Page 32 of Boss and Brat

Carter leaned against the dresser, arms crossed. “You want to tell me who those men were?”

Ethan dropped his duffel on the bed, shoulders sagging. “Two guys from town,” he said, voice tight. “I took their motorcycles once.” The words came out slow, like he had to drag them up from somewhere he didn’t want to look.

“Borrowed them?”

“Not exactly, sort of stole them,” Ethan muttered. “But I gave them back.”

Carter didn’t say a word. He just watched him, the world around them fading into a blur of silent observation.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, eyes dropping to the floor. “I wrecked and burned them. They wanted cash. My dad covered most of it, but…”

“But what?”

Ethan swallowed hard. “They said the debt was mine, not his. They weren’t leaving without something.”

Carter’s jaw tightened. “So they came here looking to collect.”

“Yeah.” Ethan’s voice went small. “Guess they figured I’d be easy to corner.”

“How would they know you were staying in the barn?” Carter tilted his head, almost not believing Ethan.

“One worker here is friends with them. He must have heard about my dad casting me to the green barn.”

“Which worker?”

“Tomás González.”

Carter knew that name. Trouble with a grin. “Why the fuck is he still working here then?”

“My father doesn’t know Tomás knows them. We all went to high school together.”

“For now, don’t associate with him. He can’t be trusted. I’m sure you’re right. He leaked where you were staying.”

“Thanks.”

Carter pushed off the dresser, the protective pull in his chest flaring hot. “You’re not dealing with them alone. Not now. Not ever.”

Ethan looked up at him, something raw flickering in his eyes. “I didn’t think they’d actually show up. That happened last summer.”

“They did,” Carter said. “And they won’t get near you again.”

Silence settled between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Ethan’s shoulders loosened a little, like the words took some weight off him. And there it was—another thing his father never bothered to mention.

Carter nodded toward the bed. “Get some sleep.”

Ethan hesitated. “I will.”

“Promise me.”

A beat. Then Ethan met his eyes. “Yeah. I promise.”

Carter hoped Ethan would get the much-needed sleep, or he’d be wiped out during work.

He stepped back toward the door. “I’ll be right down the hall. If you hear anything, if you even think something’s off, you come get me.”

Ethan nodded. “Okay.”

Carter paused in the doorway, taking in the sight of the kid standing in the warm light of the spare room—tired, shaken, but safe.