20
Denver shifted his shirt beneath the bulletproof vest and made sure he had free range of motion while wearing the stupid thing. It had been some time since he’d put one on. He stood near the sofa and tried to banish thoughts of what had happened there last night. He still felt Noni around him.
If they survived this, if he lived through the coming showdown with Cobb and Madison, could he hope for a life with her? Was it possible? Hope was a dangerous drug, and he’d tried to keep it away for so long. What if?
He had to focus. “What time is it?” he asked Malloy, who sat at the kitchen table.
The cop glanced at his watch. “One in the morning. I have a force ready to move on our command, and my men have scoped the area. It seems quiet, which probably isn’t a good sign.”
There was little chance Cobb and Madison hadn’t taken notice of Malloy amassing a force. Hopefully they wouldn’t have time to gather their forces before Denver had blown town. But when had luck ever been on his side? Denver tightened the vest. “Copy that. The road conditions are going to slow us down a little.”
The bedroom door opened, and Noni stepped out.
His chest took a hit from an invisible anvil. Every primitive feeling he’d ever had rose to the surface fast and hard. His. Everything about her was his—and he wanted to keep her. Bad.
She’d dressed in jeans and a sweater, having pulled her dark hair back in a braid. “We ready?” she asked, studiously ignoring the sofa.
Denver couldn’t take his gaze off her. Neither one of them would probably look at a fabric sofa the same again. “Yes.” He wanted to argue with her again, but he’d promised to let her stay with Malloy on the op. If Denver got the baby, he could immediately turn her over to Noni. And Malloy would keep her safe.
Tina opened their door and came out, a bandage in her hands. “We need to change your arm bandage, Jamie.”
A sound caught Denver’s attention. He stiffened and turned his head toward the door.
“What?” Malloy asked, shoving to stand on one leg.
Denver closed his eyes and reached out with his super-hearing. “One large vehicle, going slow, heading our way down the driveway from the lake road.” He hustled toward the light switch and turned it off. “They’re trying to be quiet.”Shit, shit, shit.
Malloy reached for a gun from the back of his borrowed jeans. “Tina? Go back into the bedroom.”
Denver jerked his head for Noni to do the same. “Take the gun that I gave to you out of the drawer by the fridge,” he whispered.
She paled but did as he’d said.
Denver angled toward the front door and looked out at the cold landscape. His breath heated, and he calmed down into battle mode. No emotion—just calculation. “We’ll have to take them out. It’s too cold for us to run anywhere.” Plus, Malloy couldn’t run.
A large SUV rolled to a stop.
Denver tensed. “One vehicle only.” Shadows could be seen, but he couldn’t count them. He quietly opened the door and pressed his gun out into the darkness. “I’ll take one out right away.”
The driver’s side door opened, and a man jumped to the ground.
Denver paused. Ryker? Emotion bombarded him as his instincts recognized family.
“Don’t fuckin’ shoot,” came clearly through the whistling wind. Ryker shut the door and gave a smart-ass wave.
Denver’s entire body relaxed, and he pulled the front door fully open. “It’s my brothers,” he said to Malloy, shocked as hell at the gratitude and relief slamming into him. He tucked his gun into the back of his waistband and strode into the storm, straight at Ryker, to envelope him in a strong hug. God, he’d missed them. He clapped his brother on the back. “I told you not to come.”
If Madison and Cobb had found them, this was going to be a trap. Ryker couldn’t be caught in it. But Denver didn’t want to let go. Having Ry at his side made the world better—and safer.
Heath exited from the passenger side and made his way toward them, also giving him a hug. “Since when do we listen to you?”
Denver leaned back, the world righting itself. He hadn’t realized how off he’d felt without them. “I’m glad you guys came.” It was as close as he could think to express himself. To let them know how much he counted on them and needed them. While he’d wanted them safe, he needed them at his back. They’d help get the baby. And if this was their last stand, if Cobb and Madison showed up, they’d be together to fight. Where they belonged. “Thanks.”
“Where else would we be?” Heath asked, his eyes dark. “It took longer than we’d hoped, but we had to secure the South Dakota property better before leaving.”
Denver paused. “You shouldn’t have left Zara and Anya.” Guilt swept through him.
“They’re safe. I guarantee it,” Heath countered, nodding toward the cabin. “I take it we’re on op?”
