Page 32 of Truth is the Ultimate Weapon

“Coy, these dates…” Kenzie's breaths grew heavier, the weight of awareness settling upon her like a heavy blanket, intensifying the anxiety building within her. With each passing moment, the magnitude of their discovery loomed larger in her mind, stirring a whirlwind of apprehension and uncertainty. She struggled to steady her racing heartbeat, her thoughts racing as she tried to make sense of the implications, her mind churning with a mix of dread and determination. “I need to sit down.”

“You are sitting,” Devyn said.

“Then I need to stand,” Kenzie fired back, rising to her feet and immediately starting to pace, her movements driven by a surge of restless energy. “That’s the year your father died on one and the other…”

“The year your father died.” Coy finished. “You said you always thought it odd that your father died of heart complications when he’d always been a healthy man. I think we know why now.”

“You don’t think…” Kenzie began.

“We have a serial killer on our hands?” Coy posed the question that surely had been racing through all their minds. “We need to look at land deeds versus death records.”

“It’s all adding up, falling into place,” Rip began, “But still not as clear a picture as we need to move forward and shut this whole damn thing down. All the players.”

“Glen. We need to get to him.” Kenzie interrupted, a sudden surge of nervousness gripping her as she considered the possibility that her uncle could be in danger and the next victim they investigate. “Steele wanted the ranch. He needs protection until we know more and eliminate all the threats.”

Coy nodded, “Especially since Steele is on to him and in the wind.”

“Shit,” Rip muttered under his breath as he read a message on his phone, his expression going blank and his eyes darkening as if he'd seen a ghost resurrected from the grave to haunt them—one of them in particular. “I just got the file on Lucy Stone.”

“And?” Nash questioned urgently, his anxiety evident as he sought to uncover the truth about his identity. “What the hell does it say, Rip?”

Rip looked up from his phone, rendered speechless by the weight of the question. Unsure how to delicately navigate the complexity of the situation, he knew the answer he was about to deliver would be deeply painful, particularly for one among them who was the most unsuspecting of them all. Devyn must have sensed his hesitation and the weight of what he was reluctant to convey, for she reached out to grasp his hand in a comforting gesture. With a reassuring glance, she silently urged him to share whatever information he was privy to.

Rip turned to her, locked in her gaze, “It says she had a baby… girl.”

15

The midday sun cast a warm glow over the ranch as Rip and Devyn found themselves out in the secluded corner of the barn, away from prying eyes and curious ears, while he let her work out her frustrations and feelings on a punching bag. They’d gotten in the habit of spending time together this way over the past weeks, where Rip would teach Devyn self-defense and how to defend herself properly. Or sometimes, get in a good workout together. More often than not, the workouts would end with them romantically entwined in each other’s embrace for a different kind of workout… an intimate one.

“You ready?” Rip asked, adjusting to a sparring position.

Devyn nodded eagerly, her eyes shining with determination. She had always prided herself on her independence, but the idea of being able to defend herself against potential threats was both empowering and exhilarating. But today, it was about more than that. It was about working out her grievances. Fear and frustration consumed her, as did a sense of uncertainty about the disorder in her life and the truth that she’d just been made aware of.

The two began to spar, Devyn landing heavier fists, taking their engagement beyond the level of tame and to pure fight. Fully aware of her demeanor as tears ran down her face, Rip let her whale on him, punch after punch, kick after kick, because he knew she needed it. It was the only way he knew how to help her through such a turbulent moment. Finding out who she really was couldn’t have been easy. Especially since the events of late already had her on edge, and she was questioning who she was within the family and beyond. It all started because her mother secretly had her will redone –– the will Devyn had already prepared months before. That shook her confidence and left her questioning… everything, especially why her mother didn’t seem to trust her.

Finding out who she really was couldn’t have made those challenges any easier to face. They cast a darker looming cloud over everyone as the truth began to unravel. They’d been through a lot, specifically Devyn, and it pained him to see her like this.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, Rip decided to put Devyn's newfound skills to the test.

Devyn rose to the challenge, her instincts taking over as she blocked Rip's punches and countered with moves of her own. She felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, her senses heightened as she focused on the task at hand.

Their movements became a blur of motion as they sparred with increasing intensity, each one pushing the other to their limits. Devyn felt a sense of exhilaration, unlike anything she had ever experienced before, her body moving with a grace and precision she never knew she possessed. Rip knew she needed this.

Devyn’s tears turned to sobs and her grunts to cries of frustration. She was working it out, feeling the pain, letting it course through her veins while healing her mind, body, and soul. This was good because they were all in danger, and it was no time to let up. Devyn needed to get over the emotional bridge she was currently dancing on and turn her fury into a fight.

Their training sessions had always been intense, but tonight was different. Tonight, Rip seemed more focused and determined than ever to teach Devyn the skills she needed to defend herself while pushing her harder. As they moved through the drills, with each strike and block, she felt herself letting go ––of what, she wasn’t sure.

But as the night wore on and exhaustion began to set in, Devyn found herself growing more distracted by Rip's proximity. The way his muscles rippled with each movement, the way his eyes locked with hers in silent understanding – it was all too much for her to ignore.

Their movements grew more fluid, more synchronized, as they danced around each other in a delicate balance of strength and grace. Devyn felt a thrill coursing through her veins as Rip's hands guided her through the motions, his touch igniting a fire within her that she couldn't extinguish. He was a welcome distraction.

As the training session drew to a close, Rip stepped back and regarded Devyn with a mixture of pride and admiration. "You did great, Devyn," he said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "You're a natural."

As they stood there, catching their breath and basking in the afterglow of their session, Devyn felt a sudden rush of emotion wash over her. She looked at Rip, her heart pounding in her chest, and before she could stop herself, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was electric, sending shockwaves of desire coursing through Devyn's body. She felt Rip respond eagerly, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss with a passion that took her breath away.

In an instant, everything suddenly changed. Devyn found herself pinned against the wall, Rip's body pressed against hers in a tantalizing position. Their eyes locked in a silent exchange of desire as they teetered on the edge of something forbidden, something dangerous.

With a hunger that bordered on desperation, Devyn reached up to capture Rip's lips again in a searing kiss, her heart pounding in her chest as he responded with equal fervor. Their bodies moved as one, their movements fueled by a fervent and passionate need that demanded to be satisfied. In that moment, there was no past, no future, only the here and now as they surrendered themselves completely to each other.

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