Page 68 of Claimed By 3 Mountain Men

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “The trail cams are great for catching movement, but they’re passive. We need something that’s going to actively lure whatever’s out there to come closer to our cameras.”

“A bait station?” Ben suggests, raising an eyebrow.

“Exactly,” I say, glad he’s on the same page. “But not just any bait. It has to be something that would draw in predators—thekind that might be interested in what’s happening around here. Something that would attract poachers, too.”

Ben’s brow furrows in thought. “You’re thinking something that mimics a kill?”

“Precisely,” I reply, nodding. “If we can set up a site that looks like it’s recently been hit, with a fresh kill or something that smells like it, we might be able to draw in whatever—or whomever—has been setting these traps.”

Ben leans back against the railing, considering the plan. “We could use some of the wild fish I’ve caught or something like it. We’d need to scatter it strategically, though. Make it look natural, like something a predator dragged in.”

I nod, feeling a spark of excitement. “And we’ll place the cameras in a wide perimeter around the site, to cover every angle. That way, no matter which direction they approach from, we’ll get it on camera.” I toy with my braid. “I’ve got a pretty good idea of where this thing likes to hang out, and whoever set that trap does too.”

Ben seems to like the idea, he nods in agreement, a thoughtful look crossing his features. “We’ll need to be careful about the placement though. If we’re too obvious, whoever’s doing this might catch on and avoid the area completely.”

“Agreed,” I say. “We’ll set up the cameras at a higher vantage point, and make sure to hide them in the trees. That way, they won’t be easily spotted, and we’ll have a better view of the entire site.”

Ben nods, tapping a spot on the map where the forest is particularly dense. “Here. This area has good cover, and there’s a natural clearing nearby that could work for the bait station. It’s far enough from the main trails that it won’t be stumbled upon by accident, but close enough to known poaching areas to attract the right attention.”

“That’s perfect.”

Ben looks at me, his hazel eyes searching mine. “You realize this could be really dangerous, right? If we’re dealing with poachers, they’re not going to take kindly to being caught on camera.”

“I know,” I say quietly, meeting his gaze. “But this might be our only chance to get the evidence we need. It’s a risk worth taking.”

I can feel the heat of his gaze on me, his eyes flicker between mine and my lips, and suddenly, the air outside feels a little too thick. My heart skips a beat as Ben moves just a fraction closer, his hand brushing lightly against mine. There’s a tension there, something simmering just beneath the surface, and for a split second, I forget about the plan, the danger, and the uncertainty of everything.

All I can think about is how close he is and how much I missed kissing and touching the brothers.

And then, before I can even process it, he leans in, his eyes locking onto mine as if he’s searching for something—permission, maybe, or just a sign that I’m feeling the same thing he is.

“Mac…” he murmurs, his voice is soft, almost hesitant, as if he’s not quite sure where this is going but is willing to take the leap anyway.

Just as he starts to close the distance between us, the patio door swings open with a loud creak, and we both jerk back as if we’ve been caught doing something we shouldn’t. Hank stands in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the scene, his expression a mix of confusion and something else—anger, maybe, or suspicion.

“What the hell is going on here?”

Ben straightens up, running a hand through his hair as if to shake off whatever just happened. “We’re just discussing theplan,” he says, his tone is neutral, but I can tell he’s rattled by Hank’s sudden appearance.

Hank’s eyes narrow even further. “Doesn’t look like just a discussion to me.”

I feel my cheeks flush, and I quickly look down at the ground, trying to gather my thoughts, and figure out how best to diffuse the situation. “We were talking about how to set up the cameras,” I say, forcing my voice to stay steady. “Ben was just… helping me figure out the logistics.”

Hank doesn’t look convinced, but he doesn’t press the issue either. Instead, he steps out onto the porch, and crosses his arms. “So what’s the plan, then?”

“You want to help?” I ask in a tight voice.

He shrugs. “Sure as shit not going to let Ben run off alone with you and have all the fun.”

I blush, feeling the heat creep up my cheeks.

“Well, then, if you’re coming along, you might as well strap in, because it’s going to be a long night.”

“My favorite kind,” he replies with a smirk.

18

BEN

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