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“He shouldn’t. Do you plan on waiting for your men?”

“The windows are reinforced, but they aren’t military grade.”

“So, I take it that’s a no.”

“You got that right.” Boone turned to Tildi. “You and Kenzie get down on the floorboard and stay there until I come and get you. I need the two of you safe. So stay in the car and stay down.”

Tildi’s heart was thundering in her chest so hard she could barely breathe as terror replaced the blood running through her veins. Tears stung her eyes. “B-but, Daddy. If help is coming and those men aren’t attacking, don’t you think we should all stay in here? I need you safe, too.”

“I’ll be okay, bluebell. Now do what I said.” Turning to Sev, he snarled, “I said I wouldn’t kill your father. I never said I wouldn’t kill your men. And if my Little girl is hurt, I just may kill you, too. You really think those men won’t shoot you?”

“I’m Nico Midnight’s heir. If they shoot me, they sign their own death warrant, even if they do it on my sick fuck of a father’s orders.”

“Well, we need to stall for time. You up for having a chat with your boy out there?”

“And leave the girls in the car by themselves?” Sev glanced over his shoulder. “Especially these Little girls?”

“Most of the windows are iced over, all but the front windshield. So no one’s going to be able to see them if they’re on the floorboard. Not to mention they’d have to get through us to get to the vehicle.”

Sev held up his hands in concession. “You know them better than me. My only experience was the grocery store, so you can see where I’d be concerned.”

“I don’t like it either, but you got a better idea? Cause the only other option I see is to sit here until they start shooting at us.”

“Daddy, no!” Tildi put a restraining hand on his shoulder.

“Listen to me, babygirl. The best thing you can do right now is mind me. Get down on the floorboard. Everything is going to be fine.”

With that, he opened his door and stepped out. Without turning back to the car, he repeated his instructions with a rumble. “Stay. Down.”

Tildi nodded out of sheer reflex. She’d never heard Boone’s voice sound so lethal. “Daddy?—”

“Down, babygirl. And stay quiet.”

Whatever she had been about to say remained unspoken because Boone turned to the men standing behind the truck. The ones who’d had guns pointed toward them.

He tipped his hat back and shoved his hands in his pockets. As if anyone could mistake her Daddy for some local yokel. “You boys might not realize it, but your truck is blocking the road.”

A short, soft whir whispered through the backseat of the SUV, pulling Tildi’s gaze to Kenzie’s window. Her friend had tapped the button to lower the window enough for them both to be able to hear. She squeezed Kenzie’s hand as a thank you.

“Shut up,” a voice yelled. From the sound of it, it was one of the men hiding behind the truck. “This doesn’t have to go down hard. All we want is the girl.”

Ice that had nothing to do with the weather frosted Tildi’s entire body at the man’s words.

“They aren’t with us,” Boone answered, his voice deadly calm. “And even if she was, you aren’t getting anywhere near her.”

The other man spoke, and his was a voice Tildi recognized. Her eyes darted to Kenzie. She knew immediately her friend recognized the voice, too. “I was there, dumbass. I saw you leave, and I know you took both the girls. We only want Nico’s girl. You’re not going to be able to keep her from us. So, you can either hand her over, or we can step over your corpses and we’ll get her ourselves.”

“You’re going to die, Vinnie. The only question is how long and painful that death is going to be.” Sevin spoke as if he was talking about sending the man on a vacation, not killing him. “Boone here wants to just shoot you between the eyes. But me? I take betrayal more personally than that. You will beg for that bullet before I’m done with you.”

“Oh yeah? That’s rich coming from you. You helped the man trying to take out your own father. I’d say if we’re measuring betrayal, yours weighs a hell of a lot more than mine.”

Kenzie’s hand tightened around Tildi’s as Tildi tried to think of something she could do. She should never have come here.She’d been right about bringing trouble to the ranch. Sure, Nico thought he had a score to settle with her Daddy, but Tildi was the means.

If they all lived through this—no, when they all lived through this—she would figure out what to do. Right now, she should call and see if Boone’s brothers were on their way.

She pulled out her phone, but realized she didn’t have anyone’s number. She could dial 911. They would send the police, but would they send them in time?

A tear dropped on her screen. When had she started crying?