Page 100 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“I never played you, Ramon, Melissa was going to run off—”

Ramon cuts him off. “Say that lie one more time, and I’ll put a bullet in your head right here. I heard Miss Buchanan’s revised statement. Here I am, terrorizing these good folks, hounding this poor woman, thinking she’s going to get me my money back, while you’ve been doing what, exactly? Laughing behind my back? What the fuck are we doing here, Jake?”

“I… I never… Ramon, you gotta believe me…”

“You wanted Melissa to go down for you. You made me believe this girl tried to pull off one hell of a brazen heist. Truthfully, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have bought into it. You were the one transporting my merchandise. You’re the lazy, greedy little fucker. And you made me look like the ultimate stooge,” Ramon sighs. “Honestly, at this point, I’m too tired to start from scratch and try to get my money back.”

“What do you mean?” Jake mumbles, the color draining from his face.

I can feel his dread almost echoing within me as Ramon raises his gun and points it at Jake. “I need to make an example out of you. My honor demands it. Nobody plays Ramon Esparza for a fool and gets away with it.”

“Ramon! Wait!”

The bullet pops through his head, throwing him backward.

My scream is muffled as I hide my face in Ethan’s coat, averting my gaze. I hear Jake’s body drop with a pathetic thud. I can almost hear the last breath escaping from his chest. He’s gone. It’s over.

31

Melissa

Flanked by Colton and Mitch, hiding still in Ethan’s arms, all I can do is look around and listen as the aftermath of Jake’s murder unfolds in steady, heavy tones. I watch Ramon’s goons get Jake’s body out and carry him to the trunk of one of the Escalades.

“Use a tarp. It’ll take forever to clean that blood, otherwise,” Ramon instructs his men, then turns his attention to us. “An apology won’t be enough for everything that has happened between us,” he adds, focusing on me, in particular. “But I don’t regret letting you live when we first met, Melissa. I followed my instinct. I wanted to see what you were like. In a way, I suppose, I was already having doubts, but it wasn’t until your friends put things in a different perspective that I realized how far Jake had gone with his scheme.”

“I never stole a thing,” I tell him.

“Yet you took the fall for Jake.”

“It was the only thing I could do. My court-appointed attorney told me to confess so I could maybe get a shorter sentence. Turnsout that wasn’t the best advice, but I didn’t have any evidence to counteract the prosecution’s either.”

“Yes, I was there,” Ramon says. “It’s in the past now. You can’t undo any of it, just as I can’t undo what happened earlier. Please, Melissa, accept my apologies. Rest assured, the cartel will never bother you again.” He glances at Colton. “I believe your friends procured the evidence they need to clear your name.”

Colton scoffs. “Provided you leave Laurel Buchanan alone.”

“I have no business with that girl. I already got my retribution,” Ramon replies. “Our business here is concluded.”

“Is it, though? You killed Kyle and Jason,” Mitch cuts in.

I gasp, horror crushing my very soul. “Oh no!”

“The truth had yet to reveal itself, and I needed to make sure you all understood the stakes,” Ramon sighs. “I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do to change that. I will pay for proper burial, and I will instruct my lieutenants to keep this entire district clear and safe on top of the local police.”

“The best thing you can do is take your cartel business and get as far away from Long Pine as possible,” Colton says.

“Consider it done.” Ramon gives him a cool smirk. He walks out, accompanied by the rest of his goons.

Colton watches him like a hawk, while Ethan and Mitch analyze the situation through the dirty windows. A tremor takes over my body, but Ethan’s firm grip keeps me grounded as I let the adrenaline flow through me. As I try to ascertain my condition overall—aside from the horrific fright of everything that just happened, I feel… fine. Relieved even. At peace. The nightmare is coming to an end, and while I don’t like the way it happened, Iam thankful for it.

“Give me a ten-minute head start before you call the sheriff,” Ramon says over his shoulder. “It will be better this way.”

As soon as they’re all in their cars and driving off, Colton turns around and comes closer, cupping my face with both hands while I’m still tucked away in Ethan’s arms.

“Is it over?” I ask with a trembling voice.

“It is,” he says.

“Really?”

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