun drawn, Micah rolls to a stop and raises both hands.

"It's okay, Diego," Jack calls. "Stand down."

Micah removes his helmet and glares at Jack. "What the fuck!"

Diego holsters his gun.

Everyone's standing here, out in the open. All seven of us.

"Who the hell are all these guys?" Micah asks me as he starts walking his bike toward the cabin.

I fall into step beside him. "They're friends of Jack's. They've come to help him with his situation."

Micah parks his bike next to my Jeep, then turns to face the rest of us, his hands on his hips. He makes an impressive sight, all six foot two of him, dressed in black. His hair is braided. His expression is tense, angry. "And exactly what situation is that?" he asks, directing his ire at Jack. "The fact that you have the Russian mob after you?"

Jack blows out a heavy breath. "These are former teammates of mine. They've come to give me backup." He points them out. "Mike, Aleksa, Lenny. And that's Diego."

"Are you expecting anyone else?" Diego asks me. "Is there a guest list I should know about? It would be nice to know ahead of time so we don't accidently kill your friends."

"I warned everyone to stay away," I say as I glare at my brother. "But apparently some people have problems following instructions."

Micah turns his dark eyes on me. "You really think I'd stay away when my own sister might be in danger?"

"We can handle this, Micah," Jack says. "You should—"

Micah jabs a finger in Jack's direction. "Don't tell me what to do. I'm not leaving my sister here unprotected."

"I'll protect her," Jack says.

"Who says I need protection?" I ask. "All of you—"

"Can we please take this discussion inside?" Mike asks, his voice remarkably calm in the face of so much testosterone. "We could have unwanted company any moment."

Grumbling, we all head back into the cabin. All except for Lenny, who grabs a sniper rifle and takes up a position in the barn loft window, which the guys have nicknamed The Sniper's Nest. "I'll take first watch," he says as he heads for the barn.

Once the rest of us are inside, Mike closes the door and turns the deadbolt.

"You shouldn't have come," I say to Micah. "I told you to stay away."

"Oh, sure." Micah directs his attention to me. "And since when do I listen to you?"

"Apparently, it runs in the family," Jack mutters, earning himself glares from both me and my brother.

Micah turns his attention to Jack. "Let me guess. The mob followed you to Bryce, and you're planning to have it out with them here at my sister's house? Have I got that right?"

"Pretty much," Jack says. "I've tried talking her into leaving town, but she refuses to go."

"Of course she does," Micah says. "Have you met my sister? She doesn't back down."

Jack sighs. "Micah, nothing's going to happen to Ruth."

Micah crosses his arms. "You bet nothing's going to happen to her because I'm staying."

"No, you're not," I say, at the exact same time Jack says, "The hell you are!"

"I'm staying," Micah repeats. "End of discussion."

"Then you'll have to stay in the cabin," Mike says. He nods to the others. "We're a team. We're used to working together. You'd just get in our way."

"That's fine," Micah says. "I'm just here for Ruth. I brought fire power and ammo." He heads for the door. "It's outside in my satchel."

Micah brings in a backpack containing two handguns, a ton of ammo, and a vicious-looking knife. I follow him into my bedroom, where he unpacks everything and stows it on my dresser.

"I wish you hadn't come," I say. "This is a risky situation, and it's only going to get worse."

Micah pulls me into his arms. "That's exactly why I came. You may be my big sister, and when we were little you looked out for me. But now it's my turn." He gazes down at me. "I'm not letting you face this alone."

Micah and I return to the living room, where the guys are standing around the dining table, gazing down at a hand-drawn map of my property that someone scribbled onto the back of a brown paper bag. The main road, gravel lane, clearing, cabin and barn are clearly labeled with a black marker.

Diego points out strategic spots on the map. "I put motion sensors here, here, and here, as well as along the lane. If anyone comes up the lane—" He shoots a condescending look at Micah "—we'll know about it. If anyone comes out of the woods near the cabin, we'll know. I also put sensors along the exterior of the cabin and the barn."

Jack pats Diego's back. "Good job. Mike will take the sniper's nest, and I'll be positioned outside the cabin. The rest of you will patrol the woods around the cabin. Everyone stays on comms and checks in at regular intervals."

"When do you think they'll arrive?" I ask.

"As soon as it's dark," Jack says. "I imagine they're already here in town, just biding their time until nightfall."

"Then all hell breaks loose," Diego says, nodding in agreement as he consults his watch. "It won't be long now."

"How many do you think will come?" I ask.

"There's no way to know for sure, but I'd guess around ten, maybe a dozen."

"But there's only five of you. Seven if you include me and Micah."

He smiles. "Trust me. No matter how many they bring, it won't be a fair fight."

When I frown, he says, "No, you misunderstand me. This will be a cakewalk for my guys. My main concern is for the safety of you and your brother."

* * *

When early evening comes, I make dinner for everyone—burgers. Something quick as we don't have much time left before sunset. These guys sure can pack away a lot of food.

It amazes me how, even faced with such odds, they still have the capacity to joke with each other. Even with me.

They take turns watching at the front window. Currently, Lenny's on duty.