THE O’REILLYS’ OLD hunting cabin in the woods was where Declan and Lydia were hiding in McKenzie Ridge. The four brothers had accompanied them and set up a mobile command center. They each took turns rotating in and out of the woods where Declan had mobilized his team from the agency, finally bringing them in. The team worked tirelessly doing surveillance, and keeping eyes on Esteban’s men at all times.

They were scattered around McKenzie Ridge, keeping watch from every angle, protecting the innocent who didn’t even know they were bait. A plan was in the works, and they were preparing to execute it. Esteban’s highest ranked associates were in town, and that meant Esteban was nearby.

“Let’s recap,” Dec said to his brothers and the closest member from his team, Tom Boyd. “What do we have?”

“We know the subject,” Tom started, “Meg, as she’s known here, went to Portland with her boyfriend and another couple…a…Dawson and Sam Tayler. They were followed and had a face to face encounter in a mall before abruptly leaving and coming back here to McKenzie.”

Luke chimed in, “It seems Trinity, or Meg, is still holding cover despite making Esteban’s guys. They are all on their way back, his men right behind them.”

“Can we just call her Meg from now on; this is getting confusing,” Wylie mentioned, earning a nod from the men. “So, what’s she going to do? Stay or run? She knows she’s been made. Protocol says to call us and we do an extraction and relocation, but she hasn’t made the call.”

Lydia frowned. “She hasn’t called? Are you sure? Why would she stay; why would she stand in harm’s way like that? She wouldn’t do that, not with Jax.”

“Boyfriend maybe?” Dace inserted. “Maybe she doesn’t want to leave him.”

“No. She’s been selflessly doing this for well over a year, nearly two. She wouldn’t just risk it all like that. It’s too dangerous, especially for the boyfriend, and anyone else around them,” Lydia defended.

“Let’s give her the benefit of doubt. It just happened. She’s surrounded by people she likely wants to protect, and they are driving through a no-cell zone,” Liam reasoned, realizing part of maintaining cover included not blowing theirs, and she was aware of that. “We have guys right behind them and people all over town when they get here. She’s safe either way. Let’s just see what she does when she gets back to town.”

“Good point, brother,” Declan inserted. “I think it’s time we get some local help and let this group in on the ruse. Esteban’s men are getting pretty bold, approaching her like that. Our people need to know so they can all take precautions. If nothing else, to keep them out of the line of fire.”

“What’s the plan, Dec?” Luke asked, ready to get on with whatever they needed to do.

“I paid a visit to an old friend this morning, Blake Cooper. He heads up local P.D. and just happens to be right in the middle of this group she’s befriended. He’s one of us or used to be. He’s the main reason I sent Tr…Meg here in the first place. He’s been watching over her all along and didn’t even know it.”

Luke laughed. “And how did Coop react to you sending this shit his way and leaving him blind?”

“He got over it quick. Turns out he was on the verge of cracking this thing wide open anyway. The boyfriend found my name and number, along with a newspaper article about the sisters dying. Someone had left it on Meg’s porch. There was also a guy plowed down in front of Meg’s flower shop. A John Doe who had been lurking just before he was hit. I saw the photo – it’s one of Esteban’s head hunters.”

“Oh, my God.” Lydia panicked. “That’s twice they got close to her. I don’t like this. Not at all.”

“It’s okay,” Declan assured. “They’ve been here a while. They’re just messing with her to flush you out. There was an explosion at her house in the middle of the night, but in her garage, too. They also arranged a problem with a tire so they could catch her down and off guard. If they wanted to kill her, they would have by now. This is all about you.”

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me this sooner,” she cried.

“What would that have served?” Dace defended his brother. “You just would have worried, and it wouldn’t have changed a damn thing. We’ve been nearby all along. This guy doesn’t want Megan. He wants you and Dec.”

“It’s over now, guys,” Liam interrupted, ever the peace maker. “What’s next, Dec?”

“Blake has Colton covered – that’s the boyfriend – getting him up to speed. Then tonight, everyone in their group who’s been around this will be at Colton’s house for a little identity reveal, and they’ll be brought up to speed.” Declan looked to Lydia. “That’s when we show up, in the dark, and leave the same way we go in. Stealth all the way.”

“Wait…” she said, taking to her feet, her excitement evident. “I’ll get to see Jax?”

“Only for as long as we are there, which won’t be long,” he informed. “He needs to stay there when we leave. Can you do that? Just a few more days?”

Tear streamed her cheeks as she nodded – she was going to see her son.

“Let’s get ready,” Declan said.

Declan’s team had been briefed and were ready. Those posted around McKenzie held their positions, while a mobile team came in to escort Declan and Lydia to Colton Sparks’ house where the group of friends were headed, based on feedback from the guys in the field.

Three dark SUVs pulled in front of the cabin, ready to drive them in. Tom Boyd, Declan’s right hand, came in to announce they were ready. Liam was staying behind, watching from afar via satellite and security feeds he had hacked, ready to do whatever needed done from there.

The rest of the boys were going out ahead of them with a tactical team to secure the area they would be infiltrating. Declan trusted his team; his brothers did not and wanted to be certain they weren’t walking into a trap.

“You’re sure your internal leak doesn’t begin or end with your team?” Luke said, looking out the window to the SUVs, then directly at Tom Boyd who gave him a go to hell look. “Everyone’s clean?”

“I’ve been with those men for most of my career. Fought shoulder to shoulder – they’re like brothers, family,” Declan replied, earning an appreciative nod from Tom. “They’re clean, man.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Luke rebutted. “We’ve had eyes on these guys for months, watched their every move and yet didn’t see the gas leak that lead to the explosion. We would have seen it if it was Esteban’s doing. Just watch your back, man. We may have someone hiding right in front of us.”

Declan slapped and squeezed his brothers shoulder, appreciative of the concern. “Got it. You boys be safe out there; we’re coming in right behind you. Stay off the grid, and whatever you do, don’t let our sister see you. She’ll blow the whole deal with tears and shit.”

The brothers laughed, Wylie chiming in with his two cents, “Well, she will see you tonight – good luck with that. It’s been what…two, maybe three years since you’ve seen her? After the tears, prepare to get your ass kicked.”

“Let’s stay on task, here,” Dace interrupted. “Where’re we at, Liam? Clear to go?”

“Yep, I’m all set-up here and around town. We have eyes and ears on the ground and in the air. We’ll see him coming,” He assured.

“Chopper is on standby out at the old mill,” Luke added. “Came in stealth last night. I’ll be there with a team on standby in case he gets in the air. He won’t get away, not this time.”

“Sounds like we’re ready. Let’s go get this asshole,” Tom said.

Lydia was dressed in all black, as she was told, and had on her hiking boots. It felt like a movie, surreal, but it was her life right now. She was running on adrenaline and emotion – excited to see her son and scared something would go wrong, sad because this could be her last night with Declan.

Declan walked out onto the front porch to find her and wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be. I just don’t want to put anyone at risk. Esteban always gets what he wants and stops at nothing to get it. We both know what that means now,” She said.

“Not this time, baby.” He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, trying to offer her comfort. “This time he loses.”

“Alright, O’Reilly,” Tom interrupted, joining them on the porch. “Let’s wrap up this love fest. Just got word that everyone has arrived at the house and should be getting briefed by Blake now. We have about twenty-five minutes to get over there and wait for the signal. First team is clearing the area now; second team should be done by the time we get to our location.”

“Signal?” Lydia asked.

“You’ll see it when we get there, darlin’,” Tom said to Lydia. “Let’s go. Mobile team is loaded and ready to escort us in.”

They loaded up in the SUVs and traveled only a handful of miles on mostly dirt roads through the trees. Not a house or person could be seen, they were the only ones out there. The two SUVs pulled into the brush on the side of the road and came to a stop where two armed men in some sort of military fatigues were waiting.

Quick to unload, the SUVs drove off, leaving them in the woods, alone in the near pitch-black night. There were several men with them, all carrying large rifle-like guns that Lydia couldn’t identify. They were all in dark military clothing, had paint on their faces; from what she could tell, they were all big and scary as hell.

“Where are we?” Lydia asked.

“We go in on foot from here Miss. Prescott,” Tom answered.

“On foot? In the dark? How are we…” Panic started to settle in. Lydia could barely see a foot in front of herself. How was she supposed to go traipsing through the woods, blinded by the darkness?

“Well, we can’t just drive up to the house in a bunch of cars and knock on the front door. The house is being watched,” Tom responded in a snarky tone.

Lydia didn’t like the sound of this. It had Esteban written all over it. “Watched? Oh, my God! Are we walking into a trap?”

“Dec, didn’t you brief her? Tell her what to expect? Geez, man,” Tom scolded because her insecurities were the only real threat right now.

“No, you’re safe. I would never put you in front of a gun like that, baby.”

Tom rolled his eyes and cut to the chase. The nurturing, I love you shit was getting annoying. “There are two houses just on the other side of these trees. They sit on a lake, we’ll get to that first. The furthest house is where the package is kept. The first house we come to is our target. We’ll get the signal – get in – get out – pick-up is in fifty-eight minutes now because we’re burning time right here.”

“Package?” she asked, not sure what he was talking about.

Declan took over, “Megan and Jax are the package. Our target is Colton’s house where everyone, including the package, is.”

Tom turned his head and held his hand over his ear, listening to the message coming through his radio earpiece. “We have confirmation of the package. We have eyes on all sides – let’s move in.”

“Wait!” Lydia protested, earning more groans from all of the men around her. “Don’t I need a flashlight?”

The men around her dropped large goggles over their eyes from their heads, including Declan.

A younger guy, with a big Cheshire cat smile and southern drawl spoke up, tapping his odd eyewear. “We’re your eyes, ma’am.”

“But it’s dark; I’ll get lost if I can’t see you.”

“See that light through the trees?” came the same soothing southern drawl, “Follow it – it’s your flashlight.”

“My flashlight,” she nodded.

“These will let us see what you can’t.” He tapped the goggles again. “We see ever’thang just fine. Now, you just hold onto your man’s belt, and don’t let go. We’ll be your eyes darlin’.”

Declan planted a kiss on her forehead, then grabbed her hand and placed it on the back of his belt and tugged, confirming her grip. “You have men all around you, even if you don’t see them. Just hold on. I’ve got you.”

Her demeanor changed as she looked around at the men surrounding her. Her slouching posture turned more rigid and upright, stronger and all business. She was ready.

The team began to move, spreading out as they did. Despite the amount of people crossing the forest floor, not a sound, not even a rustling bush, could be heard. It was almost eerie.

Only a few moments had passed when they arrived at the edge of the tree line where everything came into better view. Staying under the cloak of darkness, they waited for the sign she was told they would receive. It was odd – despite how dark it had been in the trees, it was well illuminated just beyond.

She could clearly see the lake reflecting the moonlight that guided her. The two houses were in plain sight, just beyond the lake’s beach. She could see to the far end, past where the second house sat, all the way to the opposite tree line. The sky was clear, boasting more stars than she had ever seen, which seemed so close she could almost touch them – it was beautiful.

This is where her family had been living. It was so not Trinity’s style of living, but perhaps it was Megan’s. If Lydia had changed through this circumstance, she was sure her sister had, too. If there was a man here that held her heart, perhaps this place felt like home. The small town living she had done had changed her, and she preferred it. If she had to guess, a beautiful town like McKenzie Ridge was a place her sister could love.

A light on the back of the house closest to them had gone out. That was Colton’s house – their target.

A whisper came from Tom as he placed his hand over his ear again, listening to the voices through the radio. “There’s our signal – waiting for the all clear.”

He stood, holding his hand in an odd gesture, obviously waiting for further instructions, communicating both through the radio and with hand signals. “Copy that. Front of the house is closed and lit – we’re a go.”