Harlan called from the Sheriff’s office, so he decided to drop by there first, see what information Harlan had for him.
Two days later, the farmhouse was bursting at the seams and Big Country was totally at peace with it.
Lynx was being released from the hospital today and Mama and Terry were picking him up after retrieving Stormy from the airport. It had been Lynx’s idea to have a Welcome Home celebration for him and invite Stormy to come. The man was fucking brilliant.
Terry had arrived at the farmhouse yesterday evening with Coen and Cizan.
Zeus and Sabrina were in France, and London back in the UK, but the three Brood mates had joined them for a Skype call to discuss what course of action the Brood would take after Lynx’s party.
Big Country had shared the information he’d discovered about Kragen, his relationship with the Good Shepherd, and the Shepherd’s order. Big Country and Harlan had learned that even though Delilah may have been obsessed with him, she’d also been obsessed with maintaining detailed records, intending to utilize them as leverage for her freedom if she needed to.
Mama and Terry decided it was imperative the Brood strike before either the Shepherd or Kragen had a chance to strike against them again.
Bride and Price would return to Ireland, Bride’s place of birth, and find what they could about the order. Cizan and Coen would return to Mama’s House with Terry and deal with rebuilding the bar as well as getting all the intel they could on the history of the Shepherd’s Order and its leader.
They discovered that Abigail Lorne—Delilah—had been kidnapped when she was five, which meant there was a high likelihood that the Order had been, at the very least, kidnapping children for years to fill their ranks. Like Delilah…like Cornelius.
Sabrina and Zeus would stay in France with Brianna. Once Kragen discovered that he had a grandchild, it was only a matter of time before he took action, legal or illegal, to take Brianna away from them. Depending on how things turned out with Stormy, Big Country planned to meet Zeus and Sabrina in France to provide an added layer of protection.
Lynx, the unlucky bastard, would be staying on the farm with Mama, and Merlee, and possibly his parents if he couldn’t talk them into staying up north, until he was ready for action…or until he lost his mind. Poor bastard.
Earlier this morning Stormy’s mother and father, along with three of the four women who’d been at Mama’s House the night he and Stormy met, had arrived. Her friends Lou and Jules fit right in, but her cousin Reign…somebody was gonna have to sedate her soon, the woman was jumpier than grease on a hot skillet.
The person he held responsible for bringing him and Stormy together, the one who’d negotiated with Mama to have Stormy’s party at the bar, Tavi, couldn’t come to the celebration because she had finals. Big Country had sent her a gift of gratitude she was sure to enjoy.
Big Country scanned his grands’ kitchen, marveling at the massive amounts of food sitting on the counters and dining room table. Mama and Stormy’s mother must have thought they were feeding a small army.
His chest tightened as he reached for his homemade barbecue sauce simmering on the stove. His grands would be so proud to see their home overflowing with all this love and laughter. He felt moisture well in his eyes, wishing they were here, wishing they could witness the fruits of their labor and love. He took a moment to extend a prayer of thanks to them; he never would have reached this moment without their love and guidance.
Stormy’s father called from the back door, and Big Country walked outside and handed him the barbecue sauce, happy that he’d graduated fromthat big-assed white boytoson. It had taken a whole night of drinking and lying, followed by some real talk, before he’d won Stormy’s father’s approval.
“They’re headed up the drive,” Stormy’s mother shouted as she rushed into the house. She and Merlee had been sitting in the rocking chairs on the front porch talking gardening for the last hour.
Big Country headed outside with Merlee while everyone stayed inside. Stormy didn’t know her family and friends were here. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction when she walked into the house.
Mama was the first person out of the SUV. She hopped down and opened the rear passenger door for Lynx, fussing over him as he stepped out. Big Country placed a hand over his mouth as Lynx rolled his eyes at Mama’s fussing.
Terry was next to get out of the car and he opened the back door for Stormy.
Big Country was sure he stopped breathing for a good thirty seconds as he watched her. She was just that glorious in her sleeveless coral dress that fell to mid-thigh and wrapped delicately around her body. Her hair was in two long French braids and she…she….
He couldn’t help it, he walked off the porch, stopping inches away from her. She smiled up at him and his heart beat with a rhythm of love he didn’t know it was capable of playing. He bent down and lifted her in his arms, and she reached up with both hands, pressed them along his jawline and pulled his head down, kissing him so softly he couldn’t understand why he felt it all the way down to the soles of his feet.
“Beautiful as moonlight on the bayou,” he whispered, rubbing his nose against her temple.
“I missed you too, Lucas Beaumont.”
He lowered her to the ground and kissed her hard before releasing her.
“Your ass never should have left in the first place. You know I almost diedthreetimes while you were gone, four if you count how grief led me into a drunken wrestling match with one of Merlee’s bulls. Lucky for both of us, I won, and that’s theonlyreason we’re eating a shit ton of barbecue beef tonight.”
“Just for no reason,” She smiled, reaching for her purse-bag. “And for the record, I left because I knew what I was willing to do for love; you with your hard head had to find out. Iknowyou Lucas—”
“Yeah,” he said reaching for her carry-on luggage. “And what do you think you know?” he asked, gently bumping fists with Lynx, mindful of the shoulder brace from his friend’s fractured clavicle.
“You stalked me afteronedance at Mama’s House,” Stormy said as they walked toward the porch. “You thought you’d belessobsessed with me after all we’ve been through? Like, really?”
Whatever else Stormy was going to say was lost in the loudWelcome Home!that erupted as they walked into the house. Events descended into a good hour of hugs, laughter, and out-and-out lying. Everything from the night Big Country and Stormy met to Lynx’s rescue was reenvisioned.
