Chapter 3
Natalie pivoted and began to walk from the house when Owen’s voice stopped her.
“Don’t leave the property.”
She kept her back to him but nodded before she pushed open the screen door and walked onto the porch and past Wyatt. There was no need to be inside the house as the brothers began discussing how to find Orrin.
Natalie had her own opinions of the Loughman family, and they’d changed drastically since meeting with Orrin and establishing her connection to Callie.
Leave? He actually thought she was going to leave? That wasn’t going to happen. She was caught in the middle of this whether she wanted to be or not. And it didn’t matter what Owen or the others thought. She was well and truly connected.
She stood on the porch and looked out over the beauty that was the ranch. So many days she’d spent right there on the porch drinking sweet tea and talking to Charlotte while Owen worked.
Once his chores were done, they’d saddle horses and go for rides that lasted hours. It was the freest Natalie had ever felt. There was something about the ranch that called to her, a feeling that it was where she belonged.
The Loughman name was well known enough for her mother, even if they chose not to be part of Dallas society. Their wealth and position gave her a reprieve from her interfering mom.
But that’s not what kept her dating Owen all those years ago.
It was the passion and love that blossomed swift and intense.
He hadn’t seemed surprised by it, but she sure was.
That year with him changed everything. She saw the world differently, felt everything deeper.
Things had been so simple then. The years ahead had looked bright and joyful.
She gazed at the big blue sky with a smattering of clouds. How many times had she lain upon the ground somewhere on the ranch and stared at that sky with Owen? They’d spoken of dreams and wishes. And plans.
Every one of hers had included him. Not once had he let on that he felt differently. It was under that same star-filled sky that he had broken her heart—and nearly broken her spirit.
The past no longer mattered. It was fourteen years ago, with a lot of water under that bridge now. She was there because of Orrin and Callie. She was at the ranch because she wouldn’t be able to live with herself otherwise.
So, no matter how much being near Owen brought up those painful memories, she wasn’t going anywhere.
Owen walked from the house and searched for a glimpse of Natalie. Her car was still there, which meant so was she. He was both relieved and terrified of that.
She always had a way of making him feel everything deeply—too deeply. With her near, he wouldn’t be able to focus on anything but her. His mind needed to be engrossed in the mission, fixated on their targets, and, at all times, fully alert.
The sooner she was away from the ranch and going on with her life, the better.
Or was it?
Owen’s steps faltered. The very sight of her earlier had taken his breath away. Even now, his hands could still feel the warmth of her, the softness. His body had been pressed against hers, his every breath inhaling her fresh scent that was burned into his memory.
He was happy with his life, with his career. Then Nat had to show up and shake him to his core. His blood still pounded from holding her, his cock was still semi-hard.
All for her.
He’d sacrificed everything once to ensure her safety. And he was about to have to do it again.
The first time had nearly killed him. But he was stronger now, more sure of his decision. That didn’t mean it wasn’t going to slice him in two to leave her a second time.
An image of her green eyes filled with desire flashed in his mind. His steps slowed from the crushing weight of longing for Nat that assaulted him.
He took several deep breaths and pulled himself together.
Then he walked to the pasture to the right of the house and stood at the fence.
There, he watched a mare and her days-old foal.
The filly was still a little awkward on her legs, but by the way she pranced and galloped, she was going to be as good-looking of a horse as her mother.
The sight of the ranch brought back a rush of memories—most of them involving Natalie. Many times over the years, he thought of asking one of his friends to find her. But he never went any further than the thought because he knew she was probably married.
He hadn’t needed confirmation of that. Besides, things were better as they were. At least he’d always thought that until he’d come face-to-face with her and saw her left ring finger bare.
Being back at the ranch stirred feelings he wished he could forget. There was no chance of forgetting how happy he’d been, how everything had fallen into place when he was with Natalie.
At eighteen, he’d known she was the woman for him. The only one who could quiet his soul and bring him the peace he hadn’t had since his mother’s murder.
Now here Natalie was once more.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps on grass. Callie strolled up and stood on the bottom rung of the fence as she watched the foal. “She’s a looker for sure. Your father was anxious for her arrival.”
“What happened on the mission?” he asked as he faced her, leaning one arm on the fence as he did. He needed something to turn his thoughts from Natalie, and this was exactly where his mind needed to be.
Callie’s hair was back in a ponytail, the chestnut color startling in the sunlight. Her blue eyes were direct, penetrating as they returned his stare. “He should’ve returned. None of them should be dead. Whoever got the drop on them is good.”
She was worried, he realized. “I need specifics. If it was Russians who killed Virgil and Charlotte to get information, they’ll most likely come for us next.”
“I think you’re exactly who they want.” She sighed and stepped off the fence. With her hands on her hips, she cocked her head to the side and squinted at the sun. “Orrin had plans to ask each of you to join him eventually, but he knew you weren’t ready to forgive him. Not yet anyway.”
He didn’t reply. There was no need. The history between Orrin Loughman and his sons wasn’t pleasant.
Callie dropped her arms, looking down.
He straightened from the fence and glanced at the house. Wyatt was on the phone, talking to one of his superiors in the hopes of learning more while Cullen gathered evidence around the house. These were the few quiet moments before everyone went into action.
And Natalie would be long gone by then.
“Spit it out, Callie,” he urged.
“It was Russians.”
“You know this how?”
“Who else would come?”
She had a point. But how did they know it was Orrin who stole Ragnarok? That’s what kept nagging at him.
“The Russians found our base.”
He raised a brow, a slow burning anger rising as he comprehended her implication. “You mean the base is here? Dad operated his group here? On the ranch?”
Callie couldn’t look at him as she nodded.
“Didn’t he learn anything?” he exploded, no longer capable of holding back his fury. “Wasn’t my mother’s death enough?”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cullen round the side of the house, and Wyatt end his call. Both looked his way.
“What’s going on?” Cullen called out.
He started to go to his brothers when Callie grabbed his arm.
“Wait,” she said and licked her lips. Her gaze darted around, most likely looking for Wyatt. “I’d rather tell just you.”
“Tell me what?” he demanded.
“Yes, tell him what?” Wyatt asked from behind Callie.
Owen had seen him move swiftly and silently to come up behind Callie. To surprise her or overhear, Owen wasn’t sure.
Callie shoved her hands in the back pockets of her jeans and pretended she hadn’t heard Wyatt. She withdrew a piece of paper and handed it to Owen. “This just came across the wire.”
He glanced at Wyatt over her shoulder as he took the paper and opened it. It was a printout of a coded email. Owen read it and handed it to Wyatt as Cullen reached them.
“All information regarding the formula or Orrin Loughman must be shared with the DOD,” Wyatt read aloud. He moved so he could see Callie. “When did you get this?”
“Didn’t you hear me say just now?” she asked with a roll of her eyes. “It was in the coded emails,” she answered, barely sparing Wyatt a glance.
Cullen’s frown deepened. “Who sent it?”
“Dad’s mission wasn’t sanctioned,” Owen surmised. “It’s why they brought us here. They’ve made it clear they want the bioweapon more than they want Dad.”
“That’s bullshit,” Callie declared.
Owen had his own thoughts on that subject. It didn’t bode well when the very department that sent Orrin on the mission was now leaving him swinging in the wind. Something was very wrong. And all of them knew it.
The problem was attempting to untangle the mess. Owen had been in a situation like this before. The deeper they dug, the more information and lies they would find. That’s when it would become near impossible to determine who to trust or what to believe.
“Were all his assignments unsanctioned?” he asked Callie.
She shook her head and glanced at the barn where Natalie stood in the opening. “Only a few. Orrin was careful about which ones he accepted.”
Wyatt shook his head in frustration and looked toward the mare and filly as the silence lengthened.
“Callie, who sent the email?” Cullen asked again.
Callie cleared her throat. “The murder of Virgil and Charlotte went out on the news last night.”
Wyatt’s head jerked to her. “Why?”
“The sheriff’s department already did their investigation after a government team came in and collected evidence and took the bodies,” Callie answered. “Mark called this morning to let me know they won’t be returning since the investigation has been handed to you three.”
“Mark?” Wyatt asked through clenched teeth.
Callie raised a brow but didn’t look Wyatt’s way. “Mark Cooper has been our sheriff for a few years now.”