“Did you meet with our PI?” Noni asked.
“Yes, and he has no new information. In fact, he wants another five-thousand-dollar retainer to keep working.” Franny worried her lower lip with her teeth. “I still have some jewelry I could pawn.”
“No. I’ll call him and let him know we’re finished with his services.” Noni struggled to keep her expression light and factual. “Denver is here, and we’re coming up with a plan. I think you and Verna should head back to Anchorage for the time being.” While Franny was only in her early fifties, Verna was pushing sixty, and the women who’d raised and loved Noni since she was four years old needed to be kept safe. “Or you could go on that honeymoon you keep promising her.”
Franny snorted. “We’ve been married for three years, and we live in a prime honeymoon spot.”
Alaska? Noni tried again to help soothe her aunt’s fear of flying. “Maybe somewhere warm. It’s safe to travel.” In fact, returning to Anchorage and facing members of Richie’s gang there was probably a bad idea. “We have intel that Richie and other Kingdom Boys might be headed toward Oregon. How about you have Verna meet you in Portland and investigate?” She made the lie with a straight face.
Franny rolled her eyes. “You don’t think he’s coming here, but you don’t know that he isn’t. So I’ll have Hawk Two head this direction come morning.”
Okay. If Noni could keep them out of Alaska and away from Snowville, they’d be safe. “Good plan.”
“How’s dickhead?” Franny asked, her lips forming a white line.
“Sexy as ever.” Noni sighed. “His chest seems even broader.”
Franny tsked. “I told you to date the forest ranger who asked you out last year. At least you would’ve gotten some.”
Sex every night with somebody else wouldn’t have diminished her reaction to Denver, and Noni knew it. “He said he was sorry,” she said quietly.
Franny’s dark eyes narrowed. “For hurting you or for leaving you?”
Darn it. Franny was way too smart. “Hurting me.” Noni stirred the soup again. “Now I’ve cooked for him,” she muttered.
“Oh, honey,” Franny said, her eyebrows lifting. “Something delicious or just okay?”
Noni bit her lip. “My soup. Chicken noodle.”
“The good stuff,” Franny breathed. “What are you thinking?”
“I was hungry,” Noni said, hunching her shoulders. Plus, Denver was off torturing people for her, so the least she could do was cook something for him to eat afterward. She couldn’t tell Franny that, however.
“At least tell me you hired him properly as a detective. That keeps us in the driver’s seat,” Franny said, leaning close to the camera.
Noni grimaced. “I did tell him that, but he disagreed, and I’m pretty sure he won the argument.”
Franny shook her head. “Don’t let him take control.”
Denver was all control. “I won’t,” Noni said, afraid she was lying yet again. A car stopped outside, and she heard boots coming up the walk. “I think he’s back. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.” She waited for the “Love you” response and then hung up.
The front door opened, and Denver came inside. Dried blood matted his neck and down his dark T-shirt. Noni swallowed. Her knees trembled, and she almost backed away. His eyes were dark and unfathomable, and his jaw looked harder than rock. “How did it go?” she asked, her voice breaking.
“Not great. The idiots were just wanna-be gang members. They had no clue who you were or why anybody wanted you shot.” He kicked off his boots, and a sheathed knife fell out. The shiny handle glinted in the soft light while Christmas carols played from the nearest computer. He looked at the speaker briefly but didn’t comment.
“Shot?” she asked, eyeing the knife, her breath cooling.
He nodded. “Yeah. They were told whoever made the kill shot would complete their initiation into the Kingdom Boys. They’re all just hopeful members at the moment.”
Kill shot. There had been three men with kill-shot orders on her. She gulped down complete panic. If Denver hadn’t shown up at the motel, she would’ve been killed. The grim look on his face confirmed that. “But they failed.”
He wiped blood off his chin. “They did, which means they’re not done. There are also three other new wanna-be members who want a literal shot at you.”
Chills clacked down her back.
“I won’t let them hurt you,” Denver said, his voice raw gravel. “After I questioned them, I made it clear what would happen if they tried. They promised nicely to let their friends know.”
What would scare someone who wanted to be in a gang? She took a step back. “What did you do to them?” Her voice shook, but she couldn’t help it.
