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AT THIS TIME OF THE morning, Avery thought her best bet to find her brother was at the farm. She was relieved to spy his truck parked in front of the house. She pulled in beside him. It was nearly six now, and her father and brother were gone to do early morning chores before coming in for breakfast at about seven. She would cook all but the eggs, which would likely turn cold before they returned. The rest could be warmed in the microwave.
She found some corned beef and leftover baked potatoes, adding onions and a little garlic, she made them hash. The coffee had already been made and mostly drank. She poured the rest into a cup and made a fresh pot. When she looked out the window, Cass and her dad were on their way back. Looks like she’d have time to finish their breakfast. She threw bread in the toaster and began frying eggs.
The two men walked in the kitchen door and smiled. “I thought that was my baby girl,” said Macon. He kissed her cheek. “To what do we owe the honor?” Cass handed him a cup of coffee.
“I came for a couple of things, and I needed to do it early so I could get back. Since I was already here, I thought I’d cook you breakfast. You didn’t already eat, did you?”
“Nope, and even if we did, I’m sure I could convince Cass to join me eating twice.”
They sat at the table as Avery began setting plates, each full of food, on the table. “What about Ben?” asked Avery. “Should I cook enough for him?”
“I’ve always lived by what the Good Book said and how I was raised. If a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat. I’m thinking soon, he won’t have a place to lay his head, either.” Macon shook his own head.
Cass spoke up. “I don’t want to ruin my appetite thinking about how much of a bum he has become.”
“He’s sure lost his way this last year,” agreed Macon. “Sit down, honey, and eat with us. Cass will tell us about his ideas for this summer and this year’s harvest. And about Rona.”
“Rona Barton?”
“Yeah, you know her?” asked Cassidy.
“Her brother has that excavator service, right?”
“Right.” Cass warmed to the subject of Rona, and they passed a pleasant half-hour. Cass stood with his cleaned plate. He leaned over to kiss Avery on the cheek. “Excellent breakfast and company, but I have some new farm hands showing up here in about half an hour, so I’d better get things ready.”
“Yes, and when things get into a better routine, you will have to bring Rona over to the ranch or Stryker, and I will come here to have dinner and get to know her.”
“That’d be nice. See you later.”
Macon waited until Cassidy left, and he looked sternly at his daughter. Avery felt the same discomfort she felt when Stryker caught her doing something.
“Now, why are you really here, Avery Rose?”
“I told you.”
“Yes, I know what you said, now tell me the truth.”
She sighed. “Fine. I figured I would catch Ben before he ran off somewhere. I did think he might be up by now, especially since I cooked breakfast. I know he can smell it.”
“Honey, let it go. He got into this mess, and now he needs to get out of it.”
“But, dad, the ranch is all in an uproar waiting for him to respond. He was told not to come to the ranch and that the ranch was taking him to court.”
“I see. What did he say to that?”
“I don’t know. Nothing yet, but he threatened the ranch and the Red Eagles. He threatened Stryker.” Big tears slowly rolled down her cheeks, and she swiped at them roughly. “He said they would be sorry they were so greedy. When I asked what that meant, he said accidents happen all the time on the ranch. He mentioned Stryker specifically.”
“And Stryker let you come here alone?”
“Well, not exactly.”
“I thought not. You get your butt back in your car and go to work. I cannot believe you came without Stryker’s blessing, especially when Ben is so unpredictable.”
“Okay, I’ll just go grab the couple of things I do really want to get, and then I’ll go.”
The phone rang, drawing Macon into the kitchen to answer it as Avery grabbed a final armload of clothes from her room. As she turned to carry them out to her car, Ben appeared, blocking her exit. She really had to quit grabbing things from the farm.
“What are you doing here? I told you I didn’t want to see you again,” he said gruffly.
“Tough. I have as much right to be here as you do. More, maybe because... never mind. I’m here to grab more of my things. I’m moving out.”
Ben stared at Avery. She felt a cold chill race over her. “What are you really doing here?”
“Besides this?” she indicated the clothes in her arms. “I came to see if we can’t make a deal.”
“Yeah? What kind of a deal?”
“To separate you from the ranch and end this mess.”
“And how would you do that?” he asked angrily. Avery could hear hope and frustration. It had gotten out of hand, even for Ben.
“Maybe you can tell them you will make payments, but since you don’t work, I’ll make those payments for you. It will help dad not feel so guilty and responsible for having such an irresponsible son, and it will pay the Red Eagle back, so you aren’t in court defending yourself from prosecution. That way, you would be done with the whole mess, they would get their money back, and this feud would be over.”
“No, I’m not paying them off.”
“No, I would. I’d give my savings first, then whatever is left, I’ll make payments.”
“Your precious Stryker would never allow that.”
Avery was encouraged to think that Ben might accept her offer. “I won’t tell him.”
“You’ve never been good about secrets.”
He was right. Avery couldn’t hide her thoughts very often and never with Stryker. When he found out, he would be more than livid. “I can mail them to the ranch and put your name on the envelope.”
“Avery, no. I don’t want them to think I’m paying them back.”
“But the ranch will send their lawyer after you. Did you read that contract you signed?”
Ben barked a mirthless laugh. “No, because I never intended on fulfilling it. Besides, they already have, or rather Stryker has said he would. Besides, I’m not intimidated by the Red Eagles. I have bigger goons after me. You can’t get blood or money from a turnip or a broke man.”
“You know, word gets around even if the Red Eagles don’t say anything. People speculate and share those speculations. You’ll never get a job or anything around here again.”
“I will always have a way to get money. It’s how I’ve survived thus far.”
“Not legally.”
Ben shrugged. “Not all of us are hindered by high moral standards. You’re a troublemaker. This is all your fault. If you hadn’t messed up when I told you what to do, this would be all over.”
Avery shook her head in disbelief. “My mistake was to believe you at first. No, any trouble you’re in is of your own doing. If it weren’t for me, you’d be in even more trouble, and so would I if I’d listened to you any longer. Don’t think I have forgiven you for trying to sacrifice me for you.”
Ben’s phone rang, and after looking at the caller ID, he started to put his phone back in his pocket but decided to answer it. After saying a couple of words, he replaced it.
“Well, I’d like to say I enjoyed it, but that would be lying, and I know you hate that. I have someplace to be.” He strode off, and soon she heard his pickup kick up loose dirt and gravel as he sped off the farm. Where could he need to be before eight in the morning if he wasn’t working?
***
AVERY DIDN’T REALIZE Stryker had called her while she was at the farm. Her phone was on vibrate, but she was too preoccupied to notice it buzz four different times. The fifth time, she felt it. When she saw the number of missed calls, dread filled her.
Avery sent him a quick text when Ben stormed off. She couldn’t be totally honest with Stryker, not right now. Just the thought of lying to him made her stomach sick. Her tush tightened in fearful anticipation of the consequences. She wanted to cry over the whole mess, but that wouldn’t help her situation any more than doing nothing would help.
Avery: Sorry, I forgot the phone was on vibrate. I was talking to Janna and had it in my bag. Sorry.
Stryker: You weren’t supposed to leave the ranch alone.
Avery: With Janna.
Stryker: At this time of the morning?
Avery: Yes
Stryker: How long? I’ll come and follow you home.
Avery: I’m fine. Really.
Stryker: What time?
Avery: An hour? At the café?
Stryker: Done
Avery could hear the irritation in Stryker’s text. She knew it was weird, but he was pissed. Likely because he was trying to protect her, and she had put herself in harm’s way. Ironic that the man she had only known for a few months was more protective than the man who was her brother her whole life. She needed to hurry because she only had one hour to be at the café, or life would be even harder than it was already going to be.
She grabbed her clothes and didn’t bother picking up what she dropped as she headed for her car. Not having any idea where Ben was going, Avery figured he would be at either the café or the gaming hall. The Bar was closed until much later, most likely the gaming hall, too.
As she drove past the café, her brief conversation with Stryker passed her mind again. That sick feeling tried to revive, but Avery pushed it down and ignored it. Ben’s truck was not in the parking lot. She continued on to the gaming hall. It should be closed as well, but she could see the door was ajar. Someone was likely cleaning or something. As she circled the block, she saw Ben’s truck.
Parking out of the way so she couldn’t be seen by those passing by on the street, Avery walked cautiously to the open doorway. She could hear voices further in the back. She had barely identified Ben’s raised voice when the sound of someone throwing a punch and connection with its target drew her inside. She might not be happy with him, but Ben was her brother. She checked to make sure her phone was in her back pocket. Satisfied, she pushed the door open.
Immediately, a big, beefy hand covered her mouth and nose, muffling her screams and cutting off her ability to breathe easily. Avery went into survival mode. A state of being she had learned from defending herself from brothers who liked to tease her, but it wasn’t enough. The owner of the hand was substantially larger than she. In seconds, he’d worn her down, and she had to stop. She was light-headed, and her chest hurt from the lack of oxygen.
Avery was suddenly released, dropping to the floor, her knees hitting hard on the concrete. A return of the nausea Avery had experienced earlier overwhelmed her. The first sound that broke through her struggling brain was Ben, yelling. The realization that her brother could be hurt frightened her even more than the thought that she could be in danger.
A cold sweat broke out over her skin when she heard an unfamiliar voice laughing. No, that couldn’t be right. The laugh got closer, and she recognized it as more of a sinister distortion of a laugh. The sound sent more icy fingers of fear along her spine. Her responses froze as well.
“Well, well, Ben. You did bring me some payment, didn’t you? Although I’m pleasantly surprised at the shape it has taken, I think we can work out a deal.”
Avery looked over to where Ben stood, and she was horrified at the blood covering his face and shirt. His eye was beginning to swell shut.
“If she’s good, she will cover all of the debt.”
“Barker, don’t touch her,” said Ben through swollen lips.
The man Barker touched Avery’s hair, and she knocked his hand away. The sound of the back of his hand striking the side of her head was loud. In a flash, Avery thought of her face that had recently healed. It was nearly normal after the last time she was in this establishment. Stryker was going to be even angrier with her.
However, it was nothing compared to the kill mode Stryker would be in when he went on the hunt for Ben and this Barker guy. Leaving town wouldn’t save either of them. That was no comfort now, though. Avery took a couple of seconds to feel sorry for herself and lament that Stryker was right at her amazing lack of self-preservation.
“I like them feisty. This one will be well worth the work.”
“Stryker will kill you,” warned Avery.
Barker laughed. “He can’t get back what is already gone.” What did that mean?
“It might keep her out of my business,” said her brother with a shrug. He didn’t sound convincing to her, but evidently, he did to Barker.
That sick laugh let loose again.
Ben shrugged again. “I told you if you stayed with Red Eagle, it wouldn’t be for long. He’ll drop you faster than if you had leprosy if you come back to him well used. They want their women unsullied by others and seem to take offense if anyone changes that. They’re possessive sons of bitches about their women. Pompous asses. It might be the best way to get back at Stryker and the others for treating me like a cowhand.”
“You worked for them to pay off a debt that they only covered because of me,” said Avery.
Barker spoke up as he yanked her off the ground. “A fact I’m thankful for.”
“Yeah, well, now I’ve found another way to pay my debt.” Ben walked off with the sound of his sister’s scream in his ear.
Once outside, he hurried around the corner and called the number he swore he’d never use again. “Red Eagle Ranch, may I help you?”
“Yeah, I got a message for Stryker Red Eagle.”
***
AVERY SCREAMED, BUT there was no Seamus to come to her rescue this time. No Stryker to ride in and save the day. She had no idea how close to an hour she was, and besides, she wasn’t at the café. She fought and screamed again. An open-handed slap landed on her cheek.
Barker grabbed her hair and yanked... hard. Tears gushed from her eyes. He yelled at the other man, the one who had his hand over her mouth in the beginning, to get out. Next, Barker dragged her into the back and shoved her into a chair. His phone rang. He grabbed her up again and threw her into the corner as he walked to the doorway to talk.
She sent a text to Stryker.
Avery: 911- the owner of gaming hall- me for payment of Ben’s debt
The response text came fast.
Stryker: Already OMW. Do what you have to do to stay safe.
Barker kicked her phone from her hand, but with the knowledge that Stryker was coming and likely with help, Avery found the strength to not fall apart. Her brain began to work with more focus. Her thoughts were sluggish but not scattered.
“What did you do, bitch?”
“I was trying to get Stryker. I told you he would kill you. They are all on their way.”
“What did you tell him?” Barker didn’t sound too confident now.
“Where I was and who had me.” He slapped her harder than before.
“Well, I’ll give you something to tell him.” She backed up as he approached her in a slow stalk.
“You know, the Red Eagles won’t take it well if you harm me. I promise you they will hunt you down.”
He was getting closer, and she was running out of space to back up in.
“You don’t say.”
She wondered if he would get what he wanted. Avery was against a pile of junk and couldn’t retreat further. She had to come up with something that would make him stop. The Red Eagles were respected and feared if you went against them or cheated them. Attacking one of their people was tantamount to professional suicide.
“I’m marrying Stryker soon. They consider me part of their family already.”
“Oh, yes? Well, things may change after today.” He reached for Avery, and she rolled away from him.
“You mean after they kill you? Stryker had almost come in twice to tear this place apart. Nothing will stop him now. His brothers and the ranch hands will help.”
She was obviously making him second guess himself. Barker shoved her hard, causing her to fall over the debris around her. He slammed out of the messy room and locked the door. The pounding of Avery’s heart and the shallow breaths she had taken since Barker had gotten close to her kept her light-headed and hosting a churning belly.
Avery looked around for something to put under the door and discovered the bed in the far corner. She shivered with the realization of what might have happened on that piece of shabby furniture. In the far corner of the room, a chair had been tossed and forgotten. It wasn’t as sturdy as she would have liked, but she needed to find a way to leave and keep him out of the room while she did it. This would have to do.
Avery shoved the chair underneath the door handle then grabbed her bag. Next, she scoured the floor and trash everywhere to find her phone. It was busted. No good now, but she dropped it in her bag, anyway. Looking around the room with means of escape running through her mind, she located the only window in the cluttered space. It was a high one. She would have to figure out how to climb up that high and then how to break the glass.
She found a rock that was used to prop the door open. It was big enough to do the trick. She climbed onto the old bed frame, complete with a metal head and footboard. The furniture was too heavy to move, but Avery stood precariously on the tall end of the frame. She was just able to put her jacket against the window and hit it with the rock. Avery hoped the cloth muffled the sound enough to allow her to get out of the window.
She’d never been so scared in her life as she was at that moment, worried Barker would come back in and take away not only her means of escape but her ability to fight him off. Sweat rolled down her cheek and reminded her she wasn’t ready to stop yet.
She hurriedly got rid of the glass the best she could and wadded her jacket to lay on the bottom of the window frame to climb out. Before she was totally out, the door was being rammed by somebody, likely her kidnapper. Avery had no intention of waiting until he found a way into her.
Half crawling, half dragging herself through the open space of the window frame, Avery fell to the ground. Without stopping to take in her surroundings, she got her bearings and then ran to her car. What a relief to see it was still there and no one around. Wherever Ben had gone, it wouldn’t be far enough. Avery checked the seat and saw it was clear.
Searching, she couldn’t find the keys. She thought she’d lost them, but after scrambling and clawing at the contents of her pack, she finally dumped it all on the hood of the car. She located the keys, scooped the rest back into her bag, hoping she got all the important stuff before jumping inside and locking the door.
Avery was going to drive to the ranch, but her phone was dead. Stryker was on his way, so she had to get to a phone to tell him where she was. When she arrived at the café, getting out of the vehicle after finally gaining her safety was difficult. Two couples were about to enter as she exited her car, giving her a small group to enter with. Safety in numbers, right?
Once inside, she borrowed the phone and called Stryker. He didn’t answer. She put it down and called the ranch. As she waited for someone to pick up, she looked around and made eye contact with Ben. He threw money on the table in a flash and raced out as though the devil himself was after him. Past caring whether she ever saw him again or not, Avery returned her attention to the call, praying for a response when Renee answered.
“Where the hell are you?” Renee asked in a hushed but urgent whisper.
“The café in town. I can’t get Stryker on the phone.”
“That’s because they should be where you are, or where you were? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’ll live.”
“More than I can say for Barker or your brother.”
“I know. Look, my phone is crushed. I need you to keep trying Stryker and the guys until you get them and tell them I’m at the café.”
“A public place. That’s smart thinking. He can’t spank you in public. I should have thought of that.”
“Just get him here. Please?”
“You got it.”
***
STRYKER ONLY SAW RED. His only thoughts were to get his woman safe and then kill Barker and Ben. Nothing else would satisfy his consuming need to destroy anyone who dared to touch his Avery. The cell rang. He hit the Bluetooth.
“Renee, what’s wrong?” He didn’t think he could deal with another thing today. Hell, this year.
“Stryker, Avery is at the café. She got there somehow, and she needs you to come there.”
“Why didn’t she call me herself?”
“Phone’s broken. Avery’s at the café. When you didn’t answer her call, she called the ranch.”
The air turned blue with Stryker’s comment. “Did you tell her to stay there?”
“I did, and called the café, told them to watch out for her. Shouldn’t we call the police or something?”
“Let me find out what happened first. But yes, we will.”
As Stryker and Seamus pulled into the café parking lot with Callen and Carson in the truck behind them, Avery pulled out of the same lot, heading toward the farm.
“Damn it, Avery Rose, when I get my hands on you...” yelled Stryker.
“Where’s she going?” asked Seamus.
“The farm and likely in pursuit of Ben.”
“What? I don’t know, man, she must be missing a few vital parts to think that’s a good idea.”
“She doesn’t think it’s a good idea, bro. She only thinks that it’s her brother, and he threatened the ranch, me. No matter what, she loves him, and she loves me. While she might be too angry to spit right now, she will protect him if she can and protect me from him. I am going to wear her out and change that thinking.”
“Stryker, you don’t want her to be less loyal to her family than you want her to be loyal to ours. Think about it. If she were able to drop her own brother easily, then you’d expect her to do no better with ours.”
“But the position his addiction has put him in makes him dangerous.”
“Agreed, and I think she knows that, but that doesn’t change the way she feels about him, down deep. She is going to try to help him while trying to save you.”
“He has to want the help.”
“And that is the lesson she needs. Not to stop loving or helping, but that she can’t be the one doing all the work. Ben has to want it more than she does.”
After a few moments of silence, Stryker nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. But I’m still going to roast me one plump ass.”
“Goes without saying.”
Finally, they arrived at the Camden Place, and the Red Eagle brothers raced inside the farmhouse.
“Avery!” Stryker and Seamus called several times, but it was obvious that Avery wasn’t there.
“She’s not here, man.”
“Of course, she isn’t.” Stryker’s frustration was overflowing. “Where the hell—”
Callen rushed into the front room. “Come on. Something’s going on in the barn.”
Stryker’s heart stopped for a second while manic, fearful thoughts crowded into his head. He didn’t want to guess about the things that could be happening to his woman without his protection.
When they entered the barn, the scene that greeted the Red Eagles made each man stop in his tracks. Stryker put his arm out to stop his brothers from entering further. Ben had a rifle aimed at Cassidy, yelling about needing money.
“You don’t understand. I’m a dead man if I don’t get what I need to pay them off.”
“Ben,” said Cassidy, “I don’t have that kind of money. Even a millionaire would have trouble agreeing to just haul your ass out so you can do it again. It’s over, Ben.”
Backing out of the doorway, the brothers spread out around the exits while Stryker called out to Ben. He saw Avery but she, for once, treated the danger as real this time.
“Ben. I don’t know what went on in town today, but I can see that you’ve got yourself in a pickle. I don’t think you intend to shoot anyone, but once you have your gun up, threatening someone, it gets hard to back down from that. I think we’d all be good with you taking a few steps back from this situation. It’s a no man’s land where you are. If you want to retain control, you’ll have to lower your gun.”
Stryker kept his naughty girl in his peripheral vision but didn’t acknowledge her. How she got out of the gaming hall and what had happened to her while there was pushed to the back of his mind. One thing at a time.
What happened next was over in a few seconds but seemed to replay in his mind in slow motion. Ben swung around and fired. Avery screamed. Stryker was shoved to the ground, and he went down with a burning heat searing the flesh in his side. Avery was on him, crying, begging him to be okay, her hand running over his body.
Someone was pulling her off of him, and she was screaming to get an ambulance. Shit, his side hurt. His hand was warm, wet, and sticky. Blood. He could smell it now. Stryker grabbed her to him and rolled over, placing her under him. He could hear his brothers in the room.
Avery had tried to save him. Crazy, wonderful woman. How could you not love someone who selfishly put themselves between you and danger? But that was against his rules to keep her safe. Yep, he was going to do some educating. He also planned to make love to her every day she’d let him for the rest of their lives.