Page 23 of Hearts at War

No hex. She’s not a witch, for fuck’s sake.

Just a sexy woman who wanted nothing to do with me. I should’ve counted on it as a blessing, not an oddity.

“Roarke,” Gavin prompted, reminding me it was my turn.

“Right.” I played and wondered when I could call it a night and go home.

“What do you think Nevaeh’s hiding from?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. But I’m assuming the worst.” That wasn’t being mean. Just honest. Nevaeh had yet to convince me I should have faith in her.

“You know,” another ranch hand said, “I’ve heard rumors at the bar that she’s getting mixed up with drugs.”

I didn’t know this man that well. He worked in a different end of the ranch, simply joining in on this casual poker night for the hell of it. Yet, I wasn’t quick to dismiss what he said. “I wouldn’t be surprised,” I admitted.

And it peeved me. Nevaeh already had an inclination to break the law and be a rebel. Drugs wouldn’t be too far of a reach. After all, Gracie had been dealing drugs and doing them before getting into an accident and then caught and imprisoned.

“It’s hard. I’m not a parent. I never thought about being one. And that’s what she needs.”

Gavin nodded. “True.”

“She sees me as a friend more than an uncle, and I hate that I need to keep giving her the tough-love kind of reaction.”

“But that’ll help her in the long run. She needs an adult in her life.”

I huffed. “She’s quick to remind me that she’s legally an adult herself.”

“Just barely,” another guy said. He was a father of teens himself, likely far more used to young adults insisting that they knew it all.

“I can’t trust her though,” I said, honest and open about it.

“Hell, you don’t trust anyone,” another guy said before he folded.

Definitely not another woman trying to get her way with me. It couldn’t be healthy, to be this hurt in love and life to be so rigid, but it was the only way I could operate so far.

“I don’t,” I agreed. “I’m so worried about what Nevaeh is bringing to my doorstep that I got a security camera yesterday.”

Gavin raised his brows. “No shit?”

I nodded. “For the peace of mind, at least.” He was the only one I’d confided in about her stealing my stuff in Texas. “If she’s messing around with drugs or anything bad like that, I sure as hell don’t want it in my home.” It was bad enough I’d learned my lesson about keeping cash or valuables at home. If my niece tried to pull one over me again, she wouldn’t find much to hack or sell in my cabin.

“It’s just a simple one, with sensors on the windows and door to tell me if any are opened,” I said as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “The app took some getting used to.” I leaned over for my friend to look. “But it’ll tell me...”

I didn’t finish. Words left me as I focused on the red dots preceding the notifications lining the screen.

What the hell? I tensed, looking down and not moving.

“What’s it telling you now?” he asked, squinting to see.

“Someone’s sneaking into my cabin.” I stood, staring at my phone. “Right now.”

What the hell, Nevaeh?

I tossed my cards to the table and pivoted to leave.

Chapter 9

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