Acres, Natalie - Cowboy Boots and Unsettled Debts [Cowboy Boots 3] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) (19 page)

“We’ve had a change in plans all the way around. Tonight, Ace, Casey, Porter, and Fowler will spend the night at your place, Abby. They were with you at Club Sex in
Chicago
. Casey is already in place as your ‘brother’ thanks to his own choice of cover for this job. That’s the way we’ll play this thing until the end. I don’t like it, but we’ll go with it.”

She didn’t approve either, but apparently some things were better left unchanged.

“We’ll leave here in three separate vehicles tomorrow afternoon. The new resort opens its gates at five, and registration for the first vacation week begins at six. Three cabins are reserved. You’ll be staying with me, Kit, and Ace.”

“That makes no sense. Juraz has seen Ace. You’re putting him over at the house with Casey tonight? That move will set off alarms.”

“She’s right,” Kit said.

Surprise, surprise. Someone listened to what she had to contribute. Apparently, her point was valid. She was pretty certain Kit wouldn’t want to share the same roof with her and Ace.

She should’ve thought of that, too. She’d share a house with the two men she’d fucked in the last twenty-four hours.

“All right, Casey, Porter, and Fowler—you’re at the other place tonight.”

“What about arranging the technology?” Fowler asked.

“I can handle that,” Judson volunteered.

Brantley cleared his throat. “Judson is as familiar with our systems as you are, Fowler. He designed some of the hardware and perfected many of our programs.”

Fowler grunted. He apparently didn’t have an argument, and if he did, he kept his views to himself.

Smart move. Abby understood what Judson could do. He was a computer genius.

“Why is it that tomorrow Abby is assigned to you, Kit, and Ace?” Judson asked.

Ace smirked. “Sucks for you, huh, Jud?”

“It’s Judson,” he snapped. “And I’m all right with it. I’m not questioning authority. However, I’d like to know why this decision was reached.”

“I’m getting there,” Brantley said, redirecting their focus toward the television set. “All right, take a look at this photo. You’ll notice this row of cabins.” He pressed a button and paused the video. “Each cabin houses two separate huts. We have these three reserved.” He indicated two cabins in the middle of the screen and pointed to the specific quarters they’d occupy.

“We’ll be with Abby here,” he said, pointing to the accommodations in the middle. “Casey and Fowler will stay in the cabin on the right. We’re assuming Juraz may occupy the hut next to them once he figures out where Abby is staying. Judson, you and Porter will occupy the cabin on the left.

“The reasons for the assignment should be clear. Casey has excellent instincts. He’s a sharpshooter and has a good handle on explosives. He’ll be able to keep an eye on Juraz through mobile surveillance. Judson will cover us using the same equipment, but he will also be our key man for transmitting data through the earpieces. I don’t want a bunch of senseless chatter going on while we’re trying to seduce Juraz.”

“Seduce him?” Porter asked. “Now you want to fuck him, too?”

“I never wanted to fuck him,” Abby reminded him before Brantley could respond. “I just want to kill him.”

“Same difference,” Kit said, winking. “You can fuck a man into an early grave. I know that better than anyone.”

“I doubt that,” Ace said, licking his lips and staring right at Abby.

Kit snarled. “Let’s move on, Brantley.”

“I’m trying. If you guys would pay attention, we’ll get through this so we can rest before tomorrow.”

“What’s our cover?” Judson asked, arching a brow.

“You and Porter are single guys interested in the lifestyle. Recently unattached, you’ll need to keep in mind you don’t want an arm ornament at the end of the first night. You’ll be able to mingle if you can keep your distance from the women there looking to find an appropriate match.”

“What about us?” Casey asked.

“You need to step into that role of Abby’s brother. Follow your instincts. If Juraz asks you about us, you’ll pretend you’re there to keep a watch over her. Your story is she hooked up with the three of us right after she and Porter parted ways.”

“How am I supposed to explain this to Juraz?” Abby asked. “He’ll find a way for us to be alone.”

“You mean what are you supposed to tell him when he wants to know what went wrong between the two of you?”

“Yes.”

“Use the old ‘three is better than one’ scenario,” Brantley said.

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Don’t worry, Abby. We’ll make it look real,” Kit said.

“I can make an easy believer out of her, Kit. Don’t worry,” Ace taunted him.

Kit laughed. “You keep talking, Ace. Keep running that mouth.”

Abby ignored them and studied Porter. “Juraz might have a problem with Porter. He may stop him at the gate since he was my last known lover.”

“He may stop all of us at the gate,” Casey pointed out.

“We’ve thought of that, too,” Brantley explained. “If any of us are asked to leave, come back here. Don’t stay at either house. Go underground and wait.

“Meet in the main compound. If you’re followed, choose one of the small bunkers and send out a signal as soon as you’re under. We need to know when you go dark.

“Once you’re considered out of the picture, you’re of no use to the team except by way of tracking and keeping an eye on the monitors. We need to watch for intruders here at all times.”

“Do you think anyone has made the connection between the Donovan farm and Kane place?” Fowler asked. “Surely someone in Juraz’s organization realizes these two properties were once owned by the very men responsible for starting the Underground Unit.”

“No,” Brantley replied. “After Sam Kane died, the locals were under the impression that Brock Donovan rented out his place and
Sydney
sold hers. The deed was transferred to a corporation—our fake employer as a matter of fact. Our covers are solid. Juraz has no idea what he’s up against.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Juraz stared at the photographs scattered across his desk. “Who gave you this information?”

“When we couldn’t find the girl, we approached a farm hand on the neighboring property and made him talk.”

“How much did that cost us?”

“It would’ve cost you about a million. He pissed us off and we killed him,” Horatio remarked.

Horatio was Juraz’s first cousin. He was always pissed off. At times like these, that was a plus, a real advantage. However, Horatio concerned him. He was next in line to take over the cartel should something happen to Juraz. He was deeply troubled over Horatio’s recent appointment.

Horatio provided muscle, but he wasn’t a leader. He wasn’t a great visionary, something the cartel needed and expected.

“Start at the beginning. What did the old man tell you?”

“Brock Donovan and his brothers own both properties—the one where Abby said she lived and the other connecting farm. Apparently, Donovan is married to Sam Kane’s daughter. That’s how he came to own two prime pieces of land. The old man said the place is haunted, all kinds of ghosts there, he said.”

“That’s superstitious bullshit.”

“No, he said now you see them, now you don’t. He said the Donovans have magic tricks and can vanish.”

Juraz stared at Abby’s photograph. She was such a beautiful woman. And even now, he wanted her. He couldn’t help himself. He longed to know the feel of her soft body under his. Juraz jerked. He looked up at Horatio and said, “Vanish? What do you mean, they just disappear?”

“The old guy said he’s watched them dive across the land like they would jump into a swimming pool. Then, voila! They’re gone.”

Juraz rubbed his temples. “You and I both know that isn’t possible.” Sometimes Horatio was a true dumbass. “They must have tunnels under the property. Get our guys out there tonight and find out. I want to know where these hiding spots are in case our little girl here decides to head for one.”

He waved Abby’s picture in front of Horatio’s face. “I still want her.”

“No, Juraz,” Horatio said. “I tell you this because I love you, cousin. This is a bad idea. She’s protected. She’s in that organization. She’s a spy.”

Juraz narrowed his gaze. “Which is it, Horatio? Is she a spy or an operative with the Underground Unit?”

“What’s the difference?”

“The Underground Unit operatives are trained to kill and have taken out plenty of men while they’ve been in their beds. Spies? Well, we both know how easily they can be eliminated. They’re good for reporting information and that’s about it.”

Juraz returned to the six photographs in front of him. “So we have a team of elite operatives staying with us. Our grand opening is destined to set off a lot of fireworks, eh?”

“We’re prepared, cousin,” Horatio said.

He formed a steeple with his hands and leaned back. Studying Abby’s picture, he said, “Yes, we are. We’re ready for them. They’re ready for us. The only advantage we have is they have no idea we’re expecting them.”

* * * *

“So you fucked Ace?” Kit asked as she settled in later that evening.

“Yes.”

“And you don’t think you owe me an explanation for that?” Kit asked, amused. He’d known she had feelings for Ace when he’d joined her in the shower earlier that morning. He’d known, and he’d gone first “in there” anyway, hoping he’d give her enough to keep her satisfied but aware of the strong feelings she and Ace shared.

He’d witnessed the chemistry between them. He hadn’t been their shadow for nothing. He’d known from the moment he first saw them gazing into one another’s eyes when she’d strutted around Belize in that damn white string bikini.

Abby strolled around the enormous bed—a custom-made special mattress about the size of two kings put together. “I don’t owe you, Kit. Remember how we got here. You left me, remember?”

“Yes, I did,” he admitted, watching her. She’d changed out of her shorts after the meeting and now wore a simple cotton dress. The hot pink brought out the color in her rosy cheeks, and she obviously decided against undergarments. No lines visible anywhere.

His mouth watered as he stared at those perfect buds pressing through the skimpy dress. The short little number was low in the front, high in the back. If she bent over, her ass cheeks would be there for a man’s viewing just as pretty as a puckered peach.

She shot him a sweet smile, and it was forced. He saw that and even understood. She still carried the hurt, cultured the pain. She’d never forget. He was her first love. They were crazy about one another. They’d made plans for the future. They were going to grow old together, die in one another’s arms.

“We were young, Abby. We had romantic notions.”

She sighed. “That’s what it was. Youth. Craziness. Lust. That’s all, right?”

“No. I’ve already told you how I felt. I love you. I never stopped. But things have changed for you. Unfortunately, you’re in love with him, too.”

“He’s not the only one I love, Kit.” She walked over to the window. “I’m still in love with Judson.”

“I suspected as much.”

“And the rest of them.”

“What do you mean the rest of them? You’ve only been with me, Judson, Ace, and that nerd you see whenever you need some downtime.”

She faced him. “I’m in love with Casey, Porter, Fowler, Ace, Brantley, you, and Judson—seven men.”

He gulped. “Huh. Well, how about that.” He stood there dumbfounded.

“You don’t believe me,” she said, stalking him. “Of course you wouldn’t. You relate love to fucking, and since we seem to have a lot of chemistry together, you can’t imagine anyone else giving me what I need.”

“Did Ace?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, he did.”

“And what have the others done for you, Abby?” he asked, searching her eyes.

“They’ve been my rocks, my boulders. They’ve been here when I’ve needed them. They’ve guarded me with their lives.”

“I gave up mine and yours to protect you! Don’t you understand that?” Before he thought, he grabbed her by the arm. “Do you think I wanted to leave you? Do you? Do you think I didn’t cry out in the darkness? Wake up in a cool sweat, my body drenched in moisture as I thought of the pain I caused you, of the agony I had to experience myself? What is wrong with you, woman?” He shook her again. “This isn’t normal! You can’t love seven men at one time!”

“Why the hell not?” Porter asked, entering the room, taking cautious steps.

“This is between me and Abby, Porter.”

“Not really,” he objected. “If what you’re saying is true.” He addressed Abby. “Is it true? Are you in love with all seven of us?”

She took a deep breath. “I need to get some rest.”

Porter stroked his chin. He paced. He ran his hand through his hair. Finally, he pointed toward Kit’s hand clasped around Abby’s forearm. “Let her go, Kit. This isn’t the way to solve problems.”

“Really? You think I don’t know how to handle Abby?”

“Handle me?” she asked, appalled.