Chapter 21 Dex
DEX
It killed me to walk away from her. Maybe because everything in me screamed she was in trouble. Maybe because it was clear she was too damn used to people bailing on her—whether by choice or not.
Each step I took toward my cabin hurt, like muscle ripping away from bone with each stride. But I forced myself to do it anyway. Just like I forced myself not to look back. Because if I did, I’d go to her. Nothing could stop me.
Unlocking my front door, I stepped inside and pulled out my phone. Half a dozen text threads flashed on the screen, and I had to take a second and breathe. Closing my eyes, I went through a list of priorities in my mind.
Running the recording through sound-recognition software. Getting Nova’s phone number plugged into my backdoor triangulation software no phone company wanted me to have. Cameras and an alarm system for Brae—something I was sure she’d fight me on. Talking to my brothers.
Sometimes, my brain felt like a computer overloaded with too many files, and I had to do a hard reboot, choosing only the most important things to focus on.
With one last deep breath, I opened my eyes and instantly went for my texts as I strode into my makeshift office.
I opened a new message to Blaze and started typing.
Me
How do you feel about a free alarm installation at Creekside Cabins, including cameras?
Three dots appeared and then disappeared, then appeared again.
Blaze
Little Dude, working for The Man has really changed you.
Me
It’s a safety precaution. I’m not trying to spy on whatever crystal light show you put on here when the cabins aren’t in use.
Blaze
Maybe I’m entertaining female company. Someone would pay big money to put that on the interstellar highway.
My whole face screwed up.
Me
There’s a kink for everyone, but I’m not putting cameras INSIDE the cabins, just outside.
Blaze
Oh. Why didn’t you say so? Run with it, Little Dude. Then maybe I’ll catch those jerks who like to have keggers back there but don’t invite me.
I just shook my head and eased into the desk chair.
Me
I’ll get you justice.
Blaze just sent a power to the people raised-fist emoji in response that definitely was not intended for righteous indignation about being left out of a party.
Pulling up the recording I’d taken of the call, I air-dropped the video to my desktop and uploaded it to the sound-identification software. It might not give me more than my ear had, but it was worth a shot.
One thing was clear: Someone was messing with Brae. In a way that meant they got joy out of causing pain. And I knew just what sort of dark roads that could lead you down.
As the software got to work, my phone let out another ding.
My brothers’ chat flashed on the screen, and I realized I’d missed more than a few texts from them.
Wylder
Let us know how Brae’s doing once you get her home.
Maverick
Brae’s a badass, and I have no doubt she’s totally fine. A hot badass. D, want to take my place on the ranch? I’ll move into your cabin. I can play bodyguard.
I scowled at the screen.
Kol
Someone tell me what the hell is going on.
Maverick
You meet the little badass yet? You’ll like her. She cut Miller down in three blows, then kicked him to the curb. Thing of beauty.
Kol
Why the hell were you having a run-in with Miller?
Wylder
I think Dex should explain.
My fingers flew across the screen.
Me
Mav, don’t call Brae hot, or I’ll make your phone say, “I have a defective sphincter” every time you get a text.
Maverick
Harsh, dude. She okay?
Me
Cora and Holly are with her. They brought dinner.
Kol
Family meeting. At the ranch. Now.
Maverick
Shit. He used the f-word.
Family meetings were reserved for emergencies. Like when we found out a journalist was sniffing around town trying to write the dozenth tell-all book about our father’s reign of terror. Or when Waylon told us he had cancer. Or when Kol found out he had a daughter.
No one rejected a family meeting. Not even Orion, who was noticeably absent in our back-and-forth.
Me
I don’t have my car.
Maverick
I got you. Be there in ten.
It took him more like fifteen, but he finally showed. And that was Mav. He might do things in his own time and way, but he always came through.
As I climbed into his truck, I glanced at Cabin Two. I swore I caught the flash of blond hair through the window, but maybe it was just my imagination. She’d be okay. I told myself that over and over. Cora and Holly were with her. Yeti was there. It was broad daylight. It would be fine.
“Dude, are you having a stroke or something?” Mav asked. “Or are you trying to move that house with your mind?”
I shot him a dirty look as he peeled out of the drive. “I need to be back before dark.”
He grinned. “So you can watch over the hot, little badass?”
“Stop calling her that,” I ground out.
Mav’s grin only widened. “You like her.”
“I’m not ten, asshole.”
“You sure act like it. She makes you grumpy. It pisses you the hell off that you like her.”
I scowled at the road in front of us. “Drop me by the station. That’s where my car is. I don’t want you driving me home.”
“That hurts, D-man. But I know it’s only because I see the truth.”
The pisser of it all was that he was right. But I wasn’t about to tell him that.
Mav pulled up behind my car, and I hopped out, but as I did, he rolled down the passenger window. “Why does this feel like I’m dropping you off walk-of-shame style?”
I turned to scowl at my brother but didn’t get a word out before a new voice cut through the air.
“Probably because anyone you’re dropping off is doing a walk of shame.”
I looked over toward the sidewalk, a genuine smile rising to my lips. “Aster Carrington, as I live and breathe.”
Her glower aimed at my brother melted into something much warmer as she turned to me. “So good to see you, Dex.”
I strode toward Aster, taking her in. She wore jeans paired with cowboy boots I knew saw some actual use on her grandfather’s ranch.
A white, billowy blouse revealed a turquoise necklace at her throat.
Everything about her was designed to put her clients at ease.
The boots said she was one of them. The rest said she was professional but not pretentious.
I pulled her into a quick hug. “How are you?”
“She’s jealous she’s not the one climbing out of my truck,” Mav called.
Aster released me and flipped him off without even looking in his direction. “I’m good.”
I had no idea what the hell had happened between them.
Mav wouldn’t say. But just before they went off to college, they’d had a falling out.
Before then, they’d been thick as thieves, practically attached at the hip after we moved here.
There were times I thought Aster was the only one who could truly get Mav to open up. But that wasn’t the case anymore.
“How’s Brae?” Aster cut into my thoughts. “Cora texted. I’m heading over there now. I just had to finish up with a client.”
“How do you and Holly know her?” I asked the question I hadn’t at the cabins.
“Compass,” Aster said in a one-word answer. “It’s a support group for those with missing loved ones. I volunteer time as a facilitator.”
An ache settled in my gut. So many went without answers. Those my brothers and I could help. And those we couldn’t, not without working locally and exposing exactly what we were doing in the shadows.
“It’s really nice that you do that,” I said softly.
She shrugged. “I know what it’s like. Camilla might’ve only been gone for a month, but it felt like a lifetime. I want to help if I can.”
Aster’s twin sister had taken off in high school, scaring her family half to death. As it turned out, she’d taken off to LA and got caught up in the rougher side of things. Thanks to a private investigator, her parents found her and got her into rehab.
“Well, they’re lucky to have you.”
Aster’s smile widened, making her pale-blue eyes shimmer. “Thanks. It’s good to see you. Let’s have a proper catch-up. Maybe we can get dinner with Brae or something. I’ll text.”
“What about me, Ice Queen?” Mav called.
“You’re not invited, Satan,” she shot back, taking off down the block.
I shook my head, turning back to Mav. “What the hell happened between you two?”
Hurt flashed across Maverick’s expression so fast I almost missed it. But he covered it with a grin. “You know, fancy-ass family. Probably just got too cool for me.”
But that wasn’t Aster. Something had happened. I just wasn’t sure what.
Mav didn’t give me a chance to ask a follow-up. He peeled out, heading for the ranch. I scowled after him but got behind the wheel and followed.
I kept an eye on my speedometer, knowing I’d be on the radar after today.
Miller would love nothing more than to give me a speeding ticket.
It made the trip out to Twisted Oak Ranch seem even longer, but I finally hit the Bigfoot gate and then the tree house.
Vehicles for everyone but Orion were already there.
Steeling myself, I shut off my engine and climbed out. As I walked up the front walkway, I went over my argument, every point I had for us to help Brae. Because she deserved it.
I was so caught up in planning my presentation that I nearly missed it. Only the sound of a bell jangling saved me.
Out of the corner of my eye, a flash of black-and-white fur barreled toward me. At the last second, I dodged, jumping up onto the porch. “Jesus, Pepper.”
The goat made a quick one-eighty, running back toward me and headbutting my thigh.
“Ow, hell. That’s gonna leave a mark, Pep.”
“It’s her love language,” Uncle Waylon called from the screen door.
“Her love language is violence? Leaving bruises? Breaking bones?”
He let out a sound of derision, then opened the door and let Lucy the Irish wolfhound out. “When’d you get such a tender sensibility? DC changed you.”
Lucy headed straight for me, rounding Pepper up and off the porch.
“Not wanting to get beat up just trying to get to the door makes me tender?” I clipped.