Page 51 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
“I took an opportunity to ensure Austin would be out of our lives forever. That man is like a bad rash that won’t go away.”
“What about Alyssa?” Cinnamon asked before the police and the FBI could jump out from wherever they were hiding. “Did you kill her and her family too?”
“You are fucking full of questions and I’m so tired of giving you answers. It’s time to go home. And I never want you to have contact with anyone on this ranch again.”
“You want that, give me this one last thing. I promise, I will never bring up this ranch or my family again. I swear.”
“You better not, or you know what will happen,” he said. “It was only meant to be a warning. That hadn’t been my intention.”
“What do you mean a warning?”
“I didn’t know they would all get trapped inside. That the house would go up so quickly.” He waved his hand. “Let’s go.”
“Okay.” She took one step forward.
Three police cars came flying into the drive.
Pete grabbed her and pressed his weapon against her temple. “You fucking little bitch. You set me up. I’m not going down for this.”
Austin appeared fifty feet away, holding a shotgun. He stopped dead in his tracks.
She swallowed. This part she hadn’t been prepared for.
Austin lay on his stomach next to his brother-in-law, listening to the woman he loved and Pete. The conversation made him sick to his stomach.
The only saving grace was that Gage was still alive.
As soon as the police cars rolled into the main drive, he jumped to his feet and raced toward Cinnamon.
Only, Pete pressed his weapon to her temple.
If anyone took a shot, if they killed Pete dead, he could still end up shooting Cinnamon.
Austin froze. “Fuck,” he mumbled. “What now?”
“We let the FBI talk him down,” Brad said. “Let’s inch closer, but follow my lead, got it?”
“You’re the expert.” Austin stayed in line with Brad as they moved closer to the main gates.
“I can’t believe you did this to me,” Pete’s voice came over the comms in Austin’s ear. “Now we’re both going to die thanks to you.”
“It doesn’t have to end that way,” Belmont said. “Let her go and we can talk demands.”
“This is entrapment. It wouldn’t stand up in a court of law,” Pete said.
Thankfully, even if he didn’t confess to Charity’s murder, he’d left behind physical evidence that proved he at least was in the vehicle. But they still didn’t have the body. That was something that Austin wanted to give her family.
And Tom.
“I don’t want Pete to see you,” Brad said. “Go to the other?—”
“What is that motherfucker doing here?” Pete shifted, staring at Austin. “This is all his fault. We wouldn’t even be standing here if it weren’t for that asshole.”
“Too late,” Austin whispered. He sucked in a deep breath, lowering his weapon. No point in antagonizing the asshole any more than he already was.
“I’ll kill her,” Pete yelled. “Is that what you want, Austin?”
Austin laid his rifle on the ground. He was now twenty feet away. “No. I’d like for you to let her go.”
