Chapter 8
Adam finally extricated himself from the guests and headed inside to talk to Millie figuring she was back from her walk by now.
He was sorry they’d left things the way they had but he was sure if he talked to her, they could get through this.
They hadn’t been married for very long and to have a fight like this bothered him immensely, but dang it, none of what happened was his fault…
well, entirely his fault. Millie was as much to blame for their current circumstances as he was.
He opened the bedroom door expecting to see Millie, back from her earlier walk, sitting up in bed reading. But the bed was made and Millie was nowhere to be found.
Adam hurried downstairs and checked the den, the library, the living room, every room in the house. He couldn’t find her anywhere.
Then he ran to the barn. She wouldn’t have gone out riding on her own, would she? She could get lost, and he didn’t want to think of the grave circumstances she could find herself in out in the mountains by herself.
He ran to the barn, saw that Venus was gone and saddled Lightning. Then he took off at a dead run toward the only place Millie knew—the waterfall.
Millie hid behind a tree as soon as she heard the horse approach. She wasn’t sure who was approaching and didn’t want to be caught unawares.
Adam was riding toward her. How did he find her so fast?
She slid out from behind the tree walked toward Venus and resumed her seat on the ground.
He slid from the saddle and dropped the reins. The horse was ground broke and would stay there without being tied up. All their horses were ground broke including her mare, Venus.
He walked over with his hands in his pockets. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“Mind if I sit.”
She looked up at him. “It’s a free country. Knock yourself out.”
He sat across from her. “Millie—”
“Adam—”
They both laughed.
“After you.” She waved her hand.
“I’m sorry for everything that happened today. None of it was your fault. I’m not, however, sorry for making love or that you’re pregnant. I’m overjoyed. Isn’t this what we both wanted?”
She nodded. “It is. I just wish Ricard was not around to threaten us.”
“He can’t get to you. I’ve increased the patrols. You’re safe here.”
She shrugged and played with the grass with her right hand, while her left hand was flat on the ground supporting her.
“But that also makes me a prisoner. Not a lot different than I would be in my father’s or Ricard’s homes.
I can’t go anywhere. I can’t even go into town to get groceries.
We can’t go to a movie without bodyguards.
We have to find a better solution. There has to be a way to get rid of Ricard. ”
“I can always find a way. The ranch is very big. It would be easy to bury a body—”
She placed two fingers over his lips. “No. I won’t turn you into a murderer like he is.
There has to be another solution. Ricard has a weakness for beautiful women, usually brunettes.
I know of at least one who disappeared when he was done with her.
I heard him telling my father. He sounded proud of what he’d done.
They both laughed about it. I was sick to my stomach.
I vowed then and there that I would leave.
Whether on my own two feet or in a body bag, I couldn’t live with those monsters one more minute.
Then my father announced my engagement to Ricard and I knew if I wanted to live, I had to get out as soon as possible. ”
She stopped, took a breath and then swallowed the lump in her throat as she looked at the river.
“I immediately began making plans. The first thing I did was get a burner phone. I don’t know if my father monitored my calls, but I wasn’t taking any chances.
Then I talked to my friend, Margareta, and she helped me like I told you already.
I thought I’d made it, that I was finally free…
until I happened to see Viktor in town. Then it became clear I was in danger.
I’m afraid of Ricard. After what I’ve done, I’m afraid he’ll kill me. ”
“I won’t let him near you. I realize that we need to find a better solution. I don’t want you to feel like a prisoner, but I also won’t let you to be taken from me.”
“Adam—”
“Millie—”
She giggled. “You go first.”
“Let’s ride back to the house. Then we can see if we can come up with a solution that will give you the freedom you need and still keep you safe.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
“You’re welcome. I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy when I’m with you.” She blushed and looked down. She hadn’t meant to say anything.
He reached over and lifted her chin with the knuckle of his left index finger.
“I’m happy when I’m with you, too.” Adam leaned over and took her lips with his.
He worshiped her mouth, took the kiss impossibly deeper, sliding his tongue over her lips, begging for entry.
He pressed her down to her back and leaned over her, bracing his weight on his forearms.
She granted his entry and kissed him back with all she had. Her heart pounded and she wanted him with all of her, body and soul. This is was love felt like.
When he finally tore his mouth away and leaned his forehead against hers, they were both breathless.
“We should take this home or I’m liable to ravish you right here.”
She chuckled. “Would that be so bad?” Millie had never had sex out in the open before and the thought excited her a little.
He laughed. “Yes, it would. It’ll be dark soon and I don’t relish riding in the dark. But I promise to give you more than you can imagine when we get home.”
“I’ll hold you to it, Mr. Sullivan.”
“I wouldn’t expect any less, Mrs. Sullivan. Let’s mount up.”
By the time they reached the barn, the sun had set and twilight was upon them. They took care of their horses, making sure to rub them down and give them oats and water. Then they walked to the house.
As they entered the kitchen, they saw all the brothers seated at the table.
“You’re finally back,” said Everett. “We’ve been waiting forever.”
Millie laughed and swatted him on the shoulder. “It’s not even fully dark yet. Besides there are all kinds of leftovers from the barbeque. You can eat those for dinner. I’m officially taking a night off.”
She grabbed Adam’s hand and headed upstairs. She didn’t even care what her brothers-in-law might think. All she knew was she wanted to continue with what she and Adam had started out by the river.
The following evening, Adam played cards in the game room with his brothers, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. He was missing something.
While the others played cards and Millie moved around the kitchen, preparing dinner, he stepped out onto the back porch and scanned the property.
The night was too dark to see much of anything but the air felt too still.
The sounds of the night, the owls hooting, crickets chirping were quiet, like they were waiting for something…
anything…to break the silence before they joined in.
Then one of the security men approached at a run.
The man had blond hair that shone gold in the waning light.
“Mr. Sullivan, we found fresh tracks near the north fence line. It looks like two men have accessed the property in the last few hours, since our last patrol up there. We don’t have eyes on them at this time. ”
Adam’s gut tightened instantly. Ricard. His first thought was to make sure Millie was safe. He turned toward the window to the kitchen, where she was cooking dinner just like it was any other night.
Adam placed a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Thank you for coming quickly and telling me. I’ve got to check the feeds. Please return to your post and continue to remain alert.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Sullivan.” The guard headed back toward the west side of the property.
Adam turned toward the window and saw her laugh at something Gabriel said, completely unaware that danger lurked close tonight. If he had his way she would never know, but that choice wasn’t practical or safe. She needed to be aware of the threat, so she wouldn’t take any chances.
This situation was no longer about protecting a woman he’d married out of convenience. This was about protecting his wife and child. And Adam knew nothing existed he wouldn’t do to keep them safe. Nothing. After all the ranch was big…easy to hide a body.
As he walked to his office, careful not to attract attention to himself he wondered what was the matter with him? Was he really contemplating killing Ricard and then burying him somewhere on the ranch? Yes. To protect Millie and their unborn child, he would do anything.
Hours later Ricard knew the minute the security team found where they had come through the fence because men were running everywhere but he didn’t see Milena. They had left her at the house. But was anyone with her?
Ricard and Viktor approached the house in the dark, both wearing head to toe black so they would be hard to see.
They both palmed their Makarov pistols, with silencers, and after looking through the window on the door and seeing that the kitchen was not empty, they had no choice but to break the door down.
Viktor was good at such things and only needed to hit it once to open it.
Milena sat at the table laughing with a man. Ricard assumed the man sitting across from her was her bodyguard. Raising his gun Ricard fired at the man—a killing shot. He didn’t ever fire his weapon unless it was to kill.
The guard’s coffee cup shattered against the wood floor as he collapsed backward, dead before he hit the floor.
Milena screamed, then stood and stumbled backward so quickly her chair tipped over behind her, crashing to the floor.
Ricard turned the gun toward her. “Come with me now and I won’t kill your husband.”
She lifted her chin. “He’ll find me. You’ll never be able to hide me from him. You’ll see and when you do, it will be the last thing you see.” She stood and came toward him.
As she passed, Ricard grabbed her by the hair. “You’ll regret running, my sweet Milena. You’ll never do it again, or I’ll kill you. Understand?” He placed his gun in his waistband and grabbed her chin and squeezed. “Do you understand?”
“Ow! Yes! Yes, I understand.”
He released her and they walked out of the kitchen into the dark night.