Page 72 of Montana Rain

A year ago, I would have pulled the trigger on doing it without a second thought. My life with the Bureau and my pursuit of revenge and justice were all that mattered.

Now? If I called in the Bureau, the chances of Rayne’s family dying went through the roof. She would never forgive me, and I would never forgive myself.

No. I was choosing her because I loved her. That was worth so much more than a job. Worth so much more than anything.

Switching my phone to silent, I put it away. I still hadn’t decided what I was going to do as far as the Bureau, but Jared could wait.

“Let’s go.” I took Rayne’s hand, the two of us walking in silence.

This was the kind of construction site you didn’t wander around. It looked sinister, and you wouldn’t want to be caught here after dark. They hadn’t given us instructions on where to go, so I assumed it wouldn’t be too complicated.

Thankfully, it wasn’t.

We pushed through a gap in some plastic sheeting, and Rayne gasped. “Oh my god.”

Across the cavernous space, we saw five men, along with an older woman and a younger woman in a wheelchair. A few cars were parked behind them. Rayne’s mother and sister. One man held the handle of Ava’s wheelchair, and another had a hold on the mother’s arm, a gun pointed at her side. From here, they looked okay. Shaken, but okay. I tightened my hand on Rayne’s, keeping her from dashing forward.

No sudden movements. All the men were packing.

“Glad you could make it,” the man in the center said. He wore a slick suit, and his stance was casual. This was someone used to being obeyed. “My name is Antonio. It’s nice to finally meet you, Rayne Westerfield.”

“I can’t say the same.”

God, I loved this woman.

The guys who’d roughed up the cabin had mentioned an Antonio. He must be high up in Peretti’s organization.

Antonio spread his hands. “We have nothing against you. We simply want our property back.”

“You’ll get it,” I said. “Send them over, and I’ll bring you the drive.”

“No.” His eyes fell on me. “I’m willing to let them come to you, but Rayne will bring me the flash drive. She’s the one who had it. She’s the one who will return it. As it should be.”

I opened my mouth, and Rayne squeezed my hand. “It’s okay, Cole. As long as they’re safe, I’ll do it.”

“You should let me,” I whispered.

“Clearly, they’re not going to go for it, and I’m not negotiating with my family’s lives.” She looked at Antonio. “Fine. But they come here first. As a gesture of goodwill.”

He smirked but inclined his head. The henchmen holding Rayne’s mom let her go, and she jolted forward, shoving the other man away from Ava and pushing the wheelchair toward us. In that simple movement, I saw where Rayne got her strength. A gun pointed at her, and her mom still shoved one of them.

Rayne waited until they were almost to us before she rushed forward, wrapping her mom and then her sister, into her arms. “I’m so sorry,” I heard her say. “I’m so sorry.”

“We’re okay,” her mom said. “We’re fine.”

“I’m waiting, Rayne,” Antonio called.

I glared at him. “You took her family. Give her a fucking minute.”

Rayne pushed the wheelchair all the way to me and turned. Catching her hand, I pulled her close. “Come back to me.” My words were nothing but a breath. “I’m not done with you, princess.”

“It’ll be fine.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She walked away from me, and everything about it felt wrong. She shouldn’t be the one putting herself in danger. And there was danger. I didn’t trust these men at all.

“Is she going to be okay?” Rayne’s sister asked.

I could lie and say yes, but anything could happen. “I hope so.”

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