“Yeah,” I say quietly. “This feels worse than worrying about Sully.”
Jack thinks for a second, then nods. “We could go talk to them. I know some people who could set it up. Neutral ground.”
“I don’t know,” I say, pacing now. “Maybe. We need to know what we’re dealing with first. What if this messes things up with CPS? What if it makes things look worse instead of better?”
Jack nods slowly. “Yeah. You’re right. Gotta lay low, man.”
I stop pacing and look at him. “I just want my family safe. And I don’t like not knowing who thinks they’ve got a claim on them.”
Jack meets my eyes, serious now. “Then we move smart. No panic. No big moves. We watch. We listen. And if we have to step in, we do it the right way.”
I nod, even though every instinct in me wants to kick down doors and demand answers.
Jack claps a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll handle it. But we do it clean. We’re not doing things the way our fathers did.”
I take a breath, slow and steady, and nod again.
Because whatever Grave thinks he bought, he didn’t buy her.
That’smyfamily.Mine.
By the time I get back to town, I’m calmer. We’re in a good place now, and I’ll be damned if someone is going to try to take that from us. But I’m still so mad at her for doing that. I pull up, parkin the back, and head upstairs first, checking in on Owen. I unlock the door, and he’s got his headphones on, working on homework at the table, his head bobbing to his music.
He looks up and grins. “Hey, Ollie.”
I smile. “Hey, bud. Is she down in the shop?”
“Yeah, her and Cami are down there. It’s her night to do the shop thing. She didn’t get her work done this week.”
Yeah, your sister was off threatening bikers, but I don’t tell him that. I just nod.
“All right, get your homework done and we’ll figure out dinner when I come back up,” I say, heading to the entrance of the shop. I hear voices and listen at the top of the stairs.
Cami sounds mad, and that can’t be good. I look down, expecting to see bikers, but it’s Randy Garvin, looking like a giant turd, his arms crossed, throwing a fit.
I don’t like that guy. I’ve seen him be rude in The Black Dog. And honestly, my sister’s wrath directed at this guy might make me feel a little better after the day I’ve had.
He stomps in, boots loud on the concrete. “This thing’s still making a noise,” he says. “I told you last time it wasn’t fixed right.”
Poppy keeps her voice even. “Garvin, I replaced what was failing. What you’re describing now is a different issue.”
“Well, it needs to be fixed right now,” he says, leaning an elbow on the counter as he owns it. “Seems like you should just fix it for free since I had to come back again.”
I step closer, just enough to see her face. She looks irritated.
“I can take another look,” she says. “But there are no discounts.”
Garvin snorts. “Figures. Guess customer service isn’t your strong suit. Your dad would be so disappointed in you.”
Poppy shrugs. “Probably. I’m pretty unimpressed with how he turned out, too.”
That’s when I notice Cami leaning against the tool chest near the bay door, arms crossed, expression flat and unimpressed. She’s been watching, clocking everything. She already doesn’t like Garvin. He’s banned from Steamy Sips, her coffee trailer, for being rude. He’s known around town for being entitled and a selfish jerk.
Garvin turns slightly and notices her for the first time. “What’s your problem?” he asks. “Oh yeah, you’re the one who makes shit coffee.”
Cami pushes off the chair and walks up beside Poppy, close but casual. Protective without making a show of it.
“I was just wondering,” Cami says, voice calm as hell, “if it ever bothers you that the greatest thing you’ll do with your life is to exist as a warning to women.”
