Pulling into my driveway, I don’t see Coop or Kane. I see some big asshole with a cowboy hat on.
“Who is that?”
Sophia looks out the front. “He’s good.” A smile spreads on her face.
Parking next to him, I open her door, and she takes off running. “Ripp! What are you doing here? How’d you get here so quick?”
“Hopped a plane from JFK. I was in New York for something else. And when Ryder called me to tell me that Hugh got out and won the appeal, I got here as soon as I could. Sorry it took me so long to introduce myself.” He hugs her back, tight, and too fucking close to touching her ass.
“Oh my gosh. I’m so glad you’re here. Hugh found Wyatt. I don’t think he knows I’m here, but he definitely put a hit on Wyatt.”
She reaches for me, and when I step forward, she wraps her arms around my middle.
“I see you’ve found yourself more than a landlord then?” he jokes. “Too bad I got sent here to find him from Hugh.”
I tense at his words.
“What? Hugh sent you?” she asks him.
“Can we pause this little shindig, and can someone please tell me who this is?” I ask her, finally interrupting.
“This is Ripp Colson. He’s with Ryder and Damon, but no one knows that. As far as everyone knows, he’s still on Daddy’s side. One of his assassins.”
“Assassins?” I swallow hard. “And you’re here for me?”
He fucking chuckles. “Well, as far as Hugh knows, I’m in NYC, looking for leads on James, but I was told to make my way out here to find you. I’m guessin’ they found you first?”
“Guillermo found him. Dropped a burner at the station for him,” she says.
“Yeah. Heard that. Wyatt here called Ryder. But Hugh took Ryder’s phone after he got out of prison.”
Cars come barrelling down the driveway. One is Cooper, and the other must be Kane. Big man pulls his gun out, and if I didn’t have a sensitivity to guns aimed at my family right now, I’d be a little more grateful for his reaction time.
“Whoa, whoa. That’s my brother and the guy coming to do security.” I place my hand on top of the gun, pushing the muzzle down.
“Didn’t know you were planning a welcome party for me, Wyatt,” Kane jokes as he steps from his car.
“Didn’t know I was either.” I look back at the cowboy. “Guns. Away.”
Reluctantly, he slips it into the back of his Wranglers.
“Where we starting?” Kane asks, pulling bags upon bags out of his truck.
“Perimeter first. I want to know the second someone steps a toe over the line of my property.”
“You got it, boss. Wanna ride around with me?”
“Yeah, let me grab the keys and my tools.” I turn to Cooper who’s next to Sophia. “Can you two work on getting Sophia moved into my house and then movehiminto her place?”
“Move in with you?” She balks. “Did we not learn?”
“Yeah, it’ll be the safest option for you. My house will be locked down with the security system, and I’ll be right there when you need me. You can choose whatever room you want. I won’t be offended if it’s the guest room. Or you can move me out to the guest room.” I walk toward her, pulling her into my arms. “As long as you’re safe, I don’t care. And I don’t want you anywhere near… him in those things you call pajamas.”
“I’m not the one with a hitman here to kill me.” She smirks.
Looking over at Ripp, I take him in. He’s taller than me by a few inches, and wider by at least six. “I could take him. Besides, this isn’t an option anymore. It’s happening.”
She laughs. “I love that confidence.”
