“However, that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t use the resources and people available to him. But the fact that Hallie could know something they don’t want her to know could get him a couple of guys assigned to help intimidate, to get her back.”
“So, this whole thing is just some asshole with an ego?” Gray asks.
“Could be. It’s possible she knows something, whether it’s just him or the group, I don’t have enough information to say for sure.”
Mason shakes his head. “We already spoke with Hallie. She doesn’t know anything.”
“That she knows of,” Spits corrects.
“I don’t know that it’s safe to keep the girls here, especially Sloane.” Mason says. He’s leaning on the frame of the large picture window, across from me, behind Mr. Harlow’s desk with his hands fisted at his sides. He nearly went ape shit looking for her after the explosion yesterday, she was hiding in the laundry room with Hallie.
“Maybe we should send them to my house in Tennessee, it’s big enough for all them.” I offer. “They would be closer to the team and safe until we can get this under control.”
Gray, who is leaning against the office door with his arms crossed over his chest, shakes his head. “I won’t be sending my daughter to another state. If I have to, I’ll send her to Elly’s apartment in Tulsa. She likes it there.”
Mason cocks his head as he looks at Gray. “What if they know where Elly lives? It would be safer if we sent them all to Tennessee as a group and a couple of the guys can stay with them.”
“My wife can check in on them every day and show themaround the area. We’ll monitor them, Gray, you’ll have nothing to worry about if they’re with us.” As Gray listens to Callum making the offer, he slides his ball cap around his head to set the bill in the back, a habit he and Mason both have. He looks a lot like Mason when he’s angry. He’s also fiercely protective of his daughter.
“Elly can come with Lainey Rai if it makes you feel better about it.” Callum hedges.
Gray’s eyes move to Mason, who nods his head. “When?”
“I can send my plane for them today if you want,” Callum says.
“Yes.” Mason spits out. He’s obviously worried about Sloane and the baby and can’t get them away fast enough.
As they make arrangements for Callum’s plane, I know Marley won’t go, she won’t leave her horses. She wouldn’t even come to the house after everything was settled after the explosion, she was too worried about the gelding in the stables.
All the different arguments I could make go through my head, but I know no matter what I, or anyone else says, she’ll refuse. That just means I’m her shadow for the foreseeable future.
My thoughts drift back to the hug she initiated yesterday, and I have to suppress a smile. That’s the first time she’s opened up to me, the first time she’s touched me by her own volition. If that fucking bomb hadn’t gone off, I can’t say I wouldn’t have kissed her again. Christ, I want to kiss her again.
When all the arrangements are made, Gray turns and opens the office door. Hallie is standing there like she has been there the whole time. Her hands are clasped in front of her, the knuckles white and her face is even more pale than it usually is.
“I won’t go.” Her eyes move over everyone in the room.
“Now, Hallie, don’t make any rash decisions. I think you should go with Sloane to help take care of her.” Mr. Harlow is standing behind his desk with his hand raised, palm out, in front of him.
She shakes her head, her movements are quick and choppy, like someone who is nervous. “Kinley and Breanna can take care of her, she doesn’t need me. I brought all this trouble to you, and I think I should just leave, so he’ll stop.”
“No, you won’t. What makes you think we would let you walk out of here to put yourself in danger?”
Over the years, Mason has mentioned his dad’s soft spot for helping people, and I’ve seen his compassionate side. I’ve also seen him hold a red-hot branding iron to a man’s back and swing a sledgehammer at another man’s knees. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.
Her eyes fill with tears. “But I’m putting everyone here in danger.” She sniffs. “I don’t want to be the reason everyone has to leave their home.”
“You won’t, it’ll be like we’re going on a vacation to Tennessee. It’ll be fun.” Breanna appears behind her and puts her arm across Hallie’s back.
“How many of you are out there?” Mr. Harlow chuckles.
Kinley and Sloane appear on each side behind them.
“Don’t think that just because we don’t have a penis, we can’t know what’s going on,” Kinley says with her hand on her hip. Her long blond hair is hanging down one side of her slim frame in big waves. She looks a lot like Marley, but she doesn’t have the gentle eyes and soft smile like Marley does.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Kinley, can you be any more crude? Where’s Lainey Rai?” Gray says, looking at Kinley, his frustration setting into the lines on his face.
“I’m right here.” The muffled, high-pitched voice of a ten-year-old comes from down the hall.
