“No can do. The judge won’t allow it on a case of this magnitude. She wants the accuser in court. Kaylie, agreeing to that, makes her perhaps the bravest woman I’ve ever met. I know men who wouldn’t meet Vinnie Rizzo in court.”
“I agree. She’s the most amazing woman I’ve ever met since Janice. Now, send me the info on those three guys. I need to find their weaknesses.”
“Just sent it.”
Ryan’s phone beeped. “It’s here. Gotta run. I’ll be in touch.” He pressed end and examined the information Paul sent. These men were dangerous individuals. Working together, they’d proven to be lethal. Ryan needed to figure out a way to stop them.
He punched speed dial for Rex’s phone.
“Rex here. What do you need, Boss?”
“I need every man here ASAP.”
“On it.” Rex disconnected.
Next, Ryan called 911. “This is Ryan Evers. I have three men here on my ranch that are trying to kill me, please send help as soon as possible.” He gave them directions to his ranch and then ended the call.
Hopefully the cowboys and the police would get there in time.
* * *
Kaylie watchedRyan as he spoke to Paul Morel about the shooter. From the side of the conversation she could hear, it sounded like Vinnie had sent people after her, which meant he’d put a bounty on her head. She knew those guys were good. She’d cut them checks for previous bounties. She’d put her head in the sand as to what the bounties were for, even though she knew someone had probably died. She didn’t have any choice. Her mother’s hospital bills had already taken her grandma’s house and Kaylie couldn’t let her mother go to a state-run nursing home. Those places were awful.
She’d convinced herself the people Vinnie’s men went after were bad guys and needed to be dealt with.So stupid. Why was I so stupid? I overlooked it until it was me he put a bounty on.
Ryan ended the call and had barely put his phone in his back pocket when a text came in. “I need to print this information out. Would you come to the office with me?”
“Certainly.” She held the Glock pointed at the floor. “Do you have a holster for this?”
“Yeah, it’s in the office, too.”
“Good.” She walked back with him after double-checking to make sure the kitchen door was locked. The front door stayed locked unless company was expected.
In the office, he pulled the waist holster from a drawer on his desk and extended it toward her. He held it for a moment before releasing it. “I hope you don’t have to use this.”
She set the gun on his desk and put on the holster. Then she shoved the gun into it and snapped the safety strap into position. She regarded him. “I hope I don’t either. I’ve never shot at a live target before.”
He walked around the desk and took her in his arms. “You haven't said if you’ll stay after this is over.”
Kaylie leaned back in his arms, knowing he wouldn’t let her fall and gazed up at him. “I’ll stay. I have to know where this thing between us is going.”
“Good.” He released her. “Let’s get set up. I don’t know how much time we have. Paul didn’t say when they landed in Bozeman, but it’s not that far to Twin Bluffs and we know they’re close enough to take a wild shot at you.”
She nodded. “Let’s go.” She loved him. When or how it happened she didn’t know, only that she loved him and would be by his side through hell and high water. Nothing could take her from him and certainly not Vinnie Rizzo, regardless of the number of assassins he sent.
Now, if she could just stay alive long enough to tell Ryan she loved him.
* * *
Kaylie watchedthe front while Ryan took position in the kitchen. She stood to the side of the picture window, making sure to keep most of her body behind the wall. No way was she becoming a target for them.
Even with her vigilance, the men came up the side of the porch keeping out of Ryan’s line of sight and hers, as well. The two of them simply couldn’t watch enough of the house to keep them in sight and Ryan’s men hadn’t come in from the pasture yet. It was just the two of them, alone against the assassins.
When would the cowboys get there? Where were the police? Did they have to come from Bozeman or Twin Bluffs?
The first pounding on the door made her jump and turn toward it, waiting for them to come through. Suddenly, the picture window shattered, and one of the men somersaulted into the house.
Kaylie had her weapon ready but aimed at the door. He stood and before she could get a shot off, he shot her in the right side. Her side burned and though the shot didn’t kill her, it disabled her, forcing her to drop her weapon. She dropped to the floor and crawled toward her Glock, grabbed it and shot the man who’d shot her. She didn’t miss.