Spencer let out a sigh of relief as Cole nodded slightly to her the next morning. She knew, realistically, that Dustin wouldn't take her offer when he sat her down today. But she had started to be a better person since moving off the ranch, someone who didn't always turn to violence at the first hint of trouble. It was something she thought Lee would have wanted, even if she was a ways behind the eight ball with it. So she would give Dustin one chance, for Lee's sake really. And if he didn't take the bail out, well shit, that was his own mistake.
She watched Dustin swagger into the meeting room, although he seemed pissed off already.
"You going to talk to me today or should I just ship you off to the psych ward?" He asked as he sat down across from Spencer.
Spencer smirked, her eyes flashing with humor at him once. "You're funny Dustin, a real hoot. I really love the bit where you kidnap people and then threaten children. It's a good look for you honestly. But you know what I think will make it better?"
She waited for a beat as Dustin lifted his eyebrows in question.
"A bright orange jumpsuit. Or-or, stick with me here, a straight jacket. You know what? Let's make it both I'm sure they'd give you a great deal on that."
Dustin's face fell as Spencer continued to ramble. If he wanted to hear her voice, well she knew enough bullshit she could talk for days straight.
"How 'bout you and I make a deal, does that sound good?"
Now she had his attention.
"What kind of deal?" Dustin asked, trying to appear casual as he leaned forward. Spencer saw right through that.
"You say yes, and my brother and fiance don't help me kill you in forty-eight hours. Now, before you start yelling with all those big feelings you have, you shut up."
Dustin bristled across from the redhead, but he kept quiet and let her speak. If anything out of amusement because she thought she was in control.
Spencer smiled. "Good. Now I'm going to help you. I'll write you a check for one million dollars, but on a few conditions. You help take down your father and uncle, and then you get the hell out of Montana and never come back."
Dustin laughed, looking to the ceiling as he did. But when his gaze remet Spencer's he realized she was serious.
"I think you're forgetting who is in charge and who has been in handcuffs this whole time, Spence."
Spencer only shook her head. "So is that a no?"
Dustin stood up, placing both outstretched hands on the table gently so he could return to eye level with Spencer. "That's a no."
Spencer nodded, although a devilish smile was threatening to take over her face as she looked up at Dustin. "I'd use your last few days wisely then, Dustin Beck. I'd hate for you to have any unfinished business."
Blue eyes locked across the table for a minute, the power shifting and tugging between the two. Dustin smiled softly, still not believing Spencer as he nodded once and began to walk away. As he reached the door, Spencer spoke up once again.
"And feel free to warn your father too. Because as soon as I'm done with you, I'm coming for him."
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"I'm sorry, are we actually going to follow a plan that Spencer supposedly came up with?" Kayce hollered across the living room as he stared at the group gathered around. His father, Rip, Beth, Sawyer, Ryan and Lloyd all stared blankly back at him. "How do we even know either of those bastards is telling the truth!"
"We don't," John chuckled, although it wasn't because he had finally found humor in the situation. "But your sister is the only person crazy enough to come up with a plan while being held."
"Besides there's not actually a real plan," Beth pointed out, "that would actually require knowing where we're sending you and Rip."
Rip stirred from his lull when he heard his name, looking across the faces in the room before settling on Kayce. "If you don't wanna go just say it, I'd take Ryan or Lloyd, or even Sawyer over you any fucking day of the week. So if you want to help man up, if not, get the fuck out of the way. Because this time tomorrow night, I will be waiting for that location with or without you."
Kayce's glare turned hostile as he held Rip's glare. "She's my sister, of course I'm going."
Sawyer all but snorted from her seat on the couch, pushing up off of Ryan to stare at Kayce. "You're part of the reason she's in this fucking mess. If you weren't such a pushover-"
"I'm all for bashing on the brothers Sawyer," Beth cut in as she patted the younger girl's shoulder, "but we kinda need him right now."
"We don't need shit from him Beth! Nothing but an ungrateful-"
Ryan clamped his hand around Sawyer's mouth, her words muffled against his palm. She glared at him but he held firm, gently tucking her head into his shoulder, a guilty smile on his face as he looked at the others.
John sighed and ran his hands across his face. Never a dull day, he thought as he stared into the fire. He knew, in some sense, they were all waiting for him to say something. Give them direction. But he didn't have it in him, not anymore. And so he shrugged.
"Her ranch, her rules, her schemes. You have a problem, take it up with her when you get her back."
Kayce looked at him wide eyed but John didn't have the patience. He had twenty four hours of agony in front of him as he waited for his youngest to be brought home. And each minute felt longer and longer.
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"Spencer!"
"Spencer!"
Spencer shook awake, pushing the hand Cole had been using to wake her up away so she could sit up. Cole looked worried, frantically typing away on his phone now that she was awake.
"We gotta move, Dustin got off the phone with his dad and went fucking mental. He just left, if we're gonna run we gotta do it now. I texted Sawyer, but we gotta get a move on now."
"Run? We're not running, that wasn't the fucking plan."
Cole whipped his head up from his phone as he pushed send. "The plan right now is to get out of here with our lives. Malcolm's sending his bodyguards over now. And not the kind of idiots that came after Beth, the kind that make Rip look like a fucking cupcake."
Fuck.
Spencer nodded, throwing her cuffed hands at Cole so he could unlock them. They moved quickly, silently moving toward the door, but Spencer stopped Cole.
"Give me the gun," she waved her hands at him. He looked at her exasperated. "I know you have don't fucking look at me like that. Whose a trained agent and who isn't?"
Cole sent her one last pleading look before huffing and handing the hand gun over to a smug Spencer. She smirked, taking the gun before stepping in front of the brunet.
Spencer took a breath, letting herself focus and lose any fear. Fear would just cause panic, panic would make mistakes. She nodded once, mostly to herself, before stepping into the hallway. To their luck, the house seemed still and quiet, throwing Spencer on high alert. She surveyed the layout of the house once again. The biggest issue would be the stairs, with the glass wall on her right and a floor to ceiling bookcase on her left. No protection and one massive blindspot, but it was the only way downstairs quickly.
She looked back toward Cole who nodded, and she stepped lightly, testing each step for squeaks and groans before putting her full weight on it. Cole was smart, stepping where she stepped, giving her space to clear the corner to the living room before he came up behind her.
The living room was clear as well, giving the pair a beeline for the door. They only paused for a moment for Spencer to grab shoes, sliding the sneakers she had been wearing days prior onto her feet once she spotted them stashed in the back of the open closet.
Cole reached for the door but she stopped him.
"He turned on the fucking alarm," she groaned as she stared at the lock on the screen. "What are the odds you know the passcode?"
Cole gave Spencer a guilty grimace as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Do you know how far away he is? Or how close we are to Yellowstone?"
Cole shook his head to both questions.
"Do you know anything of fucking use right now Cole because if he doesn't shoot you I just might."
Spencer waited as Cole visibly bounced ideas around in his head. Well, at least it looked like she could see the brain cells bouncing to come up with something.
"The alarm will disable if there's a fire!"
Spencer deadpanned at him. "So you want to add arson to the growing list of felonies we're going to commit tonight?"
Cole only shrugged once again, "I mean they can't charge you for all of them at once so fuck it, am I right?"
Spencer stared at the back of his head, watching in shock as he turned to the fireplace. She whispered out loud, but not loud enough for him to hear, "How in the hell did you survive this long with that much stupidity going on in there?"
But she helped him nonetheless. Better a stupid plan with a possibility of getting out then no plan at all. They piled books and logs into the fireplace, dragging the couches towards it as well. Anything to light the house up like a tinderbox. It was rough work, and it would clearly point to arson, but at least they would be out of the house within the next few minutes. Assuming the security system didn't alert Dustin's phone. Or worse, Malcolm's.
"Let's light this bitch," Cole smiled, holding a whole box of matches in his hand.
"Have you always wanted to do this?"
"Oh you have no fucking idea," he chuckled as he stroke one match, throwing it into the pile of books at the center. He lit a second, tossing it into the box and placing it on a second pile.
They watched as the fire spread, trickling over the books and logs and curtains and waited. Spencer swore she could feel each tick of the clock on the wall, her heartbeat matching each click of the seconds hand. They waited at the door, looking between the fire and the alarm box next to the door. Waiting to see which would reach them first, fire or freedom.
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Sawyer and Rip loaded into the truck that had been filled with first aid, weapons, clothes, food, you name it, it was there. Seeing as they had no idea what they would be walking into in terms of Spencer's plan, Sawyer had prepared the truck for the worst.
Across the driveway Ryan and Kayce packed up a second truck with the help of Lloyd and Jimmy. The four would drive in the second truck, following Rip and Sawyer as Sawyer navigated them to the random GPS coordinate Cole had hastily sent her a half hour earlier.
"Ready?" Rip asked, watching Sawyer tremble like a leaf. From fear or anger though, he wasn't entirely sure.
Sawyer turned to him, "I've been waiting for a very long time to watch Dustin Beck burn. I'd say I'm excited but I don't want to seem like a psychopath."
Rip chuckled as he pushed the gear shift into drive and rolled down the drive. "I think you spend too much time with Spencer."
"Bitch, just because you're marrying her doesn't make her any less my wife. Don't you fucking forget that."
"Lord have mercy on Ryan and I then," was all Rip responded, falling silent to listen for Sawyer's directions.
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Spencer and Cole gasped for air as they finally made it out of the burning house. What Cole had failed to mention, was that the house needed to be almost fully ablaze to set off the smoke alarms and then the security system.
"If we make it through this," Spencer gasped as she hunched over for a moment, "I'm gonna kill youmyself Cole."
Cole wagged his finger at her, "I think the smoke inhalation will do it for you don't worry Sweetcheeks."
Spencer's eyes turned cold at the nickname, but she didn't have time for a retort. They had to move. She smacked his arm, silently asking for his phone. Four miles stood between them and the spot he picked to meet up with Rip and Kayce, but her heart sputtered a little as she realized where it was.
"You're really about to make me get sentimental while we run for our lives you asshole," Spencer smacked Cole's arm once again. "Let's go, if Dustin didn't get the alert the fire company sure fucking did."
The pair took off, checking the map every few minutes to make sure they were still on the right path. As the smell of smoke dissipated, they both began to slow to a light jog, saving their energy for when they got close enough to the rendezvous.
"Will your family be alright?" Spencer asked as they slowed to walk for a little, resting their legs after a particularly rocky section. Besides they were halfway there.
Cole nodded, kicking a stone as he did. "It's just me and my sister, but she's out of state anyway."
"College?"
"Foster parents."
Spencer looked at Cole with wide eyes. "Shit Cole, I'm sorry, I had no idea."
He only shrugged. "It's okay, I don't really tell anyone unless they were there for everything. My parents were killed in a car crash and I was in trouble a lot throughout school so the state took my sister. She's bounced around a little, but I was supposed to get her back this year."
"Was that how Dustin was helping you?"
Cole only nodded, stopping to look at the map once again. Spencer stopped next to him, putting her hand on his arm to draw his attention. She smiled softly at him.
"Well I happen to know of a ranch that's always looking for help," her smile grew, "And most of the kid's that grow up on it turn out pretty decent. A little propensity for arson, but hey, can't catch us on all of them can they?"
"You'd let her stay with you?"
Spencer shook her head. "I'd let you both stay. There's an old hunter's cabin we all used to hang out in. It could use a little work, but I don't see why you two couldn't move in there. Consider it a thank you for burning down a house with me."
Spencer squealed as Cole threw his arms around her, spinning her around. He set her down gently, his smile wide. "Thank you, really, I-"
Something shuffled in the direction they had come from, stopping Cole in his tracks. They stared between each other, eyes wide and took off sprinting, not bothering to check behind them. Spencer hissed as tree branches whipped at them in the darkness, forcing her to keep a hand in front of her face to protect herself. Cole had taken up the rear, keeping a hand on Spencer's back so she knew he was behind her.
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Rip forced himself to hold it together as they pulled off the road to the rest stop by the river. A laugh escaped him though as Sawyer confirmed they were at the right place.
"What's so funny?"
"Spencer and I, we used to uhm-"
"Oh Jesus don't even finish that sentence," Sawyer groaned, pulling off her seatbelt and getting out of the truck.
Rip only smiled, his shoulders still shaking with laughter as he pulled his handgun from the glove compartment. He joined the others outside the trucks, taking the vest Ryan handed him with a concerned expression.
"Just in case," Ryan shrugged, turning back to Sawyer to check the straps on her vest.
"How close are they?" Kayce asked as he checked and then rechecked his pistol.
Sawyer looked at her phone, zooming in to see how close the two dots were to one another. "Should be here any minute."
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Spencer let out a sigh of relief as she heard a three note whistle. She and Cole had come across two trucks where they were supposed to be meeting Rip and Kayce, and didn't want to test their luck. But she held Cole back, waiting for the whistle to repeat again.
She whistled back, four notes this time, and then waited.
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Rip's heart practically leaped from his chest as he heard her whistle back. He sucked in a breath to respond, his four note response ringing through the clearing.
Rustling in the bushes forced everyone to turn, guns ready but not aimed as two figures made their way out.
"I remember distinctly asking for Kayce and Rip," a feminine voice called out. Despite the hoarseness, they all recognized Spencer as she walked into the light of the headlights.
"You also weren't going to be back until tomorrow," Sawyer called out, but she couldn't help the smile growing on her face. "How you doin' Cole?"
"If I never have to run again in my life I'll be very happy," Cole chuckled next to Spencer, still catching his breath.
Rip couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was relieved that she wasn't all that worse for the wear, but he could see the exhaustion written all over her face. And her humor was still intact, something only she would still have despite being kidnapped.
Spencer watched as Rip looked over every part of her, looking for injuries and to make sure she really was there. She smiled as she slowly walked toward him, stopping only when they were chest to chest.
"Hiya Cowboy," she breathed, looking up at him through her lashes.
"Hiya Darling."
"Great sexy, romantic greeting later, getting these bastards now please," Sawyer grumbled. "Where are they exactly?"
To everyone's surprise Cole spoke up. "Jackson's with them at the lake house. It's only about a twenty minute drive from here, thirty if we take the back way to get around the traffic from the fire."
"What fire?" Ryan asked as he walked back up from the back truck, two more vests in hand.
Spencer and Cole shared a look and a brief smile before Spencer answered, "No fire, but the back way would probably be better."
Rip sent a warning look to Spencer but she only shrugged, taking the vest from Ryan and hopping into Rip's truck. Cole followed her lead, promptly getting in the backseat.
The rest of the group shared a look of concern, but walked off to their trucks, Sawyer switching to Ryan and Kayce's truck to give them directions. The other back door to Rip's truck opened, drawing the attention of the three occupants.
"Jimmy?" Spencer asked as she watched him climb into the remaining seat. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard Ryan and Kayce talking in the bunkhouse, and I told them I wanted to come."
Spencer's stare softened, "Why?"
Jimmy shrugged, turning so he didn't meet Spencer's gaze. "Because you helped save me, even if I didn't know I needed saving. So I figured now was as good a time as any to return the favor."
Spencer smiled, placing her hand on his knee. "You do realize we're about to kill people, right Jimmy?"
He blanched slightly at her bluntness, but nodded anyway.
Rip shook his head in the driver's seat, turning the truck back onto the road in the direction Cole said to go. He was just happy to have the woman he loved next to him, even if she was a little too excited to take out the Beck's.
But he agreed on one thing...
Their clocks were ticking.