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She’d dreamed of their future together. Of being part of his family. Of the family they’d have one day. Growing old together.

He’d always be her Daddy. She’d always be his babygirl. But that didn’t mean she needed to be kept in the dark about the bad things and scary days. How could she be there for him if she didn’t know what was going on?

He must have read that on her face, too, because he turned back to the road. He nodded to Sev. “Go ahead. But nothing too deep.”

The men talked in murmurs, and the radio kept her from hearing much. Sev said something about narrowing the list of suspects down.

Wait. Sev was gathering a list of suspects? She didn’t understand why Sev was even involved.

Then it hit her. After Boone had bought her new phone, the only place they’d stopped, except random gas stations and the hotel, was Sevin’s house. They’d only stayed for a few minutes. Boone and Dutch had talked with Sev and a few of his men. How could anyone have gotten her number?

She watched the snow fall until her breath fogged up the window. Playing the scene from the market over in her head, she drew pictures on the fogged up window.

It had shocked her when Kenzie stood up to that horrible Cindy woman. It wasn’t as if Cindy had been talking about Kenzie. No, Kenzie had done that for her.

Her heart warmed at that thought. Kenzie must care about her to do something like that. As always, thinking about people looking out for her turned her mind to Breezy.

Tildi was such a coward. She wanted to talk to her sister so much, but if Breezy wouldn’t take her call, it would kill her. But wouldn’t Breezy be just as hurt by Tildi not calling?

Enough was enough. If Kenzie could be brave, so could she. When she got back to the ranch, she was calling her sister. A weight she’d carried for six years lifted from her chest. She wanted to share her decision.

“Daddy, when we get back?—”

Screeching tires and blinding headlights splintered her efforts as a huge black truck lost control and skidded sideways across the road.

“Fuck!” Boone roared as he tried to control the SUV.

Once he came to a stop, he tried to back up to turn around, but another truck sped up and angled across the road behind them.

Boone tried to change directions again, but the ice and snow made it impossible. He lost control and the Lexus slid off the narrow road into a ditch that had been covered in banked snow.

The seatbelt cut into Tildi’s chest, and her head butted the window. Kenzie screamed her brother’s name and grabbed Tildi’s hand.

Already unfastening his seatbelt, Boone growled, “Tildi, Kenzie, everyone all right?”

Tildi’s head throbbed, but it wasn’t bleeding. Blinking her eyes, she tried to clear her blurry vision. “Y-yes, Daddy.”

“I’m okay, too,” Kenzie said, but she held her wrist in her other hand. “Who drives around in blacked out windows that dark?”

Sev was already on his phone. The hum of his voice was terse and clipped. Tension spiraled from Tildi’s heart down to her belly. The warning bells going off inside her had nothing to do with her aching head.

Boone had his phone out, too. “Grif, some of Nico Midnight’s men ran us off Wild River Road just past the Hughes place and now they have us boxed in. I need you here ASAP. Do you copy?” Pause. “Good, now get your ass here.”

Boone disconnected the call before leaning over and pulling a bag from under his seat. After retrieving his pistol, he turned to Sev. “Did you get your people?”

Sev nodded, focusing while checking the ammo in his own gun.

The door on the far side of each truck opened and two men jumped out of each, making four in all. They ducked behind the front of the trucks.

Boone’s face darkened. “That who you expected?”

Sev didn’t take his eyes off the truck. “Unfortunately. My source said they planned to hit the ranch tomorrow once my father was in town. So, either the plans changed, or my source has been compromised.” He cut his eyes toward Boone, then returned it to the truck. “I never would have allowed the women off the ranch if I’d known.”

Boone lifted his chin. “Your men on their way?”

“Yes. They aren’t far, so it shouldn’t take long.”

“Does the traitor know about the other men you brought?”