Chapter 2
The moment Gage Mosbysaw the beautiful woman in the elegant black halter dress and high-heeled sandals slug Damian Fawkes, he knew he was in trouble. The truth was that he’d loved Lily Dunmore since the fifth grade, and after watching her glorious temper, he realized he’d never stopped.
But the moment she met his gaze, memories broke through the floodgates, making it difficult to breathe. Sweat soaked his T-shirt, and his heart leapt in his chest.
“Pres!” The red-bearded biker still clung to Damian’s arm. “Let’s leave.”
“You’ll to pay for this,” Damian hissed at Lily. “I promise you’ll regret hitting me.”
Gage moved next to Lily and used his best master sergeant voice. The one that made young soldiers cry on their first day of Ranger School. “Leave now, Damian.”
Lily held her hand close to her chest and blew away stray hairs. “And go to hell.”
“Gage Mosby?” Damian’s voice sounded rough, like he’d been drinking all night. “I’ll be damned. You’re about two weeks too late.”
Lily glanced at him, but he kept his focus on Damian. “Take your brothers with you.”
Damian sneered at Gage. “Who you gonna call, Mosby? We have a part-time sheriff who’s sitting at the bar in The Ren right now. Your brothers don’t give a shit about this town.” He motioned toward a tall man near The Ren’s doorway. “Jacob, and the rest of your nephews, care even less.”
Gage studied the familiar man. Could he be Jacob, one of Isaiah’s boys? It didn’t seem possible that Gage had been gone for so long that all of his brothers’ kids had grown up. For the first time in years, he also remembered how odd it was that he was closer in age to his nephews than his four older brothers.
“I’ll call Ben.” Harry Wakefield—who hadn’t aged at all—appeared next to Gage. “Even though he’s a Milltown police officer, he’ll arrest your ass for chewing gum the wrong way.”
“The same Ben Mosby who—right now—is tucked away in his apartment with that pretty EMT from Milltown?” Damian scoffed. “I’m not worried, Harry. The MC owns this town. And once I win the mayoral race, I’ll be in charge.”
“Good grief.” A beautiful blonde woman came forward and gently touched Lily’s shoulder. “No one will vote for you, Damian. Not after what you did to Eve.”
“Clara is correct.” Jacob moved next to the blonde woman, almost as if protecting her. “Let this go, Damian. You don’t need another thing on your rap sheet—not with your hearing coming up.”
“I’m not worried about a civil case.” Damian stared Gage. “You and Lily will regret this day. I swear it.”
Damian went into The Ren, followed by the rest of his MC brothers. Then Clara led Lily back into the café, neither one giving him even a glance.
Once a few more onlookers disappeared, Gage released a deep breath. So much for a warm homecoming.
“Uncle Gage?” Jacob grabbed him into a bear hug. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Gage clapped Jacob’s back and released him. Jacob was as tall and muscular as Gage. “It’s great to see you, Jacob.”
Jacob stepped back to allow Harry Wakefield into the circle.
“Welcome home!” Harry gripped Gage’s arm. “Although I’m sorry it’s under sad circumstances. Caleb was a man of his time.”
That was an interesting way to sum up Caleb Mosby.
“Yes, he was.” Gage met the concern in Harry’s gaze and saw the truth. While people had mixed feelings about his father’s death, many in town, including the MC, were appreciating the empty space Caleb Mosby had left behind. Including the mayoral seat.
Then Nana Ruthie, and a dozen other people, came forward to offer their greetings, well wishes, and sympathies. Once the final hand was shaken, he found himself alone with Harry and Jacob.
Gage motioned to The Ren. “What just happened?”
Jacob ran a hand through his hair, and his eyelids shuttered. “Since granddad died two weeks ago, things in town haven’t been good.”
“The truth is,” Harry added, “things haven’t been good in Kingsmill for a long time.”
“Why did Lily hit Damian?” Gage’s phone buzzed in his back pocket but he ignored it. “And I’m assuming the Clara who also confronted Damian is your niece, Harry?”
Harry nodded. “Clara was just protecting Lily and Eve, her two closest friends.”
He’d heard Eve’s name mentioned. “The same Eve married to Kane?” Gage looked at Jacob. “Your brother?”
“Like I said, Uncle Gage.” Jacob released a deep sigh. “A lot has happened. Kane and Eve are separated. Ben and I are the only Mosby men living in town right now. My other three brothers are scattered.”
“Really?” Gage had four brothers, seventeen nephews, and four nieces. So the fact that only two Mosby men lived in town was more than a shock. “That’s why the MC is making a move?”
“Yes,” Jacob said. “There’s not a lot of work around here nowadays. I own a construction contracting business and Ben is a police officer. Kane is probably in hiding after hacking government computers. And the rest of my brothers and cousins left to work elsewhere...” He glanced at The Ren. “Or they’re members of the MC.”
That wasn’t good news either. “Ben and Kane left the motorcycle club?”
“Yes,” Harry said. “Caleb got two of his eight grandsons out.”
“That’s probably the only good deed Caleb ever did.” Gage’s phone buzzed again, and he checked the messages from his eldest brother Isaiah. “Your father is summoning me, Jacob.”
Jacob frowned. “My dad is inside The Ren with Uncle William and Uncle Isaiah. They’re waiting for you so they can read Caleb’s will.”
“No one has heard from your brother John,” Harry said.
Gage wasn’t surprised. John, like Gage, had left long ago, only to reappear when it suited him.
“Your brothers are in the dining room,” Harry said. “You could always use the café’s back door exit and enter The Ren through their kitchen. That way you don’t have to walk through the bar and deal with Damian.”
Gage glanced toward the coffee shop. Due to the sun’s glare, he couldn’t see inside the windows. He couldn’t see Lily. “Isaiah told me to bring coffee.”
“I already did that,” Jacob said. “I also brought them muffins.”
He wasn’t surprised Isaiah had asked him and Jacob to run the same errand. Isaiah could be as much of an ass as Caleb. “I have no problem walking by Damian and his thugs. But I would appreciate you each doing one thing for me.”
When both men nodded, Gage said, “Jacob, find your brother Ben and meet me at the Generals Tavern after—”
Clara came of the café and hurried by, passing them with a quick, “Uncle Harry, Georgie needs me at school. She’s helping out with the summer day care program.”
“Do you want my help?” Harry asked.
“Or mine?” Jacob added.
“No, thank you.” She waved at them and ran across the street, toward the only school in town.
“Who is Georgie?” Gage asked.
“Clara’s teenage daughter,” Harry said. “Her husband died about six months ago, and she lost the house. Now she and Georgie live in the apartment above my café.”
“Her husband was an asshole.” Jacob shook his head. “Anyway, the Generals Tavern is closed. Daisy Mosby’s house—I mean your momma’s house—is being rented. But you’re welcome to stay in my apartment. Your brothers are leaving Kingsmill today, after the meeting, so they’re not spending the night.”
“Okay.” At least his brothers wouldn’t be there. “Harry, while I’m meeting my brothers, will you check on Lily? I think she hurt her hand.”
“Of course.”
The Ren’s door swung open, and a man in a sheriff’s uniform stormed out. For an officer of the law, his hair was too long and his shirt too wrinkled. He stormed by them without any recognition and went into the café.
Harry headed for the café’s door. “I need to find out what’s going on.”
Once Harry disappeared, Gage muttered, “I can’t believe Ryan Bourne is the sheriff.”
“Ryan was the only one who ran for the position during the last election.” Jacob shifted his attention to the line of motorcycles. “Uncle Gage, did you know about Ryan and Lily—”
“Get away from me, Ryan. I’m not going anywhere with you.” Lily left the café with a purse slung over her shoulder. She still held her hand, now wrapped in a white towel, against her chest.
Eve and Nana Ruthie appeared while Ryan followed behind, holding handcuffs.
“I just saw Damian,” Ryan said. “He’s filing assault charges against you.”
“That is rubbish.” Nana Ruthie stood on the sidewalk with her hands on her hips. “If my niece goes anywhere, it’s to the hospital. She may have a broken hand.”
Ryan waved in Lily’s direction. “Because she hit Damian.”
Lily wobbled until Eve took Lily’s unhurt arm. “Nana Ruthie, I’m taking Lily to Milltown.”
“No,” Ryan pointed at Eve. “You’re not.”
When Nana Ruthie began wagging a finger in Ryan’s face, Gage tossed his helmet to Jacob. “I am making you my official proxy for this meeting with my brothers.”
Jacob’s eyes widened. “They’re reading your father’s will.”
“Knowing Caleb, anything left to anyone in the family will have a ton of strings attached.”
Before Jacob could say no, Gage hurried toward Lily. Her face appeared almost translucent, and her breaths sounded short. He pushed Ryan aside, nodded at Nana Ruthie, and swung Lily up into his arms, being careful not to jostle her hurt arms. “Eve? Can you drive us to the nearest ER?”
“Yes.” Eve led the way across the street. “The black Prius.”
“Gage?” Lily squinted up at him. “Is that really you?”
He smiled down at her confused face. “It is really me.”
Ryan held up a hand. “Wait a minute—”
“No.” Gage tightened his hold on Lily and followed Eve. It didn’t take long to remove his motorcycle jacket and get himself and Lily settled in the tiny back seat.
Ryan knocked on the window, but Eve stepped on the gas and drove down Main Street.
“I can’t believe I almost ran over a cop.” Eve’s laugh resonated in the small space. “I’m glad you’re home, Gage Mosby. Life is always more fun when you’re around.”
He chuckled and adjusted his body in the back seat so Lily could lean her head on his shoulder.
“By the way,” Eve said. “Ryan is currently renting your mother’s house on Spring Street. I think he’s going to be there until October. So you may have to be nice to him so he doesn’t destroy anything in revenge.”
“Thanks for letting me know, Eve.”
“I’ve been mad at you for twenty years,” Lily said in a low voice. “But my hand hurts too much to yell at you.”
“I know you’re mad at me. And I’m sorry your hand hurts. But I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t love seeing you attack Damian.”
Her laugh sounded harsh and tired. “Damian deserved so much more.”
Gage almost kissed the top of her head but stopped himself. “I promise, once you’re feeling better you can scold me all you want. I deserve it.”
Eve tossed her phone into the back seat. “I can’t read this while I’m driving, but I think it’s a text from Ryan.”
The phone landed on his lap and he read it aloud. “Return now and I’ll only arrest Lily. If any of you leave town, you’ll all be under arrest.”
Eve scoffed and gripped the wheel. “Ryan is such a corrupt asshole.”
Lily squirmed until she settled her hurt hand on her stomach. “I can’t believe I was conned into coming back to this crummy town.”
He met Eve’s gaze in the rearview mirror, and Eve mouthed the word ‘Nana Ruthie’.
He held back the laughter. So the saying was true—some people never changed. Especially Nana Ruthie.
Lily raised her head and met his gaze. Her brown eyes were filled with questions he couldn’t answer at the moment. He desperately wanted to brush the hair out of her eyes just to touch her skin, but he kept his hands to himself. She still had one unhurt hand, and he couldn’t assume she wouldn’t use it.
“Gage?” Lily whispered. “Why are you back in town? Did Nana Ruthie scam you as well?”
“I’m here because of Caleb.”
“Gage?” Eve shook her head until her blonde hair almost came free from her ponytail. “Lily arrived late last night.”
“What about Caleb?” Lily struggled to sit higher, but he tightened his hold until she gave up.
He met Eve’s gaze in the mirror again, and it took a moment before he understood her silent message: Lily didn’t know about Caleb’s death.
He hid his shock by staring out the window at the passing trees. He didn’t want to be the one to tell her, but she was sure to figure it out quickly. News like that, in a town like Kingsmill, never stayed secret for long. “I’m sorry, Lily. But Caleb is dead.”