AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Ryder smacked my shoulder as he plopped down in the chair beside me. “And your ass is way too tempting for you to go to prison, my friend.”
I sent him a scowl. “Do I need to be concerned you’ve been looking at my ass?”
He laughed, tapping a tattooed thumb against his thigh like it was a drum. “Hey, just looking out for my favorite cousin because we know it’s not that ugly cocksucker over there.”
He pushed his shoe up on the edge of Ezra’s desk, giving it a teasing shove.
Ezra sent the collector baseball he had sitting on his desk whizzing toward Ryder.
Ryder’s arms shot up to deflect the blow. “What the hell, Ezra? You trying to take me out? So testy. The both of you.”
He was all grins like this wasn’t a life-or-death situation.
“Focus, man. This is serious,” Ezra said, words low. “Caleb got a letter. Whoever this creep is was watching close enough to know he went to Seattle. It’s like he’s begging Caleb to come after him. Drawing him out. Toying with him.”
Ryder sobered, worry threading through his demeanor. “And there still aren’t any clues? No idea who this deviant is?”
“Not one.”
I dropped forward, elbows on my thighs and my head slumped between my shoulders as I pushed my face into my palms.
“We’re going to find him, Caleb.” Ezra’s voice broke through the torture, and I forced myself to look at him. “Promise you that. You stepped up for me when I needed it, do you think I’m not going to do the same? I’ll go to Seattle myself to track this fucker down if that’s what it takes.”
Severity coated Ezra’s pledge.
“You know I’m there,” Ryder added. “Whatever you need.”
“I wouldn’t put either of you in the path of this.”
It was already bad enough I’d come here. But they were the only family I had left. The only family Evelyn had left. Not that I’d allowed her out to get to know them. Keeping her locked away within the confines of the ranch, terrified someone might follow us here.
“Keep telling you that we’re your family, man.” None of the razzing was left in Ryder’s voice, just a quiet ferocity. “What the hell do you think we’re here for?”
My head shook. “I would never want to bring danger to your doors.”
“Sounds to me like we’re going to have to go find it.” Ryder looked at Ezra, the promise of violence rippling beneath his tatted arms.
I knew they’d step in the line of fire for me, but I would never allow it.
My teeth ground. “I will find him. These are my sins.”
Ezra blew out a strained breath. “Let the detective there do his job, Caleb, and I’m going to see if I can’t dig around myself from here. Uncover something that’s been missed. But you need to move on. Let Evelyn live. You’re stagnant, refusing to let yourself breathe, and it’s time you did.”
Not until he was dead.
“Don’t do something stupid you can’t take back.” Grimness filled his warning.
“Speaking of, Dakota’s little boy, Kayden, is having his second birthday party this Saturday,” Ryder cut in. “Ezra’s kids are going to be there.” He jutted his chin at Ezra. “It’s time Evelyn met her cousins, don’t you think?”
The need to protect her surged. Gushed up from the dark places. My hands curled into fists. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Come on, man, these are people you need to get to know. Our friends,” Ryder emphasized. “People we consider family. And it’s time you became a part of that. It’s the whole reason you came to Time River.”
I’d come to Time River to keep Evelyn safe.
“And you know Paisley is going to be there.” Ryder wagged his brows.
I grunted. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Everything.
The thought hit me before I could stop it.
Ryder cracked up. “Oh, you think I haven’t heard you have that girl holed up at your mansion? You think I don’t know what you’ve gotten up to? I knew you wanted to dip your dirty dick in my Paisley-Cakes.”
I kind of wanted to throw my fist through his smug face. All brotherly-like.
“Evelyn needed a nanny.” The lie tasted sour where it whipped off my tongue, even though it was true.
Evelyn needed a nanny.
She needed Paisley.
Fucking problem was I was beginning to need her, too.
“Sure, asshole. You keep telling yourself that.”
Ezra chuckled. “At least someone like Paisley can whip this surly fucker into shape.”
“You’re calling me surly?” I looked pointedly at Ezra. He was the grumpiest motherfucker I knew.
Not that I blamed him after what he’d been through.
“What are you talking about? I’m a ray of goddamn sunshine.” He grunted it, fighting a grin.
At least not all his joy had been stolen. At least there was a piece of him that held onto a faith I’d long ago ceased to believe existed.
