by Chloe Lang
The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 7
Forever Strong
Charly Wynn must decide on something she's been avoiding since coming to Wilde. But she just can't find it in her heart to choose three of the Strong brothers over the other three. Though she's not sure how she will survive, leaving all six cowboys behind seems to be her only option.
Wilde's ways are more open than the outside world, but it still has its own set of rigid rules. Will Drake, Dax, Seth, Heath, Tobias, and Nate find a new way to win the woman of their dreams, or will the killer ruin any chance of a future with Charly for all of them?
NOTE! You are purchasing Siren's newest serialized imprint, the LoveXtreme Forever Series. This is the conclusion of the The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada collection. These books are not stand-alone. Each is a continuation of the previous book and must be read in the numbered order. The final book contains a happily forever after for the heroine and all her men.
Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings.
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys
Length: 21,023 words
FOREVER STRONG
The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 7
Chloe Lang
LOVEXTREME FOREVER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: LoveXtreme Forever
FOREVER STRONG
Copyright © 2012 by Chloe Lang
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62241-502-1
First E-book Publication: September 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
If you have purchased this copy of Forever Strong by Chloe Lang from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
Regarding E-book Piracy
This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.
The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.
This is Chloe Lang’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Lang’s right to earn a living from her work.
Amanda Hilton, Publisher
www.SirenPublishing.com
www.BookStrand.com
DEDICATION
My ride with the Strong cowboys has been such an amazing journey. Those who have encouraged, supported, and aided me on this trip are many. I am grateful to all of them, but let me mention one in particular here.
Sophie Oak—my mentor, ass kicker, friend, and sister of the heart—has been my sounding board from the very beginning. My first book was co-written with her. When she kicked me out of the proverbial author nest to fly on my own it was very scary. I owe her for the tough love then and the tough love now. Trust is a very precious thing to me. I trust this wonderful woman utterly. No matter what successes or failures come my way having her in my life is more important than all of it.
Thank you, sweetie.
FOREVER STRONG
The Strong Cowboys of Wilde, Nevada 7
CHLOE LANG
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Charly Wynn held the cell to her ear and began to shake. “Preston?”
No answer.
She’d gone to the ladies’ room to compose herself after the appearance of the infamous Gabby, the woman who had screwed up her six Strong cowboys’ lives. She’d called her mother to get some advice on how to proceed, and a strange male voice had answered.
Think. This nut has just claimed that he has my mom.
She looked at her cell’s screen and verified the number she’d called was her mother’s, not some random lunatic. All her blood seemed to drain out of her as panic wrapped its claws around her insides.
Keep him talking.
“Are you still there?” she asked as calmly as she could muster.
“Isn’t that sweet? You miss me.”
Asshole. “What’s this all about, Preston? I’m sure we can work this out. Talk to me.”
She was grasping at every lesson in grad school she could find in the back of her memory about dealing with someone like her half brother. He wasn’t a run-of-the-mill mentally disturbed person. He was a full-on sociopath—arsonist, kidnapper, and serial killer. And he has my mother. Her blood turned icy in her veins.
“Are you alone?” he asked in a way that made her skin crawl.
She went through the litany of what she’d learned in university about antisocial personality disorder. Generally, people like Preston didn’t feel affection or empathy. Many mimicked feelings quite well, though they were never genuine.
“Answer me!” Her cell distorted a bit from his loud tone.
“Yes, I’m alone.”
“Where?”
“In the ladies’ room at Norma’s.” Crap. I shouldn’t have told him that. Maybe he would answer without thinking like she had. “Where are you?”
There was a long pause, causing her to shiver violently.
Finally, he broke the silence. “Impressive, sis. Very impressive. Of course, I’m not going to tell you. I’m too smart for that.”
“That’s obvious, Preston.” Most sociopaths operated in the world undetected. Had her half brother been one who’d done that, too, before going on his rampage? What had triggered him to kill her dad? “Whatever you want, I’m sure we can work it out if we just talk.”
“Now you’re disappointing me, Charlene. I’m no fool.”
“Of course not.” Though far from calm, mentally going through what
she knew about Preston’s condition did quiet her terror just a bit. Hurting people meant nothing to sociopaths, and deception came easy. The end always justified the means, and the antisocial had no limits to what lengths they would go to get what they desired. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll get it for you. If you want money, I can get some. Name your price.” It might take her entire life to pay Jessie back, but she would gladly do it if it meant her mother would be safely returned.
“Shut up and listen.” His tone was low and threatening. “Can you do that for me?”
“Yes. Of course.” Sociopaths’ brains functioned differently than the majority. Their emotions remained shallow. Narcissism and egomania were often part of the makeup of some of the most extreme antisocial persons. Preston was definitely pegging the needle on that one.
“Listen to me, Charlene. I have your mum, Connie. She’s doing great, and will continue to do great if you follow my instructions to the letter. You think you can do that?”
“Yes,” she choked out. “Please put my mother on the phone.”
“Not a chance, sweetheart.”
The way he said “sweetheart” made her guts clench. “What’s this all about, Preston? I didn’t even know you existed until the other day.”
“Fuck you, bitch. I exist.”
Oh God, I don’t want to piss him off. “Okay. Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll do anything you want if you just let my mother go.”
“That’s more like what I saw from you at that sex club the other night. Nice and submissive.”
He saw me. She retched as nausea rolled through her at the revelation.
He chuckled. “Here’s the deal, sis. In ten minutes you go stand in front of that local funeral home in Wilde. Keep your cell with you. I’ll call you with more instructions. Come alone. If I see any law or any of your fuck buddies, you won’t like what happens next.” Preston’s tone was flat. “Do you comprehend what I’m saying or do you take after our idiotic father? I can repeat it slower if need be.”
The man was a complete psychopath. He’d murdered at least twice. If her mother had a sliver of a chance, she had to do what he asked. The chances of her mother surviving were next to impossible. The maniac would likely shoot her from some shadowy place once she stepped in front of Stanley’s Funeral Home. But what other choice did she have? None.
“I understand and will do what you say.”
“Ten minutes. That’s all, sis.”
The line went dead, and her heart felt like it might stop at any minute, though it was pounding harder and faster than it had ever done in her entire life.
Her mother was in real danger.
She tried to get off the commode, but with her legs feeling like jelly she fell back on her butt on the closed lid. Panicky tears streamed down her face.
Breathe. God help me.
* * * *
Seth Strong stared at the sign in the back of the diner pointing to the hallway that led to the restrooms where Charly had retreated just moments earlier.
“You’re a million miles away,” Gabby said, taking off her sunglasses and placing her big hat on the table. She stared at him liked she’d done a million times before.
He moved his gaze from the sign back to the woman he’d given an engagement ring to a long time ago. “Why are you here, Gabby?”
“You haven’t changed a bit, Seth Strong.” She smiled. Her lips were coated in a bright red lipstick. Charly’s shade was a soft pink. “Direct. Straight to the point.”
It appeared to him that Gabby had changed very little herself. Unlike Charly, she was a very tall woman, nearly six feet. Her hair was blonde and straight, also the opposite of Charly’s dark, lush locks.
Had the allure of his ex faded? He didn’t understand why he wasn’t feeling more for Gabby. Hell, feeling anything. Once, he’d wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Had too much time passed to go back?
Though there wasn’t anyone else in the diner save the waitress Mackenzie, the cook in the back, him, and Charly, he was certain that any unattached man in Wilde, and some who were attached, would’ve taken a long, hard look at his old flame. Even the local women would’ve gawked at Gabby. She’d been a model at one time. But right now, his cock didn’t seem to take notice of her even though she was within striking distance.
“You didn’t answer my question, Gabby. Why are you here?”
“I came here to see you,” she said, reaching across the table and grabbing his hand. “I’ve missed you and what we had. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness for what I did with your brother, but I hope you will give it to me. I’ve changed.”
He jerked his hand free of her hold. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows shot up.
For years, he’d imagined the day she would return. Before Charly had come into his life, he would’ve forgiven Gabby everything. The blame for what had happened had always seemed to him to be ninety-nine percent Heath’s—not hers. Now, he wasn’t sure what his feelings were for Gabby at all.
“That’s ancient history.” But it wasn’t and he knew it. Night after night, he replayed the moment he’d walked into the room and saw Heath and her fucking. Moments were what shaped a life. His had been pounded, again and again, by that single incident. Trust didn’t come easily for him like it once had. “Why do you care if I forgive you or not? You left. You went on with your life.”
“Not really, Seth.” She started to reach for his hands again but pulled back before touching them.
“I heard you got married.”
Her eyes widened. “It’s over. In fact, it’s been over for some time.”
“So you’re divorced?”
She blinked. “Soon.”
What’s wrong with me? I don’t even give a damn whether she’s free or not.
He turned back to the sign that pointed to the room where Charly was.
Chapter Two
The time on Charly’s cell screamed at her—nine minutes left to get to the funeral home. She stood up and remained on her feet. She left the stall and stepped to the exit.
Before she could walk out of the ladies’ room, Seth stormed in.
“What’s taking you so long?” he asked. “I was worried.”
Torn between wanting to tell him about Preston’s demands and fearing if she did, it would sentence her mother to death, she closed her eyes and shook her head. “I don’t have time to talk about this right now, Seth. We can talk later. I have something I have to do right now.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She felt him touch her cheek, causing a flood of tears to stream down her face. She opened her eyes. His pale blue orbs reached into her deeply, and she leaned her head against his chest.
“Preston’s got my mother. I have to go.”
“He contacted you?”
She nodded.
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me everything that’s going on.” His tone was forceful, but his touches were tender.
Panic shot through her. “I can’t. He only gave me ten minutes. Now, I only have seven left. Please. He will kill my mother.” She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away.
He grabbed her. “We’re going to work this out together, quickly. Tell me everything he said.”
She nodded, trying to find a moment of calm. Please, God, don’t let my mother die. “I called my mom’s cell. He has her. He told me I had to be in front of Stanley’s Funeral Home in ten minutes or else. He made it clear I was to be alone. So you see, I must go now.”
Gabby walked into the ladies’ room. “What’s going on in here with you two?”
Seth glanced at the woman then back at her. “Your mom is going to be okay, sweetheart. I’m going to take care of this.”
“How?” she asked.
“Trust me. Call Tobias and tell him what you told me. Do it now.”
She clicked on his brother’s number in her phone, unsure what Seth had in mind. But he seemed confident in whatever plan he was devising. Please, God, let
him succeed.
He turned to Gabby. “Take off your clothes.”
“Why?” the woman asked.
“Just do it,” he demanded.
Without a word, his ex began to strip.
“Keep your bra and panties on. I only need your dress.” In a flash, he ripped off his jeans and shirt.
“Hey, baby.” Tobias’s voice came through her cell.
She quickly rattled off what Seth had told her to tell him.
“I’m fifteen minutes away but the others are in town. I’ll call them. We all know what to do. You listen to Seth, honey.” Then the call ended.
“Your hat and sunglasses still on the table?” Seth asked Gabby.
She nodded.
“I’ll need them.” His mind was clearly racing even faster than he was trying to put on Gabby’s clothes.
“You want me to get them for you like this?” The woman looked down at her body, now covered in only underwear and nothing more.
He shook his head. “I’ll grab them on the way out.”
Charly’s hope drained out of her. “This isn’t going to work, Seth.”
“It’s going to be okay, honey.”
“You think you can pass as me in front of the funeral home. I’m more than a foot shorter than you are and my hair is long and dark.” She thought about bolting out the door. It was her only chance, her mother’s only chance. “Preston will see through your ruse right away.”
As if the gods of fate wanted to punctuate the point, she heard Gabby’s dress rip as Seth pulled it up over his shoulders.
Gabby gasped. “That dress is an Oscar de la Renta and cost me a fortune.”