It wasn’t true.
I stopped at the closet and shoved aside the rack of coats and scarves.
A nondescript brown box sat in the back corner.
My chest pinched at the sight, but I couldn’t stop myself from grabbing it and popping open the flaps.
The people in this town often acted like they hated us.
They watched us with suspicion and distrust.
But today, they’d shown up in a big way, more so than any other year.
Was it the decorations or Noelle’s article about us?
Both, maybe.
Either way, they’d opened up their minds a tiny bit and shown their appreciation for us.
Appreciation deserved a reward, and I had just the thing in mind.
20
NOELLE
Despite the shit I gave my captain and coworkers, the meeting lit a fire under me.
I’d find the truth one way or the other. And if it exonerated the Vipers from any wrongdoing, well, then I’d consider that a perk to a job well done.
Icy air bit my cheeks and numbed the end of my nose as I stood bookended between Ash and Bishop.
They helped haul the donations, and I began the sorting process.
Most would be sorted later, but there were a few I could help tidy up to speed up the process later.
Childish laugher made my heart light, and seeing the Christmas lights along the clubhouse put a permanent smile on my face.
Rafe did all this.
Everyone helped, but it was all because he’d changed his mind and let them bring the Christmas spirit to life.
The long line of cars snaked around the drive and onto the road.
The ones who were there just to see the lights and participate in activities were guided to a parking area to the east of the house.
“Is it always like this?” I motioned at the cars stretching past the curve in the road.
Ash shook his head and thanked a woman handing him a box of toys. “Not even close. We get a lot of donations, but never this many. Usually, we’d see the end of the line by now.”
I checked the box of toys and handed the man one of the thank you notes I’d spent the morning writing on thick cardstock.
He grinned at me, then tipped his head toward the side where Colt handed out hot chocolate.
“This is great. Never thought I’d see it lit up. Perfect house for it, with those gabled edges.”
“That was my first thought when I came here. It’s the perfect gingerbread house.”
A burst of renewed laughter pulled my attention to the opposite side of the house.
