The three brothers exchanged glances, one of those silent communications that came from years of working together, covering each other’s backs in situations where words could get you killed.
“That’s not the point right now,” Ridge said.“The point is that Momma cried for two hours after you broke the news about your wedding at Sunday dinner.She held herself together until you and Gabe left, then she went into the house, upstairs into your old bedroom, and cried.Dad…well, Dad didn’t say a word for the rest of the day.While you were there for dinner, they kept things together, but you broke their hearts, Nica.”
The guilt hit her harder than the bullet had.“They said they understood.I never meant—”
“We know,” Dane said, his expression softening slightly.“Remember, you’re talking to somebody else who eloped.Did the whole Vegas wedding with Destiny.We didn’t plan on getting married, but the difference is, we didn’t keep it a secret.We told the whole family.Momma got to do the whole wedding thing with Rafe and Tessa, because they took forever to plan their shindig.But you must realize it’s not the same as watching your only daughter walk down the aisle.Momma and Dad love all us boys, we know that.They’ve never once said or done anything to make us feel like we weren’t a part of the family.But, Nica, you’re their baby girl.Their princess who should be wearing ribbons and bows and fancy dresses.Instead, you snuck around after graduating, spending your time sneaking between two apartments, so nobody in town—nobody in the family—knew that you got married.It took a threat from big brother Rafe before you and Gabe came clean.Makes me wonder how much longer you’d have kept your secret, not only about the elopement, but the harassment Gabe was going through.You came to dinner with a man your parents, your family, didn’t even know you were dating and announced you’d eloped.Intent to do the right thing doesn’t undo the damage.They missed their only daughter’s wedding.Nica, you gotmarriedwithout them there.”
Tears pricked at her eyes, and she blinked them back furiously.“I talked with Momma.Explained everything.She said she understood, and we’ve made peace.We are going to have a reception.A proper celebration with everyone.”
“When?”Shiloh asked.“After you caught whoever’s been terrorizing you?After you solved this mess that you should have brought to us from the beginning?”
There it was—the heart of their anger.Not just the secret wedding, but the fact that she’d faced danger alone.That she’d chosen to handle it without her family.How could I have been so blind?
“I was trying to protect you,” she whispered.
“You’ve got that backwards, sweetheart,” Ridge said firmly.“Protecting you isour job, and you took that away from us.”
The sound of beeping coming from the bedside monitor had everybody in the room glancing toward the sound.Before she could say anything, a nurse shoved at the door Dane was standing in front of, pushing him aside.The scowl she shot him would have had Nica chuckling under any other circumstances.Not now, though.Too much had been said—still needed to be said—for levity.
“Everything okay in here?”The nurse’s gaze moved from brother to brother before finally landing on Nica.
“It’s fine—I’m fine.Nothing to worry about.”
“Let’s keep it that way.You just had surgery, Mrs.Boudreau-Summers.You need to remain calm and keep your blood pressure down.If you can’t, we’ll have to ask your visitors to leave.”She gave Nica a secretive wink, knowing the men couldn’t see her, and letting Nica know she wasn’t upset.With a quick check of the monitors, she patted Nica’s hand and left.
The monitor’s beeping had steadied, but Nica’s mind was racing.Something in their posture, in the careful way they were phrasing things, set off alarm bells.“What did Gabe tell you, exactly?”
Another look passed between her brothers.This time, Ridge was the one who answered.“He told us about the patterns he and Mike found in the calls, and now the attack on you.This person is escalating.They’re getting bolder.”
“And?”she pressed.
“And that it’s time it ends once and for all,” Shiloh said.
The words hung in the air like a threat.Nica studied their faces, noting the tension in Ridge’s jaw, the way Dane’s shoulders were set with the same implacable determination he showed when protecting the ranch from rustlers and corporate thieves, the controlled stillness that meant Shiloh was prepared for action.
“Where is Gabe?”she asked slowly.
“He’s safe,” Dane said too quickly.
“That’s not what I asked.”Her voice was getting stronger, fueled by a growing sense of dread.“Where.Is.My.Husband?”
Ridge sighed.“He’s doing what needs to be done.”
“Which is?”
“Drawing out the monster who ordered you shot.”
The words hit her like ice water tossed in her face.“He’s what?”
“Nothing for you to worry about,” Shiloh said, pushing away from the window.“We’ve got it covered.”
“Covered?”Nica struggled with the bed’s controller, trying to sit up straighter, ignoring the sharp pain in her chest.“You’re using him as bait!”
“Whose idea do you think it was?Gabe came up with the plan to use himself as bait to draw out this monster.We’re ending this,” Ridge said.“Before it escalates any further.Before this person tries to finish what he started when he put that bullet in you.”
“Are you insane?”The heart monitor was beeping rapidly now.“What if—”
“He won’t be alone,” Dane interrupted.“Ever.One of us stays with him at all times.The whole sheriff’s department, Rafe’s got that covered.An entire FBI team out of the Austin office—Derrick, Antonio, and Mike—are all in on this.Gabe is never without protection.”
