“Y’all okay there?” he asked, maintaining an outward calm.
“Damage to the bar isn’t bad, it’ll be back up and running in a couple weeks. Your protocols worked with impressive precision, son. No structural damage to the bar. You and Cizan did a good job with building and outfitting our little home fortress,” Terry said. “Zeus and Cizan got the worst of the blast, Zeus is bruised up again but Cizan saved him from a hospital visit. Price and Coen have checked in, they’re both fine and will be back in the country in a few days. London was off-mountain attending an event in Silicon Valley; he’s confirmed that there’ve been no strikes against him, he’ll be back later in the morning.”
No one was dead or seriously injured; that should have sufficed, but damn near everyone he cared about could have died in a matter of seconds and he hadn’t been there to stop it. He could have stopped it, could have talked Cornelius down, could’ve offered himself up to Delilah and handled her and whoever else pulled her strings.
He closed his eyes. “I’m on my way back.”
“Not until you’ve settled your family situation,” Mama said in the same tone she used when giving mission directives.
“Mama, look—”
“No, it needs to be resolved today. My house is locked and loaded but Merlee needs you to end this thing with your parents.Youneed you to end it.”
He paced inside the confines of the patio to keep himself from destroying it. Mama was right, he had to stay focused and in his right mind because there was a more immediate threat and it was less than a fifteen-minute ride away.
A thought drew him up short.
“Why is Lynx coming here?”
“He had a feeling,” Mama said. When Lynx had a feeling, it was time to pay attention. “He should be there soon.”
“All right, I’ll get Stormy up and we’ll roll out within thirty. Send me all the info you have on the Shepherd’s Keep and I’ll get on it when I’m on my way back.”
“There’s not much,” Terry said. “But Bride has given us a possible region in northwestern Ireland to work with. No deeds in the order’s name but from what we gather, the Patron may be Kragen III’s father and the order may be linked to him, which actually means Zeus and Sabrina are the original targets. Both Delilah’s and Cornelius’s true identities are still a mystery, but we’ll continue to dig. You’ll have what we have when you’re done on the farm.”
“And Lucas, everybody there needs to be ready. Before the explosion, Terry tracked the phone Delilah used to Oklahoma. We didn’t pinpoint a location, but I think it’s safe to say she’s searching for you.”
“Well, here’s to hoping she finds what she’s searching for. I’ll call when the farm’s been cleared.”
He hung up and walked back into the house. Merlee was at the stove scrambling eggs and Stormy sat at the kitchen table fully dressed, face void of makeup, and hair in two freshly done French braids as she sipped coffee from a sturdy mug and watched him.
Just because he couldn’t help himself, he walked over and kissed her, then turned back to Merlee. “I’m gonna need the stuff Mama had shipped here.”
“It’s in Garret’s office. Watch the food for a minute and I’ll get it.”
“I’ll get it,” Big Country said. “Garret still got the tiny arsenal of guns?”
“I do,” Garret said, walking into the kitchen. “Why?”
“’Cause trouble may be coming this way and I’ll need Merlee to protect you,” Big Country said as he walked toward Garret’s office.
“You think your family will try to come here once you force them to leave the farm?” Garret asked when Big Country returned with the package and one of Garret’s Glocks.
“Naw, there was a situation on the mountain and it’s possible that the folks that caused it will look for me here.”
He pulled the tranquilizer gun out of the box and handed it to Stormy.
“Delilah?” she asked.
He nodded.
“I’ll be ready to roll out in ten. Eat,” he directed Stormy, then headed to the bathroom.
As he cleansed himself, he prayed to anyone and anything that would listen for the ability to keep Stormy, Merlee, and Garret safe.
And if all else failed, he’d just have to survive long enough to do so himself.
Chapter 12
