Enea puts a phone down.
“Augusto, you’re on speaker. Carson is here and he’s using you as his way out of this situation.”
“Hello, Carson. I’m sorry, but I told you before that we would only protect you if it was family business. And what you did today was not family business.”
“Augusto, please. I was trying to get my girl back. She called me and asked me to come get her.”
Everyone in the room laughs.
“I’m sorry. But I will not jeopardize my alliance with the Mancini Mafia for you. Thank you for all you’ve done for the family. But you stepped over a line that can not be undone. Thank you for calling, Enea, we’ll talk soon.”
“Thank you, Augusto.” Enea says as he hangs up.
“So now we get to have fun, right? Because this asshole put his hands on my Lily. And if we hadn’t gone in when we did? We all know what would’ve happened.”
Ares hands me a plastic suit. Like the ones people wear at crime scenes. I put it on and turn to Carson. I make sure to make him feel every hit he gave to my Lily. And a few extra for good luck.
“Now tell me why you came after her.”
“That bitch found out what I did. Then she wrote about it. She was outing my woman and I couldn’t let that happen. So fuck you. I did what I had to.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? You did this because you thought that Lily knew about you and wrote it in your book? What the fuck?”
“She’s never gotten over me. I know because I’ve been watching her. I talk to her and I know her. She’s a bitch for writing what she did.”
I pull back and hit him one more time. Then I walk out of the room.
“We’ll take care of him for you.” Ares says to me.
“What kind of coward can’t kill the man who put his hands on his woman?”
“You’re not a coward. Killing someone isn’t a badge of honor. You defended Lily. Now you leave the rest to us. We got you.”
I nod and get the suit off. I listen to them talk to Carson, he never once admitted he was wrong. I walked away before they finished with him.
EPILOGUE
Tristan
It’s been two months since the ordeal with Carson. I’ve stayed in Valor Springs with Lily. Today we’re finally packing up the rest of her things and we’re headed back to Lake Renegade. First we need to go to the Ranch and say goodbye to Grayson and Mae. When we get to the ranch, Mae comes out to greet us.
“I’m so glad you’re both okay.” She says as she hugs us.
“Me too.” Lily smiles at Mae.
Grayson comes out and gives us a hug as well.
“I hear you’re leaving Valor Springs.” He says to both of us.
“Yeah, I need to get back to Lake Renegade and start my job. I’ve been lucky because they’ve held my position all this time.”
“Well, come back and visit sometime.” He chuckles.
“If you need help, you know where I’ll be. And you know I’ll come back and help if you need it.”
“I appreciate that. And I just might take you up on it.”
When we get back to Lily’s place, Paisley and Cora are waiting.
