Lyndee's Saviors [Men of Montana] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (25 page)

Gasps and groans were heard from the group, and Connor raised his gun even higher, aiming for Philip’s head rather than the torso. “What did you say about my sister, Angela?”

Philip couldn’t believe this. How had this gone so horribly wrong in such a short time? The Sheriff was the brother of the woman who had tipped him off? Was this a setup even from a few days ago? He wondered as he recognized the three men from the store on the same day he met Angela in the parking lot. Shit!

“I met your sister at the store the other day,” the nervous man began, beginning a sidestep toward the broken door. “She informed me that Lisa was shacking up with three men on this ranch. She was more than talkative about the living arrangements here.”

Smugness overwhelmed him as he felt he was making headway toward the door. The group was turning as he moved, though they still had his head in their crosshairs. “I find it interesting, Lisa, that you say you found your old job not to your liking but you would sleep with multiple men at the same time. Seems you really did like your job. Apparently Angela enjoyed sleeping with the same men also. Perhaps it’s the men who are the whores instead.”

* * * *

By this time Philip was at the door, but before he could turn to run, two guns exploded their gunpowder, expelling the bullets from their chambers. The tall, dark-haired man’s body jerked before stumbling to the staircase. Lyndee was the first to the door, Glock still aimed and ready for danger. The four men rushed up behind her, and as they all exited the room they found Philip laying on his stomach, trying to pull himself up the stairs.

The injured man chuckled before speaking weakly. “If I had been a straight cop, Lyndee, I wouldn’t have minded having you for a partner. Sexy as hell and a hell of shot.”

Trying to take one more stair, his body shuddered in pain as a horrible bubbly wheeze emerged loudly from the hole in his chest. One more wheeze escaped before his body collapsed on the staircase and slid down a few steps before going still. The group stared for a few more moments, knowing this man couldn’t hurt Lyndee anymore, before Connor kicked the man’s boots. When there wasn’t any movement from him, he stepped up a few steps and bent to check for a pulse. Shaking his head negatively the others followed the Sheriff up the stairs and out into the kitchen.

* * * *

Storm, Trey, and Austin circled around Lyndee, hugging her to them and telling her how thankful they were that she was all right. When the shrill of a siren got closer, they all made their way out to the driveway. James and Arturo waved down the ambulance to stop at the horse barn while everyone made their way over to it.

The paramedics pulled the gurney out of the back of the vehicle and rushed it into the barn, sidestepping one body. Sidestepping another body they stopped where two men were applying pressure to Running Wolf’s wound. The Native American was pale and shivering as the medics checked him out. The shirts being used to staunch the flow of blood were soaked in the sticky fluid and the sight was upsetting to Lyndee. This was all her fault and these men had put their lives on the line for her.

Looking around the barn, she had seen the two dead men as they came in, and as she turned her head she saw one more Russian man half lying and half leaning against a stall across the aisle from Running Wolf. James noticed her looking. “He didn’t make it. He died a few minutes before the ambulance arrived. The only one who survived is trussed up in Vixen’s stall since she’s at the vet’s.”

They all turned their attention back to Running Wolf. One of the medics was inserting a needle into one of the veins on the back of his large hand. The other medic was preparing a drip line and then attached it to the needle already placed there. On his other hand they repeated the motions, though this time, they placed a bag of blood onto the drip line instead of medication as Doc Anderson had told them it was all right to do it. James and another one of the hands helped the paramedics get the Native onto the gurney while another ranch hand held the bags with meds and blood. Strapping the man down, they popped the moving bed up and rolled it to the ambulance.

Sliding the gurney into the vehicle, one of the medics climbed in and sat next to the patient. James stepped up to Storm and Austin. “I’ll go with him, make sure he’s all right.”

The two bosses nodded at him as he climbed in the back and sat next to the medic across from Running Wolf. In a flash Lyndee jumped up into the ambulance and knelt down next to the injured man, taking his hand in hers. Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry this happened to you, Wolf. I want to thank you for your bravery in trying to protect me.”

Grinning while grimacing, he said, “I’ll be back, boss lady. I still have to teach you to ride a horse.”

“You better,” she whispered before leaning over and kissing his cheek. “You better.”

Accepting the hands of two of her men, she let Storm and Austin help her down from the ambulance before the other medic closed the double doors. As the vehicle circled the driveway to make its way to Kalispell, a sedan pulled around the corner of the barn followed by another one.

* * * *

None of the men had relaxed fully after the ordeal they had already been through so nerves were still high as was their adrenaline. Before the two automobiles could come to a stop, guns rose from every man and the only woman in the vicinity. Again, Austin along with Storm and Trey tried to shield her, as did Connor, but as soon as the first man burst from the driver’s side of the first car, she pushed past them. They all tried to grab her but missed as she ran into the man’s arms. Growls emanated from the group of three at the action but she ignored them.

Austin watched as the tall man with short black hair hugged her before pushing her slightly away from him. Turning her around full circle, he frowned at the wound on the side of her head, which was healing nicely. Shrugging, she said something to him before she removed the sweater and showed him her other wound. Hugging her again he looked over at the men hesitantly. Taking his hand, Lyndee led him back to the defensive group.

Car doors opened and men in suits began to pile out of them. Seven in all emerged after the first one did, but they all stayed where they were until an order was given for the ranch hands to stand down.

Lyndee and her guest stood before Storm, Trey, and Austin, a smile on her face. “Gentlemen, this is my real boss, John Drake. John, this is Storm and Trey Goodall and Austin…” Blushing, she realized she had slept with the man several times and didn’t even know his last name.

Austin lowered his gun and shook the proffered hand that John had already put out there. “Lighthorse. Austin Lighthorse. Pleased to meet you.”

Storm and Trey shook hands with him before Lyndee moved on to Connor. “And this is Connor Lawson. The local Sheriff.”

Putting his revolver back into his holster, Connor accepted the man’s hand in greeting. The two law enforcement agents stepped away from the group as Storm called out to the ranch hands. “It’s all right, boys. Let’s get this place cleaned up. Cooperate with these men, answer all their questions.”

Guns lowered slowly as if they were still untrusting of the government men as they had already failed the boss lady once before. Kevin arrived on an ATV from his vantage point, looking around at the Armageddon he had missed. He knew Dave was going to be a bit upset also when he arrived back here. Austin made his way over to the barn with his men as four suited Feds joined them for their part of the investigation.

* * * *

Trey used a finger to lift Lyndee’s chin up to gaze into her eyes, “Are you sure you are all right with this man?”

Nodding, she looked over at John as he and Connor stepped into the house. “Yes. He is the only one I could trust while I was deep undercover. We’d meet every few weeks for coffee or lunch so I could give him my report. He always acted like one of my johns so as not to attract attention to himself.”

Storm chuckled unexpectedly and Lyndee looked over to him. “What?”

“A john named John.” He chuckled again.

Trey and Lyndee both stared with open mouths at his pun as Storm was not the one to make light of anything. That was Trey’s personality.

“Oh, come on now. You have to admit that’s funny.” He laughed. It was then that Trey knew his brother’s lighter mood matched his for the first time in the past four days. Was that all it had been since this little bit of heaven had entered their lives, changing it forever?

Trey and Lyndee did have a bit of a chortle at the jocularity of the statement before the blonde woman became serious. “You better not let John hear you say that. He didn’t like what he had to do, posing like that. He is married and yet when he was with me, he had to stroke my hair, hold my hand, or touch my arm like we were intimate. He would even kiss me on the lips. We had to make it look good”

Becoming serious, Storm looked down at his woman. “Well, he won’t be doing that anymore.”

She nodded as a sadness seemed to shroud her. Trey knew Storm noticed her change in mood and that they both felt a twinge of guilt over the circumstances. She knew they wanted her to stay with them and hadn’t balked at the idea, but she would be leaving her life behind and they never really asked if she wanted to do that. Sadness settled over them as they glanced at each other, knowing what the other was thinking.

They were really going to need to sit down and talk about their future. Watching Lyndee as the action built up they knew that she loved her job and now they didn’t want to take that away from her. Did they want to be selfish and have her stay with them and make her miserable, or could they let her go to do what she enjoyed the most?

* * * *

From the horse barn Austin stood in the doorway as the Feds took pictures and questioned the other men. Watching his cousins he knew that something was wrong as dejection appeared on their faces. It had happened moments after Lyndee became sad. Even from a distance, he knew that something had happened that could destroy their future together. Running his hands up over his face then down the backside down his hair he became frustrated. He just wanted this whole ordeal to go away so they could fully enjoy their woman.

Connor called Trey and Lyndee to the house and Storm turned and caught Austin’s eye. Shrugging, he followed the requested people to the house.

After several hours, what seemed like thousands of questions and a visit from the coroner, who retrieved four bodies, the Feds were waiting around to leave. A tow truck had also retrieved the sedan that Philip and his cohorts had arrived in to be taken to the local impound yard for evidence.

John, Connor, Lyndee, and the three ranch owners walked down the steps from the porch. Lyndee looked around at the four local men. “I’d like a word with John alone, please.”

Deflated, they nodded. She and John started walking toward his car when he put his hand on her elbow as they walked. Stopping at the driver’s side, John leaned against the door, crossing his arms across his chest. “You did a wonderful job, Lyn. There will be a promotion for you when you get back. You practically undermined the mob in Denver by yourself.”

Kicking the dirt with the toe of her boot, Lyndee blushed at his kind words. Then she looked up at the man who had pretended to be one of her lovers in the past several years. “After the trial I don’t think I’ll be coming back to work.”

John’s right eyebrow rose in amazement but the knowing smile caught her eye. “So,” he started, “which one is yours?”

The blush rose even higher on her cheeks. Stepping forward so none of the other agents would hear, she still whispered, “The brothers and the cousin.”

Chuckling, John looked down at her in amazement. “For what you did, you deserve to be happy. You put your life on hold for the past five years on this, so I say go for it.”

“No judgments?”

Shaking his head, he unfolded his arms and patted her arm, “None. I mean it. I’m happy for you.”

Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed his cheek before stepping back. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be in the office next week and stay until the trial is over. Then I’ll submit my resignation.”

“Okay. I’ll still have some time to try to work on you to stay, but from the looks I’ve seen being thrown your way today, I’d wager I’ll be barking up the wrong tree. I’ll see you next week. Have a safe trip down.”

“You too. Make sure that asshole makes it to Denver in one piece,” she said, motioning to the Russian in the backseat of the car. Tears welled in her eyes as one big chunk of her life was coming to an end and she was going to miss her friend.

Surprise struck Lyndee when as was his custom when they had parted in the past when they were alone, John leaned over and kissed her forehead. He had come to be more than just her boss. He was more like a father to her and she was going to miss their weekly meetings. Climbing into the car, he turned the key in the ignition and waited for everyone to pile into the car before driving off. The second sedan followed his, leaving Lyndee to stand in the driveway, her arms wrapped around her waist, trying not to let the tears fall.

* * * *

Feeling the awkwardness of being a fifth wheel, so to speak, Connor cleared his throat, “Well, I think I have seen enough excitement for a week this morning. You guys really know how to throw one helluva party. I’m going home to have a chat with my sister. I’ll call you tomorrow.”