Sienna let her hand shake as the man handed her a glass of water in the most exquisite crystal she’d ever seen. They had talked about art while drinks were brought in. The storm raged on outside, and Sienna had no idea what time it was or how long she’d been there. She just knew Ryan had to be getting closer with every minute that passed.
She had asked for water and the man had instantly ordered it for her. She was gaining his trust and making him more comfortable with her. As soon as she found out what he wanted, she could start manipulating him further.
“Thank you, sir.” Sienna gave him a shy smile as she tried to drink the water. It splashed from the rim and Sienna let the tears fall. “I’m so sorry. I just hurt so much.”
The man looked shocked for a second before taking the glass from her and putting it to her lips. Sienna took a greedy sip to wash the taste of dried blood from her mouth.
“No, I am sorry my man got carried away when he brought you to me. I’ll have him dealt with,” the man told her as he set the glass on the table.
“You’re so kind,” Sienna said again. “And I don’t even know what to call you so I can thank you properly.”
The man reached forward and put his hand over hers. “You may call me Bahir.”
“Thank you, Bahir.”
“Ah, Sienna, we’re going to be very rich together.” Bahir let go of her hand and sat back in his chair.
“How so?” Sienna asked.
“Not yet, Doctor. First, I need something from you.”
Sienna gave a little nod. “Of course. Anything I can do to repay you for your hospitality.”
“You want the Monet.” It was a statement, not a question. “Then I need you to kill someone for it.”
Sienna didn’t try to hide her shock. “But I’m a doctor. I help people, not hurt them.”
“But this person is dangerous. I believe you even know him—Seth Hayes.” Bahir kept eye contact with her while he talked.
This time Sienna didn’t let her emotions show. “I knew he was dangerous. Do you know he tried to attack me at my house the other night?”
That got Bahir’s attention. “No. I didn’t know that.”
“But you’ll protect me from him, won’t you?” Sienna asked. “Someone as powerful as you would have nothing to fear from a slime like Seth. He’s just out for his own gain, and he’ll sell out anyone to get it. Good thing you’re smart enough to keep him at arm's length. I can see why you would want him gone.”
“You can?” Bahir asked, surprised. “So you’ll do it? I’ll send my men with you, but you have to pull the trigger.”
Sienna nodded. “He’s the sort that would tattle on you to your teachers in school and blame you for something he did wrong. I thought he was a nice guy, but when I said I didn’t want to go out with him, he showed his true colors. He told me he would get me fired by telling the owners of the team all these lies about me. He’s definitely not to be trusted. But why should he worry you? You’re much too intelligent to let a backstabber like that into your . . . your, I’m sorry, what is it that you do besides collect beautiful art?”
“I’m an investor,” Bahir said, standing up. Sienna watched as he clenched and unclenched his fists. He started pacing, and she went in for the kill.
“Oh, that’s how you have so much money. I could tell you were business savvy. Not like Seth. He probably couldn’t keep a deal to himself to save his life.” Sienna laughed, even though it caused pain to shoot through her. “He’s the arrogant type that probably hides information on the people he’s working with. You know, those corny, In case I die, here’s who’s responsible letters that only narcissistic people would leave.”
Sienna held her breath. She celebrated her small victory as she watched Bahir take the time to mull over everything she had said.
He turned to her quickly. “Thank you for such insight. You are the expert. If you feel he would do something like that, then he probably has.” Bahir stepped to his desk and picked up his phone. He spoke quietly and quickly into it before slamming it down.
“What’s the matter?” Sienna asked, her voice full of concern.
“Nothing you need to worry about. In your studies, where do you find men feel the most secure?”
Sienna shrugged. “That’s easy—their home.”
“Thank you. Make yourself comfortable. I’ll send someone in to keep you company.”
Sienna gave him an innocent smile as he wrenched open the door. A minute later, a timid little woman came in with a tray of food. The door stood open, and Sienna looked down the exquisite hallway filled with landscape paintings, dark wood paneling, and deep red carpet lining the hardwood floor. Two armed guards stood on either side of the door, and she could see two more at the end of the hallway. Sienna nibbled on the food and planned her next mental attack. She knew she couldn’t take on four armed guards, but she’d already proven she was capable of manipulation. The biggest question: could she make Bahir so paranoid and insecure that he would start to trust her enough she could escape?
* * *
Nash and Ryan sat on the couch in his parents’ living room as Paige set a plate of cookies in front of them. Her husband, Cole, sat on the chair across from them and shook his head.
“Honey, they’re going to invade a farm for a hostage rescue. They don’t need cookies.”
Paige shrugged. “I have to do something since you told me I wasn’t young enough to do this type of thing anymore.”
Nash covered his laugh with a cough and Ryan closed his eyes and prayed Jackson would get there soon. His father, bless his heart, was not good with gestures and had a tendency to stick his well-intentioned foot into his mouth. His mother could outshoot the entire family, with the exception of his little sister, Greer, and was beyond miffed to be told she couldn’t help out tonight.
The sound of tires locking and sliding on the driveway was the best sound Ryan had heard all night. Jackson was home. The front door was flung open and Ryan’s little brother rushed in. Little wasn't the best description for a brother who stood just as tall as Ryan and a few pounds of muscle heavier. The main difference between the brothers was their eyes. While Ryan had inherited the Davies hazel eyes, Jackson’s were pure silver. When he was happy, they shined. In anger or determination, like they were now, they were cold and hard.
“What’s the rundown?” Jackson asked as he hugged his mom and dad.
Ryan started from the beginning and in three minutes gave Jackson a full report of the situation. Then it was Nash’s turn to fill Jackson in on some details he had learned about the terrorist organization’s headquarters when he had visited the farm as part of Mo and Dani’s security team.
“So, there’s five of us against possibly twenty or more armed guards on the property,” Jackson said, looking at the aerial photo of the farm.
Their mother huffed and stared at their father. “It’s just the four of you. Someone thinks I’m too old for this.”
Jackson looked up from the map and rolled his eyes at Ryan. “And when did you start listening to Dad? I need you here,” Jackson pointed to the top of a hill.
“And Dad can take the high ground here,” Ryan pointed.
“Wait a second, I’m not sitting outside while you all go in. I’m the head of the local FBI office, not you.”
Ryan grinned at his mom before looking at his dad. “If Mom is too old, and you’re older than Mom . . .”
Nash held up his hands. “Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker, if we can get back to the plan. Sometimes it’s easier for a small group to go in undetected.”
“Damn right it is, and I should be the one leading this,” Ahmed said, walking in with his wife and Nabi.
Ryan heard Nash curse under his breath. Nash didn’t have time to put forth an argument when the front door was thrown open. Uncles and aunts poured in, followed by six white-haired seniors, William and Betsy Ashton, and Marcy and Jake Davies.
“We had to find out about this from John?” Aunt Annie accused. “Do you know how long it’s been since I broke into a house and shot someone?”
Uncles Cy, Miles, and Marshall shook their head at their sister-in-law. “We actually have experience with terrorists and you didn’t call us?” Cade said, pointing to his brothers.
“You all? I jumped out of a plane to save this guy’s butt,” Bridget said with an eye roll at the guys. “And it’s a great butt,” Bridget added when Ahmed raised a single eyebrow.
Kenna Ashton clung to her husband’s arm. “You love her, don’t you, Ryan?” At her question the room went silent.
Ryan took in Kenna’s pale, drawn face and the way her fingers dug into Will’s arm and knew now wasn’t the time to dance around anything. “Yes, ma’am. Very much.”
“Then you decide what to do. You won’t risk her life with a bad plan,” Kenna said with a shaky voice.
The quiet group turned to Ryan. “I can use you all, but I only want the three of us to enter the house,” Ryan ordered and motioned for the group to gather around the table with a map on it.
“I want all aunts surrounding the property here. I want all the uncles here. Ahmed, Nabi, and Bridget, I want you close by in case we need you. Do you have Ace with you?” Ryan asked of the current police dog Bridget was training.
Bridget nodded. “When I heard what was going on, I grabbed Ace, Gunner, and Heidi. Ahmed, Nabi, and I can send them in if we need to.”
“Sounds good. Dad, do you have enough coms here?” Ryan asked. They had brought enough for five but not the extended family.
“I brought our security team’s coms,” Nabi told them as he held up a bag. “I had a feeling that we wouldn’t be the only people to show up.”
“Vests?” Aunt Morgan asked as she grabbed an earpiece from Nabi.
“I have enough of those,” Cole told them. He went to the closet to pull them out.
“Annie and I brought rifles for those who don’t have their own,” Cade said.
“I don’t have one,” Miss Lily piped up from the back. “And since I’ve had my cataract surgery, I can see a good deal better.”
The room turned and stared at her. Ryan wasn’t quite sure what to say. His grandmother, Marcy Davies, stepped forward and put her arm around Miss Lily. “Even if my children don’t realize they’re getting too old to play hero all the time, we know better and know it’s time we take our place on the sidelines. We can run communications, can’t we, Cole?”
Cole nodded at his mother-in-law. “Here’s the map. You run the show, ladies. Mark where everyone is and make sure they’re in position before you give our boys the go signal.”
“Perfect, then I don’t have to worry about my arthritis accidently setting off the trigger.” Miss Violet smiled and took the map.
The next five minutes were spent in silence as bulletproof vests were strapped on, ammunition handed out, and coms tested. “Is everyone ready?” Ryan asked.
Kenna swiped at a tear. “Bring my daughter back to us, Ryan,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her. She put shaking hands on his shoulders and rose up on her tippy-toes to place a kiss on his cheek.
Will just nodded, unable to speak, and wrapped his wife in his arms once again. They slowly walked from the house with the Rose sisters and his grandparents.
The house cleared in quiet contemplation of what was ahead as they moved to their cars. They would all be meeting a short distance from the farm and would hike into the property.
“Ryan, Jackson, a moment,” their mother said once everyone had left. “I may act tough, but I’ve never been so scared. You are my boys—my children. And I’m letting you put yourself in danger. I can’t tell you not to go—it’s who you are. But be safe. And if you need me, I will sacrifice it all to save you. Do you understand me? I will bust down that door by myself if I think you’re in trouble.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Ryan and Jackson said together, their voices thick with emotion.
“Good, now go get Sienna. I’m ready for grandchildren.”
Ryan stared at his mother as she walked purposefully out the door with a sniper rifle over her shoulder.
“Damn,” Jackson cursed and blew out a breath.
“Exactly. I’ve never seen Mom like that.”
“She must really want grandchildren,” Jackson smiled then. “Uncle Jackson . . . it has a good ring to it. I bet it would help me pick up chicks. They always go mushy-eyed over men with babies. Hey, I get to be best man, right?”
Ryan shook his head as they walked outside to join Nash. “I haven’t even thought about proposing yet, and y’all are already onto babies.”
Jackson and Nash snorted.
“What?” Ryan asked, getting into the car.
“Except you’ve thought about marrying Sienna since you were six,” Jackson stated.
“Yeah, even I know you want to marry her. And by the time I showed up in Keeneston, you all had that little love-hate thing going on because she thought you were too young. Then she didn’t, and you were too stubborn to let her show you that she wanted you. Does that sum it up?” Nash asked with a slight twitch of his lips.
Ryan crossed his arms over his vest. “Fine, I want to marry her. I love her. But her life is here, and I’ve made a life for myself in L.A.”
Jackson shook his head from the back of the car. “No, you ran away to L.A. Your life is with Sienna, wherever that may be.”
Ryan didn’t respond. As they traveled down the country roads in the dark rain, all he thought about was getting to Sienna. I’m coming, he said in his head over and over again in hopes of the universe passing along his message to Sienna. And as they pulled to a stop some thirty minutes later, his mind was focused and his heart shut down, for what he had to do there was no place for emotion.
He turned to his brother and his best friend and looked at them as they re-checked their weapons. “Thank you for doing this. Thank you for risking your lives for the woman I love.”
“I’ll always be by your side, brother. Besides, Sienna has some hot friends who will be at the wedding.” Jackson slapped him on the back and went to instruct the aunts and uncles to move out.
“I just like shooting bad people,” Nash said with a shrug.
Ryan shook his head. “Between you all and my family, not to mention the Rose sisters, I’m starting to think we’re not normal.”
Nash grinned. “Where’s the fun in being normal? Your brother was right about one thing. Sienna has some hot friends, and they always go for us dark, mysterious types. Come on, let’s go so I can get some bridesmaid action.”