“You don’t know that,” she said softly against his chest.
“You’re right. I don’t but I have to believe that the plan we have is solid and he doesn’t have a clue who all we have helping us. You stay safe here. You’ve got your gun. Renae’s got her extra plaything, the SIG Sauer P320, that she is itching to shoot. Lether stand between you and danger. She’s former military and is trained for this,” he said.
“Plus, I want to be the hero,” Renae yelled from inside.
Loni shook her head as she giggled. “I really like her, Halligan,” she said.
“She is a very interesting person,” Halligan said.
Halligan gave Loni a little longer in his arms, but he needed to get back to the bar.
“Loni,” he said.
She stepped back. “I know. You need to go,” she muttered.
“I do but I will come back for you. We’ve got an apartment to redecorate for our baby,” he said.
She nodded. Her expression was killing him. She looked seconds away from crying. He dropped to his knees, leaning close to her belly.
“You make sure that you don’t make Mommy’s tummy upset while I’m gone. I’ll be back to take care of you both soon,” he said, kissing her stomach. He stood, leaning down to Loni, cupping her face.
“I’ll be back soon,” he said, dropping a quick kiss and then nudging her through the doorway. His dad waited until Loni went through, then nodded at Halligan.
“Stay safe,” his dad said and closed the door. Halligan turned and headed down the tunnel. It was time to finish this. Franco needed to know that Loni and the baby were Halligan’s, and Halligan didn’t let anyone hurt those he considered his.
Even though he worked with rough men on the oil rigs, Halligan had always considered himself civilized and refined. He wore his boots, jeans, and shirts to the field. But when meeting with business associates, he donned the thousand-dollar suit and shoes, which cost entirely too much but projected the image he wanted to present.
But that civility was falling away as Halligan walked through the tunnel. The man who exited the tunnel in the bar was ready to make his point and make it any way that was needed. Halligan hadn’t really ever seriously considered ending a man’s life. His dad and uncles had brought him up with a code to take care of family and others in need. But every time he thought of Franco and his underlings whipping Loni, Halligan had to consider how far he would go to keep his child and wife safe.
Before Loni came into his life, he would have said he would protect his family but how far he would go never entered his mind. Now, to protect Loni and the baby—he’d burn the world if it meant that they’d be safe from harm.
He stepped into the bar. It was time to ensure that in this war Franco had started, Halligan and his family ended up the victors.
Schaefer was at the booth where Torrent and Maverick had positioned themselves. Halligan walked over and sat down.
“Where are they at?” he asked.
Schaefer moved the screen so Halligan could see the four dots moving toward Dodge City. He leaned closer.
“So it’s a waiting game until they get here,” Halligan said.
“Yes,” Schaefer replied.
Torrent shrugged. “Unless there’s a deserted place you’d like us to ask them nicely to stop and have a chat with them,” Torrent muttered.
“In Torrent-speak, that means shoot a missile at them and blow up their convoy where no one can see, and if there is anyone left still alive afterward, toss another incendiary device and remove all evidence,” Maverick said, grinning.
Torrent frowned at Maverick. “That’s what I fucking said.”
“No, you didn’t. You used code words,” Maverick countered.
“You’d think you being the Vice President that you might consider who else is in the bar with us. I’m not going to jailbecause your flappy lips couldn’t keep a secret,” Torrent said, sighing.
Halligan wondered if they realized they sounded more like an old married couple than brothers in an MC. He wondered if Torrent was always this grumpy.
“I am your Vice President. Show me some respect,” Maverick said.
“I’m respectfully refraining from taping your mouth shut because your squawking is hurting my ears,” Torrent muttered.
