All or Nothing

by Becca Van

  “Understandable when neither of you had the chance to do any.” Shyann frowned. “I’m sorry. That was rude of me, I didn’t mean to offend you.”

  “You can’t offend me with the truth, Shyann,” Kat said.

  “Well, that’s a relief. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’m usually more tactful than that.”

  Kat snorted and pointed to herself. “I’m the queen of tactful.”

  Shyann giggled and then laughed so hard she doubled over, clutching her stomach. Kat joined in since there was no one waiting to return or check any books out. By the time she had her mirth under control, her stomach muscles were aching. Shyann straightened, sucked in a deep breath, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Ever heard the saying ‘as subtle as a sledge hammer’?”

  Kat frowned at Shyann, trying to hide her humor, and said, “No, that’s a new one.”

  Shyann giggled and shook her head.

  Kat turned to the young mother who looked tired and stressed and took the books from her. Kat signed the books out and passed them over. “Have a nice day.”

  “Thanks, you too.” The woman smiled and looked a little less weary as she turned and walked out.

  “It’s time for your break, Kat,” Shyann said.

  Kat glanced at the clock and blinked in shock. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed by. So far, the day had gone quickly. After tugging her purse out from the shelf under the counter and slinging it over her shoulder, she met Shyann’s eyes. “Is there anything you need in town?”

  “No, but thanks for asking.” Shyann shooed her out.

  Kat hurried toward the front door and, once outside, drew in a lungful of fresh air. It was a cool day but not cold enough to need a coat. She would warm up once she started walking. As Kat descended the steps, the hair on her nape stood on end, again, but after a quick look about and not seeing anyone, she continued down.

  After stopping at the store and eating a chicken salad sandwich at the diner, she walked back to work, once more, trying to ignore the being watched sensation.

  Just as she was making her way through the library parking lot, a loud bang echoed through the air. Kat whimpered, dropped to the ground on her hand and knees, and covered her head with her arms as she was transported back to the day the library had been bombed and she’d been kidnapped.

  * * * *

  Darren couldn’t believe his luck. He’d been sitting in his car for just over two hours catching glimpses of Katerina through the large windows to the interior of the library. The stupid bitch had no idea she was being watched, or so he thought until she’d frowned and looked about her as if expecting to see someone behind her.

  When she’d turned to gaze out the window, he’d ducked down so that he wasn’t visible and hadn’t moved until he’d felt it was safe. He hadn’t expected the library to have a constant stream of people entering and leaving the building, and as he’d watched the comings and goings, he’d tried to figure out how to get to the gorgeous bitch.

  He’d almost laughed out loud when he’d seen her exit the building and hurry down the steps. Darren had been tempted to follow her but decided against it almost as soon as the thought had coalesced. There were too many nosy parkers on the street, and from what he’d seen of the men walking about town, they weren’t dumb backward hicks. In fact, they all seemed highly alert, and he was going to have to watch his back.

  He’d almost shit his pants when he’d seen the CCTV cameras mounted on the corner of the building, but they hadn’t moved to pan around the parking lot. They remained steady of the front entrance, and he knew there was also a camera or two out back near the loading bay and back door.

  Lucky for him, no one had taken any notice or even looked in his direction as he sat in his car waiting for Katerina to come back. The half hour that passed until he saw her felt way longer than it was, but he didn’t care.

  Darren opened his truck door and stepped out, making sure to keep his head below the roofline of his vehicle and the lower cars. He had handcuffs in his pocket, as well as a gag, and as he crept along the rows of cars, he peeked through windows to see which path she was taking. He huffed out a soft laugh when he saw that she was going to pass by him on the other side of the vehicles. Being as quiet as he could, he practically duck walked around the car until he was hiding in the front of it.

  Her footsteps told him exactly where she was, and he waited until she moved past him so that her back was to him and then he stood. He stole a cursory glance at the cameras and found that they were still aimed at the front entrance. Just as Darren was about to make his move, a car backfired as it drove down the street. Katerina dropped to the ground and covered her head with her arms. He had no idea what she was doing but didn’t care. From the whimpering coming from throat, she was scared out of her mind.

  He grabbed her arms from behind, tugging them to her sides as he lifted her to her feet, one hand he clamped over her mouth and nose. He wrapped his other arm around her waist and arms, pinning them in place.

  Her scream of fear was muffled, and though she tried to fight him, Darren was bigger and stronger than she’d ever be.

  While scanning to make sure no one noticed him, he dragged her backward toward his car. When he realized he’d have to remove his hand or his arm from around her to cuff her and get her into his vehicle, he briefly pondered the dilemma. The only way he could avoid her screaming her head off or trying to fight him was to knock her out. Decision made, he moved fast, lifting his arm from around her waist as he moved to her side. He brought his fist back and punched her beneath the chin and the underside of her jaw.

  He chuckled when she didn’t even gasp or cry out but crumpled against him. Darren looked about again as he scooped her unconscious form up into his arms, then nudged the back door to his truck open and dumped her on the back seat. Taking a few minutes to secure her with the handcuffs, her arms behind her back, he gagged her and then tied her ankles together with rope.

  There was no way in hell he was leaving any of her limbs free. He knew that desperate people could do amazing things while in danger, and he wasn’t going to risk his own hide. Once done, he closed the door, got into the driver’s seat, and headed toward the cabin.

  In about fifteen minutes, he’d have one of the Russo bitches right where he wanted them. Although he was going to use Katerina’s phone to contact her sister, he wasn’t going to let on to Nikita that she was in danger.

  He was going to send a text to ask Nikita to join Katerina for a picnic lunch.

  Darren just hoped the cunt took his bait.

  * * * *

  Niki grabbed her phone when she heard the incoming message tone. She frowned when she read Kat’s text.

  Kat: Niki, I thought it might be nice if we got together for a picnic lunch. I’ve found this great spot about ten minutes southwest of Slick Rock.

  Niki: I thought your lunch break would have been over by now.

  Kat: Normally, but the boss needed to change breaks with me. I really need to talk to you, sis.

  Niki: What’s wrong? Are you okay?

  Kat: I don’t want to chance anyone reading the message over your shoulder. Please, Niki? I need you.

  Niki: Tell me where you are and I’ll be there as soon as I can.

  Niki frowned when Kat sent her a screen shot of a map. Her intuition was telling her that something wasn’t right, but she was worried about her sister. Kat hadn’t looked happy the last time she’d seen her, but Niki had put her sister’s anxiety down to the Donnybrook men and the way her sibling had been fighting to keep them at arm’s length.

  Brent had told her that his cousins had made progress with Kat and that she’d agreed to have a relationship with them.

  Nevertheless, Kat had always been there for her, so Niki wasn’t going to deny her sister. Kat never asked for help or to talk, so if she was asking now, she had to be really upset.

  She and her men had already eaten lunch, but food wasn’t really the issue here.
Kat needed her, and she was going.

  Since Brent, Hes, and Rig had already gone back outside to work on the ranch, Niki penned a note and left it propped up against the coffee pot, knowing they’d head straight for it as soon as they entered the house. Though she expected to be back home long before they came inside for dinner, she didn’t want her men worrying about her if they came back early and found her gone.

  Niki snatched the keys from the hook, raced to her bedroom, grabbed the gun after unlocking the safe, and headed out. Her stomach roiled with stress, and she hoped that the Donnybrook brothers hadn’t broken up with her sister. Niki wasn’t sure Kat could survive anymore heartache and pain.

  * * * *

  Kat groaned as she came awake. Her chin, jaw, and head were aching so much she felt ill. When she tried to lift a hand to her face and only moved a few inches, she gasped and opened her eyes. Her head pounded harder as she squinted about, and fear took hold when she noticed she was in a dim cabin-type building. She tilted her head back, and her heart stuttered when she saw her arms were high above her head, but that wasn’t what terrified her. Horror gripped her as she stared at the shackles around her wrists and the chains leading from the hooks in the timber floor.

  When she heard movement close by, she lowered her head and turned to scan the shadows of the room. In the far corner sitting on a crate was a brown-haired man who looked familiar.

  She whimpered when he smiled at her once he noticed she was awake and walked toward her. As he passed by the dirty window and the sunlight hit his features, she gasped and tugged at her bound arms. She knew him. Had seen him coming and going from her deceased father’s house.

  Darren Carter had found and kidnapped her. Kat began shaking harder as her fight or flight instincts kicked in and adrenaline surged through her body, her blood.

  “Hello, Katerina. Long time, no see.”

  Tears welled, but Kat pushed them back. She had a gag in her mouth, and if she started crying and got a stuffy nose it would be even harder to breathe.

  She had no idea what Carter wanted, but she was afraid she was going to find out.

  * * * *

  “What the fuck do you mean she’s missing?” Dante snarled.

  “Calm down, Dante,” Sheriff Damon Osborn said.

  Sheriff Luke Sun-Walker rubbed at the back of his neck. “Shyann just called and told us that Kat hasn’t come back from her lunch break.”

  “Maybe she’s still at the diner,” Mica suggested.

  The knot in Dante’s gut got bigger when Damon shook his head. “I had one of the other deputies check. The last time she was seen was leaving the diner ten minutes before 1:00 p.m. That was more than enough time for her to walk back to work.”

  “She might have gone home if she was feeling sick,” Mica said.

  “And not tell Shyann she wasn’t coming back?” Luke quirked a brow.

  Dante’s anxiety grew. “Has anyone checked the cameras at the library?”

  “Not yet,” Damon answered. “That was our next step.”

  “Luke, Brentley Lyndon’s on the phone for you,” Luke’s administrative assistant called out.

  Luke picked up the closest phone and hit a button to take the call.

  Dante ground his teeth as he watched his boss’s face. The man looked angry and concerned. When Luke gazed at Jalen, Mica, and then him, he knew that something was seriously wrong.

  “Tell her to lock the truck doors and get out of there. We’re on our way.” Luke disconnected the call. “Hes Lyndon got a call from Niki. Apparently Kat sent her sister a text and asked her to meet her at an abandoned cabin ten minutes southwest of here off Route 141. Niki got suspicious when she didn’t see Kat’s car but a strange truck.”

  “Fuck!” Dante spun on his heels and raced toward the door. Jalen and Mica were right behind him.

  “Don’t go in half-cocked,” Damon said loudly. “Use your Marine training and your brains. We’re right behind you.”

  Dante didn’t bother to acknowledge his boss as he hurried toward his patrol car. His brother had barely placed their asses on their seats before he was on the road and speeding toward his woman. As soon as the cabin had been mentioned, he’d known exactly where it was.

  He just hoped the Kat wasn’t hurt or worse.

  * * * *

  Niki was so scared for her sister she was panting. The truck parked near the cabin wasn’t one she’d ever seen before, and the license plates were out of state. When she saw they were from Illinois, she began to tremble. Memories of pain, constant fear, and disparaging words assailed her. Just as she got her fear under control and put the truck into reverse, about to drive away—even if leaving her sister with whoever had taken her went against every fiber of her being—the cabin door opened.

  A man had his hand on her sister’s neck and a gun up against her temple. “Get out of the truck, Nikita.”

  Niki whimpered and shook her head.

  “I’ll kill her right now if you don’t do as I say.”

  “I’m sorry,” Niki said quietly as she placed her cell phone on the driver’s seat next to her leg. “I love you all so much, but he’s holding a gun to Kat’s head.” She ended the call just as Hes shouted her name and hoped the fucker who was threatening her sister hadn’t heard him.

  Everything seemed to slow down and become surreal as Niki turned the truck off, removed her seatbelt, unlocked the door, and opened it.

  Kat shook her head and yelled at her, but since she was gagged Niki couldn’t understand what she was saying. Nevertheless, it was pretty obvious that she was trying to warn her off.

  Feeling a semblance of security with the knowledge and imprint of the handgun digging into her flesh in the back of her jeans, she took a tentative, wobbly step toward the cabin.

  Then another and another.

  Niki loved her sister and would do anything for Kat.

  Even die for her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Jalen was so scared he couldn’t think straight. He and his brothers had just recently gotten Kat to be their woman, and now she was in danger again. He loved her so fucking much and hadn’t even had a chance to tell her yet. Regret surged into his heart, but he pushed it away and drew on his Marine training.

  He was an elite trained soldier, damn it. He and his brothers were going to save the other half of their hearts and souls. Failing wasn’t an option because if they did…

  He shook his head. There was no fucking way he was going to finish that thought.

  Negativity had no place in his heart and mind right now. Determination and resolve was what he needed to cling to. He and his brothers were going to save Kat, and when they had her safe and sound back in their home and in their arms where she belonged, he and his brothers were going to ask, no, demand that she agree to marry them.

  She loved them just as much as they loved her. Jalen could see it in her beautiful blue eyes every time they looked at her, touched her, and made love to her. Kat was an all or nothing type of woman, and he intended to have it all with her.

  He just hoped that they were in time to rescue her before things went even more south.

  * * * *

  “Go faster, damn it!” Mica snapped. He was clinging to the ‘oh shit’ handle in the back seat of the patrol car. While he knew that Dante was driving as fast as he could without wrecking and injuring them, it felt as if he wasn’t going fast enough.

  Thankfully, Dante didn’t respond or take him to task over his impatience. He was so worried about Kat there was a knot of fear lodged in his throat, making it hard for him to breathe, but he couldn’t let his terror for her rule. If he did, when the time came to confront whoever had his woman, he could end up fucking up.

  He needed to keep his wits about him and be the soldier he’d trained to be. The weapons were already locked and loaded since he’d checked them over. Luke and Damon had them all carry semi-automatic rifles in their vehicles in a lock box under the back seat. He’d had a hell of a time no
t falling onto his ass or hitting his head on the door as his brother had careened around the curves of the road, but he’d parted his knees and braced his body as best he could as he’d knelt in the footwells while checking the rifle was ready to go.

  Mica wouldn’t hesitate to shoot to kill if given the opportunity. All that mattered was getting his woman out of this situation alive.

  Kat was his whole world, and he’d be lost without her.

  * * * *

  Kat had heard the vehicle approaching the cabin and had hoped that her men realized she was missing. She had a feeling that Shyann would put out an alert when she didn’t show up to work after taking her lunch break.

  Carter had barely spoken to her other than greeting her with a smile as if they were long lost friends, and she had wondered what he’d been waiting for. She’d been scared he was waiting for a partner to come help him spirit her away from her home and the three men she’d loved. She’d known he was waiting for someone, since he kept glancing at his watch and then peeking out the dirt coated window.

  Again, without saying a word, he’d knelt at her side, pressing his knee into her diaphragm hard enough to almost keep her from breathing, and then he’d unhooked the shackles from the floor. Before she’d been able to do anything, try to fight him, he’d flipped her over onto her stomach, pulled her arms behind her back, and cuffed her. Although he’d loosened the rope around her ankles slightly, he hadn’t removed them, and after he’d pulled her to her feet, he walked her toward the cabin door.

  Kat remembered being tied up not so long ago, and the terror tried to take hold again, but she was done with being afraid. Done with assholes who controlled and ruined her life.

  She shoved her terror aside, inhaled as deeply as she could through her nose since she was still gagged, and latched onto the anger which had been buried under her dread. And then she fed it until she was so fucking furious she was shaking.