by Chloe Lang
“Sean, are you at the Boys Ranch yet?” the sheriff asked.
Sean’s voice came on. “Just pulling through the gate. We’ll take them to Kaylyn’s kennels.”
Jaris could hear an engine off in the distance. Then he heard something he hadn’t heard since leaving Chicago. A helicopter.
“You hear that, Jaris?” Chance had clearly heard it, too.
“Yes. I’m betting it’s the state’s response to the sheriff’s APB.”
“That was fast.”
“They might’ve had someone close in the area.” A stroke of luck they could certainly use right now.
“Guys, let’s go get our dogs.” Kaylyn was tugging on his arm. “I want to make sure they are okay.”
He and Chance walked out the door with her, leaving the rest to listen to the sheriff’s assignments. Sugar and Annie led the way.
“We’ll have to get Dr. Strong to check them out as soon as possible,” Chance said as they walked to the back of the property to the kennels.
“Absolutely,” Kaylyn said. The excitement in her voice could not be missed. “Lyle can access their health until then.”
Just as they got there, Sean drove up and parked by the building.
He and Matt got out of the truck. They had their ROCs with them, which were broadcasting the sheriff’s briefing, which was still going on.
Jaris could also hear the four dogs barking with excitement, Rex being the loudest.
Kaylyn ran to them.
“They’re in great condition, Kaylyn,” Matt said, opening the tailgate of the truck.
Jaris could feel Sugar’s tail hitting his leg. She was excited to see her friends. So was he. He bent down and petted them. He recognized Rosie first. She was the one who loved to lick his hand the most.
“Just look at them,” Kaylyn said. “Aren’t they so beautiful?”
“They sure are,” Chance said. “But I can feel they need a good brushing, especially Blue.”
“You’re right about that.” As happy as Kaylyn clearly was, it was obvious she was also angry for what Potter had done to their dogs. “King has stickers all in his coat.”
“Sheriff, we have shots fired in town.” Nicole’s anxious voice came through Sean and Matt’s ROCs. “It sounds like all hell is breaking loose.”
“All teams return to Destiny immediately,” the sheriff ordered.
Lunceford’s attacking.
“We need to get the dogs inside,” Chance said.
“Here, Jaris. This way you can stay in touch.” Sean handed him his ROC. “Matt and I will head back to town.”
Gunshots rang out from the front of the Stone’s house.
They all flattened out on the ground.
Lunceford’s attack isn’t just in town. It’s here, too.
All the dogs were snarling, ready to help.
He gave the command to Sugar to get down and stay alert. Chance did the same with Annie and Kaylyn the same with the other four.
“The war has begun,” Matt whispered. “Who is inside?”
“Shane, Corey, and the Stones,” Kaylyn answered as shots continued to ring out. “Plus, Amber and Belle.”
“Sheriff, we have shots here, too,” Shane’s voice came through. “We’ve spotted, six…correction eight armed men near the tree line of our fence.”
“The house is between us and the shooters,” Jaris said, feeling his pulse burn hot. He needed to protect Kaylyn. That was all that was on his mind now.
Shane continued, “Amber and Belle are taking the boys to the basement.”
“Belle’s the one Lunceford wants,” Sean said.
Nicole’s voice came through again. “We have a man down in the park. There’s also been an explosion at the courthouse.”
“We’re on our way, Nicole,” the sheriff said. “Shane, can you handle your situation?”
“So far, yes. We’re holding them off.”
“Chance, Kaylyn, and I will get the dogs secured.” Jaris reached in and touched his pistol talisman. “You two go around to the side to see if you can flank the attackers.”
“On it,” the two men said in unison, rushing off.
“Stay low to the ground.” Jaris listened intently, in case any of the attackers made it past the house. So far, it sounded like Shane and the other men were keeping the bastards at bay.”
The three of them inched their way with the dogs to the building, which would give them more cover. Once inside, they shut the doors.
More troubling updates were coming through the ROC. “Fire at the clinic.” “Three shooters outside Blue’s Diner.” “We have two more officers down.”
“We’ve got to do something,” Kaylyn said frantically.
“You need to stay put,” Chance said firmly, mirroring his exact thoughts. “You’re safe here.”
“But what about Belle?”
Jaris put his arm around her. “Even though Lunceford’s war is in full swing, with only eight shooters here at the ranch, I’m sure Shane and the other men will prevail.”
He heard one of the kennel gates open in the back, and knew it came from where Bayless’s dogs were being kept. Had Bayless returned?
“Jaris, how long do we wait?” Kaylyn asked. “Surely there’s something we can do to help.”
He heard Bayless and his dogs heading their direction, but he wasn’t alone. Was Lyle with him? He couldn’t identify the footsteps of the other man because of the gunshots being fired outside.
“Baby, the odds here are in our favor.” Jaris wasn’t so sure about the odds in town. He said a silent prayer for Destiny and for his friend Nicole.
“The odds are not quite in your favor, Detective Simmons,” a voice he didn’t recognize said.
His gut clenched. Not Bayless. Not Lyle. “Who are you?”
“It’s Lunceford,” Kaylyn whispered.
“Pleasure, Miss Anderson. I guess you’ve seen pictures of me. No wonder. I am the most notable person in your crummy little town.”
Reaching into his pocket for his gun, Jaris heard Chance pull Kaylyn closer to him. He gently tugged on Sugar’s lead, sending the silent command to remain on guard.
“It’s good to finally see you in person, Mr. Simmons. I’m sorry you can’t return the favor.” Lunceford’s voice had a sickening tone. “No pun intended.”
“How do you know me? We’ve never met.” Jaris wanted to keep him talking to stall the psycho. Every tick of the clock he could gain from the bastard might prove to be an advantage.
“I knew your former partner, Patti. We met through a mutual business partner who is now deceased.”
“Niklaus Mitrofanov.”
“You know of him?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, of course you do. I must apologize for Patti’s mistake. She was supposed to take out Nicole Flowers, not you.”
“You’re behind that shooting?” Jaris felt rage roll through him. “I’m blind because of you.”
“In a roundabout way, Detective, I’m behind everything that goes on in Destiny. That’s part of my game. I love games, don’t you?”
The shooting outside wasn’t letting up. They needed more time.
Keep him talking. Build trust. “Why do you hate Destiny so much, Kip?”
“Actually, I really love the town. They’re such good players. With the tiniest of effort, I’ve built a global organization that has revenues surpassing that of many a third-world country’s entire wealth. The only real fun I’ve ever had is playing with the citizens here. But of course, games must all come to an end sometime. Enough of this chitchat. I’ve come to get Belle White. She’s my salvation. She’s my big win. My checkmate.”
“You’ll never get her, Lunceford.” Kaylyn’s defiance burned hot in every word.
The monster laughed. “I love Destiny women. They have so much sass. Megan, my ex, must fit in really nice.”
“That’s why you started attacking Destiny, isn’t it? You wanted to punish your ex-wife?”
&nbs
p; “No. The Knight brothers were the reason in the beginning. But now it’s only about the game.”
Jaris listened intently, trying to figure out where the fucker was standing. Holding on to his gun, he kept it in his pocket. Being blind, he hadn’t shot it in over a year. But if he could empty all its bullets in Lunceford and Bayless’s direction, there was a slim chance he might hit one or both of them.
Keep the bastard talking. “What’s your next move, Kip?”
“No more moves after today. God, I will hate to see this game end. It has been so much fun. One more move left, and then it is good-bye to Destiny forever. Bayless, let’s go get Miss White.”
“No. She’s one of ours,” Kaylyn spat. “We’ll never let you take her.”
“I like your fire, Miss Anderson, but it is wasted on me. I want Belle, not the two other donor matches my sister has caged up for me. I want to win. You must understand that. Besides, what can one woman and two blind men do to stop me? Nothing.”
“Don’t be so sure about that, Lunceford.” Chance was doing exactly what Jaris needed him to do. God, he’s got good instincts.
“Could you elaborate?” Kip’s arrogance came through his singsong tone.
“Like you said, they are good players.”
With Chance trying to get Lunceford’s attention away from him, he would be able to fire on the bastard and his sidekick creep at the perfect moment.
“Mr. Reynolds. You’ve been so quiet I forgot you were here. Pleasure, but you’re wrong. I have my men creating the distractions that will keep all the players out of my way. By the sounds of things outside, I’m certain most of the Destiny men have left the Stone house to chase the poor disposable pawns.”
“Not everyone will leave the house, Lunceford, no matter what you had planned.”
“I already thought of that, Mr. Reynolds. Of course Shane and Corey Blue won’t leave Belle’s side. But with Bayless’s dogs, who are trained to kill, I have the advantage.”
“Oh my God. That’s why you had Potter shoot me and steal my dogs, wasn’t it? You bastard.”
“Ms. Anderson, you just made my day. Most have trouble seeing the mastery of my plans, but you figured it out in a matter of seconds. Bravo. It gives me an idea.”
Jaris heard the helicopter approaching.
“That’s our ride, Mr. Lunceford,” Bayless said. “We need to hurry.”
Not the state’s helicopter. Fuck.
“Yes, it is. I want to have Kaylyn as a little extra insurance. She’ll be a nice cherry on top of this operation. Bayless, have your dogs take these two out and I’ll get Ms. Anderson.”
Bayless shouted, “Dushegubstvo.”
Jaris jumped up and pulled out his gun, but before he could get off a round, two of Bayless’s dogs attacked him and Sugar.
He fell to the ground and hit the cement, jarring his head.
He heard Chance and Kaylyn shout commands to their dogs, which were taking on the killer canines.
She’s still okay.
Through the commotion, he tried to concentrate all his attention to locate where Lunceford was positioned.
Need to make my shots count.
Dazed, Jaris blinked several times.
Light and shadows. What the hell?
He shut his eyes and shook his head. He blinked again and gray images began to appear. Can this really be happening?
He had believed and accepted that his blindness was going to be permanent, despite the doctors telling him his sight might return. Am I really beginning to see?
He concentrated and the shapes sharpened.
My God, will I actually be able to see Kaylyn? My beautiful Kaylyn.
“Kill them all,” Lunceford shouted. “I want Belle.”
Suddenly, color and images filled his vision.
Lunceford came into focus. He was pointing a pistol at Kaylyn.
Jaris fired his weapon at the monster.
Destiny’s villain fell to the ground.
Jaris glanced around and saw Chance had Bayless on the ground by the throat.
Lyle rushed in, hoisting a tranquilizer gun. He fired on the four killer dogs. They all yelped and fell to the ground.
Kaylyn shouted the command for their dogs to back down, and she and Lyle started caring for them.
Jaris ran over to Kaylyn and felt a rush of relief.
She’s safe. He ran his hands through her golden spun hair. Her delicate features were fair. She looked up at him with her wide amber-flecked silver-colored eyes. God, she’s so beautiful.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She nodded. “I am for someone who just went through a warzone. Just a little shook up. How about you? Are you okay, Jaris?”
He ran his fingers over her red lips. “Yes, baby. Knowing you’re safe, I am now.” He bent down and kissed the woman of his dreams, the woman who had changed everything for him, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with making sure she had everything she ever wanted. He touched her face. “I can’t get enough of looking at you, baby. You are so beautiful.”
She closed her eyes and brought her hands up to the side of his face. “And you are so handsome.”
He kissed her again. “Sweetheart, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. Lyle and I need to keep working on our dogs.”
Needing to make sure Lunceford was no longer a threat, Jaris rushed with Sugar to where the bastard had fallen.
Sugar was bleeding, but it seemed to be a superficial wound. Looks like she won the fight.
Pointing his gun at the psycho, Jaris kicked Lunceford’s weapon out of reach of the monster’s fingers. Sugar growled at Kip.
The bastard’s eyes were wide, but he was still breathing.
Not for long.
Jaris looked at the fatal wound in the motherfucker’s chest.
“This isn’t possible,” Lunceford choked out. “I planned for everything. You can’t see.”
Jaris leaned over and whispered, “Actually, asshole, even when I was blind, I could see better than you ever could.”
Kip rasped out, “This can’t be. Please help me.”
“But it is, and there is no help for you. It’s too late.” Jaris thought about all the evil Lunceford had rained down on Destiny. So many had suffered and died at this maniac’s hands. Buildings had burned and even the bridge leading into the town had been destroyed. He glanced back at Kaylyn and recalled all the women who had been targeted by Lunceford. She was one of a long list, including Megan, Nicole, Erica, Jena, Phoebe, and Belle. But even through all the hell and deaths, Destiny had survived. Now, the narcissistic psychopath lay at his feet. “How ironic that you will die in the place you tried to destroy, Lunceford.”
“I-I…can’t die…here…my game…Destiny can’t…beat me.” The bastard wheezed and gasped for several seconds. The asshole’s power was gone. The shock in the killer’s fading stare could not be missed. His body convulsed and blood spewed from his mouth as the monster took his final evil breath.
Kip Lunceford was dead.
“Good riddance, motherfucker. You lost. Checkmate.”
Jaris ran to help Chance with Bayless. They tied the asshole up with some spare leashes.
The gunfire outside stopped.
He and Chance rushed over to help Kaylyn and Lyle with their dogs.
“You okay, Kaylyn?” Jaris asked her.
“I am now.” She was washing out a gash in Blue’s coat. “How about you two?”
Jaris kissed her quickly on the lips. “Now that we know you’re safe, we’re great, sweetheart. I’ll check out Rosie.”
Chance leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Jaris brought the ROC up to his mouth. “Sheriff, can you hear me.”
“Go ahead, Jaris.”
“Lunceford is dead. He was working with Bayless, who we have tied up here. I’m with Kaylyn, Chance, and Lyle at the kennels.”
“Good job, Deputy. That’s the best news ever. Shane, how’s it going with
your situation?”
Shane’s voice came through. “We’ve killed six of the eight shooters and have the other two in custody. Belle, Amber, and the boys are all safe. Not one of our men got shot.”
“Same here.” Dylan’s voice came through. “We took out six of Lunceford thugs by Silver Spoon Bridge.”
Jaris pushed the button on the ROC. “Nicole, are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m okay. Jason got to town with the cavalry. We have all of the Russian thugs Lunceford sent to town contained. Twelve dead and six in custody.”
“I’ve got the O’Learys with me. Dragon Week is closed down for today. Hopefully, we can have it up and running for the closing ceremonies tomorrow.” Jason Wolfe’s voice was full of emotion. “The war with Kip Lunceford is over. We won.”
Kaylyn clapped her hands together. “Thank God.”
Jaris felt the shared relief spill over from all the voices coming through the ROC.
“We have a lot of work left to do to clean up this mess, but once done, I want all officers and any other interested parties to report to my office first thing in the morning.” As the sheriff continued with his debriefing, they went back to work on their dogs.
Chance knelt down, checking Annie out for injuries. “Lyle, how long will the tranquilizers keep Bayless’s dogs down?”
“About twenty minutes. I was in the storage room when I heard Lunceford talking to you guys. I loaded up the tranquilizers then.”
“Good thinking,” Jaris patted the guy on the back. “Let’s get them muzzled before they wake up.”
Lyle stood and ran to get the muzzles.
“Our dogs held their own with the killer canines, didn’t they?” Chance smiled.
Seeing him for the first time, Jaris realized why Kaylyn had been so smitten with him. He was a good-looking guy. “I’m really proud of them.” He patted Rosie. “Good girl. You’re going to need a few stitches. That’s all.”
Lyle returned with the muzzles and began putting them on the killer canines.
“I am so proud of all our dogs.” Kaylyn was working on Rex.
“Me too, baby.” Jaris turned his attention to King. “Could you hand me the pair of scissors by your left leg? I need to cut out some of Rosie’s hair around her wound.”
“Sure thing.” Kaylyn reached for them and then froze in place. “Wait. What did you just say, Jaris?”