Madison’s chin lifted, and she angled slightly behind Noni. Those blue eyes sparkled, and her dark hair had escaped its clip. “Yes, you do. My father’s eyes.”
Denver took a step toward her, calculating the distance. “Your father. My grandfather.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Yes. He was a soldier. One of the best.”
Denver slid forward. About ten feet separated them. “Was?”
“Yes. Even though he was so strong, he still died.” Fury darkened Madison’s eyes.
“Is that why you create soldiers?” Denver asked, forcing himself to speak calmly when terror heated his chest. Madison’s gun was angled so that a bullet would pierce Noni’s heart. She’d die instantly if Madison fired. “Your experiments?”
Madison tracked his movement. “Stop. Or I’ll shoot.”
He stopped. “Is that why?”
“It’s one of the reasons,” she said, eyeing the door. “I’m gifted and was created to do something great. It’s noble, and I’m changing the world one chromosome at a time. That matters, Denver.”
He swallowed. “Okay. So let’s get out of here. Just you and me. I’ll help you.”
She studied him. “I’m not stupid, boy. You can’t love her and help me.”
He stiffened, still pointing the Sig at her. She was taller than Noni and was still visible. “If you hurt her, I’ll kill you.”
Noni’s eyes widened.
Madison stared at him, her gaze a little wild. “You’re my son. You won’t kill me.”
“If it’s you or them, you die.” He’d given her the truth. Even though he’d planned to kill her, he was now hoping deep down she wouldn’t force him into it. “Don’t make me do this.”
She smiled. “There’s only one way for us to really be together.” Her shoulders stiffened, and her grip on the gun tightened.
There was no choice.
Denver fired.
The bullet hit her in the center of the forehead. She jerked back, her body hitting the arm of the sofa and sliding down to the ground. Her gun clunked onto the floor a second later.
Denver gaped. His body went numb.
Noni turned and grabbed Talia before pivoting and running for him. He enfolded them, holding them tight, his gaze on Madison’s wide eyes. God. He’d actually killed her.
Heath rushed forward and yanked the detonator out of her hand. “Holy shit. We have no idea how stable these explosives are. We have to run. Now.”
* * *
Noni finished burping the baby after she’d had a bottle and then laid her in the portable crib. The small motel room outside of Boise was quaint but clean. Her mind still fuzzed, and her body still buzzed. After he’d killed Madison, Denver had spirited all of them out of the house and away to this motel, where he and Heath had quickly taken the bullet out of Ryker’s leg.
Ryker knew some very interesting phrases.
Now Ryker and Zara were in the next room while Denver and Heath had gone back to the house to clean up. What did that mean? There were explosives in that damn house.
A knock sounded on the door, and she ran for it, yanking the door open. Denver stood in the snow, his eyes dark. She moved to let him in. “Is everything good?” she asked breathlessly.
He shut the door and leaned against it, his eyes weary. “Yes.”
Oh, she needed more. “And?”
He removed his coat, scattering snow on the floor. “We took Madison’s body and the bodies of the two soldiers to the compound near Boise to be found there. She has no connection to us.”
Noni swallowed rapidly, trying to keep from going into a panic attack. “What about the explosives?”
He rubbed his shoulder. “We think we found most of them, but the Montana gang is sending experts over tomorrow to scan the entire property. We’re out of it now.”
She took several deep breaths. “What about any of Madison’s soldiers from the compound who survived the attack earlier?”
“They’re long gone,” he said. “Probably on their way out of the country.”
Relief made her knees wobble. She watched how slowly he was moving, and concern took her. “God. How are you?”
He shook his head. “Fine.”
She studied him. Clear eyes, firm jaw, shoulders tense. “You shot her, Denver. Even though she was nuts and just an egg donor, she was biologically your mother.”
“Fuck biology.” His grin didn’t reach his eyes, but the tension started to dissipate across his jaw. “My family is Ryker and Heath. The Gray brothers. And now you and Talia. That’s family.”
She gulped. Family? “You saved us. Protected us.”
“That’s my job, baby,” he said softly, his gaze lightening. “I’m okay. Trust me.”
She did. With everything she had. “How’s your chest?”
“Good.” He took off his shirt and kicked off his boots. “How’s the baby?”
“She’s fine,” Noni said. Talia had no idea the night she’d just had. “We took the tracker out with tweezers and flushed it down the toilet.” Ryker had instructed them, and it had been relatively easy. “I put a mermaid bandage on her.” Why did she tell him that silly detail?
His grin did reach his eyes this time. “Mermaid?”
“Yeah.” That was why she’d told him. They needed all the grins they could get, and if a mermaid did it, she’d run with that.
He moved to the bed and lay down, his chest a blend of different bruise colors. “You okay?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, following him, her stomach kind of cramping. “I’m worried about you. About what you had to do.”
He held out his good arm, and she stretched out next to him, her face on his biceps. His warmth and strength gathered around her, and she settled right into it, breathing deeply. “I warned her, and I had to protect you,” he said, his voice rough. “I’m so sorry you had to see it all happen.”
She flattened her hand over his heart, careful of his injuries. His skin was warm and his heartbeat steady. “She was threatening my baby and me. There wasn’t a choice.”
“No, there wasn’t.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’re safe now, Noni.”
She leaned into his touch. “Are we free? Finally?” Could it be possible that it was all over? That they were actually safe?
He rubbed down her arm. “Kind of.”
“Meaning?” She lifted her head to see his eyes darken to a midnight blue.
“You’ll never be free of me. I love you, Noni. You and Talia. I want us to be a family.” He reached for her right hand. “I’ll protect you both. Love you both. Be whatever you need me to be.” Slowly, he slid the ring free.
Tears caught in her throat. It was all too much to be real. He was being so open and true, and she trusted him. She needed him. “I only need you to be you.” He was more than she could’ve ever imagined she’d find. She wasn’t sure she could hold on to so much happiness after such tragedy. But she had right now and right here and Denver. “I love you,” she whispered.
“Marry me?” he asked softly, taking her left hand. “Move with me to the wilds of Montana and consider living with my overbearing, slightly crazy, definitely dangerous family, and I promise you’ll never doubt for a second that you’re loved and safe. So damn safe, Noni.” He slid the ring onto her left ring finger, watching it sparkle. “Please.”
“Yes,” she breathed out, her life landing where she wanted. More than a year ago she’d given her heart to him, and she’d never gotten it back. He now held it even stronger than before, and she couldn’t imagine her life without him. She and Talia could give him a family where he could just be himself. Where he could express himself without fear and be truly loved while keeping the crucial bonds of brotherhood he’d created and lived for his entire life. “I’ll love you forever, Denver. I promise.”
He smiled and kissed her so gently she could feel beyond him to what they could be. What they could have. The life they could live together filled with love and passion and
security. “I love you, Noni. For eternity.”
Chapter
39
Christmas Eve in Montana included a lot of colorful lights, snow fights, and spiked eggnog. Every color of light imaginable covered the tree, and festive music hummed from invisible speakers.
The place even smelled like pine.
Denver sat at a card table in the corner of the rec room, watching a pregnant Audrey Dean flip through a catalogue of baby clothes next to him. He had a sister. It was too amazing to think about, and he couldn’t stop watching her.
She hummed happily. “If she has our eyes, we should buy this one.” She tapped her finger on a very tiny blue dress with pink polka dots.
“I’ll buy it,” Denver said easily, studying this new sister of his. She had black hair and very blue eyes. But where their mother’s eyes had been cold and calculating, Audrey’s were all warmth.
She laughed. “You keep saying that.”
His heart hurt from the enormity of it all. “I’m going to be an uncle. That matters.” Holy shit, that mattered. His chest filled with heat. He had to get to know this amazing woman. Had to protect her.
She smiled and reached across to grab his hand. “We’re going to have so much fun.”
He exhaled. “I’m sorry. For what happened. What I did.” He was still dealing with the fact that he’d killed his own mother, and it was going to take some time for him, but that was okay. He had time, and he’d do the same thing in the same situation, so that was that. “She was your mother, too.”
Audrey tightened her hold, her gaze softening. “You had to save Talia and everyone else. Mother was a danger to all of us, and now we’re safe.” She sighed. “We’ll handle it together.”
Yeah. Together. They’d help each other deal with the fact that their biological mother didn’t give a shit about them and had even forced him to shoot her. “You’re going to be a great mom, Audrey,” he murmured.
Her smile warmed him. “I know. And you’re going to be an awesome uncle to her.”
“Him,” Nate Dean said as he passed through the room, grabbing an empty appetizer plate on his way.
Audrey laughed. “It’s a girl.”
“If you say so.” Denver glanced at Nate’s back as he moved into the massive kitchen area. “I’m not sure he’s good enough for you,” he teased.
Audrey snorted. “That’s funny.”
“Denver? Come talk to me,” Matt Dean said from over by a long table.
Denver hesitated.
“I’ll be fine, Den,” Audrey said gently. “We have a date tomorrow to walk the property, remember?”
He nodded, fully prepared to make sure she didn’t stumble. His heart was so full these days, and she definitely took up a big place in it. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her smile was sweet and accepting. “I’m glad you’re my brother.”
The words sank in and warmed him. “Me too.” He patted her hand. God had given him so much. Keeping an eye on her, he moved toward Matt and Ryker by the table.
Matt was the oldest of the Dean brothers, also known as the Gray brothers. Denver had been on the property only for a day, and here he was, joining Matt in looking over maps of it, eggnog in his hand. Noni had gone to put Talia down for a nap in one of the main lodge’s bedrooms.
“So, as you can see, we can build more houses over to the north.” Matt pointed to a section near the other homes. “Every home is on a two-acre lot, so there’s tons of room.” He looked up, his gray eyes gleaming.
Denver couldn’t help but smile. “None of us have agreed to move here.” Though they were definitely all moving there. Might as well let Matt convince him. The guy seemed to like maneuvering everybody, so why not make him happy?
Matt shifted an impressive amount of muscle beneath his dark shirt. “Then build homes and then decide to stay for sure.” He pointed to the existing houses. “This is where Laney and I live. She’s a doctor, so you’ll want to be close to us just for the baby’s sake.” Then he pointed to the other homes. “Nate and Audrey are here, Shane and Josie here, and Jory and Piper here.” He grinned. “It’s our own little subdivision.”
Ryker leaned over and studied the plat map. “I like how the river runs behind them and they’re all so nicely treed.”
Denver barely kept from grinning. Ryker was so in. He loved this plan.
Mattie nodded. “Yeah. We could build your houses here.”
Basically, just the next parcels in a huge roundabout with the main lodge in the middle. Denver sighed. “I take it Franny and Verna have already agreed?”
Matt’s lips twitched. “Agreed? They’ve already found a house plan they love. And they insist on being right next to you and Noni—for the baby’s sake.”
Ryker laughed out loud. “Are they still calling him ‘dickhead’?”
“They are,” Matt confirmed, his eyes twinkling. “But they’re saying it in softer tones, if that helps.”
Denver frowned. “Where are the kids staying?” There were four teenage kids that had been saved from Madison, and one of them had stayed with Ryker for a little while.
Matt tapped the imprint of the main lodge. “We all wanted them to stay with us, but they elected to live in the main lodge with Grandpop Jim, Grams June, and Grandpa Earl.” His voice lowered. “To be honest, June is the best cook in the entire state, so it wasn’t a huge surprise. Plus, the kids keep the grandparents young, and the grandparents totally spoil the kids. Right now it’s working well.”
The place did seem like a perfect slice of country living.
Matt pulled out another sheet of drawings. “Here are the weapons systems, security measures, and escape plans if we ever need them.”
Okay. Not completely country living. Denver whistled. “You have drones?”
Matt just smiled.
Ryker leaned closer. “Wow. Impressive.” He looked over at Matt. “You still think there’s danger?”
“No, but why not be prepared?” Matt asked easily. “If you guys stay, you can have a piece of any of our security businesses—national or international. Work or don’t work. Up to you.” He grinned as Heath approached. “So I’ll leave you guys for a few moments to check on dinner. Laney always puts in too much salt.” He loped gracefully from the room.
“Can you believe all of this?” Heath breathed. “This entire setup is awesome.”
Denver took a sip of his eggnog and nearly coughed.
Ryker grinned. “Shane spiked that. Rumor has it don’t drink anything that Shane has spiked.”
“I like these guys,” Denver said. “It feels like, I mean, that—”
“They’re family.” Heath sighed. “You know?”
“Yeah,” Ryker agreed.
Denver looked closer at the map. “I, ah, don’t want to go to work at their business.” His stomach clenched.
Heath clapped him on the back. “Me either. It’s a great offer, but Lost Bastards is our business.”
“We could run it from here,” Ryker said thoughtfully. “We’ve never had a main base.”
“It’s a nice place to live,” Heath agreed. “But it’s all of us or none of us. We stick together.”
Denver hadn’t realized how badly he’d needed to hear those words. They’d all moved on and found lives and women to love. But he needed his brothers. “I agree.”
Ryker grinned. “I vote yes to staying here.”
“Ditto,” Heath said.
Denver nodded. “Then we move to Montana.”
“I told you that would happen,” Jory Dean said, coming into the room with Detective Malloy limping behind him on crutches. “Didn’t I tell you that you’d end up here?”
Denver grinned at him. They’d get a chance to know each other now. “I believe you might have mentioned it.”
Malloy rolled his eyes. “For pete’s sake. You all are such girls sometimes.”
Jory sighed. “The detective here has an early Christmas present for you guys.”
Denver
straightened. “What’s that?”
Malloy’s cheeks turned a little red. “Well. I used some contacts I had—totally illegally, by the way—and falsified evidence in the Ned Cobb killing. We pinned it on Daniel, the guy who was the Copper Killer. Your pictures are being taken down from any sites, the video has disappeared, and I’m sure cops all over the country are throwing printouts into the garbage. If they bothered to print them out in the first place.”
Denver’s breath caught. He didn’t know what to say. “Malloy—”
The cop held up a hand. “Don’t say anything. Just please stay the hell out of Snowville. All of you. Forever.”
Jory cleared his throat.
“What?” Malloy groused.
“Uh, Tina has already chosen this lot to build your house,” Jory said, pointing to one of the lots. “We’ve also started creating signs for your campaign to be sheriff this spring. The town needs a good sheriff.”
Malloy’s mouth gaped.
Denver tried incredibly hard not to laugh. The cop was family whether he liked it or not. Might as well give in now. “Uh, on that note, I want to check on Noni and the baby.”
“Be in the main room in an hour for Christmas dinner,” Jory said cheerfully.
Denver took another look at Ryker and Heath, who both gave him nods. They were together, and they were safe. He smiled and wound his way through the huge structure to a nice suite toward the back.
Noni was working on the computer, and the baby slept quietly in a crib in the corner. “Denver.” Noni stood, looking uncertain.
That wouldn’t do. He walked right to her and kissed her, hard.
She smiled, her eyes dazed. “Well, now.”
He moved over and placed his hand across Talia’s entire chest. The baby was sleeping on her back, her head turned to the side. Her small torso moved against his hand with each healthy breath, reassuring him. “How’s our baby?” Releasing her, he turned toward the woman who held his heart.
Her smile widened. “Good. Laney looked at her ears, and she’s fine. No damage, and she already has new antibiotics to take. Talia is fine.”