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Hidden (A McKenzie Ridge Novel Book 2)

Page 18

by Stephanie St. Klaire


  Evie chimed in, losing the path Megan was leading them down a bit and asked, “What do you mean ‘if he found out you were alive’?” Her fingers doing air quotes around Megs repeated words.

  “He thinks we’re all dead. Lydee left a note saying she was coming to visit me, that she brought Jason to drive them and keep them safe.” Meg answered.

  “So Jason is really Declan, my brother?” Carigan asked.

  “Yes, Jason is Declan. They think he’s dead too,” she whispered, trying to lighten the blow to Carigan that her brother is assumed dead to a big part of his world.

  Blake stepped in and took over. It was evident Megan was exhausted, rehashing a horrible past and speaking her truth, the details he could handle. Reading his friend’s body language as he did, Colton knew she was done, for now, and pulled her into his arms and just let her cry. It’s what she needed to do to clear her mind, and cleanse her soul. After a year of carrying this weight all on her own, she was free. She was no longer hiding out in the open amongst her friends. She was free to be herself, let them in…let him in. She just wanted to keep them safe.

  “Here’s the deal, Esteban is a really bad, fucking dude. He’s tied to the Cartels, even double crossing each putting them against each other while he swoops in and does his own thing. The fact that he does that openly, without fear, speaks volumes to how deep his ties go and the pockets he’s in. He has been untouchable until now. His wife’s testimony was the final nail in the coffin until he disappeared.” Blake delivered the facts, no fluff, no emotion just hard truths.

  “He played it like a grieving widow but we suspect he didn’t buy the whole death thing. As far as the world knew, Lydia Prescott-Valdez was killed in a car crash while visiting her sister. Also deceased, sister Trinity…” He gestured to Megan, indicating her role.

  “Also deceased, the couple’s infant son and the family driver. That’s how they pulled O’Reilly out from cover. They think he’s dead, but he’s really Prescott’s handler while she’s in witness protection.”

  Morgan stood and pulled out a newspaper, held in a clear plastic evidence bag, and passed it around the room. “This paper showed up on Meg’s porch a few days ago. This is what the world heard, but who put it on her porch all these months later?” She questioned, although the answer was obvious.

  “That was on my porch? When? How?” Megan’s panic returned. They had been at her house, on her front porch, so close to Jax and her.

  “I found it when I went to grab the suitcase for Portland. I took it and Dec’s number to Blake before we left. I’m sorry… I knew something was wrong, but finding those two things? He needed to be involved,” Colton said apologetically but matter-of-factly.

  Megan stared at him, searching for reasons to be upset with him for keeping something so important from her, but she couldn’t. He did exactly as he said he would, protect her and Jax. He knew she’d run if she knew, and he couldn’t protect her if she did. Her shock and subtle sense of betrayal quickly dissipated when pride and love overshadowed both. She gave him a sweet smile, full of understanding and appreciation.

  “So wrap all this up and put a pretty bow on it, boy. What does all of this mean? What do we need to do to keep her and the baby hidden?” Granny Lou asked. “I got me a .38 special. Pack it in that there bag all the time. You all should be packin’ heat too, this is some bad news headed our way. We gotta shoot them where they stand, get their asses first!” She said, throwing her fist in the air for dramatic affect.

  Evie rolled her eyes at her half buzzed Gran and said, “Hand it over.” Holding her hand out. “The purse, old lady, hand it over. It better not be loaded this time.”

  “Sweet Jesus in the morning, what good is a gun if it ain’t loaded, Everly Louise? I declare you young people think some hoodlum will wait patiently while you find your bullets to load it before he attacks. They’re called bad guys for a reason and it ain’t cause they got manners!” She finished with a shake of her head, pulling her purse a little closer with her foot.

  “Wait, your middle name is…Louise? Jessie asked with a snicker.

  “And what’s wrong with the name Louise, Jessica Mable Clarke?”

  “Not a friggin thing, Granny, especially when you’re locked and loaded over there. Well played, old woman!” Jessie conceited, hand up in front of her.

  “Mable? Really?” Blake asked with a look of disgust. Given Jessie’s tempered, foul mouthed nature, anyone would find a name like “Razorback” or “Drill Bit” perfectly acceptable, but Mable?

  “I’m afraid it’s already here,” Megan said, getting back to business. “I saw a man in front of the shop a few nights ago before our meeting.

  “The night you got shit faced?” Jessie asked.

  “Yes Jessie, the night I got shit faced,” she answered with a snarky tone. “I couldn’t place him, even thought he was familiar. He was in Portland today, twenty feet from us as we were leaving. I knew exactly who he was then, one of Esteban’s men. He found us at the mall on our way out of town which means he likely followed us the entire trip.”

  “That’s why you were leaving,” Colton said as a statement rather than a question.

  Chapter 27

  The culmination of what that meant patched his heart a bit. She wasn’t leaving because she wanted to, but because she thought she had to, to protect him. There was no greater love than loving someone so much you can leave them for their sake, despite the ache it left you with. Selfless and completely Meg.

  “They are here. Have been for weeks. The John Doe that was hit in front of Blooming Grounds was part of Esteban’s team. The sightings Megan has had and the intruder in her shop? Then the flat tire that Morgie and I rolled up on? They were sitting right up the street, jammed your cell signal even. They didn’t expect us to show up,” he said, going down his list of unknown run-ins.

  What he had to say next was probably the toughest to deliver. “The fire wasn’t entirely a gas leak. It was set up to look like one in hopes that you would have slept through it long enough before it was too late to get out. Or to flush you out in the dark, with nobody around so they could grab you. You have Duke to thank for that one. They’ve been playing with you,” Blake said.

  “Why? Why not just take Jax and go? Nobody would’ve known a thing until they were long gone.” Carigan asked.

  “To test her. See who she told. Determine what they would get away with and who else they would need to deal with to cover their tracks. They probably hoped it would flush her sister out of hiding too. These guys are known for their sick sense of mental torture. When they had trouble getting to you, because all of us were showing up, they were probably trying to get you to run so they could catch you in between cities.” Blake knew he was laying it on thick, didn’t need to go into such detail, but he wanted her to be fearful, to let her guard down, and let them help. If not for her own sake, but for Colton’s.

  Blake may stand in the background and keep to himself more than the others, but he cared for his friends and would do anything for them. Seeing Colton hurt wasn’t in the cards. That went to any of them, physically or emotionally…not on his watch.

  “So what’s next, Coop?” Dawson asked.

  Looking at his watch, Blake swiftly moved to the kitchen where he shut off all the lights while he made his way to the back door. He turned off the back porch light and unlocked the door. He returned to the living room, closing all the blinds and curtains along the way and turned on all of the front lights to offset the light and shadows emanating from inside.

  “What is this? Are we having a sleep over, or what?” Carigan asked.

  “Hold that thought, O’Reilly.” He replied watching the time on his wrist.

  Footsteps across the deck could be heard at the rear of the house causing Dawson and Colton to stand in defense. Gran grabbed her bag and pulled it close digging for her gun.

  “It’s not in there Gran, everyone sit, it’s okay,” Blake warned, while lifting his shirt to rev
eal his steamy washboard abs and Granny’s gun in his waistband, sending her into a cantankerous fit and everyone else to a chuckle.

  The footsteps became louder as the rear door opened and closed. Light mumbles could be heard and the steps lightened to fewer as the movement got closer. In the archway between the dining room and living room stood a larger than life six plus foot brawny man with rich copper hair, a lightly bearded face, and familiar emerald green eyes. His muscles had muscles, and his presence was that of three men.

  Megan’s eyes grew huge at the sight of him, she grabbed Colton’s hand and squeezed. Before she could get a word out, Carigan stood, moving swiftly toward the man, sobs escaping her typically collected self.

  “Declan Farrell O’Reilly!” She announced before wrapping her arms around him. He held her tight and folded into her. The emotion he felt could be seen by all when his large edgy demeanor shrunk to a soft teary eyed man who had clearly missed his baby sister.

  Movement caught everyone’s attention as a nervous woman moved from behind him, stepping in to the light. She was petite and curvy, with chocolate brown hair, familiar golden eyes and turned up nose.

  “Oh my God, Lydia!”

  ***

  A quick reunion commenced full of hugs and handshaking. Declan said his hello’s and Lydia said her nice to meet you’s. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when Lydia sank to the floor in tears after being reunited with her son.

  The children were eventually put to bed for the night so the grownups could continue the briefing of sorts and devise their plan. Without a mention it was clear to all just how significant this circumstance was if it pulled Declan and Lydia out of hiding. There was only one reason to do so, and that was to use them as bait. Dangling that carrot before the metaphoric rabbit meant the rabbit was indeed there to tease and trap.

  In other words, it was time to pull Esteban out of hiding once and for all. It appeared he was right under their noses, and had been. They were playing with Megan, toying with her emotions all these weeks to accomplish one of two things, get her to run and lead them to Lydia. Or two, dispose of Megan and use Jax to pull Lydia out of hiding.

  Declan and his team would do one better. Now that Esteban and his posse were in McKenzie Ridge, they would beat them at their own game and dangle her in front of them to pull Esteban out of hiding. It was so simple and obvious that it was bound to work. They would be looking for hidden traps and complex plans, so they wouldn’t realize the game was being played right back.

  “So that’s the plan? Do nothing?” Carigan asked.

  “We aren’t doing nothing; we’re provoking their next move.” Declan answered.

  “Dec, that sounds like poking a bear for fun, if we aren’t ready for them to swing or don’t see it coming…” Colton’s concern was obvious and received plenty of nods from around the room.

  “I get it, but we know he’s here or at least nearby, or his men wouldn’t be here, playing as they are, making themselves known to her. These aren’t just his minions. These are his closest, most trusted associates. They don’t go anywhere without him and vice versa,” he offered as peace of mind to the group. “The advantage we have is I’m here, my team is here, and we have eyes everywhere, and he doesn’t know that. We are either going to draw him out or wait for a mistake and let one of his goons lead us to him.”

  Looking at Colton, Megan grabbed his hands and gave him an encouraging smile. “It’ll be okay, Colton. I trust Dec and his team. They got me and Jax out here safely, he’s kept Lydee alive all of this time,” she offered. “It’s almost over. I’m almost free. We’re almost free,” she said giving her sister a teary smile.

  “Lydia and Declan will remain hidden; we aren’t showing Valdez our cards just yet. They will think we are, when they follow you guys out of the area, see a few unidentified people in your cars. Change in activity and behavior will be their tip off, or so they think,” Blake confided. “Meanwhile, there will always be an agent nearby watching both of you,” Blake said to Megan and Colton.

  When any of you are together, there will be agents, just know that. Nobody gets hurt, no one, we’re taking this asshole down,” Declan assured.

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll be spending a lot more time with you, Meg,” Morgan said. “If they’ve been watching, they know we’re friends so it won’t seem out of place. The key here is never finding yourself alone.”

  Megan nodded, accepting her new role that would bring an end to her temporary life. That thought stung a bit as she wondered what that meant entirely. The past year had been a whirlwind of changes and she was approaching her final act.

  “Any questions?” Dec asked. “I need to get Lydia out of here before we start to look suspicious.”

  “Yeah, how did they find me?” Megan questioned.

  Declan smiled and gave a slight snort. “Facebook.”

  “But I don’t have a Facebook,” she defended.

  “Your town does. It seems the town was quite impressed with the new florist in town. Your evening tasting events were plastered on the tourism sites and this big dance thing you’re organizing?” He questioned.

  “The Gala… My wine tastings,” she whispered.

  “McKenzie Ridge has become pretty tech savvy and caught up with social media—we found you everywhere,” he finished. “Seems you’ve really made your mark on this place.”

  “She sure has,” Colton said, grabbing her hand.

  “Oh my God, what about the Gala?” Sam questioned. “Do we cancel? Will it be safe?”

  The room filled with emotional responses to Sam’s question. They had worked so hard, and this year was promising to be their best yet.

  “Business as usual. We send a huge message if we cancel. Esteban needs to think he has the upper hand, the element of surprise, here. We’ll have our people everywhere. Undercovers will be there as attendees, some will be placed as workers, and the place will be surrounded. He won’t be able to touch the place. We’ll stop him miles out in any direction,” Declan assured them.

  “Sounds like you brought a small army,” Dawson joked.

  “We did. This guy is done,” Dec replied with a smile.

  Everyone said their goodbyes, a tearful one as Lydia kissed her sleeping son goodbye, again. They made their way back out the way they came in, surrounded by the extra men that were posted around the perimeter, and down to the lake. They disappeared into the woods where they likely had a vehicle staged, ready to take them to wherever they were staying.

  The room was quiet for a moment while thy all processed what the night turned to.

  “Well then, who wants dessert?” A now sober Gran asked with a wink and a grin.

  Chapter 28

  The Holiday Hoedown was in full swing and scheduled to run until Friday. There were booths galore as the towns people peddled their wares in an effort to raise money for their own pocket books as well as the community holiday outreach charity that was run by the local Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical from the House. All of the handmade jams, coasters, and wreaths would translate into Christmas gifts for the area youth who had less than most.

  As a tourist town, they always had plenty of interest, and a successful event, as tourists planned their getaways around this special, one of a kind affair. The buzz this year went beyond the pickled eggs and fried anything you could think of. The newest element, the formal Crystal Showdown Gala, as contradictory as it sounded with its rustic meets glam charm, was a sold out event.

  Megan was proud of her contribution to her community, the success of the annual event and the added element of a formal Gala. The Silent Auction of donated goods and outings from the community, as well as a live auction of McKenzie’s finest from the House were a bonus. Meg had her eye on a certain firefighter and Lord help anyone who tried to outbid her.

  They spent each day at the Bizarre, keeping things in order and enjoying their time together. Although not out of danger, Meg felt this sense of calm and peace…like she was fina
lly home. They couldn’t tell Declan’s team from a town’s person or tourist, but knew they were there following their every move.

  The occasional spine stabbing chill and eerie sense of being followed let them know that danger was still lurking. It was like a shift of the wind, calm and secure, to dark and shady. The latter sparked that familiar urge to run, but Colton kept her grounded. He reminded her that they were safe and that he wouldn’t let those assholes anywhere near her or Jax.

  He really was her everything. He was her manly, take charge alpha when he needed to be, but he was also a gentle, caring man who would stop the world to make her happy. He was her hero in every way. She was glad that he stopped her from leaving. This was the life she wanted; he was the man she wanted forever.

  ***

  The geriatric mafia seemed to need Colton at their booth more and more. The old ladies held their famous baked goods booth headed up by their eternal leader…Granny Lou. Lou had insisted on walkie-talkies since they were of “delicate age” and “fragile health”…they might need help in a hurry, she convinced.

  Complying with her request, especially since she had three extra walkie-talkies at the ready, the three men took to their duties. The requests for help usually consisted of lifting, bending over, and taking a pulse or two. Being the people pleaser that he was, Colton made sure he responded to every call, knowing full well what they were up to when they started pinching his ass and getting handsy.

  They paid him well, however, in baked goods reducing him to a new form of male entertainment that worked for lemon bars and brownies, rather than dollar bills. Harmless as they were, he finally scolded them for walkie-talkie abuse when the visits to the granny booth reached several an hour.

 

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