Colton's Fugitive Family

by Jennifer Morey

  A laugh bubbled up and out of her. She used to think the same before Wolf came along.

  “He’ll have to sleep between us tonight,” Lucas said in his normal man tone. Then, to Wolf, the sound changing again, he said, “Won’t you? Yeah.” He brushed his nose with the baby’s, eliciting another raucous bout of giggles. “We can’t have you rolling off anything.”

  The baby would serve as a barrier between them. Demi should be glad for that.

  “Are you sure you won’t roll onto him?” she asked.

  “I doubt I’ll get much sleep tonight anyway. I won’t roll over on him.” Lucas’s voice reverted to the animated version for the last declaration. “No I won’t.”

  “How did I ever miss this Jerry Maguire character you have in you?”

  His deep chuckle rendered Wolf still. His eyes grew big and he stared up at Lucas as though the rich sound fascinated him.

  I’m with you, pal. More than his voice fascinates me.

  Demi had to endure another half hour of Lucas playing with Wolf before sleepiness finally took over and the baby conked out in his arms. She also had to endure the way Lucas watched the transition from play to sleep. He held Wolf until the phone rang, signaling their pizza had arrived.

  Demi took Wolf from him and laid the baby on the bed while Lucas took care of the pizza delivery. She arranged a blanket around Wolf and leaned down to kiss his forehead. She wasn’t accustomed to sharing him with anyone. No one else had been around. She had to admit to a little jealousy, seeing how smitten her son was with Lucas. More disturbing, though, was how Lucas bonded with him. Wolf could almost be his own son. Being his brother’s son was close enough.

  Lucas put the pizza on the oval wood coffee table and retrieved some paper towels from the counter next to the microwave.

  It was after seven, and she was starving. She sat next to him on the sage sofa. He handed her a slice on a paper towel.

  “I don’t understand why you deprive yourself of having children when you love them so much.”

  He chewed a bite of his own slice and looked at her. After he swallowed, he said, “Eat.”

  “No, really. Why do you?” To make him happy, she bit into her pizza.

  “I don’t look at it like I’m depriving myself.”

  “But you are.” He’d made the decision not to have them when it was obvious he adored them.

  “I enjoy other people’s kids. Why do I have to have my own to satisfy that urge?”

  He called it an urge?

  “Did you plan on having Wolf?” he asked.

  She scoffed. “No. He was an accident. A very special one.”

  “Did you plan on having kids in general?”

  She supposed she deserved the questions since she’d gone after him for answers on the same matter. “Actually, no. I hadn’t given it much thought. Having them wasn’t a top priority. Don’t ask me why.”

  “But after Bo, you decided to stay away from marriage?”

  “Marriage, at least for a while, and definitely not until I find a man I can trust. If I never do, that’s okay with me.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “Well, good, because I don’t believe you, either.”

  And she didn’t trust him, either. He didn’t believe she’d stay away from marriage and she didn’t believe he would, either. Where did that leave them?

  Chapter 5

  Early the next morning, Lucas woke before Wolf and Demi. He rolled onto his side and propped his head on his hand. Snuggled in a blanket on top of the comforter, the baby breathed evenly. Long, fine, dark-red eyelashes rested on his cheeks. Lucas didn’t like how Demi’s question bothered him. He did like kids. They didn’t have a worry in the world and always gravitated toward fun and adventure. His favorite camping trips were the ones with big groups and kids.

  Whenever he thought of having kids of his own, he also thought of how devastating it would be to lose them. He enjoyed other people’s kids. He’d feel a lot stronger about his own. He knew people who’d lost a child. It changed them beyond compare. No parent should have to go through that, but the sad reality was, in life there was death. The only death he needed to suffer was his own.

  After spending time with Demi and Wolf, though, he wondered if he’d made the wrong choice. He understood most people would not relate to his decision not to marry or have kids. He knew it was drastic. He also knew that he never, ever wanted to feel what his father had felt and lose touch with those around him, even his kids.

  Lucas had needed his father after his mother died. He hadn’t had his father. He didn’t really have him to this day. His father was a quiet, solitary man. Successful, no arguing that, but detached from the rest of society. He functioned. He socialized. From the outside, no one would guess a depressed man struggled to survive day-to-day. On the inside a completely different man lived. He felt neither joy nor sorrow anymore. He’d lost too much. Money had meaning and nothing else. Money would not hurt him. Love would.

  Lucas didn’t live in isolation. Money didn’t mean that much to him beyond being a necessity. He wasn’t afraid of love, either. He just never wanted to be hurt the way his father had been hurt. It was a conscious decision.

  He could just hear Demi argue with him. She argued with him a lot. That’s why they butted heads so often.

  “If you avoid love because you don’t want to be hurt, then you’re afraid,” she’d say. Or something similar.

  Once he fell in love, his well-being would depend on the well-being of the woman he loved. Who had control over something like that? Nobody, that’s who. Unless a person chose not to fall in love. He controlled his destiny.

  Demi stirred, taking a deep breath followed by a long stretch. The comforter slid off her breasts, which stood out with the arch of her back. Even her modest pj top didn’t minimize the shape of her perky chest. She had an athletic body, something that had always attracted him.

  Her eyes blinked open. She turned her head and their eyes met, hers sleepy, and he was sure his were heating up.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Watching Wolf sleep.”

  She smiled softly and rolled to her side to look at her son. The motherly love that swept her expression left him no illusions as to what she felt for her baby. Their bond was powerful.

  Feeling himself slipping ever deeper into this domestic bliss, Lucas pushed the covers off and got up. He busied himself making coffee.

  Demi stayed in bed, waiting for Wolf to wake up. Once he did, she went about giving him a bath and dressing him. They’d go downstairs for breakfast.

  Lucas put a cup of coffee on the side table by the bed where Demi was dressing the baby.

  “Ah. Thanks.”

  He sipped his coffee just as four gunshots rang out from somewhere in the inn. He put down the cup and grabbed his gun. Demi had picked up Wolf.

  “You stay here.” He didn’t think she’d put her baby in danger by trying to help.

  She held Wolf against herself and nodded.

  Lucas hurried from the room to the top of the stairs. There he stopped to listen as Edward pleaded with the gunman and his wife cried. Staying close to the wall, Lucas went down the stairs. From the foyer he couldn’t see anyone in the living room. Going to the wide archway, he stopped at the wall and peered in.

  “Please. Let her go,” Edward said. “We don’t want any trouble.”

  “Shut up old man.”

  Devlin. As if he needed any sign that’s who’d shot up the inn.

  The inn was the nearest place he and Demi could have sought shelter, especially on foot. Of course Devlin would case the place for them. Now he held the proprietors hostage, probably until they gave him the room number.

  Lucas could see where this would lead. He stepped into view, catching Devlin’s attention.

  �
�I knew you’d come down here when you heard the gunshot, superhero wannabe that you are.”

  “Let them go, Devlin.”

  “Where is Demi?”

  “She’s in the room with her baby.” Lucas saw no need to hide that information since he would never let Devlin past him.

  “Go get her and bring her down here.”

  * * *

  Demi held Wolf close, even though he was secure in her baby pack, an adjustable baby carrier. It was adjustable in all carry positions, but she preferred the front. She poked her head out into the hall and saw a young man doing the same from a room two doors down. Average in height, he had short brown hair and a lanky form. In lounge pants, he clearly hadn’t intended to start his day early. An instant of recognition struck her.

  “Vincent?”

  What was Lucas’s youngest brother doing here?

  “Demi?”

  Did he believe her guilty or innocent?

  “Stay in your room,” Vincent whispered. “Someone is shooting downstairs.”

  “I’m a bounty hunter, remember? Your brother is here, too.” She lifted her right hand to show him her gun.

  “Lucas? He found you?”

  She had no time to explain. “You can’t tell anyone.”

  “I won’t as long as you don’t tell anyone we’re here.”

  We?

  The shooting had stopped and she didn’t hear anything, which worried her. Had Devlin already killed someone downstairs—that older couple who owned the inn? He’d have come up here looking for her, if so.

  She had to go down there and she needed the element of surprise, but she could not take Wolf.

  She walked down the hall to Vincent’s room and saw her cousin, Valeria Colton, standing with the phone to her ear. Barely twenty years old, like Vincent, Valeria had dark hair and wore a nightgown that was visible under an open robe. When she saw the sexy lace, the reason for the lazy morning became clear to Demi.

  The two must have sneaked away for a secret tryst. Valeria’s father, Judson Colton, was dead set against any of his kids marrying a Gage and Valeria was still young enough for him to try to control. He’d already blown a gasket over his daughter Serena falling in love with Carson Gage, a detective with the RRPD. Then son Finn Colton, the chief of police, had gone and fallen in love with Darby Gage. And if that hadn’t been enough salt in his wounds, his other son, Anders, had fallen for Elle Gage, also with the RRPD. He had to be close to giving up on the old feud.

  “Will you watch my baby while I go check out what’s going on?” Demi asked Vincent.

  “Are you sure you want to go down there? Valeria called 911. They’re sending the sheriff over.”

  In this isolated county, there weren’t many who made up the sheriff’s department. It would take too long for help to arrive.

  Valeria said something into the phone and hung up. She walked over to Demi with a startled look.

  “Demi?”

  “Lucas found her,” Vincent said.

  “I’m so glad you don’t have to hide anymore.”

  She didn’t explain she still needed to hide. She had no time.

  Valeria admired the baby. “Oh, look at this sweet face.”

  Demi took Wolf out of the carrier and Valeria took him into her arms, cooing and not as afraid as before.

  “I’ll be right back.” Demi stepped into the hall. “I don’t mean to sound unappreciative, but if you do anything with my baby to hurt him or take him, I’ll hunt you down. Cousin or not,” she added with a pointed look at Valeria. “And uncle or not,” she said to Vincent.

  Vincent smiled. “You don’t have anything to worry about. We’re going to get married on Christmas Eve whether our parents like it or not. We are planning to start a family. We love kids.”

  Enough to kidnap one? Demi realized paranoia made her think that.

  “What’s his name?” Valeria asked. “We heard you were pregnant.”

  “Wolf.”

  “Wolf. What a unique name. He’ll be just fine. You be careful.”

  “All in a day’s work.” Removing the baby carrier pack, Demi handed it to the young man and then began moving down the hall, mouthing, Thank you.

  Downstairs, she heard voices coming from the right of the living area.

  “You’re going to have to go through me first,” Lucas said.

  “All right,” Devlin answered, and Demi feared he’d shoot him.

  “Wait!” Demi recognized Edward’s voice. “I’ll go get her if you let my wife go.”

  “I’ll let her go when you bring her down here.”

  Devlin wanted Demi and was holding Gladys hostage, most likely at gunpoint. Demi would risk too much by going in there, at least, she would if she entered through the archway.

  “Please. Let me go now,” Gladys said desperately.

  Demi went to the front door. She took the handle and slowly pulled. When she had enough room, she slipped through. Pausing to listen, she heard nothing except Gladys’s continued pleading and, with a sick feeling, hoped that drowned out any noise Demi made.

  Outside, Demi ran toward the side of the inn, glad for the winter boots she’d put on in a hurry. Leaping over short bushes and dodging trees, she reached the edge of the inn. Clearing the corner, she stopped at the edge of the exterior lights around the large patio. Keeping to the shadows, she made her way to the patio door, which was far enough along the back of the building to be beyond the living room.

  Through the glass, she saw the dining area and, closer to the living room, Devlin holding Gladys at gunpoint and Lucas aiming his own gun at Devlin. Edward wasn’t there and must have gone to find Demi.

  She tested the door. It was unlocked.

  Lucas faced her, so she stepped into view and waited until she saw his eyes shift as though looking at Gladys. He’d seen her but didn’t let on.

  He started talking to Devlin. Demi couldn’t understand what he said, but his muffled voice came through the glass door. Sliding the door open, she stepped inside.

  Devlin held Gladys with his arm hooked around her neck and his gun to her temple. She clung to his arm and made distressed whimpers. Edward had not returned. Lucas stared at Devlin but Demi knew he was aware of her approach.

  Demi’s top priority was Gladys. Demi had to be stealthy. She contemplated shooting him right then, but feared his gun would go off and he’d hurt Gladys.

  Demi stepped forward.

  Devlin began to turn his head. She wasn’t sure what had alerted him, maybe a cool draft of air when she came in from outside. Gladys looked at Devlin, saw his distraction as he spotted Demi and shoved him.

  Lucas was on Devlin in an instant, knocking his hand and jarring loose the gun.

  Gladys wailed and ran for the front of the inn.

  Demi kept her gun on Devlin, but now Lucas had him in a wrestling hold, Devlin gripping his wrist to prevent Lucas from aiming his gun at him. Lucas got in two punches, but Devlin seemed unfazed. His previous gunshot wound didn’t seem to slow him down, either, indicating it hadn’t been that severe.

  Devlin dodged Lucas’s next punch and delivered one of his own. Lucas crashed into a table, knocking a chair over and stumbling. Devlin roared in a crazed way and tried to take the gun from Lucas.

  Lucas kicked Devlin’s knee, forcing a yell from him and making him take an unsteady step back.

  “Don’t move!” Demi ordered.

  Picking up a chair, Devlin hurled it at her. She leaped out of the way.

  Lucas swung his gun toward Devlin’s head, but Devlin blocked him and slammed his fist into Lucas’s sternum. Lucas answered with a chop of his free hand and then delivered a hit to Devlin’s head. Devlin partially blocked that. He staggered.

  Demi had a clear shot and readied her gun. Just then, Edward appeared with a rifle. Devlin saw him and
dove just as Edward fired, able to grab his own gun on the way. Devlin crouched behind the end of a buffet against the wall.

  Tipping a table over, Demi took cover behind that.

  Edward shot his rifle again, yelling, “Get out of my inn!”

  Lucas appeared beside Demi. She peeked around the edge of the table and saw Devlin making a run for the door where Demi had entered. Lucas rose and ran after him.

  “Stop!” he yelled.

  Devlin twisted and shot his weapon, forcing Lucas to take cover again. Lucas didn’t remain long behind cover. He ran after Devlin.

  Demi heard gunshots before she made it to the door. Looking outside, she saw Lucas chasing Devlin toward the front of the inn. Rather than follow, she went through the dining area and into the foyer. Hearing crying, she looked up to the open landing. Edward had his arms around his wife.

  She felt bad for them and responsible for bringing violence to their magical world, but Demi had to make sure Lucas was all right and Devlin was no longer a threat. She opened the front door. Devlin had hopped onto a snowmobile and was racing away, zigzagging to avoid Lucas’s gunshots. He didn’t avoid them all, though. Lucas was a good shot and a few bullets sparked off the handlebars and chassis.

  Demi closed the door and looked up at Edward and Gladys huddled together, watching.

  “It’s safe now.”

  Gladys sagged against her husband and cried some more. He rubbed her back after lowering the rifle and leaning it upright against the railing.

  Jogging up the stairs, she stuffed her gun into her holster. “This is all my fault. That man is after me.” She put her hand on Gladys’s arm. “Are you all right?”

  Gladys sniffled and moved back from her husband, who kept his arm around her. She nodded. “Just had a bit of a scare.”

  Demi had to smother a smile. She sounded so sweet and innocent. A “bit of a scare” didn’t come close to the terror she’d been through. Demi wished she could wrap her hands around Devlin’s neck and rid the world of him right now. He’d caused more than enough grief for the people of Red Ridge. Now his evil had spread here, infecting this peaceful, kind couple.