AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know, and I feel like an ass for all of this—but especially the part where I got Harlow involved. She doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“How much do you owe Billows?” Ace asked.
“Twenty-five thousand,” Ryker said. “I’ll pay you back with interest,” he swore.
“No, you fucking won’t,” Ace growled, making Harlow jump a little bit. “I am partly to blame for what was left of the Smokey Bandits. I should have done a better job making sure that the transition to a new Prez was seamless. I should have stuck around until a new one could have been voted in, but I was too busy growing this place and opening our second casino. I’m sorry for my role in this mess. But I won’t let you pay me back one cent. I’m still a Bandit and this is just as much my problem as it is yours.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Ryker said.
“No thanks necessary,” Ace insisted. “I’ll make sure that Billows gets his money, personally. In the meantime, you should lay low,” he said, pointing at Harlow.
“Lay low?” she asked.
“Yeah—if you’re on Billows’ radar, he’ll get to you one way or another. Hell, my paying him off might not stop him from trying to find you. Do you need a place to hide away for a bit?” Ace asked.
“I can’t just hide away,” Harlow insisted. “I have a two-year-old and a mother waiting for me back at home.”
“I’ll take care of her, man,” Ryker said. “I’ll stay at your place with you so that you don’t have to uproot your family.”
“You can’t stay with me,” she insisted. There was no way that she’d allow him to sleep at her place. Her mother would have a fit and she made a vow about not exposing her daughter to strangers sleeping over in their home.
“You have two choices here, honey,” Ryker said. God, she hated when men called her honey as though they were about to explain things to her.
“Oh?” she asked. “What are they exactly, Ryker?” she asked.
“I don’t know if you should answer her, man,” Ace said. “When my wife gets that tone, I know to keep my fucking mouth shut.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not married then. Hell, we’re not even together,” Harlow insisted.
“No, we’re not, but you have to listen to reason. If you go home and Billows finds you, your family won’t be safe. If I’m there, I can help you if he shows up at your house. I can help protect you, your mom, and your daughter.” Harlow hated that he was right, but he was. If she ignored his warning and led Billows right to her home and her family, she’d never forgive herself.
“Fine,” she spat. “But for the record, I’m agreeing to this plan under protest. And you’ll be sleeping on the sofa. I won’t confuse my daughter.”
“Right,” Ryker said. “You’re under protest and I’m on the sofa.” She knew that he was repeating what she said to make her feel ridiculous, but it wouldn’t work. She was going to stick to her guns and if Ryker didn’t like it, that was just too bad.
“Good—that’s all settled. Now, if you two will excuse me, I need to get home to my wife and kids before she shows up here to castrate me. I promised her that I’d take the kids so that she can go out with Knox’s wife for girls’ night.” Harlow wondered what that would feel like—a girls’ night out with real adult conversation and laughing at ridiculous things. She tried to think of a time when she had that in the past and she couldn’t remember ever having girls to hang out with. Most women her age weren’t single mothers. Hell, most women her age were still in college and out partying all night. Those days for her were gone, but she wouldn’t trade having Iris for all the girls’ nights out.
“Thanks for everything, Ace,” Ryker said.
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll let you know when he’s paid off. I’ll also have a little talk with him about leaving Harlow alone. Maybe I’ll be able to reason with him, and if not, I’m betting that my security detail might be able to help.”
“I’d appreciate that,” Harlow said. “Thank you.”
“Not a problem,” Ace said. “Good to meet you, Harlow.” He stood and they followed him out of his office to the elevators that would take them back down to Ryker’s truck.
“He seems like a good guy,” she said. Ryker looked as though he was sulking in the corner of the elevator, and she almost wanted to giggle. “What’s wrong, Ryker?” she asked.
“I’m just wondering if you’ll ever feel that way about me, Harlow,” he said.
“What—that you’re a good guy?” she asked.
“Yes,” he breathed.
“I already think that about you, Ryker. You gave me a job when no one else would. You gave me a way to take care of my little girl. In my book, that makes you a damn good man.”
“But then, I went and fucked everything up by getting you tied up with Billows,” he grumbled.
“That’s bullshit,” she growled. “You didn’t get me tied up with him. In fact, you told me to leave when he wanted to talk to you,” she reminded. “I was the stubborn ass who wanted to stay. You didn’t know that he’d take an interest in me, Ryker.”
“Thanks for saying that,” he said. “And I want you to know that I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that you and your family are all safe until this is over.”
“I appreciate that, Ryker,” she said. “Now, I just need to figure out how to tell my mother why you’re sleeping on my sofa. I’m pretty sure that she’s not going to be as understanding as I’ve been, but she’ll come around.”
“I’m pretty good with moms,” he assured.
Harlow giggled, “You haven’t met my mom yet.”
