“You take good fucking care of her,” Rowan says gruffly, shoving his hands into his pockets.
“We will.” I shake his hand. The other members of the team drift towards us to give their own version of a threat, promising death if we hurt Rory.
Mason and I just go along with it. It’s good it was us who came and not the others. They wouldn’t have been able to keep their mouths shut.
“Oh!” Lindsey pulls back from their hug, wiping her eyes. “I have a surprise for you.”
She hurries off and returns with a leather sheath that looks adjustable for either Rory’s leg or waist—a perfect fit for her knife.
Rory squeals and gushes over it. She pulls her knife from what looks like a homemade loop she’s stitched into her jeans and slides it into the sheath.
“Happy birthday, babe.” Lindsey side hugs Rory, showing her how to attach it to her waist and if she wanted it on her thigh.
The holster is the same soft, high quality leather as the knife.
“Be safe and call. You have a phone now—use it. Nobody can crack our phones, thanks to Fallon.” Lindsey looks up at Fallon who nods.
“Same with Rory’s,” I tell them. Rory wraps her arm around my waist, squeezing gently as she leans into me. I kiss her temple and put my arm around her shoulders.
Lindsey’s practically beaming at us. Her men are stone cold as they stare, apart from Fallon.
“If you ever need help with a case, we should work one together,” Fallon tells me.
“Uh, yeah, for sure,” I say surprised.
“Fallon’s a fan,” Ethan whispers to me loudly.
“Yeah and I can admit it, dickhead,” Fallon shoots back.
“Okay, okay, we gotta go,” Rory calls out, an amused grin on her lips.
Lindsey’s men all hug Rory, pretending not to get emotional.
We walk out and they don’t follow us, saying goodbye from the door.
As we’re driving home, Rory’s silent. I glance over briefly and see her playing with the sheath and knife.
I take one hand of the steering wheel, resting it on her thigh. She puts her hand on mine and our fingers end up entwined.
“They seem nice,” Mason offers.
“They like you,” Rory tells us. “And they don’t like a lot of people.”
“You said they asked you to stay.” I rub my thumb over the top of her hand.
“Yeah. They have enough to worry about without having to look after me.” Rory sighs. “I couldn’t stay here in this town, anyway but I hate that I’m leaving Cal. It took a while for him to trust me and now I’m leaving him behind.” Sadness slinks back into her voice.
Mason leans forward and squeezes her shoulders reassuringly. Rory leans back against the car seat.
“Is he Lindsey’s son?” I question. She looks young to have a teenager but I suppose it’s a possibility.
“Yes, but they’re not related. Cal’s parents were killed in a case the team worked a few years back. Lindsey adopted him,” Rory says softly.
“Shit. Poor Cal. What–”
The sound of screeching tires is all I hear before a car barrels into the driver's side of the mustang sending us spinning.
Chapter 22 ~
