Page 42 of Montana Justice

“Work faster. I need intel on their operations, patrol schedules, anything you can find. The Highway 37 tip was good, but I need more. Much more.”

“I’m trying?—”

“Try harder. Remember what’s at stake here, Piper. Remember what happens if you disappoint me. What I’m capable of.”

The line went dead. I stared at the phone, my whole body trembling with a cocktail of fear and desperation, clawing hopelessness. Two nights ago, Lachlan had stood close enough that I could feel his body heat, his thumb tracing my cheek with such tenderness I’d nearly shattered right there in his kitchen. If Caleb hadn’t grabbed my hair, I would have kissed him.

God, I’d wanted to kiss him. Wanted to pretend, just for a moment, that I could be with Lachlan and that any chance we had with each other hadn’t been ruined from the beginning.

But kissing him would’ve been a mistake. How could I accept his affection when I was actively working to destroy him? How could I let him care about someone who would inevitably betray everything he stood for?

The baby monitor crackled, Caleb’s soft complaints indicating he was waking up. I shoved the phone back into my pocket, wiping my dirty hands on my jeans as I headed for the makeshift nursery.

“Hey, sweet boy,” I murmured, lifting him from the crib. His weight felt more substantial than it had even a week ago—regular meals and safety working their magic. “Hungry again?”

His response was to root against my chest, little fists batting at my shirt. I settled onto the bench and got him latched, though we both knew he wouldn’t get much. My body, like everything else about me, was failing at the most basic level.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, tears burning tracks through the dust on my cheeks. I knew it wasn’t just him I was talking to, but he was the only one here to hear the words.

There had to be a way out. Some path I wasn’t seeing that would keep everyone safe. But every scenario ended the same—with Lachlan’s trust shattered and Ray winning.

And me? I had no idea what would happen to me.

Duchess whinnied from her stall, the sound urgent enough to pull me from my spiral. I finished feeding Caleb, supplementingwith formula until his belly was round and full, then carried him over to the pregnant mare.

She was pacing, her sides heaving with each breath. Sweat darkened her coat despite the cool air.

“Hey, mama,” I said softly, recognizing the signs. “It’s scary, isn’t it? Knowing everything’s about to change.”

I remembered that feeling vividly, but nothing had prepared me for how far off my expectations would be.

Duchess stopped pacing long enough to bump her nose against my shoulder, leaving a smear of moisture on my shirt. Her eyes were wide, showing white at the edges—fear mixing with instinct.

“You’ll be okay,” I told her, wishing I believed it about my own situation. “You’ll do whatever it takes to protect your baby. Even if it destroys you. That’s what mothers do.”

“Talking to the horses already?” Lark appeared beside me, that piece of licorice now tucked behind her ear like a pencil. “Careful, that’s how it starts. Next thing you know, you’ll be having full conversations and taking their advice on your love life.”

“Does Duchess look okay to you?”

Lark’s demeanor shifted instantly, all business as she entered the stall. Her hands moved over the mare with professional efficiency, checking her temperature, feeling along her sides.

“Could be early labor,” she murmured. “Or could be a false alarm. Mares are drama queens about this stuff.” She glanced at me. “Want to learn how to check?”

Before I could respond, she was showing me what to look for—the subtle signs that separated true labor from practice runs. Her hands guided mine to feel the muscle tension, the slight elevation in temperature.

“If she does go into labor, it’ll probably be at night,” Lark said, stepping back. “They like privacy for the big event. I’ll be sleeping in the office for the next few nights, just in case.”

“By yourself?”

Something flickered across her face—there and gone too fast to read. “I’m used to handling things alone. Safer that way.”

I understood that sentiment too well.

Chapter 14

Piper

The digital clockon the nightstand glowed 2:47 a.m., casting pale green light across Caleb’s sleeping face. I’d been lying awake for the past hour, waiting for the house to settle into that deep quiet that meant Lachlan was truly asleep. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, so loud I was sure it would wake the baby.

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