Page 18 of Ferocious Protector

I give him another buzz, just to let him know I’m there before I reach him, grab the rifle, and slide in next to him on the ground. “You see anything yet?”

“Nothing but the bikers who went through. They raise a lot of hell at the bar?”

“No, didn’t get the chance once they put hands on Lettie, but we were right about staying out here together. Next time, no disrespect to anyone, we’re doing it our way.”

He nods. “They won’t have a problem with it once they see what we can prevent from up here.”

I gesture in the distance, looking through the scope of my rifle. “Ten bikes, and three SUVs, all heading our way. They get up that pass and there’s going to be nothing but pandemonium at the house.”

“Let’s not let them get up here then,” Beckett says.

“Roger that buddy,” I say, getting my sights locked in. “I’ll start from the back; you work your way back to me.”

“On my mark, ready, aim, fire.”

My bullet hits the front left tire of the back SUV sending him swerving while Beckett takes out the lead motorcycle, sending it sliding across the highway and two more with it. One bullet after another, methodical, all our training homed in on the job we have to do to keep the people up at the house safe.

The highway below is a disaster area, bikes and SUVs strewn everywhere. The men on bikes are going to need the hospital, but some of the guys from the SUVs have made it out and taken up position behind the vehicles that aren’t engulfed in flames.

I don’t take my eyes off the sons of bitches. “Now we wait. No one makes it up this hill.” If we had reinforcements, they’d be flanking them from behind but right now it’s just me and Beckett on the line.

My cell beeps and I grab it with one hand. “Damian confirms that Tommy and the crew have arrived at the Wild Deuces and that everything is in hand. That may be good for tonight, but there’s no way they don’t have something more planned for tomorrow, and all week long.”

Beckett nods. “These guys think they’re going to hang out behind their trucks all night and take pot shots at us and whatever unfortunate soul who tries to travel by?”

I laugh, because they don’t know Beckett like I do if they think that plan’s gonna work. We’ve driven more enemies out of larger and more equipped vehicles than this with a couple well placed shots and that seems like exactly what’s on his mind as well as mine.

“Let’s get this done before some well-meaning traveler heads onto the road.” Beckett doesn’t move his head. “On my mark, ready, aim and fire.”

Both of our rifles go off at the same time. We know right where to hit them when we need them to explode. They would have done themselves a favor by peeling out of here with their vehicle intact instead of trying to take us out. We’re far too well concealed and that was never going to happen.

The last of the vehicles explodes, and only two men emerge. They don’t aim at us and instead head to a couple bikes lying on the ground, get on them, and ride away leaving their buddies strewn along the way.

I pull out my cell and give Cole a call. “We’ve got a mess out on the highway. A shit ton of enemy bikers and SUVs were headed up this hill. Two got away on bikes but the rest them, hard to say from here what condition they’re in, but they’re not going to be heading up that hill to hurt the ladies, that’s for damn sure. We had to take them out. You want us to call it in or…” I pause as he talks animatedly. “Roger that. We’ll stay here until we know it’s done.”

I pocket my cell. “Tommy’s got a clean-up crew on the way. Cole said he’ll let Damian and Dereck know what went down. Looks like we’re going to take turns covering until Damian and Dereck get back, and probably through the week,” I tell Beckett.

He grins. “Just like the good ole days, right?”

“Same damn thing, different location. Who would have thought when I took this job that I’d be protecting a hill of ladies?”

He laughs. “Don’t be surprised if Carlos doesn’t call you up personally and offer you a job.”

My eyes narrow. “You mean to stay on in Deadwood after all this is done?”

“It wouldn’t be the worst. You’ve been looking for a place to set up the family. You know, give them roots in a community instead of bouncing from place to place. It’s a great place to raise a family, and hell, we’d all be neighbors. Something to think about.”

18

Patti

I keep checking my watch, then my phone. The times may be synced but that doesn’t stop my minding from checking them both to see how much time has passed and if only to will my cell to ring. But it doesn’t. Hour after hour, until my heart just can’t take it anymore. I send out a message: Where are you?

Blake’s response is immediate: Trying to get to sleep but thinking of you.

My heart swells. I smile big as I type out a message: Am I in a sexy little nighty?

His reply makes my cheeks heat: No love, you’re totally nude.