by Bijou Hunter
“No one said any of that,” Carl gripes. “You’re putting words in our mouths.”
“I know exactly who Krason trusts,” Maverick says in a deadly cold voice.
“We don’t want war, but we aren’t looking to be pushed around, either.”
Colton stands suddenly, and the buffed-out bodyguards reflexively step back. I try not to laugh at how close they look to making a run for the door.
“My VP’s sister,” Colton growls in a beastly voice, “and my club brother’s little girl were getting fucking ice cream. They didn’t say shit to anyone. They live in your fucking town. And your holy man, the leader of your fucking church, showed up with his fatheaded fucking muscle and called Nev a whore. That woman is royalty in the fucking Reapers. Her father wanted to come up here and burn down your fucking church. I don’t want to tell you what my VP considered fucking doing.”
Colton pauses long enough for the Idyllwild group to glance at a dead-eyed Maverick.
“So don’t you come in here and talk like you’re the victims when that little girl cried over your leader’s hatred. If he’s calling the shots, I should be talking to him. If you agree with him, you’ll bleed like he does.”
Colton stretches out his arms and cracks his neck. “I’ve tried being nice. Haven’t I been agreeable?” he asks a trembling Bufford who nods. “I just want to run my business and get ready for my baby. But now, I got to worry about you fucks showing up to harass my woman. It’s last year all over again.”
Colton cracks his knuckles before continuing, “Next thing I know, you’ll send dozens of people to jump her at the grocery store like you did with my VP’s sisters at the park. What can I do? I can’t put my woman in danger, can I? Don’t you see how I have no choice except to bulldoze over anyone in my way at this point?”
Before anyone can speak, Colton adds in a rising voice, “And my pop won’t want his grandbaby in danger, so he’ll overreact and send up dozens of guys. If that’s not enough, he’ll call in help from his allies in Tennessee, Ohio, and Texas. Hell, he might even hire professional guns from the Arizona Moving Company. It’ll be a bloodbath, and the cops and Feds will get involved. Just a shitstorm. But if you people act that way with Sam’s little girl, you’ll do it with mine. Clearly, I’ll need to burn down everything to protect my family.”
Bufford bounces out of his chair. “Krason’s done. We’ll have him out of the state in two days. The next guy will never cross your people. You’ve got my word.”
Colton places his hands down hard on Bufford’s shoulders and stares into the man’s terrified eyes.
“But can your word stand up to my father’s scrutiny?”
“To protect my family, it’ll be my job to protect yours. Krason is gone. Anyone who breaks ranks will be next. Idyllwild won’t be dragged down into the dark ages by crazies. We want a bright future.”
Colton’s hard face transforms into the one I’m more familiar with as he smiles at Bufford.
“I believe you, man,” he announces. “I think you’ve got a solid idea of how things should be between our families. We can both make money and be safe here. No one has to ruin things for us.”
Bufford realizes he isn’t about to die and allows a grin. “I speak for Idyllwild, and I give you my word.”
“And I accept it,” Colton says and wags his finger at Bufford while grinning back at a stony-faced Maverick. “This guy is alright. If he needs backup in the future, I say we help him out.”
After ten seconds of wearing a frozen death stare, Maverick nods. Colton doesn’t even acknowledge the rest of the people as he walks Bufford out.
“If this holy man gives your grief, call me, okay, bud?” Colton tells Bufford as if they’re old friends. “I’m feeling good about my family’s future now that I’ve got your word. No need to get my pop involved. Best for us sons to handle these issues on our own, right?”
“Yes, we’ll take charge and prove ourselves.”
Carl and the other businessmen shuffle out, confused about what happened. Mother Cosgrove currently wears a wrathful gaze, but I also spotted the smallest smirk when Bufford made his big play.
Once Colton leaves the Idyllwild assholes and returns to Whiskey Kirk’s, he smiles at Maverick. “You were right about Bufford.”
“Stupid people are easy to control,” Maverick says, revealing a grin. “Greedy ones, too. Krason might still pull something before he realizes he’s done. We should all be on alert until we know he’s dead.”
“Wait,” Jox asks, rubbing his head. “So, who’s killing him?”
“The Cosgrove family needed a reason to get rid of the troublemaker,” Colton explains. “Now, they have one. It’s him or the entire town.”
“Carl Motors needs to die eventually,” Maverick says in a casual voice. “He was willing to go to war until Bufford stepped up.”
“Why would he risk his easy lifestyle?” I ask.
“He has a state-of-the-art security system to keep him safe,” Maverick explains. “He views his money as armor. Of course, he doesn’t hide inside twenty-four seven. Anytime he leaves the house, we can get to him. While he’s dumb, Carl isn’t stupid enough to be controlled like Bufford.”
“Maverick knows his morons,” Colton tells me and grins at his VP. “He has like a chart or some shit where he can figure out if someone’s capable of bowing.”
“I liked when you freaked out, Colt 45,” Nev says, appearing from her office. She wraps her arm around my back and grins at her childhood friend. “I thought you would start throwing tables. Very convincing.”
Grinning full of pride, Colton replies, “I have three sisters, so I can break into unhinged drama at the drop of a fucking hat.”
A smiling Nev slides her hand into my back pocket. There’s no denying she’s at home in this atmosphere. If she can give herself time to adjust, she’ll do as well with my family as she does while facing the enemy.
THE CHAPTER WHERE THE CRACKERJACK SETTLES HER BRITCHES
THE CRACKERJACK
Whenever I panic over Raimi and Caesar wanting something from me, I think of Sam’s eyes. His baby blues are my safe space, filling me with relief. The next few days are a test I refuse to fail.
For a second night, I join the Donners for dinner. Pricilla cooks a cheesy casserole. I bring a fruit salad. Raimi loves her new doll, while Caesar is curious about the video game. From a distance, I watch the kids bonding with their dad. It would be so easy to leave the Donners to their family time.
But I miss Sam when we’re apart. Sleeping without him feels like a punishment. I’d move him into my house this second if he was anyone else.
Instead, I massage my schedule to ensure we spend our free time together. That weekend, I invite the Donners over to my house for dinner.
Though Raimi’s been weird with me since the ice cream shop, I know she likes animals. I’ll use my fur-babies to get Sam’s daughter to warm up to me. Manipulative, sure. But I was raised to solve problems rather than accept defeat.
“Looky at this place,” Fred says after I open the door for them, and Ghost and Galileo run out to sniff everyone. “And look at these little fellas.”
“They’re girls, Pawpaw,” Raimi corrects, giddy at the sight of the dogs.
Once we get inside with the door shut, I have the dogs sit still to allow everyone to pet them.
“Look at this jungle!” Pricilla cries, peeking into the sunroom with the sea of hanging plants.
Sam grins at his mom’s enthusiasm before he squats down and listens to Raimi tell him everything she remembers about the dogs. I’m a little weirded out by how much she recalls and start wondering what inappropriate stuff I said in front of her.
Pricilla meets a snoozing Julian in the sunroom, where she and I talk about plants. She loves being surrounded by them but says they’re too difficult to keep up with these days. Fred enters the room to share how their yard is a handful, but Sam will deal with the heavy lifting now.
“He pumpe
d a lot of iron in the big house,” Fred tells me.
“I’ve noticed,” I say, and Pricilla catches my hint.
Soon, they’re both chuckling. I leave them to enjoy the sunroom while I check on the kids. Back in the family room, Caesar tries to befriend Cornflake. I consider reminding him about her poor disposition. Why be a killjoy when the cat can do it for me?
Cornflake hisses at Caesar who flinches. He looks at me to see if he’s in trouble.
I just grin. “Nothing personal. She’s just a bitch.”
Caesar smiles and glances to see if his dad is okay. I notice how much the kids seek out comfort from Sam. I’m not so different. How did I ever function before Handsome Sam entered my life?
Soon, we eat dinner outside and enjoy the mild evening. Fred and Pricilla lose their joyful minds over the yard. They keep wandering off to walk along the gravel paths and under the ivy-covered arches before dancing near the pergola.
“Did you make the yard all by yourself?” Raimi asks as she digs into the baked chicken.
“My friend and my mom helped me think up ideas, but we had stinky men do the hard stuff.”
“Do you swim a lot?” she asks, and I recall the kids’ expressions when they noticed the pool earlier.
“I haven’t gotten to use it much. It was getting cold when I moved into the house last year. With the weather warming up, I’m planning to start using the pool soon. Do you like to swim?”
Raimi looks at Caesar before nodding. They’re almost salivating over swimming. Before they ask to use it tonight when it’s obviously too cold, the kids are distracted by Galileo and Ghost running around.
“Raimi is still trying to figure out if she wants a cat or a dog for a pet,” Sam says, reaching over to stroke my cheek.
I hold his gaze, wondering if they’ll ever live here. What would that be like? I enjoy walking around partially and even fully nude. Kids demand pants on adults.
Before I freak out about a fully-clothed future, Sam smiles, and I go warm inside.
“Which do you like better?” Caesar asks me.
“What, now?”
“He means the animals,” Sam explains when I can’t get my brain off naked bodies.
“Dogs are more work, but they’ll love you no matter what,” I mumble, stunned by Sam’s grin and the way his fingers dance on my thigh under the table. “Cats make you feel special. When they like you, it feels like a bigger deal.”
Raimi seems worried. “I can’t decide.”
“Maybe you can practice on Nev’s pets until you’re sure,” Sam suggests, winning grins from the three of us.
“Can we come back?” Raimi asks me.
“Of course. I love your dad.”
Sam chuckles at my awkward expression when I realize I can’t censor myself anymore.
Helpfully, Caesar distracts from my big mouth by asking, “Why?”
“He’s fantastic,” I tell the boy. “And so handsome. You have an attractive family.”
“So do you,” Caesar says. “Are you going to have a baby now?”
“No,” I reply immediately.
“Nev doesn’t like babies, remember?” Sam says, still stroking my leg. “She likes big kids who can do fun stuff like go to the movies, bowling, miniature golf, and that hotel water park in Ohio.”
“Can we do those things?” Raimi asks, missing his hint.
I laugh at his smile while Caesar catches on. “When is that?”
“I got it in my head for us to see a movie Sunday night.”
“But school.”
“It’ll be early.”
“What’s a hotel water park?” Raimi asks.
I pull up the site the twins told me about when I asked for mommy advice. The kids smile immediately, but then Caesar gets grumpy.
“When will that happen?”
“We’ll go for the weekend.”
“What about Pawpaw and Nana?”
“They can come, or they can stay home.”
“What about the dogs?” Raimi asks me.
“My friend can come over and take care of them.”
Raimi starts asking me a hundred questions about my friend and the dogs and what we can do at the hotel. Caesar helpfully reminds me of my dislike of miniature golf. He seems satisfied when I explain how his father will entertain me, so I won’t get bored.
Thankfully, the kids finish eating and go play with the dogs. Fred and Pricilla continue their romantic odyssey through my yard. I take this opportunity to feel up Sam.
“The last few weeks have been the wildest fucking time in my life,” I murmur as I slide my hand up his shirt.
“Imagine what next week will bring.”
“Well, apparently, I have to fucking golf.”
Sam chuckles at my exaggerated irritation. “If you can hold your tongue during the game, I’ll do something with my tongue to make us even.”
I swear I can already feel him inside me. “Yes, please.”
“No doubt, we’re moving too fast,” he says once I slide onto his lap. “But this need I’m feeling can’t be fed with a few weekly dates.”
“I even find myself thinking about my spare bedrooms,” I whisper while staring into his heavenly eyes. “Like it was fate I bought this big house.”
“Sharing a home with you is a dream I need to happen.”
Sam uses the word “need” a lot. This different kind of love is desperate and all-encompassing. With Yulia, I bailed when shit got hard. For Sam, I can’t breathe without knowing he’s still mine.
That’s why miniature golf, weekend trips to kid-friendly hotels, and even sharing my house with two potty-trained crotch goblins are prices I’m more than willing to pay.
THE CHARMER
Heidi finally demands we have a party in my honor despite me telling her plenty of times how I don’t need all that fussing. Of course, she’s been protective of my situation since I did time for her big brother. Now, she needs to make a huge deal out of me being free.
“How has it been only a few weeks?” Brick asks one day when I stop by a worksite to help him out.
The local Reapers’ crew is fixing up an Idyllwild house purchased by a younger fella coming up from Ellsberg. I’ve been told on a few occasions how they have a surplus of guys down south with nothing to do. Now, they can help stack the Pema chapter’s numbers with the plan to eventually push toward Louisville.
Today, Brick puts me to work sanding floors. Feels good to be busy. In prison, I had lots of activities. Nowadays, when Nev’s working, my parents are doing their thing, and the kids are at school. I feel like I’m drowning in free time.
“A lot’s changed,” I say to him. “That’s for sure.”
“Nev told Avery how she’s getting rooms ready for the kids.”
“Not official yet. We’re just easing Raimi and Caesar into this new reality. Haven’t told them about their rooms yet. But, yeah, Nev’s got plans. And I know it’ll be easier when we spend the night at her place since she won’t have to run over to let the dogs out.”
Giving me a nod, Brick says, “I suggested putting in a doggy door for Cassini. Avery acted as if I wanted to be attacked by a roving gang of rapists and thieves. I mentioned how no grown man could fit through one of those doors. She immediately told me to stop assuming the enemy is only sporting a dick. Apparently, we need to worry about petite women wiggling their way into the house.”
Nev is just as paranoid. She increased the security at my parents’ place and stashed extra weapons in my closet. The Majors knows many ways to get close enough to end people. Seeing how easily anyone can get killed makes them hyper-alert about their own safety.
“I just figured Nev didn’t have a doggy door to prevent her black-and-white bandits from escaping. No way is the fat one going anywhere.”
Brick stops working and smiles. “I never thought it would stick with Nev. I mean, that’s what this is, right? Like her having the kids move in and going on that trip to the kiddie hotel. Those are the
real-deal moves.”
“I can’t lie. I love her like I figured I’d never love anyone,” I say, thinking of Nev cuddled against me when I woke this morning. “She got under my skin and set up shop. I’m keeping Nev. Nothing can change my mind. Not even the kids freaking her out and me wishing the cats would stop scenting my damn legs. No future of mine can work without her with me.”
Brick chuckles. “Hell, I just can’t believe it.”
“Why are you so shocked? Is it on account of my being an old dog who’s got me a young filly?”
“Does she know you call her that?” he asks immediately.
“Nev doesn’t fry my nuggets over little things like that. I told her on day one how I can’t control my mouth.”
Brick nods, having trouble adjusting when the world zags and he expects it to zig. “Nev never seemed interested in dating, I guess. Then, you two seemed more horny than anything else. But that’s how it started with Avery and me, too. I don’t know what I’m so surprised about, either.”
“Welp, I knew Nev was someone special as soon as we met. The more I got to know her, the less I could live without her. Now, I’m just enjoying the ride.”
Brick gives me the smile of a man who knows what I’m feeling. He’s wearing the same expression when I arrive with Nev, my parents, and the kids at a rented hall for my party. The place is decked out with food, a cover band, a kiddie bounce house, face painting, and even a barely creepy clown.
Colton is on the dance floor with his wife. Maverick sits at a corner table with his gal on his lap. Brick holds Jett while Avery cradles Io. I’m sensing the clown wasn’t a hit with those two.
“Can I get my face painted?” Raimi asks.
“I’ll take you,” Nev offers. “But you need to help keep the twins from bugging me.”
Raimi smiles big for Nev. Those two have been buddies since we went to the movies again a few days back. Raimi’s braid got messy from the wind, making her squirrely about how she didn’t know how to fix it. Clearly, I was useless, but Nev handled the issue easily.