CHAPTER 53
Victoria
I run out the front door with Phyllis and Jamie. It’s a helicopter, descending right in the middle of the ranch road, throwing up a heavy curtain of dust and dirt. As I peer up into the air, I barely make out a familiar logo. It’s not just any helicopter. It belongs to Renaissance Empowered.
My father is here.
A jolt of panic goes through me. I run inside and grab my computer and notes, cursing to myself. Jamie knows nothing. I haven’t managed to spit out a damn thing about what’s going on. And he has to know. Now.
“Jamie!” I tug on his shirtsleeve, and he looks down at me, puzzled. “That’s my father!”
“Ah!” He starts down the porch stairs.
“No! Listen to me!” I run down with him. “He intends to take Sulfur Springs from you for a fraction of what it’s worth. He falsified the BLM land lease!”
Jamie nods, a frown appearing between his brows. He looks interested, but not particularly shocked. Maybe he can’t hear what I’m saying over the roar of the helicopter. “Arlo is helping him, Jamie!”
“What?”
“I think my father paid off Arlo to steal your land! But that’s not the worst part! Arlo’s been—”
“Let’s finish this later,” Jamie yells at me.
I run after him into the road. “Don’t trust my father! Not a word he says!” I must look completely crazed, but think I’ve finally gotten the point across because Jamie nods and places a hand on my shoulder.
It’s chaos out here.
I hear Phyllis yelling behind me. I turn in time to see her ushering a crying Jasmine inside Jamie’s house.
I see that the MacLaines are in some sort of ridiculous special ops formation, believing this is an enemy attack.
Special K cradles what looks like a sniper rifle in one hand.
With the other, he tosses guns to Cal, Finn, and Declan.
Evander is hopping on one leg, trying to get to the center of the action.
I run out to the road, putting myself between the helicopter and the very real guns with very real bullets, all pointed in my direction.
“Victoria!” I look to Cal. His face is hard and serious. He screams to his brothers, “Stand down! Stand down!”
He runs to me, eyes cold. “What the fuck are you doing? You could have been killed!”
“My father’s in there,” I tell him. “Let me handle it.” He tries to argue, but I cut him off.
“No, Cal. If I need your help—or the help of an entire SEAL team—I’ll let you know.
Otherwise, you all need to…” I think about the order he just barked to his brothers. “You all need to stand the fuck down.”
I march off to greet my father.