Page 98 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“Determined,” Colton says. “But my brother is right. We’re here. We’re not going anywhere because we’ve got nothing to hide. Neither does Melissa.”

It’s a gamble, but Esparza doesn’t strike me as a fool. Jake did spin quite the web for the cartel to believe him regarding the drugs and Melissa’s arrest. His most recent actions have raised a red flag with these people. Esparza wants his money, and he wants to protect his reputation. The only way that’s going to happen is if the responsible thief is punished. The real thief.

“I don’t think you want word to get out that Jake Miller bamboozled you and your associates,” Colton adds. “Because if you let that fucker walk, if you go after Melissa, that’s what’s going to happen. Jake will figure a way out of this state and outof the country, and the world will know what went down here tonight. You’ll be the stooge.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Esparza bluntly replies.

We’re playing with fire.

We might get burned. But from the moment we got Sammy’s call, we knew it would get to this. There’s no other way.

30

Melissa

When Jake returns, I’ve yet to figure out a way to get myself out of this mess.

I’m cuffed to this stupid chair, shaking and terrified, trying to come to terms with the situation. It’s particularly infuriating to want to do more and not be able to even move.

My wrists hurt, so I tell Jake as soon as he walks in, “The cuffs are too tight. You have to loosen them a bit.”

He gives me a crazed look as he starts pacing across the room. Outside, it’s dark and cold, the winter slowly and steadily creeping into the old house. Shivers run down my spine. I’m not sure if it’s because of the drop in temperature or because of Jake’s terrifying expression.

“Your comfort is the least of my concerns, Melissa.”

“What happened? Where were you?”

Jake stills in front of the fireplace, slowly turning to face me. Only now do I see the anger, the fear, and the insecurities bubbling to the surface, overwhelming an already overwhelmedman who still has a gun in his hand.

“Here and there. Listening. Watching. Eavesdropping. Realizing that your boyfriends screwed me over before I even had the chance to really drive my point home.”

“What do you mean?” I ask hearing the tremor in my voice.

“I was going to get word to them, to let them know they can get you back if they pay me,” Jake says. “I figured I’d find them at the sheriff’s station, moping around, waiting for a ransom call. But no, I found Laurel and Louisa there, both in custody. Laurel. How the fuck did they find that bitch when I couldn’t?”

“They have Laurel?” I gasp, a splinter of hope cutting through my heart.

“Of course, which means everything is off the table,” Jake says. “If she’s in custody, I’m fucked. They got to her before I could.”

The realization slams into me, damn near knocking the air out of my lungs. “Laurel disappeared before you could kill her after she testified on your behalf,” I mumble. “Like you killed Bruce. That’s why nobody could find him.”

“You have no idea how much work I put into this project,” he scoffs. “How many hours, how much energy I burned to make this whole thing happen, from the planning stages and all the way down to the execution. Yet every fucking time, somebody had to get something wrong along the way. And here I am, fucked sideways.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It wasn’t supposed to end like this!” Jake snaps and points the gun at me. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this, but…”

“Whoa, whoa, hold on, Jake, talk to me,” I say, desperate to live. “Maybe Laurel didn’t say anything to the cops. I mean, she lied for you once, didn’t she? Did she know you’d try to kill her after the trial?”

He takes a moment to think about it, then slowly shakes his head. “I don’t think so. We parted on somewhat friendly terms. I paid her. Told her not to be a stranger.”

“Was she in contact with Bruce?”

He shakes his head again. “No. Not that I know of.”

“So technically speaking, Laurel might not even be aware of what’s going down here. Maybe Colton and the sheriff found her, but she’s not saying anything. How close were you able to get to her?”

“I stole a janitor’s uniform. I snuck in. But I couldn’t get in to see her or talk to her. Some of the deputies came back. My photo is plastered everywhere. I barely snuck back out without getting caught.”

---