Chapter 27
The culmination of what that meant patched his heart a bit. She wasn’t leaving because she wanted to, but because she thought she had to, in order to protect him. There was no greater love than loving someone so much you can leave them for their sake, despite the ache it left you with. Selfless and completely Meg.
“They are here. Have been for weeks. The John Doe who was hit in front of Blooming Grounds was part of Esteban’s team. The sightings Megan has had and the intruder in her shop? Then, the flat tire that Morgie and I rolled up on? They were sitting right up the street, jamming your cell signal even. They didn’t expect us to show up,” he said, going down his list of unknown run-ins.
What he had to say next was probably the toughest to deliver. “The fire wasn’t entirely a gas leak. It was set up to look like one in hopes that you would have slept through it long enough that it was too late to get out. Or, to flush you out into the dark with nobody around so they could grab you. You have Duke to thank for that one. They’ve been playing with you,” Blake said.
“Why? Why not just take Jax and go? Nobody would’ve known a thing until they were long gone,” Carigan asked.
“To test her. See who she told. Determine what they would get away with and who else they would need to deal with to cover their tracks. They probably hoped it would flush her sister out of hiding, too. These guys are known for their sick sense of mental torture. When they had trouble getting to you because all of us were showing up, they were probably trying to get you to run so they could catch you in between cities.” Blake knew he was laying it on thick, didn’t need to go into such detail, but he wanted her to be fearful, to let her guard down and let them help. If not for her own sake, then for Colton’s.
Blake may stand in the background and keep to himself more than the others, but he cared for his friends and would do anything for them. Seeing Colton hurt wasn’t in the cards. That went for any of them, physically or emotionally…not on his watch.
“So what’s next, Coop?” Dawson asked.
Looking at his watch, Blake swiftly moved to the kitchen where he shut off all the lights while he made his way to the back door. He turned off the back porch light and unlocked the door. He returned to the living room, closing all the blinds and curtains along the way and turning on all of the front lights to offset the light and shadows emanating from inside.
“What is this? Are we having a sleep over, or what?” Carigan asked.
“Hold that thought, O’Reilly,” he replied, watching the time on his wrist.
Footsteps across the deck could be heard at the rear of the house, causing Dawson and Colton to stand in defense. Gran grabbed her bag and pulled it close, digging for her gun.
“It’s not in there, Gran. Everyone sit – it’s okay,” Blake warned, lifting his shirt to reveal his steamy washboard abs and Granny’s gun in his waistband, sending her into a cantankerous fit and leading everyone else to a chuckle.
The footsteps became louder as the rear door opened and closed. Light mumbles could be heard, and the steps lightened to fewer as the movement got closer. In the archway between the dining room and living room stood a larger than life, six foot plus, brawny man with rich, copper hair, a lightly bearded face, and familiar emerald green eyes. His muscles had muscles, and his presence was that of three men.
Megan’s eyes grew huge at the sight of him. She grabbed Colton’s hand and squeezed. Before she could get a word out, Carigan stood, moving swiftly toward the man, 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.
Movement caught everyone’s attention as a nervous woman shifted from behind him, stepping into the light. She was petite and curvy, with chocolate brown hair, familiar, golden eyes and 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.
The children were eventually put to bed for the night so the grownups could continue the briefing of sorts and devise their plan. 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 some time. They were playing with Megan, toying with her emotions all these 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 her 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.”
Looking at Colton, Megan grabbed his hands and gave him an encouraging smile. “It’ll be okay, Colton. I trust Dec and his team. They got me and Jax out here safely. He’s kept Lydee alive all of this time,” she offered. “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 think,” Blake confided. “Meanwhile, there will always be an agent nearby, watching both of you,” Blake said to Megan and Colton.
“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 said. “If they’ve been watching, they know we’re friends, so it won’t seem out of place. The key here is never finding yourself alone.”
Megan nodded, accepting her new role, which would bring an end to her temporary life. That thought stung a bit as she wondered what it meant entirely. The past year had been a whirlwind of changes, and she was approaching her final act.
“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 page,” she defended.
“Your town does. It seems the town was quite impressed with the new florist in town. Your 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?” Sam 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.
“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.
“Sounds like you brought a small army,” Dawson 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 direction they’d come in, surrounded by the extra men who were posted around the perimeter, and down to the lake. They disappeared into the woods where they likely had a vehicle staged, ready to take them to wherever they were staying.
The room was quiet for a moment while they all processed what the night turned into.
“Well then, who wants dessert?” a now sober Gran asked with a wink and a grin.