“Oh, shit.” Logan pocketed his phone, slid off the tailgate, and ran for Walker’s truck.
Good kid. Smart kid.
Bear started walking, closing the distance between himself and Greta before Daniel could.
Twenty yards.
Greta hadn’t seen Daniel yet. She was facing away, listening to Naomi, one hand resting on top of Atlas’s head. Naomi had her back to the approach, too.
Fifteen yards.
Atlas’s ears swiveled. He’d caught the boots. He hadn’t moved his head yet, but his body had gone still.
Daniel was close enough now that Bear could hear him muttering. Not words yet. Just the rise and fall of a man working himself up.
Ten yards.
Greta’s spine straightened, and her hand tightened in Atlas’s fur. She turned just as Daniel stopped ten feet from her and spread his arms wide.
“There she is. Solace’s own search and rescue hero.” His words slurred at the edges. “How’s it feel, Greta? Finding your sister after all this time?”
Greta’s face went flat. “Go home, Daniel.”
“I’m just here to offer my condolences.” He took two steps closer.
Naomi slid between him and Greta and drew her gun. Greta put a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back. “Don’t. He’s not worth risking your campaign.”
Naomi’s jaw set, but she holstered. She didn’t step back.
“Must be hard,” Daniel continued. “All those years looking, and she was dead the whole time. Right here. Right under your nose. On your good friend Evander’s land, even.”
Bear reached them and stopped on Greta’s side, close enough that she’d feel him there. He wanted Daniel’s eyes on him, not her.
Daniel’s gaze dragged off Greta and landed on Bear, and something ugly moved behind it.
“Oh,” Daniel said. “The big man’s here.”
“Walk away, Daniel.” Bear kept his voice low.
“Or what?” Daniel swayed. His boots scuffed on the asphalt. “You put me through a wall again?”
The Valor Ridge crew closed in around them. Walker came around his truck with Logan a step behind. Boone and Hatch came from the left. Anson and Jonah from the right. Ghost came up from the direction of the livestock pens with Cinder at his heel. X cut across from the back gate, still in his competition shirt. River brought up the rear with a corndog in one hand.
Daniel’s gaze tracked across them, and something in his face went ugly. “Oh, look at that. The ex-con protection squad. That’s real sweet.” He focused back on Greta. “You feel safe with them? Withhim?” He jerked his chin at Bear. “You know his kid’s mom is dead, right? Probably a junkie whore who OD and left the kid with nobody. And now he’s got you playing house across the street. Bet that makes you feel real special.”
A choked sound came from behind Bear.
Logan.
Goddammit.
Bear shot one arm out across the boy’s chest without turning. “Stay where you are.”
Logan took a step, hit Bear’s forearm, and stopped. His hands were curled into fists. His breathing was loud through his nose.
“Don’t,” Bear said softly just for his son.
“He said?—”
