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Colby stayed very quiet, not hts She ier It wasn't hostile toward Ben, but she could feel the malevolence directed at her Whatever it was struck directly at herentrance She took a deep slow breath and let it out, forcing her nable-a fortress nothing could enter She focused co, impenetrable

The thing seeth, but then it struck again, a hard spearlike thrust that seeht for her brain Colby uttered a soft cry of pain and dropped to one knee, holding her head even while she forced herself to breathe evenly and cal, invincible, with a wall so thick and high no one would ever break it down Whateverwas after her would not be allowed to breach her defenses

She becae hand on her shoulder He was bending over her solicitously "Colby, what is it?"

Cautiously she lifted her head The presence was gone "My head, Ben I have the headache from hell" She did, too; it wasn't a lie She'd never experienced anything quite like the attack She actually felt sick to her stomach, and she wasn't certain she could walk Whatever it had been was strong and terrifying

Ben took her elbow and helped her to her feet She was tre beneath his hand-so he held on to her Colby didn't pull away from him like she normally would have and that worried him "You want me to call an ambulance?"

Her ehed at him even as they mirrored her pain "Are you crazy? I have a headache, Ben

The ives me major headaches"

"Your brother and sister are both members of the Chevez faone through"

Colby ducked her head, his words hitting her dead center in her heart Armando Chevez had never adopted her He had confessed his reasons on his deathbed, hanging his head in sha in his eyes while she held his hand He had wanted his grandfather to relent, to accept him back into the family Due to the circumstances of Colby's birth, Arrandfather in Brazil would never allow him to come back to the fah Armando Chevez was ashamed that he had betrayed her unconditional love for hihiht up until the day he died And she still remained loyal to him It didn't matter that he had died before the adoption-Arical father, but he was her father all the same In her heart, where it counted

The way the Chevez family hated her had never mattered to her, but she loved Ar She loved him with the same fierceness hich she loved her brother and sister As far as she was concerned, the Chevez family didn't deserve Aruardians and bullies for the Chevez faht back to whatever hell had spawned therandfather's bitter hatred of her She wasn't good enough to he a member of the Chevez farandfather had pronounced they would never be accepted into his illustrious family and his reasons had been abundantly clear Colby's mother had never married her father, there was no narandfather would never accept an Anglo harlot and her bastard into his pureblood family

As she and Ben arden toward the ranch house, Colby slowed her pace, turning her th of will on control It was important to stay calm and relaxed and to breathe naturally She tilted her chin and walked with her head up to meet the all-powerful De La Cruz brothers and the Chevez family members who had come to steal her brother and sister and their ranch

They were gathered together on her small porch Juan and Julio Chevez resembled Ar tears She had to remember this was the faiven birth to Colby out of wedlock This was the sanored her beloved stepfather's pleas and allowed him to die without so much as a word from them Worst of all, they were here to take Paul and Ginny away and to confiscate the ranch, their father's last legacy

Ben saw her lift her chin and he sighed heavily He had known Colby nearly all of her life She had a stubborn streak a mile wide If theseand beautiful, because she looked s surprise Colby could move mountains if she set her mind to it He had never seen anyone so deterth of will Who else could have nursed a dying e ranch with only the help of an old broken-dohand and two kids?

Colby walked right up to the two ht, her small fraentleestured toward the chairs on the porch rather than inviting them into her home "I looked very carefully over the papers you sent and I believe I already gave you my answer Ginny and Paul are United States citizens This ranch is their legacy, entrusted to al document If you wish to dispute it, you can takeers"

A aze jue she hadn't noticed hi darkness As he stepped under the porch light, she could see he was tall andHis face held a harsh sensuality, his eyes black and cold His hair was long, pulled to the back of his neck and so sense shrieked at her He held up his hand, effectively silencing Juan Chevez before he could speak That i the proud, very wealthy Brazilian, set her heart pounding She had a feeling he could hear it The brothersof the Red Sea, Colby thought a little hysterically Was there a touch of fear in the eyes of the Chevez brothers?

Colby stood her ground, treht not hold her up This e of cruelty to his mouth and she had never seen such cold eyes, as if he had no soul She forced herself to stand, not to look at Ben for assurance Clearly this man could take a life and never think twice about it That made her all the more determined to keep her brother and sister with her If the Chevez family used him for protection, what did that say about them? She stared up at hi directly into her green ones At once she felt a nized that touch from the mental attack on her in the field Alar away from him to focus on Ben's scuffed boots This man had psychic abilities just like her!

"I am Nicolas De La Cruz " He said his na as his eyes "I wish you to hear theseway to see you The children are of their blood"

The way he said "blood" sent a shiver running through her body He didn't raise his voice at all He sounded perfectly calm and reasonable His voice was a powerful, hypnotic weapon and she recognized it as such If he used it in a court of law on the judge, could she combat it? She didn't honestly know Even she was so She pressed a hand to her te subtle pressure on her to do as he bid her

Colby knew she wouldn't be able to resist the relentless force for long Her head felt as if it , foolishness coentlemen to leave Unfortunately, this is a bad ti a hand to her pounding head, she turned to Ben "Would you please escort them out of here forbetter? I'm sorry"

She jerked open the door to her home and fled inside to the safety of her sanctuary Nicolas De La Cruz would be a powerful ene off hisher physically sick She buried her face against her quilt and breathed deeply, waiting until she felt the steady pressure slowly retreating She lay there a long time, terrified for her brother and sister, terrified for herself