THEY LEFT ONE man at the trees’ edge, while the rest traced the property, moving quickly, hugging the tree line around until they reached an embankment the house sat on just above the lake’s beach. Another man stayed at that point, that was his post, apparently. It was becoming clear how this would work. They would leave men at each post to stand guard until it was time to leave.

Walking low and fast, they found the stairs that led up to the house, quickly moving across the lawn. A man remained at the bottom of the stairs, then one on the deck, sitting low, at the back door as Declan and Lydia went in with Tom Boyd, who remained in the background by the rear door they entered through.

Lydia squeezed Declan’s arm when she could hear the voices of those learning what was going down in their town. “I’m so nervous.”

Declan pulled her closer by her hand, kissing it before he said, “Don’t be – I’m right here with you the whole way.”

They walked through an open kitchen and dining room, stopping in an archway between that and the living room everyone was sitting in, talking. The room went silent, and Lydia stayed just behind Dec, standing in his shadow while nerves and emotions took over. Not only was she about to see her sister, and her son for the first time in so many months, but she was about to do it in front of a bunch of strangers.

Megan’s eyes grew huge at the sight of Declan. She clearly hadn’t been expecting him. She clung to Colton, searching for words – her mouth moving, but not a sound could be heard. A beautiful porcelain skinned woman with long copper hair and familiar emerald green eyes stood, moving swiftly toward Declan, sobs escaping her typically collected self.

“Declan Farrell O’Reilly!” she announced before wrapping her arms around him. He held her tight and folded into her. The emotion he felt could be seen by all when his large edgy demeanor shrunk to a soft teary-eyed man who had clearly missed his baby sister – Carigan O’Reilly – the baby sister Lydia had heard so much about.

Movement caught everyone’s attention as a nervous woman moved from behind him, stepping into to the light. She was petite and curvy, with chocolate brown hair, familiar golden eyes and a turned up nose.

“Oh, my God, Lydia!”

A quick reunion commenced full of hugs and handshaking. Declan said his hellos and Lydia said her nice to meet yous. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place when Lydia sank to the floor in tears after being reunited with her son.

Lydia was so overjoyed, a feeling she had never experienced – it was almost painful. He had grown, obviously, but despite all of the changes, she still saw her baby boy. She had worried he wouldn’t remember her, but he did, and he clung to her. It was beautiful.

The children were eventually put to bed for the night so the grownups could continue the briefing of sorts and devise their plan. Lydia, however, held a sleeping Jax in her arms, unwilling to give up what little time she had with him.

Without a mention, it was clear to all just how significant this circumstance was if it pulled Declan and Lydia out of hiding. There was only one reason to do so, and that was to use them as bait. Dangling that carrot before the metaphoric rabbit meant the rabbit was indeed there to tease and trap.

In other words, it was time to pull Esteban out of hiding once and for all. It appeared he was right under their noses, and had been for a while. His men were playing with Megan, toying with her emotions for weeks to accomplish one of two things; one – get her to run and lead them to Lydia, or two – dispose of Megan and use Jax to pull Lydia out of hiding.

Declan and his team would do one better. Now that Esteban and his posse were in McKenzie Ridge, they would beat them at their own game and dangle Lydia in front of them to pull Esteban out of hiding. It was so simple and obvious that it was bound to work. They would be looking for hidden traps and complex plans so they wouldn’t realize the game was being played right back.

“So that’s the plan? Do nothing?” Carigan asked.

“We aren’t doing nothing; we’re provoking their next move,” Declan answered.

“Dec, that sounds like poking a bear for fun. If we aren’t ready for them to swing or don’t see it coming…” Colton’s concern was obvious and received plenty of nods from around the room.

“I get it, but we know he’s here or at least nearby, or his men wouldn’t be here, playing as they are, making themselves known to her. These aren’t just his minions. These are his closest, most trusted associates. They don’t go anywhere without him and vice versa,” he offered as peace of mind to the group. “The advantage we have is I’m here, my team is here, and we have eyes everywhere, and he doesn’t know that. We are either going to draw him out or wait for a mistake and let one of his goons lead us to him.”

“It’ll be okay, Colton. I trust Dec and his team. They got me and Jax out here safely, and he’s kept Lydee alive all of this time,” Megan said to Colton. “It’s almost over. I’m almost free. We’re almost free,” she said giving her sister a teary smile.

“Lydia and Declan will remain hidden; we aren’t showing Valdez our cards just yet. They will think we are when they follow you guys out of the area, see a few unidentified people in your cars. Change in activity and behavior will be their tip off, or so they’ll think,” Blake said to Colton and Megan. “Meanwhile, there will always be an agent nearby, watching both of you,”

“When any of you are together, there will be agents; just know that. Nobody gets hurt, no one. We’re taking this asshole down,” Declan assured.

“Sounds like a plan. I’ll be spending a lot more time with you, Meg,” Morgan Jameson, Blake’s partner said. “If they’ve been watching, they know we’re friends, so it won’t seem out of place. The key here is to never finding yourself alone.”

Lydia watched her sister nod, so brave, accepting her new role that would bring the last year and handful of months to an end. She was looking forward to ridding her life of Esteban but feared the changes that would come in her relationship with Declan.

“Any questions?” Dec asked. “I need to get Lydia out of here before we start to look suspicious.”

“Yeah, how did they find me?” Megan questioned.

Declan smiled and gave a slight snort. “Facebook.”

“But I don’t have a Facebook account,” she defended.

“Your town does. It seems the town was quite impressed with the new florist in town. You’re evening tasting events were plastered on the tourism sites…and this big dance thing you’re organizing?” He questioned.

“The Gala… My wine tastings,” she whispered.

“McKenzie Ridge has become pretty tech savvy and caught up with social media—we found you everywhere,” he finished. “Seems you’ve really made your mark on this place.”

“She sure has,” Colton said, grabbing her hand.

“Oh, my God! What about the Gala?” Meg’s closest friend in town, Sam Tayler questioned. “Do we cancel? Will it be safe?”

The room filled with emotional responses to Sam’s question. They had worked so hard, and this year was promising to be their best yet. The town relied on the seasonal event to raise funds and donations for underprivileged youth in the area. They provided gifts at Christmas, warm jackets in the winter, it was an important cause to each of them, one that even brought tourists back to enjoy every year.

“Business as usual. We send a huge message if we cancel. Esteban needs to think he has the upper hand, the element of surprise, here. We’ll have our people everywhere. Undercovers will be there as attendees – some will be placed as workers, and the place will be surrounded. He won’t be able to touch the place. We’ll stop him miles out in any direction,” Declan assured them, already a step ahead.

“Sounds like you brought a small army,” Dawson Tayler, one of Meg’s new friends, joked.

“We did. This guy is done,” Dec replied with a smile.

Everyone said their goodbyes, a tearful one as Lydia kissed her sleeping son goodbye, again. They made their way back out the way they came in, picking up the men they had left posted at various points around the perimeter and down by the lake. They disappeared into the woods. With her hand firmly gripping Declan’s belt, Lydia put her trust in him and the team, all the way to the other side where they had started.

They stood at the edge of the tree line, at the road, hidden just behind the darkness of the forest as headlights came closer. The vehicles that had delivered them an hour before had returned to take them back to the cabin. It had all been so perfectly timed. They drove off into the night, leaving a couple of men behind to hold their position until they got word that Declan and Lydia were safely delivered.

Leaving her son again was hard, but at least she had hope. If Lydia learned anything this night it was that Declan and his brothers knew what they were doing. She trusted him before, but now she not only believed in him, but believed this really was almost over, and Esteban was about to be dealt with for good. Prison, she thought, was paradise compared to where he really belonged, but she would find peace in that when she needed to.

Declan and Lydia didn’t leave the cabin again. Men rotated in and out, mostly the brothers and Tom Boyd. It was becoming obvious why Tom was Dec’s most trusted confidant. He seemed to be just as invested in nailing Esteban as the O’Reillys were. He was like family – a brother to them.

The plan had been in motion. Everyone did as they were supposed to. Esteban’s men became more and more obvious among the tourists.

The Holiday Hoedown was in full swing and scheduled to run until Friday. There were booths galore as the town’s people peddled their wares in an effort to raise money for their own pocket books as well as the community holiday outreach charity that was run by the local Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical from the House. The House was the city building that each branch worked from. All of the handmade jams, coasters, and wreathes would translate into Christmas gifts for the area youth who had less than most.

As a tourist town, they always had plenty of interest and a successful event as tourists planned their getaways around this special, one-of-a-kind affair. The buzz this year went beyond the pickled eggs and fried anything you could think of. The newest element, the formal Crystal Showdown Gala, as contradictory as it sounded with its rustic meets glam charm, was a sold-out event.

Megan was the mastermind behind the new addition, which didn’t surprise Lydia in the least. Her sister was a party planner extraordinaire. It seemed she was able to incorporate something good from her old life, to help the town and her new family-like community.

The week carried on – not a sound or sighting from Esteban. Declan and Lydia spent their days distracted by the updates coming in – their nights distracted by each other in bed, making long sweet love. When the night of the Gala was upon them, Lydia struggled to stay focused. Esteban’s men had been scoping out the event site. It looked like they were planning to finally make their move, so Declan and the team were ready.

The elderly woman, Louise Shaw, was staying back and watching all of the children of those involved, including Jax. It was far from the venue, and not only did she have ample help from her old lady friends, but she was heavily guarded by part of Declan’s team. That was the safest house in town. Even if Esteban figured it out, Lydia got the impression that he would meet his match with that feisty old woman.

Lydia stayed at the cabin – Liam stayed with her, charged with her protection. Declan and his team were joined by the O’Reilly brothers and cousins, all ready for battle and blood shed if it came to that.

With tear streaked cheeks, Lydia whispered, her head against Declan’s hard chest, “Please be careful.”

“Always, baby,” he said, holding her close and tight, not wanting to let her go. “We are only going in if we have to. Only if we see him.”

“I know. Just keep them all safe, Declan. Keep you safe and come back to me…please.” Her plea tore his heart in two. He wanted to come back to her, and would come back, but not in the way she wanted him to. He couldn’t stay, and it pained him to know the end was near for them.

He kissed her long and hard, then left without looking back.

The Gala was underway and nearly half over when Declan and his remaining men were staged all around the event. There was a team surrounding Colton’s house as well, should any trouble stir there while everyone was away at the event. Meg was living there with Colton, which meant Jax was, making it a viable target.

They were everywhere and ready for anything, ready to move at a moment’s notice.