The sound a man made when his fingernails were pulled from his fingers was not a sound Killian was going to forget any time soon. They’d learned the man in the Ford was a private investigator, keeping tabs on Cedar. They knew that it was Webster who sent the email to Cedar about the cabin. The location was perfect for what Ashley had in mind: hold Cedar captive until Brock got her the money. She hadn’t planned on Cedar making friends, or falling in love, having people coming and going, which meant she’d kept eyes on Cedar after she left Saratoga Springs, knew that Cedar had kept to herself.
Plan B was formed.
Brock picked up the large knife, and Killian moved from his spot.
“You can’t kill him.”
“I can kill him. He’s a piece of shit. A man who thinks he’s above the law because of money, even flicking that law off by being a fucking sheriff.”
He wasn’t wrong. Brock had been under the thumb of fuckers like this, Killian understood, but Webster was terrified, and he was doing time, there was no getting out of that. He wouldn’t say a word about Brock and what they were doing in this room because he knew Brock wouldn’t even think twice about killing him.
“He’s not your father.”
Brock’s head jerked to Killian. “He’s just as bad.”
“You’re right. But your dad got off easy.” Killian jerked his head to Webster. “He’ll have years to ponder the error of his ways.”
Brock turned hard eyes on Webster, moved closer, and the older man started to weep. “You detail every part of the plan, and you help put that plan in motion…” He pressed the tip of the knife to Webster’s throat. “And I won’t gut you like a pig.”
Satisfied he had his attention, Brock took a step back. “Now let’s start at the beginning.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cedar
Three days after Killian told me I was marrying him and moving in, I was moved in. I’d never seen anyone move so fast. He called in the deputies, Liam and Graham, even Sebastian helped. Graham was finishing the work on my house because it was going to be my shop, and Natalie was going to manage it. There was very little work at the shelter; she could do that on a part-time basis and work with me the rest of the time. She had given up on Liam. I didn’t blame her. I loved Liam, but he was right. He had to work his shit out first. Natalie and Ron, the deputy, had been hanging out. I liked them together, and he loved karaoke…a match made in heaven.
I found I struggled to keep up because my dreams were coming true. Killian was making every one of them come true, including the baby growing inside of me. My parents were in my thoughts a lot these days. I wished they could be here, wished I could have a moment like I’d seen with Thea and Rosalie. There would always be a hole in my heart, but I was happy.
I wished Brock were here, too, wanted to share the news with him. Maybe that wasn’t fair of me, but he was my family. The only family I brought to my new one. I hadn’t heard from him, but I still held out hope that I’d see bluebells on the front stoop again.
We hadn’t told Maureen and Jared yet. They were due home from vacation in a couple days. We were having them over, so we could share. I wasn’t the only one working. Killian and Graham were working on something, but I wasn’t allowed to see it.
I was in the yard, plotting out the vegetable garden. Cooper and Max were with me. Killian was going to dig it out for me over the weekend. I was looking forward to that. He wouldn’t let me help because I was pregnant, so I’d pull up a comfy chair and watch him work, preferably shirtless.
We all heard the motorcycle at the same time. My heart raced, then nearly beat out of my chest, when I saw Killian’s truck pull up the drive and right behind him was Brock. I rubbed my eyes, convinced I was seeing things, but no, he was climbing off a motorcycle and closing the distance between us. My gaze drifted to Killian, who was leaning against his truck. I saw the ticking of his jaw, not happy, but willing to suck it up, because he knew it made me happy. I was so showing him how much I loved him later.
Brock moved right up into me, grabbed me around the waist and lifted me from the ground. “Hey, Slick.”
My arms went around his neck. “What are you doing here?”
He dropped me to my feet and grinned. “Not happy to see me.”
I punched him in the arm. “You know I am.”
Some of the good humor faded. “Some loose ends to tie up.”
I looked past him to Killian. “And you’re working with Killian?”
“Yeah.”
I took a step back and pointed to Killian then Brock. “You two are working together?” Then my face paled, remembering the last time they teamed up. Killian moved. Right up against me, pulling me close. I leaned into him. “More mob business?” I asked.
“No,” Killian said, “But we do need to talk.”
“I think I need a drink, too bad I can’t have one,” I said, then realized what I’d said when Brock’s expression shifted, his focus moving to my stomach.
“Shit. I’m sorry. That’s not how I wanted to tell you,” I said.
He eyes lifted. “You’re pregnant?”
“We are,” I whispered. “I didn’t mean—”
“You intended to tell me?”
“Of course, wasn’t sure how, hoped you…”
Brock strolled away, and my heart dropped. Killian tensed at my side. Brock stopped, pulled a hand through his hair, and looked out at the distance. I thought he was leaving, that
