by Elle James
Rafe seized control and slammed the butt up hard, catching the man in the chin. He fell backward, hitting his head against wall. He slid down, knocked out cold. Rafe flipped him over, yanked the cord from the nearby curtains and tied the man’s wrists together behind his back and leaped to his feet.
Hank had the other man on the ground, the AK-47 pressed against his throat.
The man’s face was turning purple as he choked off his air supply.
Rafe ran for the door. He had to stop El Chefe before he got away with Alejandra and her baby. And he had to find Briana.
With his gun in his hand, Rafe stepped through the door. What he saw made his heart leap into his throat.
Alejandra stood on the ground below the porch, holding her baby close to her chest. “Please, don’t hurt her.”
The Devil Boss stood nearby with his hand twisted in Briana’s hair, a knife pressed to her throat, blood trickling from a gash on the side of his head. “Bitch,” he said through clenched teeth, swaying slightly. “I should have killed you in El Salvador. Eres un problema.”
Alejandra spoke in rapid Spanish, her voice passionate, desperate. Then in English, she said, “Kill her, and I will expose all of your clients, in every country.”
“If you do not come with me, I will kill her.” He lifted his chin and winced. “Who will win this argument?”
Briana captured Rafe’s gaze and mouthed the words, Shoot him. Then she slammed her head backward, hitting El Chefe in the nose. The arm holding the knife shook.
Before he could tighten his hold, Briana cocked her arm and jammed her elbow into his side then ducked.
Rafe aimed and shot the cartel leader in the chest.
El Chefe’s eyes rounded. The knife fell from his hand, and he clutched his chest. “Debería haberte matado.” He fell to the ground and lay still.
Alejandra walked over to the man and pushed his face with her foot. “But you didn’t kill her.” She spit on him and turned away, holding Bella close. “And I am thankful for the woman who was kind to this stranger.” She hugged Briana and let the tears fall.
Hank ran out on the porch, breathing hard, a bruise turning purple on his cheek. “Is he dead?”
Rafe descended the steps, holding his gun out in front of him. He nudged the cartel leader with his foot then bent to feel for a pulse at the base of his throat.
“He’s dead,” Rafe said and stood. He went to Briana and pulled her into his arms.
Hank ran back into the house. Moments later, he emerged with his wife and daughter. “Sadie said Maddog went out to the barn to check on the horses because they were making a lot of noise. He didn’t come back.” He handed Emma to Sadie. “I’m going to check on him.”
“I’ll go with you.” He handed his gun to Briana. “You know how to use it.”
She nodded. “Be careful.”
Rafe followed Hank out to the barn behind the house. As they approached, they could hear the muffled sound of someone yelling and pounding on the wall inside. The barn door had been wedged shut with a two-by-four board jammed into the dirt.
Rafe kicked it out of the way and flung open the door. The yelling grew louder.
“He’s in the tack room.” Hank flipped a switch on the wall. Nothing happened. “They cut the power to the barn.” He turned and grabbed a flashlight from a hook on the wall and pressed the button, sending a beam of light through the building.
The horses in the stalls stirred, whinnying at the disturbance.
Hank hurried to a door on the right side of the barn. Another board had been jammed into the ground, bracing the door to keep it from opening. He kicked it aside, and the door burst open.
A big man with black hair and dark eyes charged through, blood on his hands and shirt. He grabbed Hank by the front of his shirt. “Sadie?”
“Is fine. As is Emma.”
“They hit me from behind. I fought them, but they won and threw me into the tack room. When I came to, I couldn’t get out.”
“At least they didn’t just shoot you.”
“They didn’t bring silencers. Maybe they didn’t want to wake Sadie,” Rafe said.
“You’re alive. My family is safe. That’s what’s important,” Hank said. “Their leader is dead, and the two goons he brought with him are tied up in the living room.”
Maddog shook his head and winced, rubbing the back of his head. “I shouldn’t have let Kujo take Lucy to his place for the night. She would’ve warned me.”
Rafe nodded. “I was about to ask. I’m glad to know she’s okay.”
“Come on, let’s get back to the house. It’s been a long night, and you might need medical attention,” Hank said.
“I’m fine. Just pissed that they got the jump on me.”
Rafe led the way back to the house, eager to get to Briana. He didn’t like her being out of his sight. Not with all that had happened.
She was inside the house with Sadie and Alejandra, standing guard over the two cartel men.
“I called the sheriff and Homeland Security,” Briana said. “They’re on their way, along with an ambulance to collect this scum.” She nodded toward the two men she had her weapon pointed at. “You want your gun back?” she asked Rafe.
He grinned. “Not unless you’re tired of holding it. You’re amazing.”
She shook her head. “I’m not amazing. I’m shaking.”
Rafe crossed the floor and took the gun from her trembling hands. “I’ve got it. You might want to sit before you fall.”
“I’d rather stand here with you,” she said and wrapped her arms around his waist.
He pulled her close with his free hand and kissed the top of her head. “I’ve been thinking about it. I really want you to stay in Montana.”
She laughed. “Why? It doesn’t appear to be any safer than Chicago.”
“Maybe not, but I want you to stay with me. Like Bear and Swede said…go with your gut. Mine is telling me you’re the one.” He frowned down at her. “Unless your gut isn’t saying the same thing.”
Her arms tightened around him. “My gut is saying the same.”
“If you really want to go back to Chicago, I’m sure I can find something to do there,” he offered. “But Lucy wouldn’t be nearly as happy as she is here in Montana.”
Briana smiled up at him. “We do need to consider what would make Lucy happiest. She’s ours now.”
“And we can’t break up a family, can we?” Rafe said, bending to claim her lips.
“Why don’t I take that gun for now,” Hank drawled.
“I believe I see headlights coming this way,” Sadie said. “And the sun’s starting to rise. Emma will be awake in an hour or two. I’m going to take her to her room and tuck her in.” She turned to Alejandra. “I’ll show you to the room Bella’s been sleeping in. It has a bed you can sleep in. You can nurse her there. Poor Bella hasn’t been too happy with the formula.”
Alejandra turned to Hank.
He nodded. “Go with Sadie, for now. I’m sure the police and Homeland Security will want to speak with you before you call it a night…or day, in this case.”
“I’ll be out as soon as I’ve fed Bella.” Alejandra and Bella followed Sadie and Emma out of the living room.
Two sheriff’s vehicles arrived with an ambulance following close behind.
Homeland security arrived an hour later.
The sun had fully risen by the time authorities left with the two cartel men and the body of El Chefe Diablo.
Emma woke. Sadie and Hank moved to the living room where Emma could play while Hank napped on the couch.
Sadie showed Briana to a room down the hall from Alejandra. She frowned. “Do you two need separate rooms, or just one?”
“One,” Rafe and Briana said at the same time
Sadie laughed. “I kinda thought so, based on all the canoodling you’ve been doing since you got back. Besides, the Crazy Mountains have a way of bringing people together. You must be exhausted. I’ll bring you s
ome night clothes, and this suite has its own bathroom, so you don’t have to leave it.”
“Thank you, Sadie,” Briana said. “Seems like I’m always borrowing clothes from you. I’ll be glad when I can retrieve my own things.”
Sadie’s face brightened. “So, you’ll be staying in Montana?”
Briana looked up into Rafe’s eyes. “Looks that way.”
His heart bursting, Rafe grabbed Briana up in his arms, kissed her soundly then pushed through the door into their suite. They didn’t come out for a full day, thanks to Sadie leaving trays of food and piles of clothes outside the door.
Rafe would’ve stayed locked in the room forever. He knew without a doubt Briana was the one for him. When they finally had to come out and be social, he’d do something to make it more permanent. But for now, he was happy to make love and sleep with the woman he loved. Tomorrow would get there all too soon.
Epilogue
“Briana, will you grab that other tray of steaks and bring it out to the porch?” Sadie called out as she left the kitchen with a bowl full of corn on the cob drenched in butter and wrapped in foil, ready to go on the grill.
“Got it,” Briana said. “Are the baked potatoes nearly done?”
“Hank swears they’ll be ready in five more minutes,” Alejandra said. “And a good thing. Five trucks just pulled up.”
“I hope we have enough food.” Sadie turned to back out of the front door onto the porch. “I didn’t really think the Deltas would actually come all the way from Fort Hood, Texas, for our 4th of July celebration.”
“Are you kidding?” Rafe held the door for her. “They would’ve come even without the invitation. I’ve been telling them about the fly fishing and rafting and wildlife they’re missing out on. They all decided to pack up and come for a long weekend. Briana and I have got them all lined up for some Crazy Mountain fun.”
“Where are you going to put them?” Sadie asked as she handed the bowl of corn cobs to Hank at the giant grill.
“We arranged for them to stay at the bed and breakfast in Eagle Rock,” Briana said. “They’ll like that, since they can walk over to the Blue Moon Tavern for dinner and drinks after a full day of hiking, fishing or rafting.”
“Oh, good,” Hank said. “Here they are now. Looks like my team is bringing up the rear.”
“I think you could use a parking lot guide.” Briana laughed. “Look at the caravan of vehicles heading this way.”
The Delta Force team parked, grabbed beers and found chairs on the lawn.
“You weren’t kidding about this place being amazing,” Rucker Sloan lifted a beer to Rafe. “Glad you talked us all into coming up. Nearly gave the CO a coronary when we all asked off at the same time. If anything happens and we need to deploy, we’ll do it from here.”
“Man, I’m looking forward to the fly fishing,” Bull said. “But right now, I’m looking forward to that steak Hank’s got grilling.”
Blade leaned back in his chair and stared out at the setting sun. “What’s the nightlife like around here? Any lonely females in the neighborhood?”
“Can’t you go an entire weekend without sniffing out a girl?” Mac clapped a hand on Blade’s shoulder. “Problem is, you haven’t found the right one. Not like our team jumper, Donovan.” He tipped his head toward Rafe. “You look too stinkin’ happy, man. You’ll have us all convinced we need to get hitched by the time we leave Montana.”
“What are you talking about?” Dawg frowned. “Did you get hitched, Donovan? When were you going to tell us?”
“Keep your britches on,” Tank said as he climbed the porch steps and shook Rafe’s hand. “They aren’t hitched, yet.” He smiled at Briana. “Make him do it right. Down on his knee and everything.”
Briana grinned and looked at Rafe. “You might need some tips from Tank.” She narrowed her eyes at the man. “You know so much, why haven’t you gotten down on one knee yet?”
He shook his head. “Too stuck in my ways. No woman would have me.”
“You’re wrong,” Briana said. “I’m sure the right one is out there, waiting for you to find her.”
Joseph Kuntz arrived with his woman Molly Greenbrier and their dog, Six. “Did you start the party without us?”
“Hey, Kujo,” Hank called out. “We were waiting for you.” He slapped a beer in Kujo’s hand and turned to Molly. “Beer, wine or a margarita?”
“I’ll have a beer,” she said.
Kujo twisted the top off the beer and handed it to Molly.
Six found Lucy lounging in the shade on the porch and laid down beside her.
Boomer and Daphne arrived with Maya. They spread a blanket on the ground beside the one where Emma was playing with a plastic horse.
“Won’t be long before Maya is chasing Emma around the barnyard,” Sadie said.
“I can’t wait to teach them how to ride horses,” Daphne said.
“How are your riding lessons coming along?” Hank asked.
Daphne grinned. “Good. Boomer’s going to get me a horse as soon as we build a barn on our place.”
Hank grinned. “Then you’ll need to get a pony for Maya.”
“We will, when she gets a little bigger,” Boomer said.
Taz Davila and his woman, Hannah Kendricks, the physical therapist at the local veterans rehabilitation ranch, arrived at the same time as John Wayne Morris—the Duke—and Angel Carson, his stuntwoman fiancée. They claimed the horseshoes and started a game far enough away from the little ones to keep them safe.
Swede and Allie had come earlier to help with setting up tables and making side dishes for the growing crowd of people.
Bear and Mia Chastain arrived with Chuck, Kate and Kate’s niece Lyla.
Maddog and his woman Jolie pulled in shortly after.
Bringing up the rear were Viper and his woman, Dallas.
“Is that all of us?” Hank asked.
“Flannigan is out on assignment,” Sadie reminded him.
“That’s right.” Hank dropped a foil-covered corn cob on the grill.
Sadie smiled and rubbed her growing baby bump. “Hank’s really built quite the empire of protectors. I might decide to give up acting to help him keep organized. That and be a fulltime mom.”
Hank handed the grill duties over to Swede and came up onto the porch to hug his wife. “You can do whatever your heart desires.” He kissed her soundly and bent to kiss her belly. “Us guys will keep you busy here on the ranch.”
“We don’t know if the baby is a boy or a girl. We said we’d wait and be surprised.” Sadie frowned. “You didn’t peek at the ultrasound, did you?”
Hank grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “If I did, I’m not telling.”
“Hank!” Sadie swatted at his arm.
Rafe slipped up behind Briana and covered her belly with his hands. “I can’t wait for you to be as big as Sadie.”
Briana leaned back in his arms and smiled. She’d meant to wait and tell him later that night when they were in bed at the hunting cabin, but now was as good a time as any. “Careful what you wish for, babe.” She turned in his arms. “In eight and a half months. I’ll be just as big.”
Rafe’s brow dipped in a frown. “Wait…what?” His frown deepened. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
She nodded, her smile spreading across her face. “I’m pregnant.”
“What?” Sadie’s head came up. “Briana? You’re pregnant?”
Briana’s grin broadened. “I am.”
Dash Hayes glared at Rafe. “What the hell, Donovan?”
“Well, damn,” Rafe muttered. “I was going to save this for a private moment, but since you’re making announcements, I’d better make one of my own and also make an honest woman out of you.” Rafe dropped to one knee. “Am I doing it right, Tank?”
Tank rolled his eyes. “If you have to ask, you aren’t.”
Briana’s heart fluttered and swelled to twice its size, filling her chest with all the happiness she felt.
“Briana Hayes…” Rafe paused. “Hell, I had it all memorized, and now I can’t remember a word.”
“From the heart,” Tank prompted. “Speak from the heart.”
“Oh, right.” Rafe cleared his throat and started over. He took her hand in his.
Briana’s entire body trembled. She thought she might pass out or throw up, she was so nervous.
“From the heart,” Rafe said. “From the moment I heard your voice talking to me from Chicago to Springfield, I felt like I’d come home. You have the most beautiful voice. Sometimes, I close my eyes and just listen to you talk. But I digress. The point is, I want your voice to be the one I wake to every morning. You’re beautiful, courageous and fun to be with. Will you be my wife and make me the happiest man on earth?”
Briana cupped his cheeks in her palms. “Rafe Donovan…I thought you’d never ask.” She laughed. “Yes! I’ve loved you since we met over the phone, and I’ll love you when we’re old and gray. And I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have as the father of my child.”
“Our child,” he corrected. “And, oh yeah.” He rose to his feet, dug in his pocket and pulled out a ring with a fat diamond solitaire surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. “Guess I should have started with this.” He slipped the ring on her finger. “I love you, Briana. Now, tell your brother not to kill me. Unless he wants to raise his nephew.”
“Niece,” Briana corrected.
Rafe frowned down at her. “Did you peek at the ultrasound?”
“If I did,” she grinned. “I’m not telling.”
“Well, we’ll just have to wait and see who’s right.”
“Donovan, you’ve got a lot to learn,” Hank said. “The woman is always right.”
Rafe nodded. “And she’s right. The right one for me.”
“And it’s too early to tell the sex anyway,” Hank added.
Sadie clapped her hands. “Well, yay! We’re going to have a wedding. And we’d better make it before the baby’s born. Double congrats!”