Chapter 1

Olympic Shooting Qualifier, Atlanta, Georgia . . .

"Magnum Bell," the announcer called as Maggie walked onto the range to take her position. She was ranked number one in the United States in the 50m rifle three-position event and had easily qualified for the Olympics in not only that event but also in the 25m rifle. However, this year, she was also trying to qualify for the Olympics in trap shooting, rifle, and shotgun. It wasn't done much, but she had mastered Trap and turned to Rifle three years ago. This Olympics she really wanted to compete in mixed trap with her brother, Gage. Gage had qualified earlier for trap. Now, it was up to her.

Recently, she'd been using indoor arenas for rifle practice, but Maggie had grown up shooting trap and skeet with her brother and parents, not to mention winning a silver medal at the last Olympics. She hadn't been actively competing as much as she worked to master Rifle. Shooting had always been a family activity. They regularly held family shooting competitions to see who would clean up after dinner or who got to choose the movie for family night. And just like then, her whole family was here to support her and Gage.

Maggie took her position outdoors in the warm June sun. It was refreshing as the sun heated her skin and the breeze ruffled her hair. Her mother had taught her long ago that she could use her long hair to know how to adjust for the wind during a shot. She used that knowledge now as she lifted her shotgun and took a deep breath.

She's too high-maintenance for me. I need a real woman, not a girly-girl.

Hunter Townsend's words he'd said to his brother, Kane, right after she'd introduced herself to Hunter at Edie's wedding, ran through Maggie's mind. She'd been hoping for a dance from the ruggedly handsome man, but instead, she was insulted when he didn't think she could hear him. Maggie should have given him another chance. Shown him she wasn't high-maintenance just because she liked pretty colors and wore her grandmother's pearls. However, she hadn't. Even though she still found him frustratingly sexy, they now had a relationship more akin to rivals than friends.

The clay target flew through the air. Maggie sighted it, pulled the trigger, absorbed the recoil, and felt immense satisfaction as the target exploded. How's that for a girly-girl? Ha! In the back of her head, she realized her annoyance at Hunter's judgment had given her the best year of her life in terms of professional shooting. Not that she'd ever give him any credit for it.

* * *

The drive back to Shadows Landing was a family celebration. Gage had qualified in trap, and she in rifle and trap. Brother and sister were headed to the Olympics together.

"Good thing we already bought all our tickets in anticipation," her father, Clark, said as they drove into Shadows Landing.

"And reserved six houses since so many people said they wanted to come," her mother, Suze, added.

"Mom, it's in Italy. They're not going to come," Maggie said from the backseat.

"Are you sure about that?" her mother asked and then pointed out the front windshield.

The entire town was lined up on the sidewalk, holding signs that read: Congratulations Maggie and Gage. Italy, here we come!

Her father pulled over at Harper's Bar, and Kane Townsend opened the door for her. Cheers went up as she and Gage stepped out. Tears filled her eyes as everyone ran forward to hug them.

Four years ago, Maggie had made her first appearance in the Olympics. She'd been too nervous to tell anyone she was going. But now they all knew. And they all supported her.

Lydia Langston and her eight kids were the first to hug her. Miss Winnie and Miss Ruby, two matriarchs of Shadows Landing and complete opposites in every way, were next. The smell of apple pie wafted up from a basket Miss Winnie was holding in her pale, thin, frail-looking arm. However, she was surprisingly strong for an old lady who resembled nothing so much as a boiled chicken. Miss Ruby, taller, rounder, and with her natural black hair turning silver instead of Miss Winnie's stark white, reached into the basket and pulled out two pies.

"To celebrate. We're so proud of you both!" Miss Ruby handed the pies to her and Gage and hugged them both.

"Oh God. I'm shook!" Timmons, who worked at Maggie's parents' bed breakfast and wedding venue, said, looking as if he were about to pass out. Timmons was only a year older than Maggie's twenty-eight years, but you'd think they were from different generations. Timmons only spoke millennial, but now that his younger brother, Kyler, had been visiting, Gen Z was slipping in.

"We are so proud of you," Ryker Faulkner said as his wife, Kenzie, gave her a hug.

"We streamed it at the bar so everyone could watch it," Harper Faulkner Reigns, who owned the bar, told her.

The entire town took time to celebrate. Gator, named so because he was an alligator removal expert, unhooked his thumbs from his overalls, wrapped her in a bear hug, and lifted her three feet off the ground. "We're right proud of you two."

"Thanks guys," Gage said, shaking Turtle's hand.

"Anne Bonny said you're the best shot she's ever seen." Skeeter knew the most about Shadows Landing's pirate history. The town had been founded by pirates who'd hidden their stolen treasure beneath the church. Skeeter also said he talked to the pirate ghosts who founded the town. Maggie had wanted to dismiss it, but Bell Landing, their house, had its own ghost. Every old house or building down there did. Too many cold breezes, creaky sounds, and bumps in the night to dismiss.

"Thanks Skeeter. I was trying to make Anne and the others proud."

"As much as I don't want to believe in ghosts," Damon Townsend said, "I'm sure they're proud. We all are. You're truly magnificent to watch in action."

"It really was poetry in motion," Forrest told her.

"I've never seen someone move from shot to shot so smoothly," Kane added as he patted her shoulder like a proud brother.

"Wow, thanks guys." Maggie had worried for a while that Hunter's low opinion of her would be matched by his brothers, but that hadn't been the case. They'd all been lovely to her.

Rowan Townsend chuckled to himself and then looked at his brothers. Stone similarly grinned. "You thinking of Hunter?" Stone asked.

"He's going to have to eat so much crow when he finally opens his eyes and sees how talented our Maggie is," Rowan said more to them than to her.

Maggie had already noticed that only one Townsend was missing. "Where is Hunter? I thought he'd want to give me crap that my competition rifle is pink." Maggie scanned the crowd and saw Edie Durand talking with some of the Faulkner family. She looked worried, so Maggie scanned the crowd for Edie's husband, Tristan. "And where's Tristian? Is he on duty tonight?" she asked of the deputy sheriff.

The smiles of the Townsend brothers slipped. Damon cleared his throat. "Hunter was called away yesterday for a mission. We don't know the details, but Tristan went with him."

"Oh." The familiar weight of worry slammed into her. She might want to hate Hunter, but she never wanted him hurt. She held her breath for every mission until he came home. Usually, she had enough notice to wish him a safe return, but not this time and that worried her. They had their routine. They'd take swipes at each other, but then she'd tell him to be safe. She didn't like not being able to whisper the little prayer for his protection when she waved goodbye to him. It didn't matter they'd banter and tease each other a moment before. Maggie always made sure Hunter knew she wished him safely home.

Maggie followed the crowd into the bar. The celebration raged around them. The Faulkner family was one of the largest in town. Same with the Townsends. Inside the bar, they were all mingling together and making sure to come by and spend time with both her and Gage.

Maggie was friends with them all, but it was Georgie, the former bartender, who she was closest to. When Georgie came to Shadows Landing, innocent of the world and down on her luck, the designer jeans gave her away. But Maggie knew Georgie would tell her truth in her own time. Turned out she was from a family with old money, big drama, drugging, and a kidnapping thrown in for good measure. Georgie had finally broken free from them with the help of her now-husband, Kord King, and her grandfather. A bartender no more, she was now in charge of her family's investment conglomerate. Apparently, the investments were large enough that managing them was a full-time job. You still wouldn't know it though. Georgie mostly dressed as if she were still a bartender.

"Tinsley looks like she's going to pop," Georgie said as she joined Maggie at the table.

"She's due at the end of the month, right?" Maggie asked about Tinsley Faulkner Kendry.

"Yes, and look at Paxton. The man is hovering more than Bubba when a packet of jerky is opened." Maggie laughed because Tinsley's husband really did look like the town's alligator trying to chase down his favorite treat. But then Georgie turned to her and took her hand. "You look sad. Is it because Hunter left and you couldn't say goodbye?"

Maggie rolled her eyes. "It's stupid, G. He hates me and I can't stand him. But I feel as if something is going to go wrong since I didn't do my little ritual to send him off. Please don't say anything. I don't want people to get the wrong idea."

Georgie looked amused as she took a sip of her drink before sitting it back down. "You mean the fine line between hate and love is eroding, or never actually existed in the first place?"

"That's not true! Okay," Maggie said in a whisper, "maybe there's some truth to it. But he's such a big, dumb jerk to me. He's not to others. Just to me."

"Look, I won't deny that. I also won't say it's his way of flirting because that's messed up. I think he made an incorrect judgment about you and is too stubborn to open his eyes and reassess. When he gets home, it'll be right in his face. Then we'll see what Hunter Townsend is made of. He's man enough for the military. But is he man enough to admit he was wrong and apologize?"

"I wouldn't bet on it," Maggie said, and they both laughed.

The rest of the night was a blur of people talking about the Olympics being held next month and celebration. There was only one person left that Maggie wanted to see and that was Edie. Her first husband had been killed in action, so knowing Tristan was on a mission with Hunter had all kinds of warning bells going off. This was serious, and if Tristan, the government assassin from the small country of Millevia located on the coast between France and Italy, was with the US Army the mission was probably there.

Maggie searched and found her near the back of the bar. Edie looked miserable and Maggie didn't say anything. She simply wrapped the kind woman up in a hug.

"Are you okay, Edie?" Edie shook her head, placed her hand to her mouth, and darted to the bathroom. Maggie followed and wet a paper towel as Edie threw up. "Here you go," Maggie said, handing it to her. "I'm sure you're scared to death."

"It's not that. Well, it's not just that. See, when Tristan told me he was going with Hunter and he couldn't tell me anything more . . . he knew I would be upset. But I know the drill. My late husband and my brother were Navy SEALs. Everything was always ‘classified' on every mission. As much as I was dying inside at the idea of Tristan leaving, I knew better than to do anything but smile, hug him, and tell him how much I love him. The second he left, I threw up. Then again today. So, I went to see Gavin and Kenzie at the clinic. I thought I had the stomach bug," Edie told her as tears began to form behind her eyelids and threatened to spill.

"Are you sick?"

Edie shook her head, and the first tear fell. "I'm pregnant. I didn't think I could get pregnant. I'm older. My gynecologist called my uterus ‘geriatric.' I tried to call Tristan, but they've gone dark. I can't even tell my husband we're going to have a baby, and I'm scared to death because now it's not just me. I've been a widow. I could be a widow again. But now a baby might never know their father."

Maggie caught Edie as she flung herself into Maggie's arms and sobbed. Maggie held her, telling her they'd be safe, telling her Hunter and Tristan would be back in no time and how happy Tristan would be to become a father. All the words were hollow because fear dominated how she felt right now. Fear for Hunter, fear for Tristan, and fear for Edie. If they'd gone dark, they were walking into the thick of the mission.