Sexual Expression (Contemporary Cowboys 2)

“Did you hear that, men? She wants to see some credentials!” He roared with laughter and that’s when she realized—albeit too late—a substantial difference in the men she’d spoken to at her home and the eight men there, at the Blazier family’s kitchen table.

“You aren’t a federal agent. Are you?” She studied the one at the other end of the kitchen door. “Are you?” Her voice dipped in volume as she contemplated her best escape.

The man in front of her snarled. “No, not today.” He then circled her like a predator might. “You are truly exquisite.” He leaned closer, studying her as if he were truly interested in storing everything about her to memory. “Is she the one?” He pivoted to the left, now facing the brothers. “I said is she the one?” He stomped over to the table and yanked Dante from his seat, gripping him by the collar as if he planned to soon use his chokehold for a fatal purpose.

“No,” Dante lied.

“He’s telling you the truth.” Hales stood up then too. “That’s not her.”

“Are they lying to me?” the man asked, now groping her from behind.

“No!” she wailed, only she quickly tried to rein in her fear, noting the danger she’d caused, the scene now unfolding in front of her.

All the Blazier men tried to fight the criminals behind them, but their failed attempts were soon realized as one by one the thugs cocked guns and held them to their heads. Coco’s breath caught as the man behind her fondled her breast. She closed her eyes, already imagining the worst, certain that the agents at her home must’ve been somehow misinformed.

The Blaziers had clearly been on lockdown all right, only the Feds weren’t there paying them a visit. Someone had relayed inaccurate information.

And where were Zak, Liam, Brandon, and Kurt? Had they managed to escape or were they somewhere waiting in the shadows, anticipating the perfect time to strike?

“We’re here for the truth, Miss Baldini so I’ll ask you one more time and for accuracy this time, please.” He shoved her forward and made her stand close to the picnic table. “If you’re lying to me and I discover it by looking in your handbag and checking your driver’s license, I will then kill one of the Blazier brothers, making absolutely certain you are close enough to be splattered with particles from his brain when the bullet rips through his skull and ends his life.”

Her head jolted as he held her firmly at his side. He rummaged through her handbag and came up with her wallet. “Who are you? Which Baldini?”

“Coco,” she hurriedly replied, having already come to terms that she would’ve told them the truth without her driver’s license.

The man threw her purse on the table and one of his accomplices verified her name. He nodded then and Dallas, Dante, and Hales all dropped their heads as if they knew what fate she would soon face.

“Let’s go, lovely,” the man said, pushing her toward the back door.

“I’ll do it. Let me.” Mason was dragged to his feet by the man holding him at gunpoint.

“He watches,” the clear boss said, turning to the others. “And if anyone else speaks out of turn, you won’t watch. You’ll be killed immediately.” He grinned. “That would seem such a shame, too, especially since I sense your faith, that electrifying energy you boys have always had…you know it is so much like your mother’s. I remember that about her.”

“I know who you are,” Coco said, barely breathing.

“Ah yes, but of course you would know.” The sixty-something-year-old man was in good health given his age.

“You’re Juan Jahno, Jahn’s and Juan’s father.” There was no question. Everything made sense then. Geraldine had once told her about Juan Jahno and also expressed her fears. She was afraid he would show up after she died and demand a portion of her estate.

“That’s me indeed—the mourning father.”

“I know why you’re here,” she said, winging it as she went along. “I always knew I’d be the first one you’d kill but I have to admit, I thought you would at least take a look at what she left for you first.”

“Left for me?” he asked, his thick accent even heavier than before.

Geraldine had once told grand romantic stories about a man she easily loved. Her greatest fears were warranted. According to Geraldine, Juan Jahno was greed-ridden, but also a little naïve, something she couldn’t tolerate in a man. She wanted a strong man beside her, a tender but reckless lover, but she also found brilliance extremely sexy and Juan Jahno didn’t have the traits she admired most.

“Do you honestly think I didn’t cover us after Geraldine died? I put it all together and went straight to the cops with the information I had. And I didn’t stop there. After what happened at the club last night, I met with the ATF, the DTF, the FBI, and every other initial-clad organization I could think of.” She paused long enough to consider Kane’s description of the Feds and then considered how Kane Cartwell himself might play this poor hand she’d been dealt.

Standing a little taller, she continued. “I gave names and dates, things only Geraldine would’ve known and explained that if anyone else died in this family they would know where to look, they would know you were too fucking greedy and that a hundred million wasn’t good enough, you wanted it all!”

“What is she talking about?

” Dallas asked, just about ruining her game.

“The money,” Dante said, his eyes fixated on Coco as he tried to help her out of a deadly predicament. “Momma must’ve told her about the money.”

“A hundred million?” Juan’s grip loosened. “Are you fucking around with me, senorita?”