Page 74 of Nixon’s Promise

“What the hell was that?” Holden asked.

“Nothing,” Nix clipped. “Let’s get home.”

His command cut off any further questions and we all walked across the parking lot to Nixon’s truck and Weston’s SUV.

“I’m gonna drop them off, then I’ll be home,” Nixon told his friends, his tone was still angry and his eyes were alert; he hadn’t stopped perusing the area.

He moved to Zack, lowered his head and said something to my brother I couldn’t hear. My view of the two of them was obstructed when Jameson stepped in front of me and pulled both Mandy and me into a hug at the same time.

Next was Chasin, then Weston. They followed suit and said their goodbyes, both giving us a tight embrace.

When Holden moved in, he looked down at me, eyes hard and guarded. “Whatever that was back there, I hope you know we have your back.” He stopped talking to me and his gaze slid to my sister. “You got problems, Mandy, you say the word and we’ll take care of it for you.”

Holy shit. Holden wasn’t playing around, he was mad. Very mad.

“Nixon already did,” Mandy whispered.

“Good. That’s real good. I know your sister’s been going at this alone. You all have. That time is over for you and your brother. You need something, can’t get McKenna or Nixon, you call one of us. Your circle just grew by four.” Then Holden’s gaze snapped to mine. “I suppose you can handle yourself. By the look of it, you’ve been handling everything more than all right. I don’t know what that was in there, but I don’t have to know to understand what type of punk bitch that guy is. You just threw down, McKenna. A man like that will not take kindly to a hot little number like you getting in his face and threatening him. Nixon’s gonna tell you the same thing. Only I’m gonna say it nicer because you’re not my woman. Be alert, watch yourself, and don’t ever fucking do that again.”

Holy wow. All of what he said felt good. Almost as good as when Nixon has one of his talks with Zack and his eyes get soft and he shows my brother he cares about him. Well, most of what Holden said was good, except the last part.

“I will do it again, Holden. I’ll do it every time I see that scumbag. I’ll get in his face, I’ll threaten him, and if I’m lucky enough to get him alone, I’ll kick him in the balls. You’re right, you don’t know what that was, but when Nixon gets home and fills you in, I suspect you’ll understand why I did what I did. One more thing you need to know—that wasn’t a threat, that was a promise. No one fucks with my family. I will always have Mandy’s back, no matter what.”

Nixon joined our huddle. His arm went around Mandy’s shoulders and tucked her close. Using his other hand, he grabbed mine and gave it a squeeze.

“Ready?”

“Yeah, Nix,” Mandy answered.

“Totally get it,” Holden announced, still looking at me. “This domestication shit looks good on you, brother.”

Then he walked away, leaving me to wonder why they all kept saying that they got it to Nixon. I didn’t get it.

“What does that mean? What do they all get?” I asked as he walked us to his truck.

Nixon didn’t answer, not while he helped Mandy into the back. It was only after the door was slammed closed he turned to me, leaned forward, and whispered, “They’re all jealous. They know what I have. They all give me shit because that’s what guys do, but at the end of the day they all know if they had what I have, they’d take the ribbing with a smile. But they’re wrong, all of them, they don’t get it. They think they do, but they can’t.”

“Why can’t they?” I whispered, mesmerized by what he’d told me.

“Because they will never know how fucking good it feels to know you’re mine.”

28

Nixon came awake before dawn. He tossed, turned, punched the pillow a few times before he gave up on sleep and got up. He kicked his legs over the side of his bed, sat up, and with his head bowed staring at the hardwood floor in the dark room, he let the dread he’d felt the night before seep in. He needed a run and a good long, punishing workout. Something to expel the anxiety and unease from his body.

It had started as a knot in his gut, but after he’d explained the situation to his friends, that knot grew and when it did, it had taken over. Nixon knew Deputy Dick Dillinger wouldn’t let McKenna’s threat slide. No matter how small it had been. He’d have to prove his dick was bigger and he’d do that by fucking with McKenna, Mandy, and Zack.

Nixon knew it like he knew he needed oxygen to live. He also knew he wouldn’t let Dick near his woman or those kids. Which meant Nix was gonna have to step in. That was not a hardship, he’d gladly put his ass on the line for the three of them. But he knew Dick and the sheriff would play dirty, and that meant exposure. If they found a reason to lock Nixon up, McKenna and the kids would be left without protection. Then it would be open season.

Last night when he’d told his friends the long history he had with the Dillinger duo, ending with recent events and what had happened with Mandy and Dick, all of the guys were furious. They’d all promised to take his back and the Wilson family’s. It hadn’t mattered that Nix had tried to talk them down, not wanting any of them to get jammed up. None of them would budge.

At least that was something. But if Nixon was out of the picture none of the guys understood small town politics. The good ole boys Dillinger had in his back pocket would ascend, making McKenna’s life hell, and they’d fuck with Jameson, Chasin, Holden, and Weston. And those men were not men you fucked with. Hellfire would rain down on Kent County, and they’d lay waste to anyone trying to harm McKenna or her family.

It a nutshell, it would be bad.

Nixon dragged his tired ass out of bed, threw on his workout clothes, and quietly made his way through his house.

He did this praying he was wrong, hoping he was overreacting, and for the first time wanting his gut to be wrong. The door closed behind him with a gentle click, and he took off down his lane in a jog. He did that knowing he was right. A shitstorm was coming.