by Jan Springer
* * * * *
Callie had expected Luke to explode when she said she wanted to be claimed. During their last conversation, he hadn’t come right out and said he was totally comfortable with the idea, so perhaps she really should have kept quiet. But time was of the essence. Besides, if Luke didn’t want to share her with his brothers, she would respect his wishes and bow out.
To her surprise, he didn’t protest. As a matter of fact, he’d reacted totally opposite of her expectations.
Instead of anger shining in his eyes, she saw love. And pride.
Not to mention an extremely large bulge pressing against his pants.
The lusty way the other three Outlaw brothers were staring at her made her shiver with both excitement and fear. Fear that maybe she was doing the wrong thing in giving in to the Claiming Law. Excitement that Luke seemed more confident in their relationship than she’d thought he would be.
“Luke?” Colter said in a somewhat strangled voice.
Colter didn’t take his hot gaze off her, but Callie could sense he as well as his brothers would only agree if Luke agreed.
“I’m sure only if you’re sure, Callie. This is your last chance. Do you want the four of us to claim you?” Luke whispered.
For one split second, she wasn’t sure. The urge to change her mind almost won. But that was fear speaking, not reality.
The only way she would be protected as a woman and as an escaped lab rat were for these four sexy, testosterone-ripe men to take her sexually.
Suddenly, she found herself wondering if Luke had told them what she’d done. Had he told them how naïve she’d been in walking into the government labs in her dreams of saving mankind? She’d strolled straight into the lab like some innocent sacrificial lamb.
It was as if Luke sensed her turmoil. As if he knew there could be no lies between her future husbands and herself.
“Go into the bedroom,” he said quietly. “I’ll tell them everything. They can decide based on the facts.”
She nodded numbly.
Ignoring the puzzled expressions on the brothers’ faces, she slipped down the hallway and back to their bedroom.
In the living room, she could hear Luke’s gentle voice as he began to explain to his brothers what she’d done and what Blakely had done to her.
* * * * *
“She was young and innocent,” Luke finished.
“She was stupid,” Colter snapped. His eyes blazed with red-hot anger. “Just like she was stupid to trust me out at your place by lowering her weapon. She’s still too trusting, Luke. You could lose her all over again if she puts her trust into the wrong person.”
“Like you did, Colter?” Luke said gently.
His brother flinched, but by the angry expression on Colter’s face, his brother knew what he was talking about.
“She’s not you, okay?” Luke continued. “You showed her a valuable lesson by turning on her the way you did. She won’t easily forget. Just like you won’t easily trust another person, am I right?”
“Shut up, Luke,” Colter warned.
“That’s why you frightened her that day, isn’t it? Because you knew she trusted you. You don’t want her to end up hurt like you were because you trusted someone.”
The muscles in Colter’s jaws twitched angrily, and Luke noticed Cade and Mac edge up on either side of their brother, ready to grab him in case he started swinging like he’d done after Ashley, a conscripted woman he’d fallen in love with one weekend during the Wars overseas, had suddenly left him high and dry.
For a minute, Luke thought Colter might start swinging his fists now, but suddenly the tension visibly dissolved and his shoulders slumped.
“So, sue me for trying to harden her. She’s just too damn trusting, Luke.”
“It’s one of the reasons I love her and why you care so much for her. Do you really want her to change and become bitter and angry?”
Like you? The last two words were left unspoken, but Luke knew Colter got his message by the way his brother frowned.
“Fine. I’ll go to the government office tomorrow morning and get the Claiming papers. At least then we can get the ball rolling.”
“No, I’ve got another idea. I’ll explain it to you tomorrow. First, I’ve got to talk to Callie about it.”
His brothers nodded.
He wasn’t through explaining to his brothers.
When he told them what Blakely had done to Callie in the lab, his brothers looked fit to kill the scientist, but in the end, all of them reassured Luke he could count on them to help him protect Callie and if that meant claiming her then so be it.
To his surprise, having their agreement eased his mind, and he felt as if the world had lifted off his shoulders. Making his evening farewells, he headed to their bedroom.
And to Callie.
* * * * *
“Are you scared?” Luke whispered, as he gently nibbled on her earlobe. He’d come to bed and found her trembling uncontrollably. Trembling because she’d actually voiced out loud in front of the Outlaw brothers that she was willing to allow them to lay claim to her.
“Terrified,” she admitted, loving the heated warmth of his cock as he slid slowly into her drenched vagina from behind.
“Are you sure about what we discussed about the deal with the Barlows?”
Her heart said no.
But she knew there was no other way.
She nodded.
“Do you think the Barlows will take to blackmail?”
“They don’t have much choice. They only have three brothers left now. If word got back to the government that the fourth husband is gone…there is a chance they could lose Laurie to another group of men. We’ll tell the Barlows we know about a certain accidental shooting and that we know where their brother’s body is buried. If they don’t agree to our terms then I’ll tell them we’ll go to the government.”
“What if the Barlows call your bluff? I mean all they have to do is find the grave, and then we’ve got nothing.”
“Colter and I will move the body tomorrow to a place on Ty’s land where no one will find it.”
“But what if they don’t care about losing Laurie? What if they threaten to kill Tyler? What if—”
“Laurie is a beautiful woman, Callie. They’ll fight like the dogs they are to keep her. Besides, there are too many ‘what ifs’, Callie. Don’t worry about it. Let me go to the Barlows tomorrow—”
Panic seared through her. “You’re not going there alone. I won’t allow it.”
“Colter’s coming with me. The other boys will stay here and keep an eye out.”
“Are you sure it’s safe for you to go? I mean with the arrest warrant…”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful. Now let’s get back to forgetting all our troubles, shall we?”
“I love the way you make me forget our troubles,” she giggled, and arched her backside against his hard hips, allowing the rest of his thick cock to slide all the way into her warm and waiting pussy.
* * * * *
As the day dragged on and Luke and Colter hadn’t come back from the Barlow meeting, Callie grew more and more nervous.
Had something happened to them? Had the Barlows called the police on Luke and gone ahead and pressed charges?
“They’re back!” Mac shouted.
A moment later, she heard Mac and Cade’s footsteps stomp along the back porch where she’d secured them to shuck beans and peel the potatoes for tonight’s dinner.
One quick glance out the window, and her heart picked up a wild pace.
Luke and Colter were getting out of Luke’s pickup truck and behind them a black stretch limousine pulled up.
Callie cried out as she watched the three remaining Barlow brothers step out of the limo.
Followed by her sister Laurie.
* * * * *
After Laurie and Callie embraced each other and cried in the kitchen, the Outlaws and Barlows made themselves scarce, telling them they had busi
ness to take care of.
Just by looking at Luke’s grim face, Callie knew the Barlows had accepted their blackmail deal.
Despite trying hard to stop it, her anger at those Barlows brewed inside her heart. It was obvious they had come for their ranch.
Sons of bitches!
But she didn’t have time to waste on them, she wanted to concentrate on Laurie. Her sister looked tired. And thinner. She’d even lost all of the baby fat she’d been trying to exercise away for years.
Her long, golden-blonde hair was styled in such a way it swept off her neck and curled up top of her head in tiny ringlets with a couple of ringlets dangling at the sides, giving her pretty face a warm, soft look. And she was dressed in a sexy, red-velvet dress that showed off her bare back and dipped down low in front barely covering her full breasts.
She wore no jewelry and hardly any makeup.
She looked absolutely stunning.
“Luke told me the Outlaws are going to claim you,” Laurie said softly, her eyes sparkled with excitement. She grabbed Callie’s hand and tugged her to sit down at the kitchen table.
“That’s the plan.”
“It’s a good plan. They’ll protect you, sis. They’re good men. I’ve always thought highly of each and every one of them.”
“Wish I could say the same thing about the Barlows. Luke told me they originally wanted Cate. You should have known they would have figured out some other way to avoid the Barlows from getting her. Why’d you go and take her place?” Callie finally asked the question she’d been itching to ask since she’d heard about her Claiming.
Laurie frowned.
“I have my personal reasons, Callie. Rest assured though, I’m doing the right thing. Please don’t worry about me, okay? Promise?”
“How can you be doing the right thing? I don’t understand? You were supposed to join the women’s resistance. You were supposed to be safe.”
“Please, just trust me on this.”
“Laurie—”
“We’ve only got a few minutes. Let’s not discuss this anymore.”
Callie nodded, but frustration screamed through her.
“How are they treating you?”
Her sister flinched visibly at the question.
“And you don’t want me to worry about you? I want you away from them, Laurie.”
“I’m where I need to be at this time,” she said gently. There was a strange glint in her eyes. It made Callie even more concerned.
“What do you mean you need to be there?”
“Please, don’t ask any questions. The answers are private…for now.”
Private? What in the world was going on? Before she could put the pressure on her to spill her guts, Laurie continued, “They are demanding. Men who haven’t had sex in a while can be tiring—especially with so many of them, and now that there is one less it will be a relief.” To her surprise, Laurie suddenly smiled and squeezed her hand. “You’ll find out how demanding sexually deprived men can be with the Outlaw brothers…but I’m sure they must make excellent lovers if they’re anything like Tyler.”
At the mention of Tyler, Callie’s heart picked up speed. How she ached to tell her sister about him.
But she didn’t know what the final deal was Luke had hammered out. She had to keep quiet for now, and she literally had to bite her inner cheek to keep herself from saying anything.
“Is that a wedding ring, you’re wearing?” Laurie’s shocked voice made Callie realize she was still wearing the gold band that Luke had slipped back onto her finger.
“Luke and I got married.”
“Married? That’s not possible. All the preachers and anyone capable of marrying couples have been imprisoned. How did you do it?”
Quickly Callie explained about what had happened after Luke had escaped from the Barlows ranch.
“And he forced you to marry him at gunpoint?”
Callie nodded, and had to laugh as her sister’s eyes widened into saucers in disbelief.
“How absolutely romantic. If Ty had lived, he would have been my Prince to my rescue like that, too.”
Tyler is alive! And the Barlows know where he is.
She’d figured agreeing to be claimed by four men would be the hardest thing for her to do in her life, but keeping this secret from Laurie was even harder. How long could she keep the information to herself before she actually cracked and told Laurie? But as Luke had said, if she did tell Laurie then the Barlows would have Ty killed.
“Time to go, Laurie.”
Callie’s head snapped up at the sound of Zeb Barlow’s deep voice. He stood in the kitchen doorway watching both of them intently. Obviously, he was making sure Callie didn’t tell Laurie about Ty.
Familiar anger began to burn inside her, but she clamped down on it, opting to keep Laurie here with her as long as possible.
“Oh! Couldn’t you all stay for supper? Laurie and I have so much catching up to do.”
Zeb frowned and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but no. We have other plans for Laurie tonight.”
Callie’s excitement plummeted. Laurie hadn’t even been here for ten minutes and they were already taking her away.
“But please,” Zeb continued, as he was joined by the other Barlows behind him, “We’d all love to see your Claiming videos. Feel free to drop by and visit with them anytime.”
Callie’s stomach tightened.
The Barlows were absolutely disgusting and vile creatures.
As if sensing Callie was about to blow up, Laurie quickly stood and embraced her tightly.
“I have to go,” she whispered. “Please come and visit me when you can.”
Tears shone in her haunted eyes as she pulled away and gave Callie a watery smile.
Callie nodded, suddenly wanting to grab her baby sister and never let her go.
This isn’t right! her mind screamed. She shouldn’t go with them! She doesn’t belong to them! She belongs to Tyler. He’s alive!
She took one step forward with every intention of telling the Barlows that as far as she was concerned they could go straight to hell with the brother she’d killed when Luke’s hand wrapped around her elbow stopping her cold.
“Let her go,” Luke whispered. “She’s a strong woman. She’ll be fine.”
She wished she could believe him. Wished she could trust that Laurie would be safe with the Barlows.
But she couldn’t be sure of anything.
Deep down in her very soul she knew there was one thing she was sure of. Only one man could rescue her.
Tyler Outlaw.
Keeping silent, she watched from the kitchen window as the Barlow brothers and Laurie sped away.
“Everything is done. We buried the body over on Ty’s land in a place they’ll never find it. We can keep the fact that there is one less Barlow hanging over their heads just like they can keep Ty hanging over our heads. The good thing is the Barlows accepted most of the deal we agreed on last night. They’ve agreed to drop the charges against me and to make the one-month waiting period vanish for you if I gave them our ranch. That’s why we were gone for so long. We went with them to buy a judge.”
“So they have our little ranch.”
He nodded, and she bit her lower lip to prevent from crying.
They’d lost their ranch. Their beautiful future was gone. The finality of it left her with a hollow, empty feeling.
“That’s not all. We’re not to mention to Laurie that Ty is alive.”
“I don’t know if I can do this to Laurie. I feel as if I have to tell her the next time I see her.”
“Hear me out, Callie.”
“What?” Callie stamped her feet in frustration.
“It’s only for nine months. We keep quiet for nine months, and they’ll tell us where Tyler is.”
“Why nine months? He could be dead by then.”
“I tried for less. But they wouldn’t go for it. They figure in nine months they’ll have her pregnant, and she’d be less lik
ely to leave them when he came back.”
Callie felt like screaming.
Luke’s arms curled around her waist and he squeezed her tightly. His warm body pressing lovingly against her did little to douse the hatred she felt for those men who would betray Laurie in such a way.
“If we tell her within that time frame, the Barlows have threatened to have Tyler killed.”
“Can we really believe that they even know where he is?”
“Oh, they know where he is.”
Anger spiked his words and he let go of her, digging something out of his shirt pocket.
He held up a photograph of Tyler, and it just about broke her heart. His face was bruised, one eye swollen shut and he was holding up a copy of last week’s edition of Rackety Valley’s newsletter.
“You think they have him hidden close by?” Callie asked, as she ran a finger over the picture, tracing Tyler’s black eye. Despite the fact he looked awful he was smiling, if only to defy whoever was taking his picture.
“Close enough so they can get a picture of him with last week’s town paper, but far enough away where it’ll take us one hell of a long time before we find him. If you’ll notice the background is a white wall. It could be anywhere.”
“I don’t know, Luke. So many things can go wrong in nine months.”
“We have to trust them, Callie. We have no other choice.”
Even when he said it, Callie could hear the doubt lacing his voice, and Callie knew he was trying really hard to make himself believe Tyler would be all right.
Perhaps he believed the same thing she believed? That the odds of Tyler making it back home alive were pretty bleak.
“Something else the judge ordered. This will probably come as a shock, but he’s ordered the Claiming right away. The minute he gets the tape, he’ll approve it. If it’s okay with you, I’ll tell the boys and we’ll do the Claiming tonight.”
At Luke’s words, Callie’s breath backed right up into her lungs and erotic weakness splashed through her, along with tremors of nervousness.