Chapter 32
Holden
I woke a few hours later, desperately thirsty. When I went out to the kitchen to get a Gatorade, I found the whole family gathered around the table like they were holding a vigil.
Gray, Axel, and Dalton sat with beers in front of them, while the others drank from cans of Coke or Dr Pepper.
Axel’s dogs, Loki and Taz, were curled up under the table, while Sugar paced the room. Banshee darted around my legs and ran to greet her former pack.
All eyes turned to look at me. Even Sugar’s.
“I’m not at death’s door,” I grumbled as I went to the fridge. “You can go about your business.”
Shiloh stood up, a too-bright smile on his face. “Hey! Glad to see you up and about.”
I pulled out a Gatorade and uncapped it. “Is that why you look like you’re trying to reassure a terminal patient?”
His smile fell. “Sorry.”
My heart dropped. What the fuck was wrong with me? I was supposed to put smiles on his face, not chase them away.
I swiped a hand over my face. “No, shit, I’m sorry. I’m a little out of sorts.”
Bailey snorted. “A little.”
“Yeah, Holden is always a dickhead after he has a panic attack,” Axel put in helpfully.
Dalton chuckled beside him. “Well, what’s your excuse?”
Axel elbowed him. “I’m a delight, and you know it.”
“Really, Shy, I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m just…fucked-up.”
“It’s fine,” he said quietly. “I’m just glad you feel well enough to be irritable.”
I smiled wryly. “Lucky you, huh? You got a real prize.”
“Don’t say that.” His eyes flashed with anger. “I’m damn glad I have you. Do you really think I did any better with the likes of Jimmie?”
I grimaced. “Your taste in men could use some work.”
“My taste in men has gotten infinitely better.”
The doorbell rang, and Bailey hopped up. “That’ll be the pizza.”
I guzzled half the bottle of neon blue Gatorade while Bailey went to the front door. He returned with three pizza boxes containing a Hawaiian—his fave—and two pies with sausage and peppers.
I took a seat at the table, even though I wasn’t hungry, in the hopes that everyone would stop watching my every move like I might collapse at any second.
“I’m okay,” I told Shiloh. “Just drained. Feel like a truck hit me. The hangover is real.”
Emory chuckled. “You didn’t even get to drink. It seems unfair.”
“Doesn’t it, though?”
Everyone finally focused on getting their share of the pizza out of the boxes. I took one slice, just so they wouldn’t pester me about eating, and picked at the edges of the crust, trying to relax.
But as soon as we weren’t talking, my thoughts started racing. I replayed the confrontation with Brick and Curtis.
Hands on me.
Touching. Pushing. Pulling.
Terror, sharp and irrational, slamming into me.
I sucked in a ragged breath, twitching as the burning, tingling sensation returned to my skin. My heart lurched, reminding me of the panic that had debilitated me just hours ago.
If this kept up, I’d need to pop an anti-anxiety pill. It had been too late to be much good when I first got home. I’d just needed to sleep. But now, I was jumpy and anxious. Would probably be that way for a while yet.
I was so fucking sick of it. I should be past this shit already. I should be stronger, better…
My thoughts tried to go down dark corridors and peek in doors best kept shut. Doors that led to memories of my mother and father, of belts and hard hands, of cigarette burns and cruel words.
I’ve had enough of your crying, boy!
“So, what happened with those guys?” I blurted. “I need to figure out how to keep them away from Shiloh.”
It wasn’t a relaxing subject, but it would keep my brain from recycling my trauma. If I could fix this problem, if I could keep Shiloh safe, then I’d be in control again.
“I don’t know if we should talk about that tonight,” Gray said hesitantly. “You’re still—”
“Don’t say it,” I growled. “I’m fine.”
“Irritable,” Axel said with a smirk.
I sighed. “Please, guys. My head is all over the place.”
“Which is why it should wait,” Gray said. “The guys are locked up for tonight.”
I looked at Dalton. “Just for tonight?”
“I don’t have enough to make any serious charges stick. I have to release them by tomorrow night.”
“Damn it,” Axel swore. “So, what can we do?”
“I’ll escort them to city limits to make sure they really go,” Dalton said. “But other than that…” He spread his hands.
“That’s not good enough,” I said, chest tight. “I need to make sure these guys don’t come back.”
“We should ask Flynn,” Bailey said. “Maybe he knows someone who can beat their ass.”
Everyone gaped at him.
“What? He’s an ex-con. He has connections.”
“Please don’t plan crimes in front of me,” Dalton said, voice strained. “Still a sheriff over here.”
“Sorry.” Bailey shrugged.
“It’s not a terrible idea to ask for his help, though,” Axel mused. “He may know how to handle assholes like this.”
Dalton nodded slowly. “Sometimes guys like this only respond to threats.”
“We’ll leave you out of it,” Axel promised. “I’ll take Flynn, and we can make sure they get the message—”
“No, it needs to be me,” I cut in. “They think they’ve scared me. I need to get the upper hand and show them that Shiloh’s not an easy target.”
“I don’t know, Holden,” Gray said. “You’ve already been through a lot. Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I have to do this,” I insisted. “I have to make sure Shiloh’s safe. I won’t feel right until I do. I won’t feel safe and secure. So don’t try to talk me out of it.”
“Okay, then we’ll come up with a plan together,” Emory said.
Gray took hold of Emory’s hand. “Exactly. Let us back you up.”
“Yeah,” Axel said. “If we want to show these guys who they’re messing with, then let’s make it impressive.”
Bailey grinned. “I’m in.”
I pinched my nose, shaking my head. “But this isn’t your problem.”
“It’s not your problem either,” Shiloh put in. “It’s my problem. And if you’re going to face them down, then so am I.”
“No way,” I said. “These are your harassers. You shouldn’t have to see them.”
Shiloh met my eyes. “You want to show them you’re not afraid? Well, so do I. I’ve been running scared for too long. I want them to know if they come back, they’ll be the ones who are sorry.”
I glanced around the table at my family, all rallying around meReady to go confront a couple of criminals on my behalf.
“Are you sure you really want to stick your necks out like this?”
Bailey scoffed. “I know you’re a control freak, but it doesn’t mean you have to do everything on your own.”
“We’re here for you,” Gray added.
“You’ve bailed us out plenty of times,” Axel said. “Let us return the favor.”
Emory nodded. “What they said.”
I blew out a breath. “Okay. Let’s figure out what the hell we can do to get the message across to these guys. We need to be ready tomorrow.”
“I’ll call Flynn,” Axel said. At my look, he shrugged. “Might as well have a little insurance if things go sideways.”
I nodded reluctantly. “Maybe Bailey should sit this one out.”
“No way,” Bailey said. “If you’re all going, so am I. I’m part of the Bro Code, too.”
I rubbed a thumb over the tattoo on my inner wrist, reminded of our pact.
“Okay,” I said. “But you listen to every word I say.”
Bailey smirked. “So business as usual, then.”
Gray and Axel snickered, and I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Control freak. I get it.”
My appetite returned, and I finally lifted my slice of pizza for a small bite. Chewed Swallowed.
“So, what are we doing, exactly?” Axel asked.
Great question. Now, we just had to come up with some answers.
Twenty-four hours later, we waited on a blacktop highway on the edge of town. We’d pulled our three vehicles, including the tow truck loaded with Brick and Curtis’s car, across the lanes of traffic.
These guys wouldn’t be going anywhere until we were good and ready.
Headlights cut across the road. That would be Dalton’s patrol car.
“Ready?” I asked my brothers, standing beside me and Shiloh, along with Flynn and three of Axel’s dogs. Sugar and Loki would add to the intimidation factor, but I wasn’t sure why Axel had brought his little Chihuahua.
“Oh yeah,” Axel said with a feral grin. “I can’t fucking wait.”
Flynn smiled grimly, crossing massive arms over a broad chest. And Bailey bounced on his feet, like a kid about to enter a theme park. Was he enjoying this a little too much?
Gray and Emory looked suitably serious about the matter, at least.
The patrol cruiser came to a stop, and Dalton got out and opened the back door. He pulled out Brick and Curtis and uncuffed each of them.
“What is this?” Curtis asked in a wary voice.
“You’re just going to have a little chat before you go on your way,” Dalton said. “Your car is right there. I had it towed from the impound lot.”
And wasn’t it handy that we had a tow truck available to do that?
Dalton gave us a nod, then got back into his car without a word and drove away, leaving Brick gaping after him.
“What the fuck, man?”
“It’s an ambush,” Curtis said tightly. “Just shut up and listen if you don’t want to die out here.”
“No one’s dying tonight,” I said.
Though I didn’t feel too badly that they looked scared shitless. Served the fuckers right. Let them panic for a change.
“So why the show of force?” Curtis asked, tone careful, as his gaze darted to the five men standing behind us and the two large dogs pacing in front of Axel.
“Just wanted you to see what will happen if you ever come after Shiloh again.”
Gray stepped forward. “You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us.”
“Including the dogs,” Axel said with a smirk. “Assuming you survive him.” He hooked his thumb at Flynn, who gave them a flat enough look to give me chills.
If it weren’t for Matteo’s assurances that he was the nicest guy you’d ever meet, I’d have second thoughts about him working so closely with my baby brother.
Tension grew, thick and heavy, as we stared each other down. My stomach clenched with nerves. If they pushed us, I wouldn’t be able to stop my brothers from defending me. Violently, if need be.