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Then again…
I don’t want him joining the military. I don’t want him going anywhere.
I want him here. In Summer Creek, Texas.
I want him with me.
God, I’m in trouble.
I look at my watch. “My wash cycle is nearly done. I want to get back. I hate it when people take my clothes out and set them somewhere so they can use the washer.”
“No one does that here. Small town manners are impeccable. Plus the laundry isn’t ever too busy on a weekday.”
“Still”—I rise—“I’ve got to go. Thanks for the coffee.”
I turn and walk out the door, all the while an invisible magnet seems to be yanking me back toward him. I fight it and make it across the street to the laundry.
Only to feel a profound sense of loss at leaving Falcon.
30
FALCON
The urge to follow Savannah is like an ache in my groin.
But instead, I head back to the tattoo shop.
“Hey,” Tommy says. “You’re back.”
“Stating the obvious, Tom. Lance still here?”
“Right here.” Lance walks out to reception. “I don’t have anything for you yet. An hour is fast even by my standards.”
“I need some more information,” I say under my breath. Tommy’s totally trustworthy, but I’m not sure he knows about Lance’s side business.
“Come on back.”
I follow Lance.
“What else do you need?”
“Find out what my brother Eagle is up to. He’s into something that’s going to get him into trouble.”
“You sure?”
“I can feel it in my bones.”
Lance chuckles. “So you’re a psychic now?”
Anger simmers in my gut. “I am when it comes to my brothers, all right?”
One day, the truth about what really happened is going to poke its head out of the ground, and I want to make sure my brothers are clean and spotless when it does. I don’t worry so much about Hawk. But E, he’s a loose cannon. Always has been.
“Eagle Bellamy? Your baby brother?”
“Yeah. He was the baby. Mom and Dad spoiled him rotten, and he’s got this bulletproof complex. I sure as hell thought it had been nipped in the bud when he watched me go down, but apparently it wasn’t.”
“All right. I’ll check it out.”
I pull out my wallet. It’s empty. “Fuck. I have to get to the bank. Have to get new credit cards, if anyone will give me one.”
“To a Bellamy? Sure, they will.”
“To a Bellamy who’s been in prison? I’m not so sure.”
“Have Daddy make a call.”
I curl my hands into fists. “Is my hearing going? Because you sure as hell didn’t say what I think you just said.”
Lance holds up his hands and backs away. “Just a joke, Falcon. Christ.”
I step toward him slowly. “I don’t depend on anyone. Not even my father. Didn’t I prove that years ago?”
“Hey, look, no one knows—”
“Right. And no one’s ever going to know if I have anything to say about it. Don’t you ever fucking mention my father again.”
“Okay, okay.”
“You’ll be paid for your work. Every penny.”
“I know that, Falcon.”
“Good. Now I’ve got to get to the fucking bank. Call me when you’ve got something.”
“Got it.” He salutes. “See you.”
“Right.”
I leave the shop without saying goodbye to Tommy. I’ve had enough Mr. Nice Guy for today.
As I leave, I catch a glimpse of Savannah sitting on the bench outside the laundry. She must have her stuff in the dryer now.
I want to go to her. Take her back to my place and fuck her silly.
But I turn the other way.
Time to go home and visit Raven.
The Bellamy Ranch main house stands against the backdrop of the Texan landscape, surrounded by rolling hills, expansive pastures, and a scattering of mesquite and oak trees. The outside is natural stone and warm earth-toned siding, which blends with the rustic beauty of the surroundings.
Classic rocking chairs sit on the wide porch that extends the length of the house. I walk in, and two golden retrievers pant at my feet. When Mom and Dad stopped breeding a while ago, they made sure their dogs’ lines were kept intact by farming them out to another reputable breeder in the area. These two, Dusty and Zach, are from that line. They don’t know me well, but goldens love everyone. Their claws tap on the hardwood floor of the foyer, which leads into an airy open floor plan. Mom has redecorated in a sort of rustic modern. I like it much better than the décor at my place.
Funny. I took this place for granted when I was growing up here. I never thought I cared about things like a house or how it’s decorated. Now? I get a warm feeling just being inside with the dogs pimping for pets. I stroke their soft heads.
The heart of our family home is an expansive great room with high ceilings and exposed wooden beams Large windows provide panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and let natural light in to flood the space throughout the day.
