Page 74 of Shielded Hearts

Before Colt could catch a glimpse of Aspen again, Carson drove away.

The next steps of their plan continued seamlessly, with them driving to the lake and parking far away from the cabin.

Carson went off to man his position in easy access to the cabin.

Colt grabbed his rifle, prepared to head to the sniper position—the second floor of his own dock. He paused, swinging back to face Gray.

“You’re supposed to be back at base tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” He didn’t sound excited about returning to his aircraft carrier.

Colt stepped up and gripped him by the shoulder. “Have you made a decision, then?”

“I’ve got a few more hours to make up my mind. This fight better live up to its promises and give me the adrenaline rush I need or I’ll be signing on that dotted line.” He sliced a grin at Colt.

He huffed out a chuckle. “For Willow and Aspen’s sake, let’s hope it doesn’t.”

Gray extended a fist, and Colt bumped knuckles with him.

Colt started to turn away.

“Hey, bro,” Gray called out.

He twisted toward him.

“Watch yourself. This guy is unstable.”

“Don’t you have a cloud to go fluff or something?”

Gray flashed a grin. “Cloud fluffing isn’t official pilot protocol.”

He snorted, and they went their separate ways.

When he took up his position, crouched out of sight on the second story of the dock, his heart thundered in sync to the hum of the comms device in his ear. He and his brothers were all linked, but Willow and Aspen were operating in the dark.

He steadied his breaths—the only thing he had control over. Soon Gideon would show up and Black Heart Security would end the threat.

This wasn’t about duty. It was about family. It was about making sure that Aspen could sleep without fear.

It was about protecting the woman who had managed to break through all his walls.

Three hundred yards away, a light snapped on in the cabin.

“It’s go-time,” he murmured. He clenched his fists, laser-focused on what he was about to do.

No hesitation. No mistakes.

They would end this—together. And when it was over, they would return to the ranch.

Then he would make damn sure that Aspen knew where she fit in…

Right beside him.

* * * * *

Aspen’s heart rattled around in her chest as she entered the lock code on the door. Pushing it inward and actually entering the space took a strength of will she hadn’t felt since the days of battling cancer. Then, she had to force herself to leave her house, to get in the Uber and go to chemotherapy.

She was in no less of a fight for her life now.

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