Fifteen minutes later, after everyone had said their good-byes, the parking lot started to clear out. Brendon helped Cheyenne into his truck and then made his way around to the driver’s side. His eyes tracked the dark areas beyond the bar as he walked.
With Z and RT there, things suddenly felt all the more real. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end and when he got into the truck, he instantly started the engine, not wanting to keep Cheyenne out in the open any longer than he had to. Wasting no time, he floored it out of the parking lot, making sure his truck mixed in with the others leaving. It wouldn’t do him much good to be singled out, even with the two enforcers somewhere behind them.
Less than ten minutes later, they were walking into Cheyenne’s house, Z and RT hot on their heels. Once the front door was closed, Cheyenne turned to face all three of them, her hands landing on her hips. Brendon watched her carefully as she studied them.
“Okay, so when are y’all gonna tell me what’s really goin’ on?”
Brendon glanced over at Z and RT, noticing how they gave each other sideways glances before they offered her matching grins.
“Honest to God, ma’am, there ain’t nothin’ to be worried about yet.”
“Well, if you can’t find this guy, I’d say that ain’t exactly true,” Cheyenne retorted.
RT said, “She’s kinda got a point there.”
“Can I get you somethin’ to drink?” Cheyenne offered, her small smile replacing the concern that had been etched on her beautiful face moments before. She didn’t look completely at ease, but she seemed to have settled down somewhat.
“That’d be awesome.”
“Iced tea or lemonade?”
“Iced tea,” both men said in unison.
Cheyenne looked at him and Brendon shook his head. For now he was good. She nodded and then disappeared into the kitchen.
“Seriously, bro. We’re merely here to make our presence known.”
“Known?”
“Yep. Nothin’ new since I talked to you last, but RT thought it’d be a good idea to head down, check things out, make sure we’re seen.”
“You think your presence is gonna send this guy runnin’?” Brendon asked, confused.
“Not at all,” RT stated sternly, the deep bass of his voice reflecting his authority. “Quite the opposite, actually. Not that we’re tryin’ to lure him here, but if we’re right, we’ll prove to be a challenge for this guy.”
“And what? Then you disappear and we’re left to fend him off?” Brendon’s anger ignited in his gut.
“Fuck no,” Z growled. “We ain’t leavin’ till we’ve got him. RT’s assigned two more agents to this. Trust me, she’s covered from all angles.”
“I don’t like luring this bastard down here,” Brendon told them frankly. “It’s too damn risky. My family is here. It’s a little close to home, know what I mean?”
“We do,” RT answered. “And if there’s any possibility to keep him far from here, that’s our main objective, but in the meantime, somethin’ tells me this is where we need to be.”
Brendon appreciated the fact that RT followed his instincts. He obviously knew what the hell he was doing, but that still didn’t help the apprehension that filled Brendon.
Oh, hell, who was he kidding? That wasn’t apprehension … that was fucking fear.
It wasn’t an option for him to lose Cheyenne. Not then, not ever.
BY THE TIME Z and RT left, heading back to the hotel they mentioned they were staying in, Cheyenne was exhausted. As she sat in bed, Scrap snoring on his new bed on the floor, she stared at the ceiling, listening to Brendon on the phone in the other room. He’d had one phone call after another, all of them from his brothers expressing their concern.
She got it. She really did. They didn’t like the fact that it appeared Sniper 1 was luring a maniac to their town. Truthfully, she knew she should bolt for a little while. Maybe head back to Abilene, spend some time with Grams. At least that way, she’d take the threat away from the people who’d become like family to her.
Then again, her Grams was the most important person in her entire life, and bringing trouble to her doorstep seemed careless.
Which meant she was stuck right there for now.
After listening to Z and RT, Cheyenne’s faith in them had doubled. She’d heard plenty of good things about their company and had even been referred to them a time or two. Never had she thought she’d really need their services though. According to them, this was one of those times when they needed to be involved.