17
SAGE
Buck was nothappy about what I had planned. It was his job to protect me and knowingly let a mobster close enough to talk to me? He was losing his shit. But I knew how to fix this. Hayes caught on pretty fast.
Instead of locking me in a closet and shooting Bobby Mancuso with a rifle, Buck had done what Hayes said and called in for reinforcements.
Within a half hour, all the Wilder brothers except Zeb, plus Pops and Beau, arrived. Colt, as sheriff, had been able to pull up flight plan records and learned that a private jet had left TeterboroAirport in New Jersey headed for the small airfield in Barnes as Jackson had said. We all felt really confident that this wasn’t a coincidence and that the Mancusos were on it. An hour later, we were parked on the tarmac waiting for the plane’s arrival.
Hayes, Buck, and I agreed that we didn’t want anyone in the Mancuso crime family wandering around Devil’s Ditch. If they were here for me and the thumb drive, then I’d save them time and be their welcoming committee.
The plane landed and I looked to Buck. He lifted my hand across the center console and kissed it, then nodded.
“I got this,” I said.
“She’s got this,” Hayes added with a decisive nod.
It was the three of us in Buck’s truck and we climbed out when the plane finished its taxiing and cut the engine on the tarmac. This was probably the biggest plane that had ever landed here. There wasn’t any kind of building for passengers, only a small control tower, a few metal hangars. It definitely wasn’t New York City.
They must’ve called ahead because a fuel truck drove up to start refueling, which meant they weren’t planning on sticking around.
The sky was clear, the air cold and sharper than a tack.
Buck climbed out first, coming around and opening my door. Hayes hopped out from the back seat. In the other trucks parked beside us, the Wilder boys joined us, spreading out into a long line behind me. All of them wore Stetsons and all held rifles.
The plane door opened and dropped into stairs.
I was nervous as hell. This was my old life coming to fuck with my new life. I couldn’t be rid of my past–even if this fiasco had nothing to do with me–until I dealt with the mob.
As expected, men in crisp suits came down the steps. I’d never seen any of them before but there was no question which one was Bobby Mancuso. He led the group, his second a few steps behind. Then there were two bodyguards who flanked them. Stepped wide.
Their breaths came out in soft clouds of steam.
“Sage Montgomery.”
“Mr. Mancuso,” I said.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I flicked my gaze up and back. Buck. I gave him a smile because did I really expect him to just hang back? In his hand was his rifle, lifted up and resting on his shoulder.
“This is Buck Wilder. My–”
“I’m her man,” Buck said, as if that explained everything to a New York City mobster.
Bobby was in his early thirties. Black hair. Receding hairline. He was fit in a I-go-to-the-gym sort of way. His tan was fake and he had veneers that made his teeth practically glow.
“You have something of mine,” he said.
“Yes.”
Bobby scanned the Wilders. “I’ve never been in a Wild West shootout before.”
If he was concerned or bothered by seven cowboys lined up with rifles waiting to shoot first and ask questions later, he didn’t show it. I had no doubt the two goons in the back were armed.
“Well, we’re not starting today,” I said. “Mr. Mancuso. As you know, I was a lawyer at Montgomery Law, which means you are protected under lawyer-client privilege.”
“Prescott said you quit. Fuck, it’s cold here.” He wasn’t wearing a heavy coat and he rubbed his hands together.
I smiled. “The one thing about Devil’s Ditch, Mr. Mancuso, is that the town’s full of straight shooters. I like that. Enough that I’m going to stay.”
