That same something tells me that if I keep pushing, I’m more likely to get a hot bottom for my troubles than actual answers, so I let Uncle Bram distract me, giggling happily like I’m not trying to figure out some big family secret as I reach into the bag from the toy store and pull out the set of plastic dolls. “Daddy wouldn’t buy me the house though, because he said it wouldn’t fit in the truck.” I roll my eyes more for their benefit than mine. “I tried to tell him you wouldn’t mind spending thenight in town, Uncle Bram, but Daddy said it was rude to give your seat in the truck to my toys.”
Uncle Bram’s brows draw together, but just like when I rolled my eyes a moment ago, it feels like he’s doing it more to play along than because he’s actually annoyed. “That would have beenveryrude, little girl.”
I push my bottom lip out in a pout and widen my eyes as much as I’m able. “But Uncle Bram, don’t you want your favorite niece to have everything her little heart desires?”
“Aw, hell. Turn around, Ax. We need to go buy a house.”
Laughter echoes through the cab of the truck as Daddy and Uncle Bram argue the merits of him giving up his seat for the giant dream house I secretly do really want. In the end, Uncle Bram promises to bring me back with his SUV to get the houseandeven more candy, despite Daddy’s glares and grumbling threats.
I’m still not sure what the deal with Sheriff Donnelly and Auntie Gray is. But one way or another, I’m going to find out.
CHAPTER 22
AXEL
With my Little girl sleeping soundly in her crib, I grab the baby monitor and head downstairs to the dining room. Gray and the others are already there, each nursing either a glass of whiskey or cup of coffee.
I pour my own whiskey and settle in at the head of the table.
“We need to talk about Lanie.”
Six sets of eyes swing toward me, with varying degrees of alarm. “What’s wrong with Lanie?” Dane asks, his lips turning down in a severe frown that’s mirrored on Eli and Colt’s faces.
“Nothing’s wrong with Lanie,” Gray assures them, her dark eyes meeting mine as she sips her coffee. How she manages to drink caffeine this late at night and still sleep, I’ll never know, but she does. “We ran into Sheriff Donnelly in town this afternoon.”
Leaning back in his chair, Colt grins and waggles his eyebrows in Gray’s direction. “Aw, man. I missed a showdown between Gray and the sheriff?” He elbows his twin in the ribs. “And you didn’t tell me?”
“I missed the good part. Ax and I took Lanie inside to get her away from Reese before she could ask too many questions.”
Colt immediately sobers at that. “Did she recognize Lanie?”
“No.” Gray shakes her head. “But she knows something’s up. You know she’s got a nose for that kind of thing and she’s got Lanie’s scent.”
“She can try to come for her, but she’s going to have a fight on her hands.” Eli already looks like he’s bracing for battle.
“You know we can’t afford an altercation with law enforcement,” I remind him, infusing my voice with every bit of “eldest brother” I can manage. “We’ve made it almost twenty years without giving them any reason to do more than hassle us a bit, and I plan to keep it that way. I don’t need to remind you how vital it is that we continue to fly under the radar. All it takes is one of us being arrested for our entire lives to unravel. And now we have Lanie to consider, too.”
“Don’t worry, Ax.” Bram lays a hand on my forearm and squeezes, his expression fierce. He might be a good bit quieter than the rest of us, but I know better than anyone he’ll do what it takes to keep our family safe, even if it costs him everything. “Nobody is going to let them take Lanie from us.”
“Who wants to take me?”
Goddammit.
Looking over, I frown at my very awake, very alert babygirl, standing in the entryway to the dining room. Clad in the brand-new footie pajamas Gray bought for her in town, she looks so fucking sweet it makes my heart trip in my chest as I rise from my chair to scoop her up into my arms. “What are you doing out of bed, little girl?”
“I knew something was up, and I wanted to know what’s going on.” Defiance flashes in her eyes as she jerks her chin up. “I’m part of this family, too, so I deserve to know if something’s wrong.”
Absolutely the fuck not. I have every intention of keeping her as far from any potential danger as I possibly can. “Youdeserveto get your bare bottom spanked for getting out of bed without permission.”
Worry flickers in her eyes, but the set of her jaw firms. “You can spank me after you tell me why you’re having a secret family meeting without me.”
“This is not a negotiation, little girl.”
“She’s right, Ax.”
Gray’s soft voice jerks my attention away from my naughty babygirl. “Stay out of this, Gray,” I snarl at my sister.
“Hey, now.” Dane narrows his eyes at me. “There’s no need to take your frustrations out on us.”
