Colter's Revenge (30 page)

Suddenly the front door burst inward.

Ashley reacted quickly. Spinning around, she shot at the figure in the doorway. The man let out a cry of pain and went down in a tangled heap. Another man appeared. A bullet whizzed too close to her ear for comfort and from the corner of her eye she noticed the white cotton fluff everywhere like snow as the edge of the sofa blew away. She aimed and fired.

Without a word, the man dropped like a stone and lay still. A woman’s evil chuckle sliced through the air behind her. Dread filled her. She sensed she was in deep trouble. She wasn’t wrong.

“Drop the gun, bitch, or your man dies.”

“Don’t do it, Ash!” It was Colter’s voice, strangled with a tinge of fear. She was about to spin around, about to start shooting but the sound of a gun cocking made her stop cold. Terror tangled in her chest. She struggled to remain as calm as possible.

“Just drop the gun, Ashley, and then turn around. Slowly.”

Shit! If she dropped the gun, she was screwed, but if she didn’t, then Cheri would take out Colter. Devastation rocked her and she came to her decision quickly. She allowed the gun to drop from her trembling fingers.

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“That’s a smart little sex slave. I told you you wouldn’t get away. Now turn around.”

She did as Cheri instructed. Her heart leapt into her throat the instant she spied one of Cheri’s husbands holding a gun on Colter and Cheri aimed her gun at Ashley’s midsection.

“You know why we’re here. Give me the cure and the papers.”

“You let him go and I’ll tell you where they are.”

Cheri shook her head. “I’m not in the mood for negotiating, you stupid bitch. I want what’s mine and I want your daughter’s whereabouts. I purchased her fair and square from the general. She belongs to my sons now.”

“You’ll never get her,” Colter hissed. The anger, the coldness with which he spoke made Cheri wince but she kept her icy gaze on Ashley.

“I will kill him if you do not give me what I want.”

“You’ll kill him anyway,” Ashley pointed out. Her knees were trembling so hard she thought she’d fall down or maybe even pass out.

“Yes, that’s true.” Cheri’s red lips thinned into a satisfied smirk and she swung the gun around to point at Colter’s head. Now he had two guns at his temples. Ashley couldn’t help but cry out in protest.

“A quick death…or—” she pointed the gun at Colter’s thigh “—or a slow, agonizing death. It’s entirely up to you.”

“Dammit! Tell her nothing, Ash,” Colter warned.

“Shut up!” Cheri yelled. “Tell me! Or he dies!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you.”
Just don’t shoot the father of my child!

Suddenly she felt lightheaded, disoriented. She noticed Colter’s gaze skim slightly to behind her, to the living room where Blade had fallen. Did he know that Blade had been hit? Was he looking for help from him?

Oh, God! Didn’t he know they were on their own?

Blade had the cure on him somewhere. But from this angle they wouldn’t know he’d been hit. Wouldn’t know he lay sprawled on the other side of the couch with the research papers inside his jacket, the vial most likely in his jacket pocket. Maybe even shattered, the precious fluid leaking into the carpet.

And if they found Blade, helpless, sprawled out and still alive…they’d kill him. Dammit! What should she do?

“It’s in the bedroom. Last door to your right,” Colter said tightly.

“Good. He’s smart, isn’t he? After you, Ashley.” She motioned her gun for Ashley to start down the hallway.

Every muscle inside her tensed as she cautiously moved in front of Cheri and her husband who still held the gun to Colter’s temple. She could tell as she passed Colter 171

Jan Springer

that the way his hands were clenching and unclenching he was either frustrated or ready to make a move.

Most likely the latter.

She allowed her survival instincts to envelop her as she walked slowly down the long hallway. Behind her, she could hear three sets of footsteps following her. She tried to visualize exactly who was closest behind her. Was it Cheri? Her husband? Maybe Colter?

She couldn’t make a move until she figured out everyone’s positions.

“How did you find us, Cheri?” she called out.

“That’s easy. When Dr. Van Dusen was nice enough to allow me to scratch his deliciously large cock and balls, I caught a glimpse of a skull tattoo on his belly. Mind you, I know that men have strange fetishes and so the skull intrigued me. Perhaps you could say it even made me suspicious. And me being the paranoid, I did not remember a mention of an identifying feature on the doctor. In my line of work I can’t afford to be the least bit careless so I made sure to scrape some of his cells beneath my fingernails while I had him by the balls so to speak. Later I had the cells sent to check for DNA. I must admit the cover was very well laid. My connections, however, kept searching and were able to tap into the high-security government database and voila, your doctor lover’s real name and his address.”

“My mistake,” Colter said coolly.

Okay, so Cheri was at the end of the row and Colter in between her and her husband. That meant her hubby was right behind her!

“That accounted for the delay while I tried to figure out who the intruder was,”

Cheri said. “Imagine my surprise when I discovered he was just a local farm boy turned doctor, turned S.K.U.L.L. member. And that he’s the son of a bitch who killed my first husband. Now I do have this insane need to kill your man, Ashley. And I will.”

Shit!

The burst of anger she needed to push aside her fear propelled Ashley into action. Ducking, she swung her arm out and grimaced in pain as it connected with bone. The gun went off, the bullet screamed past her ear. Too close for comfort. Blurred movement from the side of her face made her realize Colter had also sprung into action. It was as if he’d been anticipating her move. She heard the sharp slap of flesh against flesh as if someone were hitting someone.

“I’ve never hit a lady before, but you sure aren’t one,” Colter growled. Cheri howled. “You bastard! Unhand me!” Another slap.

Before Ashley could get to her feet, she felt pain rip through her scalp. She screamed at the red-hot agony searing through her. Hot tears blurred her vision. Cheri’s husband had grabbed her by the hair and was pulling at her to stand up. God it hurt!

She screamed.

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The sound was quickly followed by a loud crash and a cry of pain from Cheri. Gunshots rang out. The intense pain on her scalp disappeared as he let her go. Suddenly there were hands all over her, helping her up.

“Sweet Jesus, Ashley! Are you okay?” Colter’s voice trembled with concern.

“I…I think so.”

Her legs quaked and her teeth chattered as she gazed upon the two bodies in the hallway. Cheri lay on the ground sprawled lifeless. A pool of blood gushing from her neck and her husband had a hole in his forehead. She looked up to see Blade swaying behind them, a gun in his hand.

Then everything went black.

* * * * *

“I never pass out,” Ashley replied defiantly as she laid on the bed where Colter had carried her after she’d passed out, and where he’d forced her to stay for the remainder of the day.

Callie, Luke and Mac, along with Cade, had all returned and now they stood around the bed with Colter and Blade, who had his arm in a sling. Gosh, it was kind of embarrassing with everyone fussing over her. She just wasn’t used to all this attention.

“I’m just glad you’re all right,” Callie said softly as she hoisted her very pregnant self onto the side of the bed. “And I’m very grateful for your offer to take Luke and me with you, but I just can’t leave my sister behind.”

“Then we can take her with us.”

“She won’t leave. I’ve already asked her,” Blade’s deep voice cut through the room.

“You?” Callie asked looking shocked and confused and asked the same question as Ashley had just been thinking. “Why would you ask my sister?”

“Because I’m her fourth husband. I Claimed her a few days ago with the Barlow brothers.”

“Oh, God!” Callie and Ashley both gasped in unison.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Colter growled. “Are you fucking nuts?”

“I should have told you right from the beginning. But I felt it would compromise this assignment,” Blade said.

There was a round of swearing from the remaining Outlaw brothers.

“You’re the one who fucked us up?” Disbelief etched Mack’s voice.

“We were the only ones who knew she didn’t have the required fourth husband anymore. We were using that fucking fact to blackmail the Barlows and to try to gain Tyler’s release,” Cade growled.

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“Why the hell would you Claim my brother’s woman? When he comes back, he’ll kill you to get to her,” Colter hissed. “Do you have a fucking death wish?”

“I’ll fucking kill him right now!” Cade spat, and made a move toward Blade.

“Relax! All of you!” Callie shouted. “Please, I want you all to leave the room, except for Colter, Ashley and Blade.”

There was a murmur of protests but Callie’s stern look made all her husbands fall silent. They stomped out of the room, slamming the door shut behind them with so much force it sounded as if a gunshot had gone off.

“What’s going on?” Colter asked between gritted teeth. “If I didn’t think you were up to something, I’d kill you right here and now with my bare hands.”

Blade took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, I can’t tell you much. It’s a S.K.U.L.L. assignment, and for Laurie’s safety I need for you all to keep that fact under your hat.”

“Laurie’s life is in danger, isn’t it?” Callie whispered. Ashley’s heart almost broke at the tears spilling from the soft-spoken woman’s eyes. She obviously cared very deeply for her sister.

“She’s fine. Not to worry. She is a very strong, determined woman. She has her reasons for not leaving her husbands.” Blade reassured her with a smile. “I will take care of her.”

“And who the hell is going to take care of you and the Barlows when Tyler comes home, Blade?” Colter growled. “He won’t give up Laurie easily.”

By the way he stood with every muscle in his entire body tense and coiled, she knew Colter was pissed off. Probably more angry than he’d ever been at her.

“Tyler won’t be hurt by me. Rest assured, Colter. I’ll keep an eye on him. You and Callie and Luke are free to go Monaco. Laurie wants you to go. For you and the baby to be safe.”

“Are you certain my sister is safe?” Callie asked, her hands still knotted in anguish on her swollen belly.

“If Blade says she’s safe, then she’s safe,” Colter said softly. “She’s lucky to have a member of S.K.U.L.L. as her husband.”

Ashley held her breath as Callie looked at Colter and then at Blade again. Her shoulders slumped with apparent relief.

“And you won’t hurt Tyler when he returns?” she asked. “My sister really loves that man and she doesn’t even know he’s alive.”

“I promise I’ll keep an eye on him. Now you best get packing. You leave first thing in the morning.”

“Could you say goodbye to Laurie for me? I know she’s not allowed to visit here without her husbands in tow and—”

“I can arrange a meeting between the two of you tonight. Alone. You can say your goodbyes then. I’ll come for you a little later on.”

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“Okay. Okay. I’d like that,” Callie whispered. To Ashley’s surprise, a watery smile lifted the woman’s full lips. “Well then! I guess I’d better hurry and pack.”

Ashley watched as she lifted her heavy frame off the bed and waddled off to do her packing.

“I’ve got another piece of news for you,” Blade said as he waited for Callie to close the door behind her.

Oh, God! Please not bad news.

“Ashley’s bodyguard contacted me earlier. Jude and Cate have agreed to come with you to Monaco.”

“Thank God,” Ashley breathed. Some good news for a change.

“As a matter of fact, the two of them will be meeting you at a prearranged meeting place day after tomorrow. But we’re going to have to work hard to pull this off. Once word gets out that the general is dead, Ashley’s life could be in danger. Men he once knew might want to Claim her.”

“Colter can take on the general’s identity. I’m sure we can pass through the checkpoints without any problems if he wears a disguise and produces the proper ID.”

Why in the hell hadn’t she thought of this earlier?

“The general can just simply disappear off the face of the Earth once you leave the States. I can set an alternate paper trail to cover your asses,” Blade said thoughtfully.

“By golly, I think we’ve got ourselves a plan.” Colter chuckled. “Let’s get our butts in gear!”

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Monaco

Three days later…

Colter couldn’t believe how perfect his four-year-old daughter looked as she played in the sandbox amidst a backdrop of craggy rocks in the tiny villa’s backyard that overlooked the azure-blue Mediterranean Sea.

Her short pigtails glistened in the Monaco sunshine, a smudge of dirt sat on her cute button nose and her chubby tanned arms worked diligently on a sandcastle as she was totally oblivious to her parents who stood only a few feet away watching her.

“She’s so unbelievably beautiful,” he found himself whispering, totally mesmerized at the intense way such a tiny creature could capture his heart and unleash such a powerful bout of protectiveness it almost hurt.

There was no mistaking she belonged to him. He could tell by the stubborn tilt of her jaw as she concentrated on placing a miniature Monaco flag in the center of her sandcastle. Nor could he deny she possessed the exact same color of hair as his. Sweet Jesus, he had a daughter.

“Want to meet her?” Ashley asked from beside him. Pride shone in her starry blue eyes as she watched their girl.

A bout of panic gripped him at her question. Would Colette like him? Would she be scared of him? Would he make her a good father? Or would he blow it?

Despite all his doubts, he found himself nodding. Yes, he wanted to meet her. Touch her. Hug her.