Chapter 32
Colton approached, kicking the weapon out of Tom’s reach before flipping him over, enjoying the pain it was causing him. He zip-tied his wrists, flipped him back over, tying his ankles next. Dawson moved in, assisting Colton. They moved Tom to a nearby tree where they left him for the moment. Medical help would arrive…eventually.
Meg’s blindfold was now draped around her neck, having fallen in the scuffle. Eyes locked on Megan, he gave her an endearing grin and said, “It’s going to be okay, baby. You’re okay. We’re going home. Just a few more minutes.” She grinned back, the best she could, through her puffy face and fat lip, her left eye swollen nearly shut.
Colton maintained eye contact, trying to comfort her from afar. His positive affirmation and smile was a performance of a lifetime. On the inside, he was reeling. The sight of her bruised and swollen face, blood mixed with tears staining her cheeks, body bruised, dress torn…she was roughed up nearly beyond recognition. It took everything Colton had to follow orders rather than tear that beast who held her limb from limb.
Esteban was completely surrounded with nowhere to go, the worst kind of desperate there was, the most dangerous, too…he had nothing to lose at this point.
“You shoot me, she dies. So, this is how it goes. I’m getting in that car, and she comes with me. You give me a driver, unarmed,” he reasoned, as if he thought he still had a chance. “When we are far enough away, I let them go – nobody follows. Do I make myself clear?”
Declan laughed at Esteban’s desperate attempt to portray he was still in charge with two dozen weapons casting a red dot on various parts of his body. The man was already as good as dead. All they needed, for that clear shot, was his weapon pulled away from Meg’s head. She wouldn’t be amongst the final casualties, not while he was calling this game.
Colton knew as well as anyone that the success and failure of the night rested on getting that gun away from Megan’s head. He also knew that anyone who got in that vehicle was as good as dead, too. It was time to save his woman.
“I’ll drive,” Colton said, tossing the weapon from his waist band to the ground and kicking it away. He lifted his shirt and turned in a circle, showing that he wasn’t carrying another weapon. He raised his arms in a surrender position and walked toward his target.
“Sparks, stand down,” Blake yelled. He moved in, trying to intercept him. “I mean it Colton. Back off
…back the fuck off!”
“Colton, listen to Blake, please…don’t do this,” Megan cried.
“I’m going where she’s going. Not negotiable,” he said, staring down Valdez, showing his lack of fear and full confidence. “We all know how this
ends, Valdez. When you are far enough away, you kill her, right? Well, I can’t live with that, so I’m going where she’s going. However this ends for her is how it ends for me!” Colton was now an arm’s length from Esteban, not showing a single sign of his anger or loathing.
“Sparks…” Declan demanded.
“It’s not up to you, any of you,” Colton said, eyes still locked on his enemy.
“Fine, this pathetic man goes. You can live together or die together, entirely your choice. No one follows, Mr. O’Reilly, and you know I will know.” A smug smile and leering eyes gave a knowing wink. He was toying with them, reminding them that his reach was far and pockets deep. Anyone could be bought.
“Let’s go, Mr…Sparks,” Valdez ordered.
Colton moved toward Megan first, catching Esteban off guard.
“You drive, you buffoon,” Esteban said, strengthening his grip on Megan, causing her to cry out.
“She’s hurt, asshole. I’m helping her into the rig. I’m guessing she can’t entirely see where she’s going, given what you did to her face!” Colton shot back, standing firm, face to face with evil. So close he could smell the cigar and expensive scotch on his breath, smug bastard.
“Fine. Quickly!” Esteban backed down, enhancing Colton’s confidence.
Colton looked to Blake first, sharing a knowing look to which Blake gave a subtle nod. He turned to Megan, resting his hands at her waist, making eye contact with Morgan and Dawson at the rear of the vehicle, both giving a similar slight nod. Completely in sync with his friends, his family, he took this mission into his own hands, bringing on the grand finale.
He whispered, “Hang on. I love you,” to Meg, who fell right into Morgan and Dawson’s waiting hands with a vigorous push from Colton. They swept her around the vehicle and into the shadowy tree line, guarded by Dec’s people and even Jessie. As quickly as he turned her over to safety, his left elbow made contact with Esteban’s face, stunning him with the unforeseen action taking place around him.
Stunned and disoriented, he was easy to overtake. Colton slammed Valdez against the vehicle behind him, pinning him with his own body. One arm across his enemy’s neck, one holding his arm with the weapon above his head, slamming it repeatedly against the car until the gun fell to the ground. The upper hand his, Colton continued to beat the holy, living hell out of his adversary.
While the crowd around him looked on, letting the extra punches to the root of his rage slide, Declan signaled for his guys to step in and pull Colton off of a bloodied Esteban Valdez. Dawson stepped in and talked his friend down, pulling him out of Valdez’s reach.
Esteban slid down the vehicle like a rag doll, landing hard at their feet, only semi-conscious. Colton sunk to his knees, cradling his head in his hands while he caught his breath, and the reality surrounding him sunk in.
His awareness shifted when Megan slumped down in front of him, wrapping herself tightly in his comforting embrace. Her body shook, overcome with sobs. He held her face in his hands and gave her gentle kisses anywhere he could that wouldn’t cause her pain.
“God, I thought I lost you,” he said, voice shrinking to a whisper. “I thought you were gone.”
She replied with shaky words while gently tracing the bandage across his swollen forehead, bringing on more tears and a hint of a smile. “I’m fine. I’m here. We’re both okay!”
Distracted by their reunion, the reach Valdez made to his ankle was missed. He pulled out a small weapon and aimed it directly at Megan and Colton.
Tom, still propped against the tree where he was left, shouted, “Gun!” Causing a whirlwind of actions to follow.
Esteban slurred his final words before getting a shot off. “Fuck you!”
The activity felt as if it was transpiring in slow motion. Another gun shot rang out, causing everyone to take defensive positions and to aim their weapons at their villain. Colton rolled himself over Megan, in an attempt to shield her from tragedy, when a loud growl pierced the silence, followed by a sharp yelp…Duke.
Scanning the scene, shock came over everyone at what would be the dramatic end to it all. Blake stood, frozen with his smoking gun in hand, facing a dead Esteban Ricardo Valdez.
Mere feet from Meg and Colton lay Duke, shaking and whimpering in pain, having taken the bullet meant for his family. Colton rushed to his dog, checking him over, yelling to Morgan for help. The rancher was the closest thing they had to a vet on scene. Now an active crime scene, Declan and his people began to gather evidence and prepare to close their case.
Emergency medical from all branches and surrounding counties were called in to assist. A stretcher was brought in, at Dawson’s request, for Duke, their hero, the only part of their immediate team injured. They quickly moved him to the waiting ambulance after Meg crawled up on the gurney to hold him and comfort him.
The tears fell fast and hard, watching her dog fight his injury, fight for his life. She whispered loving thoughts and sweet nothings in his ear, making sure he knew how much he was loved and what a good boy he was.
How quickly, she thought, that this animal became more than her fiancé’s pet. She loved this furry guy as if he were family. She hadn’t realized that was possible until now.
“Please fight, buddy. You can’t die. Please, don’t die. I have so many treats at home for you. You’re a hero, Duke,” she whispered
“We have Dr. Bain on standby at the emergency clinic at Sugar Pine Equestrian. They already have Boss there, waiting for Duke,” Carigan updated.
“Boss?” Megan grasped her chest as if to protect her heart from more bad news.
Suddenly, her own injuries felt so insignificant, such an odd thought, she realized. It was a testament to how far she had come, how much her life had changed, and where her priorities had shifted.