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Eagle’s also got a new woman. Plus, a baby girl who needs her daddy to stay close.
“Goose and I have this situation handled. If that changes, you can get Todd Rogers to send hired guns. But Hobo and Eagle won’t do well here for the same reason you wouldn’t.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Selene made you weak. Now, you’ve got a baby. You need to be home to protect your family. Besides, Goose and I are on top of everything.”
“Doesn’t feel like you are,” he grumbles in a voice capable of terrifying many men.
Since Ruin’s temper only inspires awe or laughter from me, I point out, “We’re alive, and five assholes are dead.”
“You only killed three of them.”
“That’s more than the other biker club, and they have way more men than we do. Yeah, we’re clearly superior, so what are you worrying about?”
“Is that Ruin?” Goose asks and swipes my phone. “They took our weapons. I’m going to have to kill people with my bare hands.”
While Goose goes over every damn piece of information already shared by me, I take a shower and get myself presentable for the beautiful redhead huddled somewhere in this house.
AUSTEN
My mother’s staff sweeps me into their whirlwind as soon as I arrive home. I’m quickly lost in a flurry of activity. My best friend is left behind. So is the man I’m afraid will disappear from my life.
I insist to my mother’s main assistant how Walla Walla and Goose need to be protected. Matthew promises to get them settled. He also remains at my side as we move to my bedroom suite.
In the chaos, I reach for Coco who shuffles behind me. She’s accustomed to feeling invisible when surrounded by wealth. I tug her closer as we’re swallowed up by the dozen members of my mother’s staff. Just as quickly, we’re separated.
I’m cleaned up. My hair needs several washings to get rid of the smoky scent. A comfy gold pullover and black leggings wait for me on the bed. Matthew has my slippers at the ready.
“Coco is finished next door,” he says and checks his tablet. “Your biker friends are in the guest suites. They’ll join you shortly.”
I stare at him, wanting to be alone to cry over my destroyed business. During the long ride, I replayed the violence in my head. When Coco and I scrambled away, I felt like I was leaving Walla Walla and Goose to their doom.
Sniffling as tears fill my eyes, I think about why Coco nearly died. I used to believe my last name made me special. Urick Halvorson is a powerful man in his state, and he basically owns Canary Basin. I felt like the princess of the golden land.
However, the reality is the Halvorson family are the bad guys. Even after I walked away and didn’t look back, my father continued to collect violent, lost men. The latest batch just destroyed my business and nearly ended my life. I couldn’t outrun my family name.
“I’ll get you a Valium,” Matthew says when he sees me teary-eyed. “And call Doctor Elway.”
I stand passively, wanting to hide away and allow the bad day to fade from my thoughts. Except I need to check on Coco. My mother is waiting to see me. I should find out if Hunter is okay. I can’t imagine she’s thrilled to have her life disrupted by more Halvorson chaos.
My feelings are torn on seeing Walla Walla. Though I can’t believe he’s here in my life again, I also feel like a disease infecting everyone around me.
Coco appears at my bedroom suite’s door, walks past Matthew, and wraps me in a hug. I wipe my eyes and smile at how she consoles me.
“We survived. They didn’t. Everything worked out.” As she releases me, Coco stares into my eyes. “Your business can be fixed.”
“But what will you do for money until I open back up?”
Coco’s mouth pops open, horrified by the idea of waitressing for however long the rebuild takes. I grin at her expression and hug her.
“Matthew, can you give us a moment alone?”
He leaves without hesitation, so accustomed to bending to the will of a strong, redheaded woman.
Once we’re alone, I wipe the final tears from my cheeks. “How do I look?”
“Lovely yet sad.”
