****
The next morning, Dakota drove Megan to Nathan and Shelly’s home. She sat in the truck staring out through the windshield. Dakota put his hand on her nape and massaged it trying to ease the tension he felt there.
“Try not to worry. I’ll come and get you when it’s over.”
“Please don’t say it like that.”
“You know what I mean.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss against her mouth feeling her lips tremble beneath his. “Don’t come out of this house until I come for you.”
She nodded then opened the truck door, climbed out and without looking at him, she walked up the steps. Dakota watched as Nathan opened the door for her, kissed her on the cheek, and walked down the steps to the truck. Pulling open the door, he climbed in then glanced at Dakota.
“She’s a wreck,” Nathan said.
Dakota huffed. “That’s an understatement.”
“Shelly isn’t much better, but I’m sure Megan is worried about you and Aiden.”
“She’s worried about everyone. I hope to hell this goes down the right way.”
“Yeah, me too. Mont, Micah, and the other agents are on their way. I just spoke with Mont.”
“Lucas, Coop, Linc, and Storm were pulling in when I left to pick you up.”
“Why do I feel like I’m heading to the O.K. Corral?”
“Because you know damn well that Caporale will have his men out there. I’m just not sure how many.”
“I’d guess four. Caporale has four men he trusts completely. I know they’ll be out there somewhere with weapons aimed at you and Aiden. I’m hoping we can get our guys out there and take them out first or at least, incapacitate them.”
Dakota grinned. “I’m sure they’d love to do that.”
Nathan chuckled. “Yeah, no one messes with our friends.”
Dakota pulled up to the back door of his home then he and Nathan stepped out. They walked up the steps and entered the kitchen to see the men sitting at the table waiting on them. Each had a cup of coffee in front of them.
Lucas raised his cup. “Figured we’d need to get warmed up before heading out.”
“Not a problem, Lucas,” Dakota told him.
The door opened and Mont and Micah entered. Mont walked to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Micah took a seat at the table and turned his gaze to Dakota.
“Since I’m going to be in the house with Mont, see if you can get Caporale in here. My suspicion is that he’s going to want to do this outside. He’ll have his men somewhere out there.”
“And we’re going to be looking for them,” Storm said.
Micah looked at him. “I hope to hell you find them because I’m telling you, Caporale won’t hesitate to have Dakota and Aiden shot once he has his money.”
“We’ll find them,” Cooper said with confidence.
“Damn straight, we will,” Linc added.
Micah nodded. “I sure hope so. Caporale is supposed to be here in about an hour. You guys need to get out there. Put your phones on vibrate only. We don’t need to let them know you’re out there.”
Lucas, Cooper, Storm, Nathan, and Linc put their cups in the sink and walked out the door, each one slapping Dakota on the shoulder. Storm stopped beside him.
“We got this,” he said.
Dakota nodded. “I know.”
Storm gave a terse nod and walked out. Nathan stopped beside Dakota and put his hand on his shoulder. Without saying a word, he gave it a squeeze and left. Dakota ran his hand down his face and took a deep breath then looked at Micah and Mont.
“This hour is going to drag by.”
“It will give the men time to get out there. With ten men out there, we should have a good bit of the ranch covered. Since Caporale doesn’t know the ranch, it should be easy to spot his men in no time once they enter the property. Let’s go over what you’re going to do, again,” Micah said.
A little over an hour later, Dakota was sure he was going crazy. Every time he heard a sound, he’d jump up and walk to the window. He sat at the kitchen table, waiting when Micah entered the kitchen from the living room.
“A car’s pulling up. It’s him.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, I saw him through the binoculars. Walk outside, but be careful. Do you have your weapon?”
“Yes, in the back of my jeans.” Dakota stood and put his jacket, gloves, and hat on then picked up the briefcase filled with money. After giving Micah a nod, he opened the back door and stepped outside. He waited for the car to come to a stop then he walked down the steps, and waited.
A few minutes ticked by before the door opened and a man stepped out. He leaned against the front fender of the car and stared at Dakota.
“Walker?”
“Yes. Caporale?”
“Yes.”
“Where’s Aiden?”
“In the backseat. Is that my money?” Caporale nodded toward the briefcase.
“Yes, but you aren’t getting it until I see Aiden.”
Caporale sneered and walked to the back door of the vehicle. He opened it and waved for Aiden to get out. Aiden emerged from the car and glanced around and Dakota knew then that Caporale’s men were out there.
“Are you all right, Aiden?” Dakota asked.
“Yes,” Aiden said.
“He’s fine. I haven’t hurt him...yet.”
“If you want this money, you won’t hurt him at all. How about we go inside and talk?”
“I’m not going inside. We’ll do this here. Bring me the briefcase.”
“Go to hell. You want it, you come and get it.” Dakota set the briefcase on the bottom step.
Caporale laughed. “You’ve got balls, Walker. I’ll give you that.”
Dakota folded his arms across his chest and glanced around the property. He saw the sun glint off an object on the hill behind the barn. He didn’t know if it was one of Caporale’s men, one of his friends or one of the FBI agents. He knew not to call attention to it but he noticed that Aiden stiffened up. Dakota shook his head slightly when Aiden looked at him and Dakota saw the relief on Aiden’s face, but Dakota didn’t want him to appear too calm.
“Are you alone, Caporale?”
“Are you?”
“I said I would be.” Dakota dodged the question.
“As did I, Walker. Where’s Aiden’s sister?”
“Nowhere close.”
“I would think that she’d want to be here for her brother.”
“Yeah, well, there you go thinking.” Dakota smirked.
Caporale’s eyes widened then he laughed. “Like I said, you’ve got balls.”
“Aiden, walk over here.”
Caporale put a hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “No. Give me the money.”
Dakota sighed. “Halfway. You walk over here with him and I’ll hand you the briefcase.”
Caporale stared at him for a full minute before giving Aiden a push in Dakota’s direction. Dakota bent down and picked up the briefcase then slowly moved toward Caporale. When they met up, Dakota handed him the briefcase and took Aiden’s arm in his grasp.
Caporale grabbed the briefcase and turned around to walk to his car. He set the briefcase on the hood and opened it. Dakota tensed up when Caporale turned to glare at him.
“What the fuck is this? I’m not stupid, Walker. This is not seventy-five thousand dollars.”
“Take it and go,” Dakota growled.
“No one cheats me,” Caporale said as he waved his hand. A shot rang out and Aiden yelled and hit the ground. Dakota reached for his gun and aimed it at Caporale while at the same time, the back door opened and Micah stepped out with Mont behind him. Both with their weapons aimed at Caporale.
“You try to run and I’ll blow your head off,” Micah called out. “And I really wish you’d try.”
Caporale stopped, spun around, and stared at him. “Well, if it isn’t the pain in the ass Agent Turner. Do you seriously think I’d come here alone?”
�
��I knew you wouldn’t. Do you seriously think your men are out there alone?” Micah countered.
Caporale glanced around the property and back at Micah. Dakota saw Micah grin as he pulled out his cell phone. Dakota listened as each of his friends answered. Lucas, Storm, Cooper, and Linc each had one of Caporale’s men. Meanwhile, FBI agents ran onto the property from different directions.
“You son of a bitch,” Caporale yelled at Micah.
Micah shrugged. “I’ve been called worse.”
Dakota was glad to see Caporale stop and put his hands up. Once he knew it was safe, he kneeled down by Megan’s brother. “Aiden, are you all right?”
“I think so. Someone shot me in the arm.”
Dakota’s cell phone rang and he answered. “Who shot?”
“The prick shot right before I got to him. Is everyone all right?” Lucas asked.
“Aiden was hit in the arm but other than that, we’re all good.”
“Shit. I’m sorry...”
“Don’t worry about it, Lucas. You guys can come in now. Tell the others.”
“You got it. I’m going to drag this asshole down by his balls,” Lucas muttered into the phone.
Dakota laughed. “However you want to bring him in is fine.” Then he turned to see Micah handcuffing Caporale.
“You have nothing on me, Turner. Not a damn thing.”
“I think Aiden will testify against you and I may even be able to talk some of your men into it for a lighter sentence.” Micah winked at Dakota.
“I need to get Megan and let her know about Aiden,” Dakota told him.
“Sure. I’m taking this guy into Nathan’s department then he’ll go to prison. This just made my day.” Micah laughed.
“I’ll call an ambulance for Aiden,” Mont said as he pulled his cell phone from his coat.
Dakota nodded as he climbed into his truck and drove to get Megan. When he stopped the truck, she came running outside and threw herself at him as soon as he stepped from the truck. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly against him.
“It’s all right, baby. It’s over now. Everyone is fine. Aiden was hit in the arm but he’ll be fine.”
She gasped. “Aiden was shot?”
“Yes, but he’ll be fine. An ambulance has been called and Caporale is on the way to jail.”
“I’m so glad. I need to see Aiden.” She ran for the truck and climbed inside.
Dakota huffed and climbed into the truck then drove her back to his house. The ambulance was just pulling in when they arrived. Megan jumped out of the truck when he stopped it, and ran for the ambulance. Dakota followed her.
“Aiden,” she called out as she ran toward him. The EMTs were putting him on the stretcher.
Aiden grabbed her hand. “I’m fine, sis.”
“Aiden...”
“I’m so sorry, Meg, just so sorry for all of this.”
“I know you are.”
“I’m going to prison. I was so stupid, sis, and I never should have gotten you involved in any of this.”
“Just let it go, Aiden. We’ll get past this.”
“No. Megan, I won’t get past this. I’m going to prison for embezzling from the bank. I did it. The FBI knows I did it. I’m going to testify against Caporale, but I’ll still go to prison.”
“Dakota can––”
“No, Megan. I can’t do anything this time. He’s going to prison,” Dakota said.
Megan spun around to look at him. “Why can’t you do something?”
“Like what?” Dakota shook his head. “There is nothing anyone can do. He may get a lesser sentence for testifying against Caporale, but that’s up to the FBI. I have nothing to do with it.”
“But––”
“There are no buts, Megan,” Dakota shouted. He spun away from her, took his hat off, ran his fingers through his hair, and resettled his hat.
“Ma’am, we need to get him to the hospital. You can go with us but we need to leave now,” one of the EMTs told Megan.
“I’m going with him.”
Dakota turned around. “Megan, I can take you.”
“No. You’ve done enough for...both of us.”
He watched her climb into the back of the ambulance and the doors close behind her. Dakota put his hands on his hips and hung his head.
“She just needs some time to make sure he’s really all right, Dakota,” Mont said from beside him.
“I guess,” Dakota said, but wondered if they were right back where they started—with Aiden between them.
“She’s in shock right now. She’ll be fine later. Here come the guys with Caporale’s men.”
Dakota looked across the yard and saw Nathan, Lucas, Storm, Linc, and Cooper with Caporale’s men.
“The agents are getting their SUVs to take these men in. I’m just trying to decide whether to take them all into the house to let them get warmed up or let their asses chill out here in the freezing cold,” Nathan said.
“I’m freezing my balls off. You take me inside and I’ll tell you anything you want to know about Caporale,” Hulk informed him when he reached them.
Nathan laughed. “Looks like they’re going inside then.” He looked at Dakota and frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit.” Nathan glanced around. “Where’s Aiden?”
“He was shot. The ambulance took him to the hospital and Megan went with him.”
“Why didn’t you go?”
“She didn’t ask me to go with her and insisted on going in the ambulance with her brother.” Dakota nearly spit that last word out.
“Shit,” Nathan muttered as he waved the men to go into the house. Once they’d all gone inside, he turned to Dakota. “Is she blaming you for him getting shot?”
“No, but she thought I could do something to keep him out of prison.”
“She knew he was going, Dakota. Micah told her that and there’s nothing you can do to change the situation.”
“I know that and you know that, but for some reason she thinks I can, but won’t.”
“She’ll come around. Give her time.”
“I don’t think I can this time. All I’ve done is give her time and all she ever does is choose Aiden over me, just like she did now.”
“He’s hurt, Dakota. She needs to make sure it’s not serious. She’ll be back.”
Dakota didn’t say anything as snow swirled around him.
****
Megan sat in the chair beside the bed and watched Aiden sleep. The nurses had brought him in an hour ago from surgery. It was finally over. All of it. It pained her that Aiden would go to prison but she knew, in her heart, he deserved it. What he’d done was wrong and he needed to pay for his crime. She touched his hand and he closed his fingers around it.
“Aiden? Are you awake?”
“Yes, I’m so sorry, Megan. For everything.”
“I know you are.”
“Miss Carson?”
Megan glanced to the door to see Agent Turner standing there.
“Agent Turner, come in.”
He smiled at her, entered the room, and stared down at Aiden. “How are you feeling, Aiden?”
“Like I’ve been shot.”
Micah chuckled. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?”
He looked at Megan. “Do you mind if I sit?”
“No. Please do.” Megan watched as he pulled a chair up close to the bed, took a deep breath and blew it out then looked at Aiden.
“Aiden, you know you’re in a whole lot of trouble with the embezzlement charges. In Colorado, this is a class three felony since it was public money. You could face a fine of as little as three thousand dollars or as much as seven hundred fifty thousand, and sentenced to four to twelve years in prison, or both. At any rate, you’ll probably get up to at least five years’ probation, if they go easy on you. You could also be made to pay restitution to the bank.”
“Are you saying that he may not go to prison?” Megan a
sked.
“I hate to be the one to tell you this, but with the bank filing charges and the fact that Aiden jumped bail, he will in all likelihood go to prison. I’m going to talk to the district attorney in Colorado and tell him Aiden is going to testify against Caporale. It might help his case but the worst thing you could have done, Aiden, is what you did. You absconded with the money, jumped bail, and tried to leave the country, and that doesn’t look good. Even if the bank agrees to let you repay them, the courts will have it in the back of their minds that you ran once, and you could again.” Micah glanced at Megan. “I’m sorry.”
“I understand, Agent Turner. I’m ready to pay for my crime. I messed up.”
“Yes, but I’ll see what I can do. Just be on your best behavior before you go to trial. I’d get the best attorney I could. You won’t have another chance at bail though. Not this time.”
“Thank you, Agent Turner. We appreciate all you’ve done,” Megan said. Micah gave them a nod, stood, and left. Megan looked at Aiden. “We’ll talk to an attorney once we get back to Denver.”
“Once I get back. You stay here. This is where you belong.”
“Aiden...”
“No. Megan, please. You and Dakota love each other and I’m to blame for you two being apart in the first place. Stay here with him. I can take care of myself. It’s time you let me. I can get an attorney. Once I go to trial, then you can come to Denver but for now, stay where you belong.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Dakota loves you. He wouldn’t have done any of this if he didn’t. After all, he didn’t do it for me. Go home to him. Stay with him in Dry River. You love it here.”
“I do love him and this town. I just don’t want you to be alone.”
“It’s about time I was. I’ll take care of it. And of myself. We’ll keep in touch and I’ll let you know when my trial is. I’m going to do what Agent Turner suggested and get a good attorney, and behave myself. I love you, Meg, but you deserve some happiness and that means being with Dakota.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she smiled through them. “When did you grow up?”
“The last few days, I guess.” Aiden laughed. “Go home. I’m fine. I’ll see you before they extradite me.”
Megan stood, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. “I love you too. I’ll be back tomorrow—”
Dakota Bad Boys of Dry River, WY Book 5 Page 15