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TANNER HAD BEEN TALKINGto my uncle for what felt like hours when really, it had only been a half hour at most. But the anxiety rushing through me that Uncle Greyson had taken him out before getting any answers, forced bile to my throat.
I never wanted to leave Tanner alone with him. I trusted my family, but Tanner clearly unraveled everyone and set them on edge. I only wished I could figure out why.
“Hey, Busy.”
I glanced up from the book I was trying to read and found Tanner slowly coming toward me with a few items of clothing in his hands.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, stopping a few feet away.
I looked around him, expecting to see Uncle Greyson or one of the other guys but when I didn’t, my heart stuttered that Tanner and I were actually alone.
I shook my head. “How did the meeting go?”
He placed the pile of clothes on the coffee table and sat beside me, stretching out his long legs in front of him. “Greyson isn’t happy that I’m here. No one is actually.” He ran a hand through his dark hair before resting his head against the back of the couch. “But he’s letting me stay. I just have rules to follow.” He looked at me then. “Which is funny because I’ve never been the type to follow any sort of rules.” His eyes dropped to my mouth.
My cheeks burned. “Well…” I placed my book on the coffee table and turned toward him. “They’re good people. I think the fact that you asked for help, works in your favor.”
He grunted. “Maybe. I don’t know anymore.”
“Is he helping you?”
“Yeah. He gave me a burner phone so I can keep in touch with my contact. Cyrus grabbed me some clean clothes as well.” Tanner paused. “People want me dead, Busy. And whoever set it in place is willing to pay a lot of money for that to happen.”
I swallowed hard. “How much?”
“Five hundred.”
“Thousand?” I asked, my eyes widening.
He nodded. “It’s why I have to stay down here. For whatever reason, your grandfather vouched for me.”
“Grandpa likes people that most don’t. I heard he didn’t like my dad much in the beginning though.” I shrugged. “Who knows why my grandpa does the things he does anymore.”
“Your dad won’t like me either.” Tanner sighed, staring up at the ceiling.
“Have you ever met my dad?” I asked, curious about the man sitting beside me.
“No. I tried to keep my nose out of the spotlight believe it or not. It’s not my thing. I paid people to do that shit for me. And then something came up and I had to approach Sunny, Shade and Meadow. And…” His jaw ticked.
“Hey.” I touched his arm gently.
Tanner looked at me then. “I’m not a good guy, Busy. But this…I want to be. For you.”
My stomach somersaulted. “I’m not changing you. I don’t expect that from you anyway.”
He looked away.
“Tanner.” I squeezed his arm, moving closer to him. “I mean it. I may be new at this but for whatever reason, I like you. Even if it’s just to be friends. I got your back, Tanner. I can be your little bodyguard.”
He gave me a small smile.
“I don’t know why but when you’re close, I don’t feel like committing murder.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. There was more to it than that, but I didn’t press.
“Um…well, you’re welcome?”
He chuckled, dropping his hand to his side.
“How’s your shoulder?”
