Page 55 of Ranch's Resolve

“That’s good. What’s going to happen to Selena and Angelica? Are they going to be deported?” I ask, worried about the answer.

“ICE is unaware of them. Angela has offered them her protection. They can either stay in the United States or return to Mexico.”

“I have a feeling Selena will remain in here. She and her daughter seem attached to Deion and he to them. I could see Angelica returning to Santa Ana. She doesn’t speak English, and her family is there, including Cruz. What about Chule? Is he still a problem?”

“I don’t know. Angela will handle it.”

I get the feeling there's more to this than he’s saying, but I decide not to push him. Instead, I swing my leg over his hip and position my slit over his thick cock. Ranch looks into my eyes as he slides inside. We simultaneously groan as he fills me. Images of nights and mornings spent doing this send a thrill through my system. I can easily become addicted to the feel of Ranch inside me. He keeps the pace slow as the desire builds. His hand cups my cheek as he rubs a callused thumb over my skin. I lose myself in his deep blue eyes. The desire pooling in them beckons me. My mind goes blank as if he’s sucked the life out of me with those eyes. So, when the crushing waves of pleasure wash over me, I feel reborn.

Once again, we like gasping in each other’s arms as we struggle to breathe. My body is limp, but my mind hasn’t shut down.

“What are you thinking about?” Ranch asks me.

“Nothing. Everything. I’m having a hard time accepting that this is all over. We’ve been dealing with chaos for only a few days, but it feels like it’s been longer.”

“I know what you mean. Ever since the day we found Caitlin abandoned outside our clubhouse, we’ve been dealing with one trauma after another. Maybe we’ll have some peace for a few days. However, Caitlin will be pressuring us to beef up security at Crossroads. She’s terrified more women will leave like Selena did.”

I feel a twinge of guilt about my part in Carlos gaining entry to Crossroads. Ranch must have felt me tense up because hesqueezes me. “It wasn’t your fault. Stop beating yourself up. Except for you and Selena getting hurt, Carlos’s attack could be considered a good thing. If it hadn’t happened, he could have snuck over to Angela’s ranch and killed her. Also, he helped us identify weak spots in the security at Crossroads. We’ll patch them up, and the place will be better fortified.”

We lay silently for several minutes, and I realize Ranch has fallen asleep. I’m tired, but I’m also thirsty. Knowing I won’t fall asleep until after I take care of the latter situation, I carefully untangle myself and crawl out of bed. I snag the shirt Ranch tossed on the floor and put it on. It falls about mid-thigh. I consider searching my suitcase for a robe, but I don’t want to wake Ranch. The shirt will have to do.

Downstairs, I pad through the dark kitchen to the cabinet where Ranch keeps his glasses. Selecting one, I fill it with cold water from the refrigerator and then lean against the counter to stare out the window. The landscape appears otherworldly under the soft glow of the moon overhead. I take a deep breath and release it as I take in the calmness of the night. After finishing my water, I place it in the sink and turn to head back upstairs. The sound of raised voices outside stops me in my tracks.

“You betrayed me!” The low voice hisses.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen. If I had known Angela would call in the Border Patrol, I would have warned you. How did you escape?” This voice is louder, and I recognize it as belonging to Max, Ranch’s ranch manager. His question about someone escaping BP sends a chill down my spine. Turning, I locate the knife block and remove the large carving knife. I hold it down by my side as I move closer to the door. The men are on the porch. They’re out of sight behind the wall, but they’d only have to move a step or two, and they’d be able to see me through the wall of windows.

“Don’t worry about how I escaped. I did. Now, I’m going to find my wife and children and get back to Santa Ana. We need to make new plans to take out Angela. I expect you to handle things here. Have your story ready when the cops come to find the bodies of your boss and his bitch.”

I stifle a scream when the door knob twists. Whoever is on the other side slowly opens the door and moves inside the kitchen. Carlos silently moves into view. He’s holding a gun as he turns toward the living area. I swing the knife into a high arc and slice down across the wrist holding the gun. He roars with pain as I shift my momentum to jab the knife in his gut. Fighting my instinct to release the knife, I tighten my grip and yank it out before jabbing it back in. The lights flash on as Carlos drops to his knees. Standing at the entrance to the kitchen is Ranch. He, too, has a gun. While he’s pointing the gun at Carlos, who lies dying on the kitchen floor, Ranch is staring open-mouthed at me.

I skirt around Carlos to drop the knife in the sink. I wash my hands as I fight to remain in control of my emotions. When I feel Ranch at my back, I let one sob break through, but I don’t stop scrubbing Carlos’s blood from my hands. Ranch stays by my side until I turn off the water. He wraps me in his arms and pulls me close.

“Are you okay?”

“Is he dead?”

“Oh yeah, he’s dead. What happened?”

I give him a quick summary of the conversation. “The other man was Max. I’m certain.”

Ranch squeezes me before releasing me and pulling out his cell phone. “I had a feeling he was working with Carlos. There is no way Carlos could have hidden in the SUV and attacked you if he didn’t have help. Max provided the distraction when Carlos was buckling Santiago into his car seat.”

A scuffle at the door draws our attention. Ghost and Reaper enter with Max trapped between them. “We found him packing a bag. I think he was turning in his notice,” Reaper says.

“He can’t go without his exit interview,” Ranch says. “Load him up in the SUV. Baby, I need you to get dressed. We need to take Max to the clubhouse while Reaper and Ghost clean up here.”

I nod and run up the stairs to change out of Ranch’s shirt. I feel calm right now, but I know I’ll likely crumble under the reality of what I’ve done. However, I doubt I feel much guilt for taking Carlos’s life. If anyone deserved death, it was him.

We drive in silence through the city until we reach the clubhouse. Dante, Chaos, and Babe step outside as we arrive. Ranch helps me out of the SUV while Chaos and Babe focus their attention on Max.

“He was working with Carlos?” Dante asks.

“Yep. We need to find out why. But first, I need to get Athena a drink. She’s in shock.”

Dante takes both my hands in his as he stares down at me. I almost giggle when Ranch growls. Dante rolls his eyes, but his lips tug up in a smile. “I know killing isn’t easy, but you saved Ranch tonight, and you made sure Selena and her kids will never have to be afraid again. You did what you had to do.”

I nod as Ranch pulls me away from his President and inside the clubhouse. All the Old Ladies converge on me. One presses a brandy into my hands while another helps me into a chair. I’ve lost track of Ranch as the women soothe me. I feel like I’m waking from a dream, no, scratch that, I feel like I’m waking from a nightmare. What else could happen?

I’m conscious of Babe moving quickly through the crowd. His hand lands on Ranch’s arm as he’s barking questions to whoever is on the other end of the call. “Who is it? You’re certain? Okay, we’ll meet you at the hospital.” He ends the call and glances inmy direction. My heart drops at the concern on his face. Putting down the snifter of brandy, I move toward him and Ranch.

“What’s wrong?” Ranch asks.

“Min was leaving the dojo, and she found a body,” Babe says, his eyes never leaving my face.

“Who?” I croak out, expecting him to say Deion or Killian.

“Raven.”

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