He blinked. Admiration slid into his gaze. “I’m really regretting we couldn’t go into business together, Juliet.”
Surprise slid through her. “Freddy said you have another plan to use me as a front.”
Regret twisted Luis’s lip. “You were set up perfectly in Maverick to front my operation. Unfortunately, when you went clean with the sheriff, you destroyed any chance of our working something out.”
“Oh,” she murmured. “So if I tell you where the money is, I’m pretty much finished.”
“You’re a lot smarter than your brother,” Luis said.
“The doorknob is smarter than Freddy,” she muttered.
Luis threw back his head and laughed, the sound slightly maniacal. “I like you. A lot. So here’s the deal. Tell me how to find my money, and this will go smoothly.” He leaned in, his minty breath brushing her skin. “If you don’t cooperate, I’ll hurt you like you can’t imagine.”
Bile rose up her throat, but she shoved it down. Her smile hurt. “I’m not that tough, Luis. I promise.” If she gave him the file in her computer that showed where all the money had gone, he’d kill her. If she didn’t give it to him, he’d torture and then kill her.
His hold loosened. “I’ll help you decide. If I have to work at getting the information, when I’m finished with you, I’m going to start on the people in those pictures. Probably with pretty Sophie Lodge. I usually prefer blondes.” He tucked his face into Juliet’s hair and took a deep breath. “Though maybe I’ll switch to redheads.”
She gagged.
He backed away, irritation bracketing his mouth. “Tell me the truth.”
Her mind scrambled for a way to stay alive. “Did you kill the two men on the outskirts of the county?”
Luis shrugged. “They tried to steal from me, and a man does have to keep control of his employees.”
Luis liked to talk, and for some reason, he seemed to enjoy talking to her. She had the oddest feeling he wanted to impress her. Well, before he tortured her. “Did you kill them with that knife?”
His smile flashed sharp teeth. “Juliet, you don’t seem to understand that there’s no need to gather evidence for your boyfriend.”
The mention of Quinn pricked tears at the back of her eyes. “I was just curious.”
He slid the knife closer to her face. Light glinted off the sharp blade. “Yes, this is the knife.” His voice dropped to a croon. “Isn’t she pretty?”
Wow. Whackjob.
The door banged open, and Freddy stalked inside with a tall, skinny man who had more pocks in his skin than freckles. And he was seriously freckled.
“The first shipment is here.” Freddy glanced at Juliet, his shoulders relaxing.
Had the moron been worried about her? Not worried enough to stop Luis, though. Juliet glared at the weasel.
Luis jerked his head toward the bedroom. “The money’s in the green duffel.”
Freddy hustled into the bedroom and returned to hand the duffle to the freckled guy. “It was a pleasure.”
The man left without saying a word.
Freddy rubbed his hands together. “One more shipment, and we’re out of here.”
Juliet cleared her throat. “You know, Fred, I’ve noticed Luis doesn’t seem tolerant of employees screwing up.”
Freddy frowned. Luis smiled. Juliet tried to keep from puking.
Freddy eyed Luis and then focused on her. “And?”
“You screwed up. You lost his money, and now you lost his chance to use my gallery as a front. Frankly, I’m shocked you’re still standing.” She tilted her head toward the deadly knife. “Something tells me you’ll be rather intimate with that blade in the near future.”
Luis chuckled. “I swear to God, Fred, I think I’m in love with your sister.” He twirled the knife like a gunslinger playing with pearl-handled pistols. “Look at her try to cause a rift between us. She’s stalling, and I find it adorable.” His gaze raked her down to her boots. “Though if she doesn’t tell me where the money is, I’m going to kill her.”
Freddy stilled. “Tell him, JJ. He promised not to hurt you if you just told him.”
Juliet shook her head. “You’re such a moron. He lied to you.”
Freddy’s mouth opened and shut like a guppy out of water. “No, he didn’t. You’re safe. I promise.”
“He’s going to kill you, too, Fred. Get a grip,” she said.
Luis tucked away the knife and drew a gun, pointing it at Freddy. “I’m done. Tell me where the money is, or I shoot him.”
“What the hell, man?” Freddy backed away, both hands up.
Luis flipped off the safety. “I’m counting to three.”
Juliet’s brain scrambled.
“One,” Luis said calmly.
“T-tell him, JJ,” Freddy sputtered.
“Fine.” She didn’t want to see Freddy’s brains splattered all over the wall. “I kept track of where the money went. The document is called ‘Robin Hood’ in my laptop.”
Keeping the barrel aimed at Freddy, Luis punched keys with his left hand. His eyebrow lifted as he seemed to read. “You gave all of my money away…to Lost Cats of Spokane?”
She shrugged. “I only gave them ten thousand. But those cats needed catnip, Luis.”
His eyes widened, and his pupils narrowed. Shifting his aim from Freddy to her, he drew back his lip. “You’re going to pay for this in ways I can’t even imagine right now.”
…
His back to a Ponderosa Pine, Quinn shook his head at his brother. “We can’t wait for backup.”
“I know,” Colt said grimly, yanking off his work gloves. “You armed?”
“No—except for a pocket knife in my boot.” Quinn eyed the shotgun secured in a holster on Colton’s horse. “I think that’s it for guns.”
Hawk shoved through the brush to the secluded area. “There are four men patrolling, plus whoever’s in the cabin.” Nodding toward a ridge to the north, he rubbed his chin. “That area has vantage over the valley—should take me five minutes to be in place. I’ll need Colt’s shotgun.”
Quinn took a deep breath to keep from running full bore toward the cabin. “Hawk, we’ve never talked about—”
“I’m a sniper. The best.” Hawk’s odd-colored green eyes darkened.
That’s what Quinn had figured. “Okay. Take the northern ridge.”
Jake shoved his way past the bushes, a wicked knife in his hand. “I took this off the guy patrolling to the east.”
“Is he dead?” Quinn asked calmly.
“No. Out cold.” Jake tucked the knife at his waist. “I sent Sophie back to town, although she wanted to stay and help.”
The little blonde had seen Juliet kidnapped and had followed in her car, calling the guys on her cell phone. Quinn’s gut swirled. “Thank God we were working on the northern pastures.”
Hawk tilted his head. “I’m heading to the ridge. Give me five.” He loped over to the tethered horse and yanked the shotgun free. With a grim look at Colton, he broke into a jog and disappeared from sight.
Quinn peered around the tree at the quiet cabin. A heated ball of dread slammed him. Was Juliet all right? What if they’d hurt her? His legs trembled with the need to storm the cabin.
Jake grabbed his arm. “Give Hawk a moment to get into position.”
Quinn grunted. “She thinks I’m still mad at her.”
“You are.” Colton removed his jacket.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t still love her.” Sure, he’d been a complete asshole and should’ve worked things out after he fucked her by the side of the road. But he was a stubborn bastard, and his anger had kept him silent. If anything happened to her, he might as well shrivel up and die.
“Get it together, Sheriff.” Jake’s eyes darkened with concern and anger. He cared about Juliet, t
oo.
Drawing on years of experience, Quinn shoved emotion out of the way. Cold, methodical, he came up with the plan to save the woman he loved. It was risky, and chances were somebody would be shot, but it was all they had.
“Let’s go,” he said grimly.
…
Juliet eyed the man who wanted to harm her. Her mind buzzed, but her shoulders relaxed. Maybe this was what shock felt like.
Luis twirled the knife. “The good news is that I’m not going to kill you right now. The bad news is that you’re coming with us, and I’m going to take my time with you tonight.” His eyes lightened to a creepy leer.
Juliet lifted her chin regally. The longer she stayed alive, the better the chance of escape. “Sounds like a lovely plan.”
The window shattered, and a large mass crashed through the blanket. Quinn! The door banged off its hinges a second later, and Jake barreled into the room followed by Colton.
Luis pivoted and shot toward the window.
Juliet screamed.
Quinn rolled into a somersault and cut Luis off at the knees, knocking him down. The gun spun across the floor. The men grappled, their punches landing hard.
Jake grabbed Freddy and shoved him face-first into the wall.
Colton viewed the bedroom and bathroom. “Clear,” he said.
Blood flowed from a wound in Quinn’s right shoulder. Luis shoved his knuckles in the injury.
Quinn hissed and elbowed Luis in the nose, following up with a cracking uppercut.
The drug dealer shook his head, snot and blood pouring from his nose. He punched Quinn hard in the wound.
The sheriff grunted, his face paling. His damaged arm hung limp by his side.
Luis smiled through bloody teeth and yanked back his fist.
Quinn dropped his head forward in a classic headbutt. Luis’s nose broke with a terrible snap. He howled in pain. He grabbed Quinn’s arms and fell onto the floor, throwing the sheriff over his head.
Quinn landed with a muffled curse.
Juliet’s gaze darted to Jake and Colton, where they calmly watched the fight. What was wrong with them? Why weren’t they moving to help?
Quinn rolled to his feet and came down hard on Luis, banging the man’s head on the floor. With a grim smile, the sheriff flipped Luis onto his stomach, straddled and cuffed him.
“Are you all right?” Quinn turned toward her, his eyes hard and assessing.
She nodded, unable to speak. Tears swelled and blurred the room.
Quinn yanked Luis to stand and pushed him toward Colton. “Secure them in the back of the gray truck.”
Luis chuckled through a split lip. “I have men around the perimeter, Sheriff. Let me go, or we’re all dead.”
“We found your men.” Quinn wiped blood off his forehead. “My sniper is in place in case we missed anyone. I’ll bet my sniper against your guys any day.”
Luis spit blood and a couple of teeth onto the floor. Colton grabbed him and shoved him outside.
Jake pulled Freddy away from the wall and smashed him back into it. “Oops,” Jake said, grinning and tugging again. “Come on, buddy. Let’s go outside.” They disappeared into the cold.
Quinn reached her in two strides. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yes,” she said between hiccups.
“Take it easy, sweetheart.” He tugged a knife from his boot and cut the tie holding her hands. Then he growled at her scratched skin, rubbing gently.
“I’m fine,” she said, standing. Her knees gave out.
He eased her back into the chair. “Take a couple of deep breaths. The adrenaline is kicking in now.” Big, gentle hands massaged her legs and then her shoulders. “You’re fine, Juliet. Deep breaths.”
She nodded and inhaled, exhaling slowly. “How did you get here?”
“Sophie saw Freddy take you.” Quinn dropped to his haunches. “I almost had a heart attack when she called. We were just a couple miles away working on a downed fence and headed right here.”
She sniffed. “I’m glad you did.” Her eyes widened at the blood coursing down his arm. “He shot you.”
Quinn frowned and ripped his shirt over his head. A deep, red gash welled on his upper arm. “The bullet scratched me. No biggie.” He wrapped his shirt around the wound and pulled tight.
Sirens sounded in the distance. He grimaced. “I’m sorry about last night. I was a jerk who couldn’t figure out what to say.”
She blinked through tears. The man had just saved her life after she got him shot, and he was apologizing. “This is my fault.” The sirens got closer.
He stood and assisted her up. “We called for backup.” Not that Quinn needed backup.
Juliet squared her shoulders and slid her feet along the wooden floor. Her knees still wobbled. “I’m sorry about all of this.”
He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I know. We’ll figure it out, Juliet. I promise.”
When they reached the doorway, she peered outside. “Um, do you really have a sniper somewhere?”
“Hawk was with us fixing fences.” Quinn gave some weird military sign. “Don’t worry. He rarely shoots the wrong person.” A grin quirked the sheriff’s lip.
“Very funny.” She gingerly stepped onto the muddy walkway. Red-and-blue lights swirled as deputies gathered several cuffed men into police vehicles.
A black SUV screeched to a stop, and Reese Johnson jumped out. “Is she all right?”
“Yes,” Quinn said, helping her along the rough trail to a police vehicle. “Did you get the drug runners?”
Reese grinned. “Yep. We caught one with a shitload of cash and another one with a truck full of drugs.” He nodded at Juliet. “I’ve gotten the okay to offer you full immunity for everything if you testify as to what you witnessed today.”
Jake shoved away from a police car. “While my client doesn’t need immunity because she hasn’t broken any laws, we would still like the offer in writing from the federal prosecutor.”
“Sheriff Lodge? Over here.” A camera light flicked, and a man with a microphone stepped closer. “What happened here?”
Quinn growled and moved toward the reporter.
“Stop.” Jake grabbed his arm and hitched him back. He opened the back door of a cruiser and reached for Juliet’s hand. “Get in.” Juliet scooted over, and Quinn dropped next to her.
Jake smiled. “I’ll meet you two at the hospital.”
Quinn moved to get out of the car. “I want the reporter out of here.”
Jake leaned in. “I called him, dumbass. Trust me.” After shoving his brother, he slammed the door.
A deputy slid behind the wheel. “To the hospital we go, Sheriff.”
Chapter Twenty
Juliet leaned her head against the chilly wall and tried to get comfortable on the plastic orange chair. Even in quaint Maverick, the hospital smelled like bleach, antiseptic, and despair.
The doctors had rushed Quinn into a room upon their arrival, and a petite but rather forceful nurse had directed Juliet to the waiting area. In the corner, a television played an old sitcom.
Her stomach hurt. She closed her eyes, allowing peace to wash over her. Everybody was safe, and the bad guys had gotten what they deserved.
What about her? What did she deserve? She sat up as Quinn’s mother hustled into the room.
Loni Freeze gathered her into a vanilla-scented hug. “Oh my goodness. You worried me.” She patted Juliet’s back, offering maternal comfort.
Tears welled in Juliet’s eyes. She leaned away and blinked. “I’m fine, but Luis shot Quinn.”
“I poked my head in the examination room. Quinn is barking orders at the poor doctor.” Loni shook her head, sending her gray braid flying. “That boy. I don’t know where he gets such a temper.”
Tom Freeze, Loni’s hus
band, rushed into the room with Dawn. “I know exactly where he gets his spirit.” He dropped a kiss on Juliet’s head. “I’m glad you’re all right, sweetie.” Then he sat and slipped his hand over Loni’s.
As a pair, they fit. Tall with gray hair and deep blue eyes, Quinn’s stepfather contrasted with Loni’s black eyes and sharp features.
Dawn was a perfect blend of the two, with blue eyes and black hair. Those eyes lit up when Hawk and Colton stalked into the room.
Juliet clasped her hands. “Thank you. Both of you.”
They nodded.
Dawn frowned. “I didn’t know you helped rescue Juliet, Hawk.”
He shrugged. “I provided backup and let the sheriff do his thing.”
Did Dawn not know Hawk was a sniper? Juliet raised an eyebrow. The young man met her gaze evenly, without expression. Her small nod promised she wouldn’t tell.
Sophie ran into the room next, skidded to a stop and tugged Juliet out of her chair for a big hug. “I was so worried. I saw Freddy take you, and I didn’t know what to do, so I followed in my car and called the guys for help, but if I didn’t get them, I wasn’t sure what—”
Juliet hugged her hard. “Take a deep breath. Thank you, and I’m fine.”
Sophie stepped back and surveyed Juliet head to toe. “You look all right.”
“I’m fine.” She forced a smile. “Quinn got shot, not me.”
Colton nodded toward the television. “Is this your doing, Jake?”
The film clip showed Quinn escorting Juliet out of the cabin amid deputies arresting the drug runners. Reese Johnson stood next to the reporter, thanking the Maverick County Sheriff for assisting with the biggest drug bust in recent history. He claimed justice was served only because Juliet Spazzoli put herself in danger to help authorities.
Jake grinned. “Someone has to make sure the sheriff gets reelected. Can you imagine if he worked the ranch full time?”
“No. He’s bossy enough as it is.” Colton gave an exaggerated shiver.
Hawk slowly nodded. “Amen.”
Jake rubbed his chin. “I think the DEA will offer a deal to Freddy, Juliet. Just so you know.”
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