Page 96 of Christmas with Three Cowboys

“Nope.”

“You lead. I follow,” I tell my brother.

I always let him lead in situations like this. Frankly, I’m better with the physical side of things. If he needs me to scare the shit out of someone, push someone into submission or needs me to hurt or kill, I’m his guy. In this case, however, a different approach is necessary. I am always the last resort. Clearly, we’re not there yet.

“Alright,” Colton says. “We keep calm and—” His voice ends as he walks through the front door. “No…”

“Don’t move,” a man says.

I hear the guns clicking before I see them, but the two bodies on the floor capture my full attention. My heart is breaking. Bile rushes up to my throat.

“Kyle… Jason,” I whisper.

Darla is in the armchair, sobbing and afraid to even react at the sight of us. Sammy is on the sofa, seething and wiping tears with the back of his sweater sleeve.

Six men are present, making the living room look a whole lot smaller than it actually is. I spot the leader quickly—his demeanor makes him easily recognizable. He’s dressed well, in neutral tones of beige and cream, his hair combed, and his eyes filled with confidence as he looks at us.

“Gentlemen, glad you could join us,” he says.

The other five are goons: big and burly, clad in mostly black and carrying semi-automatic weapons. The smell of gunpowder and fresh blood invades my nostrils as I give Kyle and Jason another glance. They were shot dead and judging by the crimson pools in which they lay, by the warm color of their cheeks, it didn’t happen too long ago.

“You didn’t have to do this,” I say, cold-burning hatred dripping from my voice.

“I think I did because you fellas didn’t take us seriously,” the leader says. “It’s regrettable, and I cannot say I enjoyed it, but it had to be done.”

“Darla, Sammy, are you okay?” Colton asks. I can feel his rage blazing underneath that calm demeanor.

“Yeah… but Colt… Kyle… Jason…” Darla mumbles, then bursts into another wave of tears.

“We’re fine for now,” Sammy says, giving Darla a long, worried look. “We’re fine. We’re gonna be fine, honey.”

I notice Sammy lean toward a still-sobbing Darla. “Baby,” he whispers, “I swear, if we make it out of this alive, I’m gonna make an honest woman out of you.”

“You mean it?” she sniffs.

“Ring and everything, darlin’, I promise. Fresh start. Just take a deep breath for me, I don’t want you getting sick or passing out. Please.”

“He gets through to her, and I can almost feel Darla’s relief subtly flowing through her as she inhales deeply, then slowly lets the air out.

“Who the fuck are you?” Colton asks the leader.

“Ramon Esparza,” the leader replies. “I’m sorry we’re having to meet under these circumstances. But my patience has run thin.”

Ramon Esparza. I remember the name. The entire cartel is named after him and his brothers.

“You want Melissa,” Colton says, “or the market value of the drugs you claim she lost.”

“I’m not claiming anything. She did lose it. To the police,” Ramon replies. “You know, I met her. Sweet girl. I swear I hate having to do this.”

“Wait, what?” I blurt out. Ice fills my veins as he flashes a smile.

“Melissa. I met her in town not that long ago. I wanted to see what she was like. Jake didn’t have any kind words to say about her, but I could see it in her eyes. The ability to deceive, to lie in order to cover her ass. Sweet girl, like I said, yet capable of bending truths and hiding secrets. So, how good does that make a person?”

“This is your ultimatum, then,” Colton replies. “You come into our home. You kill two of our own. This is it? The finish line?”

“I have to finish what Melissa started,” Ramon says. “I could’ve dropped her when I met her, you know? But I decided to give hera chance, to give Jake a chance to come through. Yet here I am, with no money and no Melissa, long after I explained the terms and conditions. I assume either Jake is being inefficient or you fellas don’t understand the gravity of the situation.”

“Oh, we understood,” Colton sighs. “But you have a problem, Ramon.”

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