Gavin let the teacup clatter to the desk as he flicked through the cameras. They had various views of the grounds. Nothing, nothing… His heart nearly stopped when he came to the feed for camera number four. Hannah stood on the patio outside the master bedroom. She wore a robe and faced the camera. Her hand was on the belt, and she slowly unknotted it.
A memory of Nikki assaulted his brain. She would fight him like a mad cat. Then she would tease him.
Just like Hannah was teasing him now.
Her hands fumbled as she released the tie. Slowly, very slowly, she brought her hands up to the lapels of the robe. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but she seemed to be playing for the camera.
She took off her robe slowly, almost stiffly. To tease him even more? Her br**sts came into view, ni**les hard and pointed in the cool air. She looked beautiful…but then he noticed her tense expression, the terror in her eyes.
Gavin understood instantly. Hannah was nothing like Nikki. She hadn’t invented a reason to fight merely for the drama. If she wanted to make up, she would tell him so straight to his face.
Hannah wasn’t teasing him on camera; she was being forced.
The CB radio squawked, the sound jarring in the quiet room.
“Gavin. Gavin, this is Dex. Can you hear me? Please, God, hear me.” He picked up the radio, but he didn’t take his eyes off the monitor. Who was just outside the camera’s view? He prayed it was one of his brothers playing around with their soon-to-be wife.
“Dex, are you and Slade here on the grounds?” Please say yes. Make this all a fun, little joke.
I’ll run out there and play with Hannah, too.
“No, we’re in one of the sheriff’s cruisers,” Dex shouted. “We’re almost home, but you need to keep an eye on Hannah. Preston was murdered, and one of the techs is Hannah’s stalker. I think it’s Lyle. Slade noticed that he had scratches all over his arms. I have similar scratches from rescuing Mr. Snuggles. Is Hannah with you now?”
Gavin’s heart felt like it was going to pound out of his chest. “No, but I think someone else might be. Hurry.”
He tossed the radio down. He didn’t have time to explain. He needed to get to Hannah.
After pulling out the key that opened the small gun cabinet, he yanked out a shotgun and quickly loaded it. He wasn’t going to fail her.
Gavin ran down the hall and out of the house.
Chapter Fourteen
Gavin took a deep breath. The gun in his hand felt like an old friend. He silently thanked Marnie for teaching him how to use it years ago. She’d taken him and Slade hunting every summer when they were supposed to be learning accounting and how to work a rig. They’d learned those things, all right—but so much more. Most importantly, they had learned that they were brothers and could depend on one another, no matter what. Every time their father had tried to turn them into rivals, Gavin would remember bonding with Slade during those summers, teaching him the true importance of family for the first time. When Dex had come along, he’d become another brother to depend on, even if Gavin hadn’t always shown it.
Now, he wanted his family to be one close-knit unit, sharing Hannah and her love.
As soon as he took out whoever threatened her.
He flattened his body against the brick and listened, trying to figure out the bastard’s identity.
“You have a beautiful body, Hannah. Let the robe drop so I can see more than just your br**sts. I want to know if that blonde hair of yours is real. I know how whores change their appearance to entice men.”
Oh, he was going to kill that f**ker. Gavin didn’t care how or why this man had gotten so screwed up. No one was going to talk to Hannah that way.
Gavin peeked around the corner. Even from the back, he recognized Lyle from his severely short hair and his clothes. Goddamn the bastard.
Hannah stood with sunlight bathing her, clutching her robe around her waist, her green eyes flared with fear. She looked so young and vulnerable. So alone. She was his to protect. He couldn’t let her down. He would rather die with her than live knowing he’d failed her.
“You’re going to have some trouble figuring that out, but I’ll tell you that I don’t bleach my hair.”
Hannah’s sweet twang flowed over him. No panic in his girl. Her steady voice was music to his ears.
Gavin was a possessive man. He could share with his brothers, but anyone else was out of the question. Yet, he found himself willing Hannah to do whatever necessary to stay alive. No matter what, he would love her. And, in time, his unwavering love—and that of his brothers—would heal her.
Gavin edged around the corner and checked everyone’s position. Hannah stood in the background. Lyle, the f**ker, was roughly ten feet in front of her, with his back to Gavin.
Another person sat at the table, head down on the wrought iron.