Mastered by Mavericks (Doms of Destiny, Colorado 3)

“Macho much?” Nicole asked. “Guys, you have to know that I’m no shrinking violet. I am a strong woman who can take care of herself.”

“I believe you, baby,” Sawyer said, and then turned to him. “Read your fucking fortune now, before you piss me off.”

“You’ve got a deal, Chicago.” He cracked open his cookie, shoving both pieces into his mouth. He took the tiny slip that Melissa Phong had written on, shocked at the message on it.

“What does it say, cowboy?” she asked.

It was right then reading those words that he realized Nicole was for him and Sawyer. Love deserved a chance no matter the risk. BDSM or not, he would do whatever it took for her to agree to stay in Destiny and not return to Chicago.

He looked right into her brown eyes and saw his forever there.

Nicole chewed on her lower lip. “Well?”

He told her what was on his fortune and saw her eyes light up and her cheeks turn red. Ready to make a new and better vow, he glanced back at the prophetic words on the slip of paper.

Happiness is right in front of you.

Feeling the magic that Nicole’s grandfather’s tradition about the fortune cookies had invoked, Reed moved his eyes back to her—the woman he wanted as his own with everything inside him.

“Someone’s coming,” Sawyer said, pulling him from his thoughts.

Like his brother, Reed moved his fingertips to the gun in the holster, which was strapped to his side like always.

Nicole had her gun out and in her hand.

“You should head to the bedroom until we say you can come out,” Sawyer said.

“Like I told you two before—I’m not helpless.”

God, she needed a firm hand in the worst way. He prayed she would take to the life like he had. It was second nature to him now. Even if that long shot happened and she agreed to be trained by him and Sawyer, it would take many sessions to get her to trust them fully.

Sawyer walked to the window and peered out. His shoulders shifted downward, a silent motion that told Reed whoever was coming wasn’t a threat to Nicole.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“It’s Erica. Our sister,” Sawyer informed.

Reed felt his shoulders sag. He was glad his sister had come to the cabin. She’d seemed sad and blue since that day at TBK. He missed the carefree, sunny Erica from before. He was sure that she and Nicole would get along, but even more, he hoped that Nicole, being a cop, would be able to help his sister understand she’d done nothing wrong.

What they all heard next made every muscle inside Reed tighten.

A gunshot.

Chapter Twelve

Nicole pulled out her gun and pointed it to the door. Whoever had fired the shot wasn’t too far away by the sound of the gunfire.

Sawyer and Reed both had their guns drawn, too. Sawyer ran for the door, opened it, and pulled his sister inside. “Get down.”

As he slammed it shut, Erica dropped to the floor.

“Over here,” Nicole whispered in her best cop voice.

“I should’ve brought my gun,” their sister said in a trembling tone.

Sawyer stared at Erica. “A gun?”

“Dylan has been training me to shoot. I want to know how to defend myself.”