Page 59 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)
“Drop it,” I order, and he just laughs, Clay's brother shaking his head.
“How long did you cry baby Rivera when daddy died?” and I ignore him knowing he is only doing it to get a rise from me and I will not bite today.
Dixie's dad laughs, sparking another fag and taking a long drag.
“How about you big boy?” His attention turns to Austin, “How much did you weep when we shot your girlfriend?” and Austin has a harder time controlling his temper.
Dixie's dad walks towards me slowly but bypasses me and goes for Tripp.
“And you,” his brows raise, “you're the one that took my daughter from Lucian,” he snarls, dropping his gaze from Tripp for a moment and rolling his cigarette between his fingers, the orange glow catching my attention.
“But don't worry, cos whilst you're here, chasing us.
.. they're all in the back of a van, gagged and bound with that diamond you stole.”
Tripp narrows his gaze.
But I am still stuck on what he said.
He is lying to you .
“Fuck you,” Tripp spits on him and then presses the gun into his chest.
“Do it,” her dad goads, hovering the cigarette dangerously close to his horse.
The sound of a gun being loaded has my eyes darting back to the three men, all three of their barrels are pointing on me.
The blood pumps around my body and I know if I move an inch, I’ll have bullets sunk beneath my skin.
“Light it up,” he shouts as two of the men drop their guns and move towards Aspen and Riggs’ home.
It’s now or never.
I needed to make a move or die trying.
Tripp whistles which gains the attention of Kelcie, who’s gun is still pointed at me and I find myself pulling on Chase’s reins and circling around the back of Tripp’s horse as I go to hover my hand over his horse’s rear.
Dixie's dad catches me, and he pulls a gun from his belt, shooting and grazing a bullet against my shoulder and I hiss as it burns.
I look at Austin and his eyes are wide as the bullet sinks beneath his skin and buries into his shoulder.
He screams and as he distracts everyone, I slap the horse’s rear with my reins and yell, “C'mon” and Tripp’s horse rears up just as I trot back to where he stands and aim the gun and fire.
Everything moves in slow motion as I watch the bullet spin towards Dixie’s dad before it lodges itself in the back of his head just as Travis comes down, hooves hitting his face and head and he falls to the floor.
“Fuck,” Tripp growls as he kicks his horse on to follow them down to Riggs' house and I turn my horse to Austin, my eyes scanning him.
“You okay?” my voice is laced with panic and he nods before smiling.
“Didn't even hurt,” he winks as the blood seeps into his tee sleeve.
“Hmm, I think that might be shock,” I laugh when I hear the sound of a gun being cocked and that's when those seven minutes flash before my eyes and end on the sound of a gunshot.
MORGAN
Between us all, we've paced every inch of this home. Glancing at the time, my heart is in my throat.
We have had no word from Nate to let us know that everything is okay and he said he would keep us updated.
Orla has prayed continuously; Dixie is trying her best to remain calm for Lainey's sake and Aspen hasn't moved from the window for the last hour.
The sound of tires crunching has me running for the front door.
“It's their trucks, they're all getting out,” Aspen says as I pull the door open and that's when I see him.
Running towards me, ash on his face, sweat shimmering against his skin, dried blood on his hands and clothes, but in that moment, nothing matters.
I run for him, throwing myself against his body as he holds me.
Choked sobs make my body tremble, tears streaming down my face as he holds onto me. One hand around my back, the other around the back of my neck.
“You kept your promise.”
“Always Sunflower, always,” he rasps before I pull my head from his chest and kiss him, my hands holding his face.
“I love you, Pacey.”
“I love you more,” he whispers.
“Not possible,” my words brush against his lips.
“I love you forever Sunflower, it's me and you.”
“Me and you,” I say back, his fingers dusting my hair from my face.
“Always,” he smiles, his eyes falling to my lips.
“Forever,” I whisper back before he kisses me one last time.
PACEY
We move into the living room, the sound of a fire crackling, our wives all sat near, ma in the corner with a whiskey and my eyes bounce around the room.
“It’s over,” I sigh, tapping my finger against my own whiskey glass, Morgan snuggling into my chest and my eyes skate over to my brothers, Austin included in that. Riggs fixed him up but we made him promise that once he had let his family know he was okay, that he would go to the hospital.
The gun shot that still echoes in my ears was the reason we walked away.
Kelcie and Wallen were ready to pull the trigger, Lucian holding his gun at Tripp but Riggs beat them to it and I still don’t know how he did it.
He claims the police were there and I just didn’t notice them but I didn’t believe him. Distraction maybe? The sounds of gravel shifting and branches snapping and then the gun was fired, ending it once and for all.
He saved our lives.
He was right all those weeks ago in the bunkhouse when he thought he knew who was behind it. I never asked how he knew, just took his word.
“It’s over,” Riggs nods, bringing his glass to his lips and takes a mouthful.
“You won the war my boys,” Ma says as she glances at the three of us.
“We won the war,” I mutter as I curl my arm around Morgan and hold her tightly.
I didn’t think we would come back alive from tonight, but here we are, and I am counting every single blessing.
Slicing my eyes to Riggs, he gives a heavy nod.
“Live by the ranch…” he trails off.
“Die by the ranch,” the rest of us finished his sentence before we all raised a glass.