Page 31 of Taken by the Lawman

Deegan had heard great things about the Cade brothers, but there was nothing to prepare him for meeting the five muscular men in person. He dragged his gaze from each brawny, above average in height, man as Kiersten introduced them. Phoenix, Kace, Zander, Nixon, and Cull. That should be easy enough to remember. Although Deegan was tall and muscular himself, he wasn’t too proud to say he’d hate to piss off one of the Cade brothers. They would be a force to reckon with.

“Nice to meet you,” the one called Phoenix said. The others mumbled a half-hearted greeting. They all had similar looks and pale blue eyes.

“Don’t tell Ma and Pa I’m here and that I have a couple of bruises,” Kiersten said over the rim of her coffee cup. Although she did have a black eye, the swelling was down and she looked rested. She wasn’t holding her side like she was last night.

“And how do you plan on keeping you being here a secret?” Kace asked.

“We’ll put Deegan’s truck in the barn and lay low. I don’t want to be the source of making them worry any more than they already do.”

“So that would mean you and Bronx plan to stay here, in the garage apartment? Together?” If looks could kill, Deegan would be dead. Nix stared at him with obvious loathing while Kace cracked his knuckles and one corner of Zander’s mouth dipped into an agitated frown. Cull was grinning as if he knew something the others didn’t.

“Relax.” Kiersten shook her head in warning. “Neither one us want anyone to know we’re here. We’re working a case that needs our extra focus.”

“A case?” Nix chuckled. “That’s what you’re calling that? He didn’t have anything to do with almost getting you killed, did he?” A thumb was pointed in Deegan’s direction.

“No. I told you!” Kiersten sighed.

“How can we help?” Phoenix asked.

“Well, we don’t plan on asking you boys to do any more work than you already do. My sisters-in-law already share you way too much with criminals.” Kiersten loved her brothers, and their wives, and there was no way she could ask them for help.

“Look, I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we want to find this asshole, make a single file line, and each of us have a few minutes alone with him for what he did to you, sis,” Zander said gruffly.

“I’ll be the first in line,” Nix growled.

“Okay. Okay. Thank you, but Deegan and I have this covered. If I need something I’ll ask, but seriously, I can handle myself,” she assured them. She gave Deegan a side glance. “We both can handle ourselves.”

Deegan appreciated the way the Cade men were protective over Kiersten. He wanted to pledge to them that he’d protect her too with everything he had, but he knew she’d be ticked. She wanted everyone to see her as an equal and not a woman in a male-dominated career. Hell, Deegan had never viewed her as anything but an equal. He’d bet a limb that she was the smartest agent at the department. And one of the bravest. Not many people, man or woman, could suffer a knock down drag out and walk the next day. And here she was, even managing to smile. Deegan had lots of respect for her.

“Okay, we won’t say anything to Ma and Pa, but once they find out you’re here and we didn’t tell them, the bruises won’t matter because Ma will open a can of whoop ass on all of us.” Cull laughed.

“I only need a few days and the bruises will fade enough that I can hide them under concealer,” Kiersten said.

“Isn’t that what you used to do to hide hickeys?” Phoenix teased.

She slapped him playfully on the shoulder. “No, that’s what I did for you…all of you.” She pointed at each of them. “I’ve been a very good sister.” She smiled and Deegan’s heart lit. She was different here on the family ranch. Playful. Relaxed. Young. And so damn beautiful that he was weak. All he could think about was how much he wanted to make her his, permanently. He’d even quit the department to have her. “Now you cowboys go home to your wives, and Cull, you and Sally have a wedding to plan. Who’s going to sneak us some of Ma’s food out of the main house first?”

For men who loved to talk, none of them spoke.

“I could drive to the grocery—”

“No, Deegan. I want Ma’s cooking. She always keeps leftovers. One of them can do this, although Ma and Pa have the skillset of ninjas. It’ll have to be one of you who is sly.” She smiled and looked straight at Zander and they all followed suit.

He squinted. “Wait? Why me?”

“Because you’re the sneakiest. Even as kids when we were sneaking out, we all got caught and you never did,” Nixon said with a grin. “We got our tails busted and you thought it was funny. Let’s see if you still have the skills.”

“I don’t because Wynn has proven it. Marriage does that to a man. Weakens him,” he announced with a shrug.

“Fine, be a baby, Zan. I’ll do it. They’re probably both gone by now anyway.” Cull shook his head in irritation. “If I’m not back in twenty, come in search of me.”

They all left but Cull promised he’d come back soon.

Deegan looked at Kiersten who was messing with the fire in the woodstove. “I like how you all get along.”

“Trust me, it can be suffocating at times. Sure, we love each other dearly, but they are too protective, and it’s probably why I grew up not wanting to be taken care of by any man.” She stoked the fire alive and he admired her skill. Just another to be added to her list of many.

“You don’t need a man, Kiersten. You need a champion because that’s what it’ll take.” He smiled.

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