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CASPER OBSERVED INTENTLY as Cowboy thoroughly patted down his brother, ensuring he concealed no weapons beneath his clothing. The tension in the air was palpable, and Casper refused to allow his men to confront this threat without his support. Steeling himself, he slowly emerged from his hidden vantage point, his movements deliberate and cautious.

“Dammit, Ash, you scared the shit out of me!” Aaron exclaimed when he saw Casper materializing beside him. “No wonder they call you Casper. You just show up like a ghost in the night.”

Cowboy’s hearty laugh echoed in the stillness around them. “This is nothing,” he said, amused by the sudden appearance.

“What brings you here?” Casper asked his brother, his brow furrowed with concern.

“We need to finish that conversation,” Aaron replied, urgency threading through his words. The weight of unspoken matters hung heavily between them, and Casper sensed that whatever lay ahead would require all their attention.

“He’s clean,” Cowboy announced, as he gave Casper a subtle nod, signaling that his brother was unarmed and posed no immediate threat.

“Talk,” Casper commanded, his tone unwavering. He stood firm at the entrance of the CI building. He had no intention of letting Aaron enter, where Nettie was most likely concealed, vulnerable to any potential danger lurking. The weight of her safety pressed heavily on his chest.

“I swear to you, I had nothing to do with anyone trying to hurt that prosecutor,” Aaron pleaded, his eyes wide with earnestness, reflecting a depth of emotion that Casper couldn’t easily dismiss.

Casper studied his brother intently, searching for signs of deception but finding only an intense sincerity that struck him. Then, like a jolt of lightning illuminating a stormy sky, the realization hit him with painful clarity. “Mother,” he murmured, the word escaping his lips like a haunted whisper.

Aaron nodded slowly, a shadow of worry crossing his features. “I don’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t doubt it,” he replied.

Casper turned to Cowboy, a determined look clouding his features. “We’re going to visit our mother. Take care of Nettie while I’m gone.”

Casper pivoted on his heel, his younger brother Aaron trailing closely behind him. “Do I have to be part of this?” Aaron’s tone was hesitant, tinged with a hint of reluctance.

“Absolutely,” Casper responded, nodding decisively as he approached his Jeep. “Remember, I’m no longer welcome there. You’re going to help us get in the door.”

With a resigned sigh, Aaron shuffled to the other side of the Jeep, the white shells crunching beneath his sneakers. He climbed in and buckled his seatbelt, the click echoing in the moment’s stillness, just as Casper slammed the door shut and turned the ignition.

In an instant, the engine roared to life, and Casper released the brakes, spinning out of the shell parking lot with a rush. The vehicle lurched forward as the weight of their mission loomed in the air.

****

Nettie listened intently as the distant sound of a vehicle’s engine faded away, a cloud of uncertainty settling over her. Had Cowboy chased Aaron off just when she thought she could reclaim her life? The thought was disheartening, and she turned her gaze toward Doc, searching for reassurance in his eyes. “Can we come out now?” she asked.

The cramped quarters around her didn’t feel particularly confining. There was more than enough space for comfort. But Doc’s enormity beside her genuinely made the situation feel tenuous. He filled the room with his physical presence and an overwhelming sense of duty, his body shielding her like a fortress against whatever dangers lurked outside.

Doc shook his head, his eyes ever alert for any lurking threat that might threaten Nettie.

A sense of unease tightened in the air, and with a resigned sigh, Nettie remained rooted in her spot behind the imposing figure of the giant, her heart heavy with worry. Thoughts of what might be happening beyond this cramped, secure space tugged at her insatiably. She yearned to know, to understand the unknown that lay just out of reach.

Suddenly, the front door of the office building swung shut with a dull thud, and Cowboy’s voice rang out, steady and reassuring. “All clear.”

At last, Doc turned toward her, the tension in his shoulders easing as he slid his weapon back into its holster. A warm smile broke across his face, offering hope amid the uncertainty. “Let’s go back out there, shall we?” he said.

As they settled around the table, the gravelly crunch of tires echoed from the parking lot, drawing Cowboy’s attention to the window. “Looks like you have a female client,” he remarked, his tone a mix of intrigue and anticipation.

Cassie turned to him, a warm smile spreading across her face. “It’s probably Daisy coming back,” she replied reassuringly, her eyes sparkling with understanding. “She must be curious about all the vehicles here,” she added.

“How old is she?” Cowboy asked, his gaze fixed intently outside the window.

“About twenty-five,” Cassie replied. “Why do you ask?”

Cowboy finally turned to face her, his expression serious. “Because the woman entering is distinctly middle-aged.”

JD muttered a curse under his breath, frustration evident in his posture, while Cassie gave him a disapproving look. “I can’t believe we’re getting a new client now,” JD lamented, his eyes narrowing with determination as he met Cassie’s gaze. “You can take this crew—including the rambunctious kittens—to the house, and I’ll handle the client myself.”

Cassie leaned closer, a warm smile blossoming, and pressed a grateful kiss on JD’s cheek. “Thank you, truly.”

Nettie couldn’t contain her excitement at the turn of events. Finally, she would have the chance to speak with Cassie privately, away from JD’s inquisitive ears. It was the perfect opportunity to unload her heart and seek her desperately needed wisdom.

As the group rose from the table, Nettie and Cassie hurriedly scooped up the tiny, squirming kittens in their arms. Just as they turned toward the door, it swung open, revealing a newcomer. With a courteous tip of his hat, Cowboy offered a polite greeting, “Ma’am.”

The visitor stood just inside the threshold, her wide, apprehensive eyes sweeping the room. She saw the men, each visibly armed, and a flicker of alarm crossed her features.

Nettie could sense the woman’s unease. She likely feared she had stumbled into a law enforcement office rather than a private investigation agency.

Stepping forward, JD gave a reassuring nod to the woman. “They’re just leaving, so I’m free to discuss your case with you,” he said, his tone steady.

The woman barely acknowledged him, her focus shifting as she continued deeper into the room, her steps hesitant. “I’m looking for my sons,” she stated.

Nettie felt an unsettling prickle race down her spine, a warning echoing in her mind. Something about the woman set her on edge, and an instinct pulled at her gut.

“Let this group exit first, and then we’ll sit down and discuss your sons,” JD suggested, his demeanor calm yet commanding. He leaned down to place a soft kiss on Cassie’s cheek. “Go now,” he urged gently. “I’ve got this.”

The group began to move toward the door, but suddenly, the woman’s eyes widened in recognition. “Aren’t you that ADA who is so good?” she asked.

A swell of unexpected warmth washed over Nettie at the woman's words. Though she had never indulged in vanity, she felt pride in being noticed for her work. “I am,” she replied, flashing a genuine smile.

“Good.” The woman’s expression shifted dramatically, her eyes narrowing with determination. She reached for her purse, and Nettie felt an electric tension filling the air—Doc and Cowboy stiffened, their bodies instinctively preparing for a confrontation. The woman must have sensed the charged atmosphere, as she quickly added, “I’m just getting something for an autograph.”

As she rummaged through her purse, the mood in the room thickened. When she finally revealed a weapon, pointing it directly at Nettie, the world tilted perilously on its axis. In an instant, Doc surged forward, positioning himself protectively in front of her, his hand deftly drawing his firearm. Simultaneously, Cowboy aimed his weapon at the woman, the weight of the situation pressing heavily upon them. In her peripheral vision, Nettie saw JD mirroring their actions while Cassie, cradling a mewling kitten in her arms, stepped confidently into the fray.

With a softness in her voice that contrasted starkly with the threat at hand, Cassie addressed the woman. “I’m not sure what you intend, ma’am, but trust me when I say that you stand no chance against this group of protective agents surrounding Nettie.”

The gun in the woman’s grip trembled slightly, her resolve faltering as she hissed, “She wants to put my son away forever, and I can’t allow that.”

Nettie’s heart raced as she observed Cassie and JD’s unspoken communication. Their eyes locked in a shared understanding. Cassie took another cautious step forward, and continued, “You must be Ash and Aaron’s mother.”

The woman glanced quickly and anxiously at Cassie, her expression betraying her unease, before shifting her gaze to where Nettie peered cautiously from around Doc’s broad frame. “I am,” the woman finally uttered.

Nettie’s gut twisted with uncertainty. She couldn’t shake the belief that neither Cassie nor any men should sacrifice themselves to protect her. She didn’t trust that this woman would risk her life after attempting to take hers.

“Mrs. McNabb,” Nettie spoke, her tone firm as she stepped out from behind Doc’s imposing figure, only to feel him instinctively shift sideways, his sturdy bulk once again forming a protective barrier around her.

“Let me by,” she insisted, jabbing a finger into Doc’s back, feeling the warmth of his body contrasted sharply against the tension in the air.

“Not going to happen,” he replied. “You can talk to her from there if you want, but I won’t allow her an open shot at you. She has to go through me first.” The strength in his words offered her comfort, yet fear still coiled tightly in her chest.

As if oblivious to the danger, Cassie took another step forward, determination etched across her features. Nettie’s heart raced in response, pounding wildly against her ribs. “Cassie,” she whispered urgently, desperation lacing her voice, but Cassie pressed on, undaunted.

“Did you orchestrate the two shootings at ADA Broussard?” Cassie questioned, her eyes nearly slitting with suspicion and resolve.

Nettie couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea that this woman, even as the mother of Casper and Aaron, could be the mastermind behind such chaos. Doubt flickered in her thoughts, for she knew all too well that criminals had a knack for surprising her in the most unsettling ways.

“She did,” came Casper’s voice, slicing through the tense air from the shadowy recesses of the back of the building.

Nettie jumped, startled by his sudden appearance. She hadn’t heard him come back at all. With wide eyes, Nettie turned to glimpse Casper’s mischievous wink before he redirected his gaze toward his mother, an intense expression sending a shiver down her spine.

Nettie’s heart plummeted into an icy pit in her stomach when she noticed he wasn’t brandishing a weapon. Instead, he stood there with his arms raised high in surrender. The chilling thought raced through her mind—could a mother truly aim a gun at her child? Fear tight in her chest, she desperately wished that wasn’t the case.

“Where is Aaron?” she asked, each word amplified with anxiety.

Casper’s expression hardened as he replied, “He’s tucked away safe, spilling everything he knows to the police about your little escapades.” He took a bold step forward, and Nettie felt panic rising within her. She wanted to scream at him to halt, to arm himself before approaching a woman who could easily wield a gun against three others without flinching. The tension in the room was palpable, and every instinct screamed that this confrontation was perilous.

Mrs. McNabb’s voice rose to a piercing screech, filled with anger and betrayal. “How could you do this to me?” she spat. “You were supposed to protect Aaron and help him avoid trouble, not pile more chaos onto our already overflowing plates.”

From her vantage point, Nettie saw Casper inching away, almost slipping out of her vision as he positioned himself slightly ahead of Doc. “I tried,” he responded. “But your constant interference threw everything off balance.”

“You jeopardized everything when you chose to side with her,” Mrs. McNabb retorted, fury flowing in her voice.

“I see both sides of this, Mom,” Casper countered, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped. “I’m no longer your mother. You’ve ruined everything that Aaron and I shared.”

Casper stepped entirely out of Nettie’s view. “You were the one who stifled him. You pushed him into actions he should never have taken—like drinking excessively and gambling away the family savings,” he said.

“Guys,” Casper said. Nettie’s heart raced as she watched Doc methodically replace his sidearm, the smooth motion perplexing her. A glance to the side revealed JD mirroring Doc’s actions, his expression unreadable. She couldn’t catch a glimpse of Cowboy, but she could only imagine he had followed suit, tucking his weapon away.

A wave of fear surged within Nettie, intensifying as she considered the possible consequences for Casper and Doc. Would Mrs. McNabb shoot one of them to get to her? A sense of dread gnawed at her. Why were they allowing her this opportunity? The urge to seize Doc’s firearm and protect everyone overwhelmed her, yet she knew he would never permit her to remove it from the safety of its holster. He wouldn’t allow her to make a move without his vigilant presence blocking her from Mrs. McNabb’s view.

“Mom,” Casper continued, calmly, “whether you like it or not, you’re my mother. You can salvage this situation by simply putting your gun away. Look around—my men are showing you their trust by holstering their weapons first.”

Nettie stood resolute, a fierce determination burning in her chest. She couldn’t bear the thought of a man putting himself in harm’s way for her sake. Though she wrestled with the notion that it was illogical, her heart ached at the prospect of anyone getting hurt—or worse, losing their life—because of her. In a moment of clarity, she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She kicked Doc sharply behind the knees with a swift and unexpected move. As he buckled forward in surprise, she grabbed his weapon and deftly sidestepped, her heart racing as the tension in the air crackled.

Then, like a sudden storm breaking, the chilling sound of screaming pierced through the chaos, sending shivers down her spine before flying bullets filled the office.