Two Cowboys in Her Crosshairs [Hellfire Ranch] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read Online Free PDF

by the neck and slammed him down to the ground.
    “You need to get a handle on your temper, son,” he said calmly. “Get up, get to the truck, and get it started. You need to be ready to go when we get back. Got it?”
    A vein in Cain’s temple throbbed.
    Jake pulled Boone away. “Go to the truck, Tag. Help us. I can’t watch out for you if you’re going to go all berserker on me.”
    The big man looked as though he wanted to argue but finally nodded sharply. The look he gave Boone as he trotted off was eloquently lethal.
    Boone didn’t seem to notice at all.
    They found Lincoln Grace and Roark Weston and hustled them back to the truck. Everyone injured and dead was in the back of the half-ton. Everyone except his snipers.
    “Masters, Martinez, fall back,” Jake snapped into his radio.
    “On my way,” Masters replied.
    Nothing came from Olivia except more gunfire.
    Olivia was still at the top of the canyon. The insurgents had retreated into the caves, and every time one stuck his head out, she shot it off. She’d saved them today.
    “Haul your ass to the truck,” he ordered Boone. “I’m going for Olivia.”
    “Be careful. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
    Jake snorted. “How the hell can it get any worse?”
    He kept low to the ground as he headed toward Olivia’s perch. He called to her as he approached. She lifted her palm in a stop motion but didn’t lift her left eye from her scope. Jake stilled and looked down at the canyon. He caught faint movement from one of the upper walls, and his chest constricted.
    “Livvie, get back,” he shouted. He started to run, waving his arms and trying to draw their attention.
    “Livvie!” he yelled again. “Grenade launcher, nine o’clock.”
    She stiffened and swung the scope left, but it was too late. Blinding light cut the dark sky as the grenades hurtled through the air. Jake saw Olivia start to rise and stumble backward as the first grenade hit the edge of the wall she’d been perched on. The second landed thirty feet behind her, and the concussion threw her forward just as the third grenade slammed into a boulder and exploded. She screamed as she spun around. Her hands covered her face as she crumpled.
    “No!” Jake yelled. He leapt onto the ledge, grabbed her rifle, and started firing. A man fell from the top of the wall. Two more followed as he continued to sight them and shoot. The night turned quiet, and Jake waited thirty seconds, not daring to take his eye from the scope. Nothing moved. He slung the rifle over his shoulder and ran to Olivia. She lay on her back with her hands pressed to her face. Her open jacket and tan T-shirt were splattered with blood. Even her gold owl was flecked with it. He moved the necklace aside, and it came off in his hands. He shoved it into his pocket then reached for her again and checked her pulse. It was erratic and feeble, but he felt it.
    Olivia moaned, and her left hand fell away.
    Jake looked down and couldn’t suppress a gasp. “Oh, God, Livvie.”
    “Jake?” She blinked a couple of times then frowned. “Jake, why can’t I see you?”

Chapter Two
     
    Hudson Walker ambled into the kitchen and yawned widely as he shrugged his shoulders. He spied the fresh pot of coffee on the counter and lunged forward. It was the first day in what seemed like forever that he felt even halfway human.
    He spotted Jake sitting at the table. “Morning.”
    Jake frowned. “How are you feeling, Hud?”
    Hudson shrugged as he poured his coffee. “A lot better than yesterday and the nine days before. I can’t believe a stupid cold kept me down that long.” He dumped four spoonfuls of sugar in his cup and added hazelnut creamer. The dark-black liquid turned tan immediately. He sniffed the sweet steam with pleasure.
    “That makes me queasy just watching you,” Jake said. “Doc Mayers said you were supposed to rest until Monday at least.”
    Hud gratefully sank into a chair at the table. Though he’d never admit it,