Highland Fling by Shelli Stevens Page B

some day. The romance. The husband and babies. But right now she was married to her future. Still, the idea of having someone was nice.
    Turning to make her way back to her room, Delonna grabbed a small folder from inside her dresser. In it she pulled out her five-year plan and sighed. It was going to look more like seven years with the way things were going.
    She closed the folder and leaned back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She’d just have to rebuild her savings, and this time in an actual savings account. It had been stupid to hoard that kind of money in a coffee bin, no matter her reasons.
    The sharp pealing of the doorbell had her glancing to the hallway with a frown.
    It was nearly midnight. Who was that?
    Grabbing the baseball bat she kept in her closet, she made her way to the front door. A quick glance through the peephole showed no one outside anymore, but a bouquet of flowers on the porch.
    Interesting. They were probably not for Kenzie since her man was currently in the shower with her. Had Aleck sent them?
    Leaning the bat against the wall, she unlocked the door and then the deadbolt. She swung it open a moment later and took a step out to retrieve the bouquet.
    The hand that wrapped around her throat cut off her shocked gasp. She was shoved back against the door so hard she saw stars. In the dark she could barely see the shadowed gaze that peered at her through the ski mask.
    “You tell your boyfriend I want the rest of my money,” a voice rasped. “Fifteen hundred isn’t going to cut it.”
    She tried to choke out a reply, but he’d literally cut off her air supply with his gloved hands. Breathing was her number one goal, even as fear roared through her.
    She clawed at his hand to try to free herself, but his grip didn’t ease a bit.
    “He has until the end of the week. Next time I’m not going to be so polite while asking for my money.”
    This was polite?
    Her head began to feel light and her vision blurred. Then she was free. Crumbling to a hump on the porch and dragging in air as he ran off into the night.
    Crawling to the door, she grabbed the handle and twisted, before falling inside with a ragged cry. The shower was still running, though, and she knew they wouldn’t hear her. She stumbled to her feet, the terror still so sharp she shook from it.
    Tears blurred her eyes and she touched her sore neck, knowing there’d probably be red marks if she looked in the mirror.
    Fuck . James clearly owed someone money, and whoever the violent ass-clown was, he had just decided to come after her.
    She knew why. Because he couldn’t find James either.
    The shower turned off and a few minutes later the door swung open. Luckily Kenzie glanced her way and saw her crumpled on the floor.
    “What the hell?” Kenzie rushed forward, tightening the towel around her body. “What happened?”
    God. She didn’t want to do this. She really didn’t want to do this. “Can you…dammit. Can you call the police?”
    “Aye.” Kenzie’s eyes sharpened with realization and shock. “Brett, I need you. Now !”

Chapter Six
    Delonna was just finishing up giving the officer her statement when there was another sharp knock on the door.
    Kenzie caught her eye and waved as she made to stand. “I’ll get that, it’s probably one of my other brothers.”
    Another one? Colin had already shown up along with the sheriff’s deputy. How that had even happened, who knew? He wasn’t even on shift.
    Maybe because Kenzie had been the one to place the call and the McLaughlin men were probably kept apprised on everything that went on with their sister.
    “What the bloody hell happened?”
    Delonna cringed, recognizing Aleck’s voice before he even rounded the corner. Another brother was right. The deputy raised an eyebrow at his arrival, but continued making notes. Maybe Aleck was no stranger to him either.
    When Aleck entered the room, his gaze immediately sought her out. His eyes were bright with concern as he slid his