Page 48 of Cinnamon Cider Whiskey
“That makes me nervous since I lent a pair to Gage and it’s possible the blood could be mine.” Austin rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m aware,” Belmont said. “There is more physical evidence that we have found and we can prove that the car was moved to that location recently.”
“How?” Cinnamon asked.
“Eyewitnesses who saw two men put it there. Unfortunately, they don’t match Pete’s description, but they don’t match Austin’s either,” Belmont said.
“Can you get me a description? I might be able to match them to Pete’s employees.”
“Already have a forensics artist working on a sketch. Once I have that, I’ll let you take a look,” Belmont said. “I’ll be at Austin’s place soon. I suspect that Pete will either come in like a snake before dawn, or he’ll contact Cinnamon between now and morning like the arrogant prick he is. Either way, when he does show up, I want to be ready.”
“So do we,” Austin said. “See you soon.” He wrapped his arms around Cinnamon. “We’re going to get him and put him where he belongs. I promise.”
“I know you mean that, but Belmont is right about him being a snake. He’s gotten away with so many things and I wish I could say I wasn’t terrified.”
JD stood. “You’ve got everyone on this ranch behind you. No one will let him ever hurt you or anyone else again. Trust me on that.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’m just sorry we didn’t intervene sooner.”
“I didn’t let you,” she said softly.
“Doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have tried harder.” JD nodded. “I’ll gather the troops and be back here with everyone in half an hour.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Austin shook JD’s hand.
She squared her shoulders, refusing to let the tears fall this time. This was her home. It was where she belonged, and damn it, she would fight for it.
11
Austin sat on the front porch, watching the sun kiss the morning sky.
No sign of Pete. No text. No phone call. The only thing they had was that he’d arrived in Twin City with two other men late last night.
The sound of the front door scraping across the wood caught his attention. “Good morning,” he said.
Cinnamon handed him a cup of coffee. “How long have you been awake?”
“Not long,” he lied. He’d tossed and turned most of the night. So had Cinnamon, but thankfully, she'd been sound asleep when he’d slipped from the bed at four in the morning.
“You’re a terrible liar.” She handed him her cell. “Pete texted me an hour ago.”
Austin stared at her phone.
Pete:I’m coming for you and if you know what is best, you will meet me at the ranch entrance at seven a.m. If you’re not there, bad things will happen. This is your only warning.
“I’m glad you didn’t respond.”
“There’s no point.” She eased into one of the Adirondack chairs. “Do you think we should change the plan and I should meet him?”
“Are you crazy? Absolutely not. We need to make him come here. He knows this is where you are. He’ll come here.”
“I don’t believe he will,” she said. “Not based on that text.”
“He wants you back. That’s what this is all about.”
“That’s what I thought too. But maybe he knows that’s never going to happen now that I’ve returned home.” She reached out and took Austin’s hand. “Before things got really bad, he was so insecure about our relationship. He constantly worried that I would leave him and come running home and that you’d be here to pick up the pieces. I told him that Rosy was his daughter and that I’d never take her away from him. After she died, he did whatever he could to control me. To ensure I wouldn’t come to Whiskey Ranch. To you. Now that I have, his worst fear has materialized. He has nothing left to lose.”
“That’s crazy. He has a lucrative business. He could face real prison time. He has everything to lose, which makes him even more dangerous.”
She leaned forward. “When it comes to that part of his life, he’s as arrogant as they come. He thinks he’s untouchable, like his father. He believes he can buy his way out of trouble. But when it comes to me, he’s always thought I was the only woman for him.”
