Lila blushed, smiling shyly. “Just lucky, I guess.”
He grinned.
“You know, some of us are trying to sleep,” Gavin growled from the doorway. His voice sounded grumpy but there was a smile on his face.
“Sorry,” Lila said quickly, trying to rise. Colin held her firmly then stood, keeping her tucked in against his chest.
“We were just on our way up,” he told his oldest brother.
“Colin’s planning on going to Hocken to confront Sara,” Lila tattled on him. “Alone.”
Gavin immediately scowled. “Like hell.”
Colin sighed. Sometimes Gavin seemed to forget he was a grown man.
“Gavin,” he began.
“We’ll all go,” Gavin said emphatically.
“We can’t all go,” Colin tried to explain patiently as he climbed the stairs, Lila still held protectively in his arms.
“You’re right,” Gavin agreed, surprising him. “Lila and Trace can stay here. You and I will go.”
“Hey,” Lila protested as Colin carried her into her room and placed her on the bed.
“What’s going on?” Trace said tiredly as he stumbled into the room, heading straight towards the bed. He instantly snuggled next to Lila, his nose nudging her breast. Lucky bastard. Colin’s cock twitched, rising. Down boy. He was tired and Lila looked downright exhausted.
He heard Gavin explaining his plan for tomorrow as he moved into the bathroom. When he re-entered the room, everyone was in bed.
Gavin frowned. “Trace is busy tomorrow, he can’t watch over Lila.”
“I’ve got two new horses arriving,” Trace added.
“I don’t need someone to watch over me,” Lila grumbled.
“It’s okay,” Colin said. “I’ll go by myself.”
Gavin and Lila shook their heads. “Lila and I will go with you,” Gavin said. “She’s safer with us.”
Colin shook his head but he was too tired to argue any further. “Fine,” he said. “Now can we get some sleep?”
Chapter Fifteen
Colin squeezed Lila’s hand as he walked down the main street of Hocken. He didn’t know what he’d been expecting, to have everyone stare at him? Yell at him? Run him out of town?
Instead no one gave him a second look. They didn’t recognize him. It was actually kind of disappointing. He’d spent so long thinking over what had happened, being haunted by it, and to realize that they had forgotten him as soon as he left town…
He shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts as they approached the vet surgery.
“You should stay out here with Gavin,” he said to Lila, not liking that she was here one bit.
Lila shook her head and Gavin just stared at him. Neither of them, it seemed, was prepared to let him do this alone.
When they walked inside there was a young woman he didn’t recognize behind the front desk.
“Hello,” she said with a bright smile. “How can I help?”
“I’m looking for Sara Monroe,” he said.
Immediately the smile dimmed and a wary look came into her eyes. “She doesn’t work here anymore.”
A mix of relief and disappointment surged through him.
“Jess?” A large man stepped into the office from the back. “Is my next appointment here yet?”
“Hi Zach,” Colin said quietly, wondering if his friend would look at him with disgust or pity. Lila pressed tighter against his side. Gavin slung his arm around Lila’s shoulders and patted him on the back.
“Colin!” Zach said with surprise and a smile of greeting crossed his face. “It’s been a long time since I saw your ugly mug. What are you doing here? You looking for a job?”
Colin was shocked by the friendly response. He’d hoped for politeness at the most. “Ahh, no, I came here to see Sara actually.”
Zach scowled. “Why would you want to talk to her? Wait a minute,” he added before Colin could reply. “We’ll be in my office, Jess, can you let me know when my next appointment arrives?”
Jess nodded, looking at them curiously.
“Come on through,” Zach directed.
Colin led the way, still holding Lila’s hand.
“Have a seat,” Zach said, sitting behind his large desk. Colin seated Lila then took one himself. Gavin stood at the back of the room, his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. He glared at Zach, obviously trying to intimidate him.
Zach just grinned.
“This is my brother, Gavin,” Colin introduced. “And our girlfriend, Lila.”
Lila sent him a surprised smile, then reached out and grabbed his hand again. No way was he hiding their relationship. If people in this town didn’t like it, well, he really didn’t care.
Zach’s smile grew wider. “Pleased to meet you both. So tell me, why are you here looking for Sara?”
Colin explained what had happened. Zach’s smile faded and his face grew concerned. “Why the hell did you bring Lila here then? Hell, if I knew Sara was capable of this I would have warned you that she’d gone off her medication.”
“Medication?” Colin asked.
Zach nodded seriously. “She started to act really weird after you left, making all these crazy accusations. I forced her to go to the doctor. He gave her some medication which helped a lot. I think she might have schizophrenia, but Doc wouldn’t say. But then she must have stopped taking her medication.
“I can’t believe all the trouble she’s causing. I hope you don’t believe that we wanted you to leave, Colin. You didn’t really give us a chance to talk to you before you left, but Alex and I wanted you to stay. We always knew Sara was a bit unstable, but we never thought she’d react the way she did.”
Zach leaned back, running his hand over his face. “Unfortunately, she had a number of friends who loved drama. It would have died down eventually, once people realized what was going on. But you know small towns, they thrive on gossip. We wanted you to stay, Colin, but we also understood why you had to go. Seems like it worked out best for you anyway.”
Zach winked at Lila. Colin felt gut-punched. He thought everyone had turned away from him, including Zach and Alex.
“I thought you were disgusted by my lifestyle.”
“Well, now, that would be a bit hypocritical of me, wouldn’t it?” Zach replied with a sly grin.
Hell, Colin should have guessed that Zach and his partner, Alex, liked to share women.
“Unfortunately for you, Sara became fixated on you, seems she still is. I don’t know where she is, either. She left town a few months ago. Turns out she’d been stealing from us, took off with thousands. So if you find her, I’d sure like to know.”
Colin nodded and stood, reaching out to shake Zach’s hand.
“Next time you come back, come out to stay with me and Alex, hear?” Zach offered as he walked them out.
“Sure,” Colin said, although he had no real intention to ever come back. This place held too many bad memories.
“Nice to meet you all. Ahh, here is my appointment. Come in, Mrs. Flanders. How is Fluffy today?”
Colin walked out in a slight state of shock, letting Lila and Gavin lead him to Gavin’s truck and drive him home.
*****
Lila was going insane. Two weeks had passed with no sigh of Sara and she was ready to explode. She was so bored she was scrubbing toilets. She was fed up with being confined to the house; she couldn’t even ride Sunshine without an escort. It sucked, big time.
The phone rang and she raced for it, picking it up.
“Hello,” she said breathlessly.
“Hey, girlfriend,” Laken replied, sounding much happier than she had in a long time. “Guess what?”
“What?” Lila asked, sitting on the sofa.
“I’m opening a shop!” Laken squealed.
“What? You’re doing what?”
“I’m opening a clothing store. I have heaps of clothes I’ve made over the last few years that have never been worn and I’ve been wor
king on some new pieces since I got back. I also have a couple of friends who are making clothing and want somewhere to sell them. So I thought, why not open a store? I can’t live off my parents forever.”
“Laken! That’s so exciting!” Lila said, happy for her. They spoke for a few moments about the details.
“Anyway, that’s not the only reason I’m calling,” Laken told her. “I have a favor to ask.”
“Sure, shoot.” Lila was happy to do whatever she could to help her friend.
“I know you can’t do anything until this bitch is found, but I wondered if you’d work for me once everything calms down. I’m not sure how much I can pay you, but I need time to make the clothes so I’m going to need help in the shop. Luckily, it comes with a small apartment over it and the landlord gave me a good deal.”
“Of course I will,” Lila told her. “I’d love to.”
“Yay! James and Rye are fixing it up this week, and then I’ll just need to spend the following week getting everything set up and doing some marketing, which isn’t my strong point.”
“Man, I wish I could help you with all that.” It was starting to feel like she was being punished for what Sara had done.
“I know. You know, the doors would be locked and it would be just me there. Well, and Savannah said she’d help too. Actually, I think I’ll ask her to help with the marketing, isn’t that what she used to do?”
“Yeah, I’m sure she’d be happy to help. And I don’t see how I’m any safer here than I would be at your shop, as long as the doors remained locked.”
“I’d love to have your help, but only if you’re sure it’s safe.”
Lila bit her lip. “Let me see what I can do.”
*****
It had taken a lot of begging, yelling and—she was ashamed to admit it—sulking, before her men agreed to let her go help Laken set up her shop. Of course there were a number of rules she had to promise to follow first before they would even let her out of the house.
But she’d follow whatever rules they wanted as long as she got to get out of the house. She bounced up and down in excitement as Trace drove her into town.
“Poor baby, it’s been so hard of you, being on lockdown, hasn’t it?” he said sympathetically.
Lila nodded. “A whole month and nothing, I really think she’s given up.”
“I hope so,” he said as he pulled up outside the shop Laken had rented. Coming around, he opened her door and helped her down. “But that doesn’t mean you can relax your guard. Remember the rules.”
“I know, no going anywhere. Doors must remain locked. I have to stay with Laken or Savi at all times and you will pick me up at four.”
“Good girl.” Leaning down, he gave her a kiss then knocked on the front door. Laken opened it with a squeal and threw her arms around Lila.
“Make sure this door remains locked,” Trace told them all sternly. All three girls nodded solemnly and locked the door behind him, giggling as they got to work.
They worked hard all day, cleaning the place and unpacking boxes. At three o’clock they sat back and looked at what they had achieved.
“Thanks so much you guys,” Laken said. “I couldn’t have done all this without you.”
Lila and Savi smiled and squeezed her hands.
“I’ll get to work on the website tomorrow,” Savi promised. “I’ve got flyers ready to go, but we’ll need signage too.”
“And I’ll be back tomorrow to help you do a display,” Lila said.
“You’re the best friends I could ask for. But since this is our first day I think we deserve a little celebration, what do you think? I have some bubbly upstairs, let me go get it and we’ll have a congratulatory drink.” Laken stood and ran off.
Savi groaned. “I don’t know where she finds her energy. I can hardly keep my eyes open. Ahh, crap,” she said, trying to rise off the chair she was sitting in. “I forgot the flyers I’m meant to deliver tomorrow, they’re out the back.”
Lila shook her head. “Stay there, you’re tuckered out. I’ll get them.”
Savi sat back with a sigh, closing her eyes. “Thanks. They’re in a white box by the door.”
Humming to herself, Lila walked into the back, frowning at the thin stream of sunshine coming in the open back door. Laken must have forgotten to shut it when she went upstairs. Walking towards it, she froze in shock as someone moved to her right.
“Sara,” she said, standing very still as the other woman walked towards her, an evil smile on her lips and a small handgun in her hand. “What are you doing here?”
“I think that’s fairly obvious. You wouldn’t listen to my warning, so I’m here to take care of you and get my man out of your clutches.”
“Colin is not your man. And he never will be.” Lila needed to get Sara out of here before Savi and Laken got involved.
“What the hell is going on?” Laken asked as she stepped through the doorway, holding a bottle of wine and some glasses.
Sara turned towards Laken, momentarily distracted.
“Laken, down!” Lila screamed as she dived for Sara. The gun flew from Sara’s hand as both women landed heavily on the concrete floor. Lila lay there, trying to catch her breath. Sara let out a scream of fury and, rolling, threw herself on top of Lila. She was larger and stronger, but Lila wasn’t daunted.
Sara went straight for her hair, pulling it strongly before landing a punch to Lila’s face. Lila gasped in pain, trying to fight her way free, clawing, scratching, kicking.
Suddenly Sara was shoved away from her and Lila looked up to see Laken standing over the other woman, her chest heaving.
Sara scuttled back a few inches, panting heavily, her hair scruffy and her clothes in a mess. A thin trail of blood ran down one cheek.
“Oh, I’d stay right there if I were you,” Savi said fiercely. Lila glanced over to find Savannah holding the gun, aiming it right at Sara.
Lying back, Lila gave a sigh of relief, trying desperately to catch her breath, her whole body aching. Holy hell, she’d be lucky if her men ever let her out of their sight after this.
*****
Lila lay in bed that night, completely surrounded by warm, protective bodies. Her men had pulled up outside Laken’s store just as the Jake had been taking Sara away in cuffs, the crazy women screaming expletives, all aimed at Lila.
After the paramedics had checked Lila over and given her the all clear, they’d gathered her up, holding her close. Much as Max and Logan were doing with Savannah.
Duncan Jones had even shown up, dragging Laken into his arms, despite her protests. Poor Laken, she was furious at herself for leaving the back door unlocked while she went upstairs. She’d only intended to get the wine and come straight back but her phone had rung while she was upstairs and she’d gotten caught up, allowing Sara, who must have been watching, to sneak in.
After she’d answered a few questions for Jake, her men had taken her home, treating her like fragile glass the entire time. And she had to admit that she’d felt kind of fragile. She had a swollen eye and bruises over most of her body.
“I can’t believe she tried to kill me,” Lila said, still in shock.
“Shh,” Gavin said, kissing her gently. He ran his hand down her body. They hadn’t stopped touching her since they’d gotten home. “It’s over now, you’re safe.”
“I’m so glad you’re safe,” Colin told her from her other side. Trace lay across her legs.
“I don’t think I can sleep,” she confessed. “Every time I close my eyes I know I’m going to see her standing there with that gun.” She let out a sob.
“If she visits you in your dreams then we’ll be here, chasing her away,” Gavin murmured.
They held her as she cried, loved her when she begged them to, held her as she slept and shook her awake when she cried out.
They were everything she could ever want and more.
Epilogue
“Lila Stacia Richards,” Gavin boomed, his voice shaking the ho
use.
Lila jumped up as Trace and Colin turned to look at her in interest. Colin leaned forward and switched off the movie they’d been watching. Gavin had gone to the study to do some work earlier, leaving them to lounge on the sofa.
“Uh-oh,” she said. It had been three weeks since Sara had tried to kill her and Lila was finally starting to sleep without nightmares. But it was a slow process. And she knew Laken and Savannah still had nightmares as well.
Lila stared around, looking for a place to hide, futile as she knew that move would be.
“Lila,” Gavin growled, walking into the room, his face thunderous.
“What did you do?” Colin asked with some amusement. He’d had his own nightmares about what had happened, and she’d often had to wake him up, hold him tight until he could sleep again.
“Umm,” she hesitated, looking at Gavin. “I was just trying to do something nice,” she said desperately, guessing what the issue was.
Gavin placed his hands on his hips. “What have we told you about your money?”
“I didn’t try to give it to you,” she said, stepping back, moving her hands to cover her backside.
“No, but what did you do?” he asked quietly.
She bit her lip. “I paid some bills.”
“You more than paid some bills, Lila. You paid every bill,” he roared. “Come here.” He crooked his finger at her.
Stepping over, she expected him to immediately pull her over his lap and start spanking her. Instead, Gavin surprised her by tipping her face up and kissing her gently on the lips. “I appreciate the thought, baby girl. I know you just want to help out. But you know we didn’t want you trying to pay us back and we told you what would happen if you did, didn’t we?”
“Well,” she replied. “Technically you said you’d spank me if I tried to give you money and I didn’t try to give it to you,” she pointed out reasonably, even knowing that explanation wasn’t going to work.
“Semantics,” Trace told her, coming up behind her to pat her bottom. “Upstairs. Clothes off. Put your nose in the corner and poke that bottom out.”
With a low groan, Lila slowly moved upstairs and did as they’d ordered. After what seemed like hours, she heard them enter the bedroom but knew better than to turn around before she was given permission.
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