“What, like Lassie or some shit?” Sarcasm sliding from Colton’s words.
“No, well…sort of. What if he saw or has a scent?” Morgan questioned. “What else have we got at the moment?”
“He does have it bad for Meg, follows her everywhere,” Colton crouched down, holding his dog’s head in hands scratching his ears and asked him, “Do you know something, boy?”
After a quick deliberation between man and his dog, Colton rushed inside the house, ever so briefly retuning with a loaded gun, sliding an extra magazine in his waist band. He called for Duke who led the way down to the lake shore, headed toward the flock of trees resting behind Megan’s house.
“Sparks, what are you doing?” Blake scolded.
“Getting my girl back.”
Dawson kissed his wife before running after his friend, slapping Blake’s arm as he went by as if inviting him along.
“Let’s go Coop,” Jessie said as she passed, following Dawson and checking her weapon, having changed in to a pair of pants and sweatshirt at some point.
“You’re not going!” Blake insisted.
“I am, that’s my partner, just like Morgan is yours. You’d have her back, I have his. I’m just as trained as Tayler is!” She took off after Colton and Dawson at a fast run, not looking back for approval.
“Shit!” Blake quickly followed, keeping Jessie close, protecting more than just his friend.
Duke led them deep into the dark woods, moonlight the only light to chase. The dog paused at the same clearing as he had the frightful night of the fire. With everyone gathered, Dec and his men on their heels, they waited for Duke’s next move. Just as he did before, he shifted from left to right, before going right. Dec talked quietly into his wrist, giving orders to his team. The McKenzie Ridge team went right with a portion of Dec’s team while the rest disbursed in the various directions, assuming the dog s hesitation was because he was picking up the scent from Valdez and men from both directions. That suggested that they were everywhere.
Light came into view, just ahead of them. Duke sat and stared at what appeared to be an old hunting or forest service cabin. The team crouched low, while Dec delivered coordinates and orders into his wrist again. Movement from inside cast shadows through the dark, dirt stained windows, this had to be where they were, where Meg was, given the short head start. They had probably been here all along, watching and plotting. A loud rumble in the distance caught their attention, cars, several, headed their way.
“He’s leaving; we’ve got to go in now!” Colton panicked.
“Not yet. My men are nearly in position, we’ll have them surrounded,” Dec replied.
“They get her in a car and we won’t see her again. We need to go now. There can’t be but a dozen or so in there,” Colton negotiated, determined to get in there and get Megan back.
“Stand down, Sparks! You’ll get her killed! You hear me? Do I need to place you under arrest?” Declan threatened. “We do this the right way; no one that matters gets hurt. You got me?”
Fury filled Colton knowing she was in there, and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do. Dec was a good guy, seemed good at his job, whatever it was, but Megan was his life and it was getting harder and harder to put that in someone else’s hands. He understood there was a procedure to follow, a protocol, but he had promises to keep, and he intended to make good on them. He would get her out of there or die trying.
Four SUV’s in various dark colors rolled to a stop in front of the cabin, blocking half from the team’s view. The door still visible, opened and three men walked out, each heavily armed, taking their post securing the area. One stood at the rear of the small convoy, one at the front, and one centered himself between the vehicles and cabin. Declan continued to rattle off information to his team, in some sort of code, while the rest watched, keeping track of what and who was in front of them.
Each driver remained in the vehicle with it running, confirming the idea that they were taking off, with Megan their bargaining chip along for the torturous ride. Colton’s anxiety and anticipation reached new heights, remaining patient was increasingly difficult. A few brief moments passed before more activity approached the doorway.
Four men disbursed, one to each vehicle, opening the rear door. Finally, the major players found their way out of the cabin. Dec’s suspicions were confirmed when his missing man, Tom Boyd, exited first, Megan bound, blind folded and gagged in his tight grip. Valdez was the last to make his way out. There they all stood, only yards away and Colton was still sitting in the fucking bushes, watching his life stand in peril.
“My team has a clear path from the back. They swept six men giving them access from the rear. I have eyes out here.” He pointed to his left,“Snipers, ready to disable the vehicles…tires first, then driver if need be. They aren’t leaving.”
“How do we get her? When do I grab her?” Colton inquired.
“You don’t bro, you stay right here, we bring her to you.” Dec put his hand on Colton’s shoulder giving it a squeeze trying to assure him they had this under control.
“We have the element of surprise, less than a minute and we’re done,” Blake offered. “Jessie, Morgan, you stay here with Colton. Morgie, you got eyes in the background here, got it? Dawson, you follow me in, we’re only support, we let them do their job and I leave with all of my people in one piece.”
A branch snapped behind them putting everyone on alert, and setting the plan in motion before they knew what happened. On instinct, Blake tossed Jessie and Morgan’s heads to the ground, weapon drawn on whoever was behind them. Word must’ve made it to Valdez just as quickly because his people scattered, taking defensive positions.
Gun fire rang out like a firework display in July. The man behind them eliminated, Blake began to move in, Dawson at his side. Shots whizzed by, so close, Blake shoved Dawson down, yelling for him to stay low and fall back. Their organized plan quickly shifted to chaos and he wouldn’t be responsible for Sam becoming a widow, or their children fatherless.
With vehicles out of commission, and his men falling at his feet, Esteban grabbed Megan, using her as a shield as he went for cover behind the SUVs. Tom Boyd stayed close, offering protection, shooting at his own team, like the traitor he was. Shots rang from behind, turning Blake’s attention to his own team; Jessie had fired at another of Valdez’s men, apparently wounding him in the groin. She smiled and winked at Blake, gun aimed at her prize, while Dawson zip-tied the hands and feet of her target.
Shocked and impressed, he moved in watching Dec’s back as they got closer to Megan. Several shot to death, most wounded and zip-tied, it appeared that Valdez was down to a barely-there army. Creeping from behind the vehicle, Valdez used Megan as their armor. Declan and Blake had a clean shot on Tom. Esteban being the coward he was, had himself pinned between Meg and the SUV, gun placed at Meg’s temple as insurance.
Blake circled back around to meet Esteban at the front of the vehicle, while Dec used traitor Tom as a distraction. With Blake in place, Dec discharged his weapon, nailing his target in the right thigh, clean shot, straight through, and likely a nice break as well. Tom lay on the ground in the throes of pain, screaming like the bitch that he was, doing exactly as the shot was intended to do…distract. Dec smiled, thoroughly satisfied with his shot, even if it didn’t make up for the lives lost at Tom’s hands.
“You’re done Valdez, let her go!” Blake said, weapon locked on Esteban. “It’s over!”
Chapter 32
Colton approached, kicking the weapon out of Tom’s reach, before flipping him over; enjoying the pain it was causing him. He zip-tied his wrists, flipped him back over, tying his ankles next. Dawson moved in assisting Colton. They moved Tom to a nearby tree where they left him for now. Medical help would arrive…eventually.
Meg’s blindfold was now draped around her neck, having fallen in the scuffle. Eyes locked on Megan, he gave her an endearing grin and said, “It’s going to be okay, baby. You’re okay, we’
re going home. Just a few more minutes.” She grinned back, the best she could through her swollen face and fat lip, her left eye swollen nearly shut.
Colton maintained eye contact, trying to comfort her from a far. His positive affirmation and smile was a performance of a lifetime. On the inside, he was reeling. The sight of her bruised and swollen face, blood mixed with tears staining her face, body bruised, dress torn…she was roughed up nearly beyond recognition. It took everything Colton had to follow orders rather than tear that beast that held her limb from limb.
Esteban was completely surrounded, nowhere to go, the worst kind of desperate there was, the most dangerous too…he had nothing to lose at this point.
“You shoot me, she dies. So this is how it goes. I’m getting in that car and she comes with me. You give me a driver, unarmed,” he reasoned, as if he thought he still had a chance. “When we are far enough away, I let them go, nobody follows, do I make myself clear?”
Declan laughed at Esteban’s desperate attempt to portray he was still in charge with two dozen weapons casting a red dot on various parts of his body, the man was already as good as dead. All they needed for that clear shot, was his weapon pulled away from Meg’s head. She wouldn’t be amongst the final casualties, not while he was calling this game.
Colton knew as well as anyone that the success and failure of the night rested on getting that gun away from Megan’s head. He also knew that anyone that got in that vehicle was as good as dead too. It was time to save his woman.
“I’ll drive,” Colton said, tossing the weapon from his waist band to the ground and kicking it away. He lifted his shirt and turned in a circle showing that he wasn’t carrying another weapon. He raised his arms in a surrender position and walked toward his target.
“Sparks, stand down,” Blake yelled, he moved in trying to intercept him. “I mean it Colton, back off, back the fuck off!”
“Colton, listen to Blake, please…don’t do this,” Megan cried.
“I’m going where she’s going. Not negotiable,” he said, staring down Valdez, showing his lack of fear and full confidence. “We all know how this ends, Valdez. When you are far enough away, you kill her, right? Well I can’ t live with that so I’m going where she’s going however this ends for her, is how it ends for me!” Colton was now an arm’s length from Esteban, not showing a single sign of his anger or loathing.
“Sparks…” Declan chimed in.
“It’s not up to you, any of you,” he said, eyes still locked on his enemy.
“Fine, this pathetic man goes. You can live together, or die together, entirely your choice. No one follows, Mr. O’Reilly, and you know I will know.” A smug smile and leering eyes gave a knowing wink. He was toying with them, reminding them that his reach was far and pockets deep. Anyone could be bought.
“Let’s go, Mr…Sparks,” Valdez ordered.
Colton moved toward Megan first, catching Esteban off guard.
“You drive, you buffoon,” Esteban said, strengthening his grip on Megan, causing her to cry out.
“She’s hurt, asshole, I’m helping her into the rig. I’m guessing she can’t entirely see where she’s going, given what you did to her face!” Colton shot back, standing firm, face to face with evil. So close he could smell his cigar and expensive scotch on his breath, smug bastard.
“Fine. Quickly!” Esteban backed down enhancing Colton’s confidence.
Colton looked to Blake first sharing a knowing look in which Blake gave a subtle nod. He turned to Megan, resting his hands at her waist, making eye contact with Morgan and Dawson at the rear of the vehicle, both giving a similar slight nod. Completely in sync with his friends, his family, he took this mission into his own hands, bringing the grand finale.
He whispered, “Hang on, I love you.” To Meg who fell right into Morgan and Dawson’s waiting hands with a vigorous push from Colton. They swept her around the vehicle and into the shadowy tree line, guarded by Dec’s people, and even Jessie. As quick as he turned her over to safety, his left elbow made contact with Esteban’s face stunning him with the unforeseen action taking place around him.
Stunned and disoriented, he was easy to overtake. Colton slammed Valdez against the vehicle behind him, pinning him with his own body. One arm across his enemy’s neck, one holding his arm with the weapon above his head, slamming it repeatedly against the car until the gun fell to the ground. The upper hand his, Colton continued to beat the holy living hell out of his adversary.
While the crowd around him looked on, letting the extra punches to the root of his rage slide, Declan signaled for his guys to step in and pull Colton off of a bloodied Esteban Valdez. Dawson stepped in and talked his friend down, pulling him out of Valdez’s reach.
Esteban slid down the vehicle like a rag doll, landing hard at their feet only semi-conscious. Colton sunk to his knees cradling his head in his hands while he caught his breath and the reality surrounding him sunk in.
His awareness shifted when Megan slumped down in front of him wrapping herself tight in his comforting embrace. Her body shook, overcome with sobs. He held her face in his hands and gave her gentle kisses anywhere he could that wouldn’t cause her pain.
“God, I thought I lost you,” he said, voice shrinking to a whisper. “I thought you were gone.”
She replied with shaky words while gently tracing the bandage across his swollen forehead, provoking more tears and a hint of a smile. “I’m fine. I’m here. We’re both okay!”
Distracted by their reunion, the reach Valdez made to his ankle was missed. He pulled out a small weapon and aimed it directly at Megan and Colton.
Tom, still propped against the tree where he was left, shouted, “Gun!” Causing a whirlwind of actions to follow.
Esteban slurred his final words before getting a shot off. “Fuck you!”
The activity transpired in slow like motion. Another gun shot rang out causing everyone to take defensive positions and to aim their weapons at their villain. Colton rolled himself over Megan in an attempt to shield her from tragedy, when a loud growl pierced the silence, followed by a sharp yelp…Duke.
Scanning the scene, shock came over everyone at what would be the dramatic end to it all. Blake stood, frozen with his smoking gun in hand, facing a dead Esteban Ricardo Valdez.
Feet from Meg and Colton lay Duke, shaking and whimpering in pain, having taken the bullet meant for his family. Colton rushed to his dog, checking him over, yelling to Morgan for help, the rancher was the closest thing they had to a vet on scene. Now an active crime scene, Declan and his people began to gather evidence and prepare to close their case.
Emergency medical from all branches and surrounding counties were called in to assist. A stretcher was brought in at Dawson’s request for Duke, their hero, the only part of their immediate team injured. They quickly moved him to the waiting ambulance after Meg crawled up on the gurney to hold him and comfort him.
The tears fell fast and hard watching her dog fight his injury, fight for his life. She whispered loving thoughts and sweet nothings in his ear, making sure he knew how much he was loved and what a good boy he was.
How quickly, she thought, that this animal became more than her fiancés’ pet. She loved this furry guy as if he were family. She hadn’t realized that was possible until now.
“Please fight, buddy. You can’t die, please don’t die. I have so many treats at home for you; you’re a hero, Duke,” she whispered
“We have Dr. Bain on standby at the emergency clinic at Sugar Pine Equestrian. They already have Boss there, waiting for Duke,” Carigan updated.
“Boss?” Megan grasped her chest as if to protect her heart from more bad news.
Suddenly her own injuries felt so insignificant, such an odd thought, she realized. It was a testimony to how far she had come, how much her life had changed, and where her priorities had shifted.
Chapter 33
They pulled up to the pet clinic, met by Dr. Bain and his staff at the entrance. H
e quickly looked at Duke’s injury before a sullen look dropped across his face. He looked to the couple, patted Duke’s head and said, “We’ll do everything we can for our hero here…everything, okay?”
Not a he’ll be fine or we can fix this. A vague promise to help without a promising outcome.
Evie called in a favor, asking Doc Charles to meet them at the animal clinic. Megan and Colton needed to be seen but refused to leave Duke and go to the hospital. He was happy to oblige, having just finished closing down the Gala and dismantling his band’s equipment.
Using a free exam room, sterile is sterile, he dressed up the wounds needing attention, plenty of stitches, bruising, and cracked ribs later, they were back in the waiting area hoping for good news. Declan arrived hours later to find everyone there, including Doc Charles who insisted on waiting in the event he was needed for anything.
Tom Boyd sang like a bird, giving up more info than they had expected. Turned out, he was in need of a fast payday…sick kid. Valdez swooped in with the dangling carrot that Tom needed to save his child. Understandable to some degree, a desperate parent will sacrifice anything for their ailing child. Unfortunately, this sacrifice was going to cost him life in federal prison.
Dr. Bain interrupted the random chatter that had erupted, when the heaviness of conversation had become too heavy and they needed a change of subject to maintain sanity.
“Well, we never found the bullet, he was a mess…”
Two weeks later
The first snow of the season finally fell. Late, but beautiful. The tragedies of the past few weeks were fading, although they would never be forgotten. Routines were resuming and life was finally feeling a sense of normalcy settle in. Lydia had been staying with Colton and Megan, getting reacquainted with her son.
Megan’s house was nearly done with repairs from the fire. Lydia and Jax would stay there, wanting to stay in McKenzie Ridge. She had fallen in love with McKenzie just as Meg had, and was quickly part of the tight-nit group.
Hidden (A McKenzie Ridge Novel Book 2) Page 21