Brother's Keeper I: Declan

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  “He’s leaving; we’ve got to go in now!” Colton panicked.

  “Not yet. My men are nearly in position, we’ll have them surrounded,” Dec replied.

  “They get her in a car, and we won’t see her again. We need to go now. There can’t be but a dozen or so in there,” Colton negotiated.

  “Stand down, Sparks! You’ll get her killed! You hear me? Do I need to place you under arrest?” Declan threatened. “We do this the right way; no one that matters gets hurt. You got me?”

  Colton begrudgingly listened.

  Four SUVs in various dark colors rolled to a stop in front of the cabin, blocking half from the team’s view. The front door of the cabin was still visible, allowing them to see that there were three men, each heavily armed, taking their post, securing the area. Declan continued to rattle off information to his team, in some sort of code, while the rest watched, keeping track of what and who was in front of them.

  Each driver remained in the vehicles with them running, confirming the idea that they were taking off with their bargaining chip along for the torturous ride. Patience paid off when more activity approached the doorway.

  Four men disbursed, one to each vehicle, opening the rear door. Finally, the major players found their way out of the cabin. Dec’s suspicions were confirmed when his missing man, Tom Boyd, exited first with Megan, bound, blind folded and gagged in his tight grip. Valdez was the last to make his way out. There they all stood, only yards away.

  “My team has a clear path from the back. They swept six men giving them access from the rear. I have eyes out here.” He pointed to his left. “Snipers, ready to disable the vehicles…tires first, then drivers if need be. They aren’t leaving.”

  “How do we get her? When do I grab her?” Colton inquired.

  “You don’t, bro. You stay right here; we bring her to you.” Dec put his hand on Colton’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze, trying to assure him they had this under control.

  “We have the element of surprise…less than a minute, and we’re done,” Blake offered. “Jessie, Morgan, you stay here with Colton. Morgan, you got eyes in the background here, got it? Dawson, you follow me in. We’re only support. We let them do their job, and I leave with all of my people in one piece.”

  A branch snapped behind them, putting everyone on alert and setting the plan in motion before they knew what happened. On instinct, Blake tossed Jessie and Morgan’s heads to the ground, weapon drawn on whoever was behind them. Word must’ve made it to Valdez just as quickly because his people scattered, taking defensive positions.

  Gun fire rang out like a fireworks display in July. The man behind them eliminated, Blake began to move in, Dawson at his side. Shots whizzed by so close, Blake shoved Dawson down, yelling for him to stay low and fall back. Their organized plan quickly shifted to chaos, and he wouldn’t be responsible for Sam becoming a widow or their children fatherless.

  With vehicles now out of commission from sniper fire, and his men falling at his feet, Esteban grabbed Megan, using her as a shield as he went for cover behind the SUVs. Tom Boyd stayed close, offering protection, shooting at his own team like the traitor he was. Shots rang from behind, turning Blake’s attention to his own people – Jessie had fired at one of Valdez’s men, apparently wounding him in the groin. She smiled and winked at Blake, gun aimed at her prize while Dawson zip-tied the hands and feet of her target.

  Shocked and impressed, he moved in, watching Dec’s back as they got closer to Megan. Several shot to death, most wounded and zip-tied, it appeared that Valdez was down to a barely-there army. Creeping from behind the vehicle, Valdez used Megan as protection. Esteban, being the coward he was, had himself pinned between Meg and the SUV, gun placed at Meg’s temple as insurance.

  Blake circled back around to meet Esteban at the front of the vehicles while Declan used traitor Tom as a distraction. With Blake in place, Dec discharged his weapon, nailing his target in the right thigh, clean shot, straight through and likely a nice break as well. Tom lay on the ground, writhing in pain, screaming like the bitch that he was. Distraction accomplished. Dec smiled, thoroughly satisfied with his shot, even if it didn’t make up for the lives lost at Tom’s hands.

  “You’re done Valdez; let her go!” Blake said, weapon locked on Esteban. “It’s over!”

  Tom was quickly zip-tied, moved out of the way, and propped against a tree – his weapon in possession.

  Meg’s blindfold was now draped around her neck, having fallen in the scuffle. Eyes locked on Megan, Colton gave her an endearing grin and said, “It’s going to be okay, baby. You’re okay, we’re going home. Just a few more minutes.” She grinned back, the best she could through her swollen face and fat lip, her left eye swollen nearly shut.

  Esteban was completely surrounded, nowhere to go, the worst kind of desperate there was, the most dangerous, too…he had nothing to lose at this point.

  “You shoot me, she dies. So, this is how it goes. I’m getting in that car, and she comes with me. You give me a driver, unarmed,” he reasoned, as if he thought he still had a chance. “When we are far enough away, I let them go; nobody follows. Do I make myself clear?”

  Declan laughed at Esteban’s desperate attempt to portray that he was still in charge with two dozen weapons casting a red dot on various parts of his body. The man was already as good as dead. All they needed, for that clear shot, was his weapon pulled away from Meg’s head.

  “I’ll drive,” Colton said, tossing the weapon from his waist band to the ground and kicking it away. He lifted his shirt and turned in a circle, showing that he wasn’t carrying another weapon. He raised his arms in a surrender position and walked toward his target.

  “Sparks, stand down,” Blake yelled, moving in to try and intercept him. “I mean it, Colton. Back off; back the fuck off!”

  “Colton, listen to Blake. Please…don’t do this,” Megan cried.

  “I’m going where she’s going. Not negotiable,” he said, staring down Valdez, showing his lack of fear and full confidence. “We all know how this ends, Valdez. When you are far enough away, you kill her, right? Well, I can’t live with that, so I’m going where she’s going. However this ends for her is how it ends for me!” Colton was now an arm’s length from Esteban, not showing a single sign of his anger or loathing.

  “Sparks…” Declan barked, trying to stop Colton.

  “It’s not up to you, any of you,” he said, eyes still locked on his enemy.

  “Fine, this pathetic man goes. You can live together or die together, entirely your choice. No one follows, Mr. O’Reilly, and you know I will know.” With a smug smile and leering eyes, he gave a knowing wink. He was toying with them, reminding them that his reach was far and pockets deep. Anyone could be bought.

  “Let’s go, Mr…Sparks,” Valdez ordered.

  Colton moved toward Megan first, catching Esteban off guard.

  “You drive, you buffoon,” Esteban said, strengthening his grip on Megan, causing her to cry out.

  “She’s hurt, asshole. I’m helping her into the rig. I’m guessing she can’t entirely see where she’s going, given what you did to her face!” Colton shot back, standing firm, face to face with evil…so close he could smell his cigar and expensive scotch on his breath.

  “Fine. Quickly!” Esteban backed down, enhancing Colton’s confidence.

  Colton looked to Blake first, sharing a knowing look in which Blake gave a subtle nod. He turned to Megan, resting his hands at her waist, making eye contact with Morgan and Dawson at the rear of the vehicle, both giving a similar slight nod. Completely in sync with his friends, he took this mission into his own hands, bringing the grand finale.

  He whispered, “Hang on. I love you,” to Meg who fell right into Morgan and Dawson’s waiting hands with a vigorous push from Colton. They swept her around the vehicle and into the shadowy tree line, guarded by Dec’s people and even Jessie. As quickly as he turned her over to safety, his left elbow made contact with Esteban’s face,
stunning him with the unforeseen action taking place around him.

  Injured and disoriented, he was easy to overtake. Colton slammed Valdez against the vehicle behind him, pinning him with his own body. One arm across his enemy’s neck, one holding his arm with the weapon above his head, slamming it repeatedly against the car until the gun fell to the ground. Colton beat the holy living hell out of Esteban.

  While the crowd around him looked on, letting the extra punches to the root of his rage slide, Declan signaled for his guys to step in and pull Colton off of a bloodied Esteban Valdez. He slid down the vehicle like a rag doll, landing hard at their feet only semi-conscious.

  Distracted by their reunion, the reach Valdez made to his ankle was missed. He pulled out a small weapon and aimed it directly at Megan and Colton.

  Tom, still propped against the tree where he was left, shouted, “Gun!” Causing a whirlwind of actions to follow.

  Esteban slurred his final words before getting a shot off. “Fuck you!”

  The activity seemed to transpire in slow motion. Another gunshot rang out, causing everyone to take defensive positions and to aim their weapons at their villain. Colton rolled himself over Megan in an attempt to shield her from tragedy when a loud growl pierced the silence, followed by a sharp yelp…Duke.

  Scanning the scene, shock came over everyone at what would be the dramatic end to it all. Blake stood, frozen with his smoking gun in hand, facing a dead Esteban Ricardo Valdez.

  Feet from Meg and Colton lay Duke, shaking and whimpering in pain, having taken the bullet meant for his family. An ambulance transported the dog, a hero, and his owners to the town vet who was standing by, waiting for their arrival. Tom Boyd, was treated as an animal and had to wait for help – the consequence of being a traitor. Now an active crime scene, Declan and his people began to gather evidence and prepare to close their case.

  DECLAN LEFT THE clean up to his team, now free of the leak, a traitor, a man who used to be his friend. He made a call to Liam, letting him know he was on his way and would tell them everything in person; just had a quick stop to make first.

  Declan walked into Doc Bain’s animal clinic, at an ungodly hour of the night, to see all of the McKenzie gang seated, waiting to hear what fate the dog would succumb to. It warmed him to see how close and loyal these people were to one another. Even Doc Charles, head of the local ER, was there, working on the human patients who refused to go to the hospital until they knew the fate of their dog.

  After the life he had lead, the things he had seen, it was refreshing to see that type of community and friendship still existed. It felt like home, or what he would like to call home, at some point. If nothing else, it gave him the motivation to go through with all that he needed to if he was ever going to settle and have a life like this with Lydia.

  Before leaving, he gave them all an update. He felt they deserved the classified information given they were instrumental in taking down a man the world had been after for years. Tom Boyd had sung like a bird, giving up more than they expected – probably expecting leniency, which he wouldn’t get.

  Tom’s kid was sick, really sick, and he needed money to save her. Esteban had been paying her medical bills in exchange for information. The only person he didn’t sell out was Declan while undercover. Apparently that friendship was off limits, and he didn’t sell Dec out until McKenzie Ridge, and even then…he only gave up Megan and Colton.

  He let them know that there would likely be a lot of questions tossed their way, paperwork, government bullshit. They had all been through a lot, and he told them to take their time and only respond to inquiries when they were ready. He would see to it that none of them had any trouble come their way, legally or in the way of vengeance.

  Five minutes updating the group felt like hours; the drive to Lydia felt even longer. When he stepped inside the cabin, Lydia ran to him. He held her while she sobbed. He suspected it was both relief and fear.

  “It’s over, baby. He’s gone. He can’t hurt you ever again. I promise.” He said it over and over, not sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

  “When they couldn’t get to you, they went for Meg, just like we thought they would,” he said. “He hurt her, messed her up pretty good, but he didn’t kill her. He never intended to. At least, not until he had you.”

  “I just can’t believe it’s all over – just like that. I mean…he’s dead.” Her blank stare gave little away. Though she didn’t love the man, loathed him really, and wanted him out of her life, a part of her life had ended. It was a strange thought and hard to process in the moment.

  Liam chimed in, shaking his head, “I still can’t believe it was Tom. That he was the leak all along? Man, up until tonight, he played a good game.”

  “Yeah. I was pretty shocked, too. We lost good men tonight because of him, men with families. I hope his kid does alright – let’s make sure she has what she needs. Keep it under the radar.”

  Declan despised what Tom did, but he understood how important family was and knew desperation and love would make you do crazy shit. He didn’t care if Tom never saw the kid again, but Declan didn’t want to be the reason that she stopped getting medical care. The brothers would take care of that.

  Declan looked to Lydia. “Megan was treated at the vet clinic of all places. She and Sparks wouldn’t leave the dog. She wants you to stay at the house, tonight, with them. I have work to do, a case to close, so it isn’t a bad idea.”

  Lydia was torn. She wanted to be with her sister, help her get better, and of course be with her son, but what about Declan? “I-I guess that makes…sense. Are you…uh…are you going to be okay? Here?”

  Declan knew where she was going with the question, and he didn’t have an answer. If he had to answer on the spot, then no; he wasn’t going to be okay. Not in the least.

  “The boys will be leaving in a day or two after wrapping up their end. I have a little more work than that here. Seems there’s a growing list of leads we need to follow up on to make sure this thing goes away. I’ll check in on you. Go be with your son, Lydee.” He pulled her into a warm embrace and kissed her. It pained him to let her go, but he had to because there were more men like Esteban out there waiting to take a jab at Declan, and he wouldn’t bring that ugliness to Lydia’s life.

  “Okay. You know where to find me then,” she said.

  “Liam will take you to get Jax and stay with you at Colton’s until they get home. We’re putting a team on the place for a while too…you won’t even see them.”

  As Liam drove off, Lydia watched the cabin disappear into the night in her side mirror, Declan disappearing with it.

  Two weeks later…

  The couple had seen very little of each other over the past weeks. Lydia had stayed with Colton and Megan as planned, quickly getting reacquainted with her son. She missed Declan – desperately – she had a feeling it would go this way but had hoped she was wrong.

  There were a lot of people in and out of the house, taking statements, needing signatures, and so on. Eventually, the U.S Attorney, Carter Landry, had arrived in town and helped close the case and eventually debriefed everyone from a legal standpoint. None were facing charges of any kind; their actions were justified, and he had called them heroes.

  Megan’s house was under construction after the fire that had taken place. It was nearly done, so the plan was for Lydia and Jax to live there. It was right next door, convenient, and McKenzie had the small-town charm Lydia liked. It reminded her of her time with Declan, so she decided to stay for now. There was something to be said about the people of this town too. They stuck together; she liked that. It was like the close family she had always wanted.

  There was an engagement party at Colton and Meg’s where everyone had gathered. It seemed things were trying to get back to normal for most of the gang in McKenzie. Lydia would have to figure out what that was for her. She was standing in the dining room, watching the first snow of the season fall, through the large pictu
re window, when Declan arrived.

  He said his hellos and went right to her. It seemed everyone knew what was coming because they suddenly had privacy. He didn’t hug her, kiss her, or hold her like he normally did. He stood beside her and stared out the same window and watched the same snow fall.

  “I uh, have to head out. I have some loose ends to deal with,” he said.

  “Are you coming back?” she had asked.

  “Lydia, I didn’t want this to happen; I didn’t want us to be apart. You know I love you.”

  “Esteban is dead, Declan. He can’t hurt us.”

  He dropped his head, his voice pained. “There are more like him out there, and until I deal with every last one of them, you and I can’t be together. You aren’t safe until they are gone.”

  “So, it’s over, just like that? I mean I know we said we would take things day by day, but I didn’t think this was how it would end, Declan.”

  “I didn’t either. I have too many enemies though, more than I realized after talking to Tom. I have to clean that up first.” He paused, knowing none of what he said mattered in that moment. Her heart was breaking, and so was his. “I love you – the last thing I want to do is hurt you, but I have to do this to keep you and my family safe. So I can come back and have a real life…with you.”

  She turned to him, tears streaming, and said, “I understand.”

  He kissed her one last time and hated himself for breaking that kiss. “You’ll be safe here. They won’t come to McKenzie Ridge. You, Meg, and Jax are no longer targets with Esteban gone. They’re all just fighting each other for power now, until we take them down.”

  He wiped her tears before turning to leave. He knew his brothers were always near, and Blake would help watch over her and Jax. Her sister, and even his, would help pick up the pieces. He just wondered who would help him pick up the pieces. This hurt like hell.