Chapter 25
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Coty
Nothing I hoped for happened today. Absolutely nothing. My plans, which I should’ve never made, were to meet Kayla when she left the Haven House. Nina won’t let a man inside unless it’s an emergency, when an angel is here. With two, one with a little boy, and Kayla sort of being a third, it was pointless to even knock on the door.
My bad day started before my feet touched the floor. My phone rang out on the nightstand and started again by the time I grabbed it. Not a good sign. Dad was on his way to my grandparents’ ranch. One of their ranch hands was thrown from a horse, and an ambulance was on the way. I expected my grandfather to be on the verge of a heart attack when I arrived. He cares deeply for his workers. Instead, I found him walking around the yard, shaking his head.
One thing’s for sure. Lee Howell doesn’t belong on a horse. He’d be better off working at one of the stores or shops around town. He’s eighteen and said he knew how to ride and herd cattle. He knew nothing. If you can’t ride and you can’t herd cows, just say so. The herd was scattered between three pastures and down by the creek. It took us all day to round them up. Dolly, the sweetest horse on the ranch, had had enough of Lee and threw him, breaking his leg. The medical bills will fall on my family, but the boy will never set foot on C. Michaels Ranch again.
“Heads up.” Hendrix nods toward the two men who just walked into JB’s Roadhouse.
The only way to be near Kayla tonight was to trade places with Cole. He’s helping out at the Den. I’m playing bouncer. I don’t mind tossing a man out the door. I’ll do it in a heartbeat. I just hate that it’s an office job. With all the people coming and going tonight, I can’t go to the bar and talk with Kayla anytime I want. At least, I can see her from here. It helps calm my nerves knowing she’s safe.
“See ‘em,” I confirm.
The two men who creeped out Angie and several of her customers make their way through the crowd. They join two clean cut younger men at a table halfway along the back wall. Hendrix and I narrow our eyes. He stands on one side of the front doors. I’m on the other. The two younger men narrow their eyes, too. The bigger, dark-haired man from Angie’s speaks. We can’t hear what’s being said from here. The younger two men move to another table across the back like they had been set on fire. Good. They aren’t working with these guys.
“You wanna toss ‘em out?”
“Not yet.” Ronin types a message on his phone. "Nick can help watch them. Maybe he’s ID’d them by now."
Nick sends back the names Willis Sanford and Adam Lang. They’re from Alabama. It doesn’t mean they’re not friends with the Midnight Mavericks. Surprisingly, the Mavericks have been quiet this month. So far, the Sanford and Lang are just sitting at a table, talking, and drinking beer. The only people they’ve creeped out here are the two men they took the table from.
“Jay knows ‘em. Might want him here,” I suggest.
Hendrix looks at me like I’m insane. Okay. I admit it. Our knife-loving Enforcer gets a bit unhinged at times. In a fight, you’ll want Jay on your side.
“Fine, but if he goes Blade on these guys, you’re handling him.” Hendrix steps outside to make the call.
Parker’s behind the bar with Kayla tonight. She looks happy. She laughs and carries on with the customers. It’s an act. When there’s a pause from making drinks, she nervously glances my way. Watching her flirt with the men, especially the college guys, ticks me off. She’s mine. They need to move on. Parker has orders to step in if they get too friendly with her.
The only customer Kayla’s genuine with is the woman who helped her the night Blake’s friend crossed the line and touched her. Eliza, I think? Can’t remember. I’ve seen her around town a few times, though.
After an hour, Willis and Adam, not very tough names by the way, walk out the door. I’m not sure if I’m relieved or disappointed they didn’t cause any trouble. It makes no sense for two untrustworthy men to show up in Willow Creek on at least two occasions and not cause any trouble. I mean, it’s great for our townsfolk. For those of us who are used to trouble, it’s an eerie red flag.
“They wanted to be seen.”
I nearly jump across the doorway to Hendrix’s side. Hendrix chuckles. I growl. Jay’s now standing in my spot. Please tell me no one videoed that.
“Where’d you come from?” If I were a braver man, I’d stab him for making me look like a fool.
“Over there.” Jay points to the right corner of the bar.
Banz has a stool there, a little further back from the others. The area has no lights above it. It’s darker, so it goes unused and unnoticed most of the time. Bankz sits there when he wants to secretly monitor the room and be close at the same time. A lot can happen during a fight in the three minutes it takes to get from his office and the security monitors.
“How did you get in?” I haven’t left the door since he was called.
“Bankz let me in the side entrance.”
That fool and I are going to have to talk. If he’s going to let the scariest Viking we have in, he needs to let us know. How am I supposed to control Jay if I don’t know he’s in the building? The answer is simple. I can’t. It’s impossible to control Jay when he’s mad. Hendrix might be able to. Usually, Jack has to talk his cousin down.
“Why do you think they wanted to be seen?” Hendrix asks.
“They drank one beer, and Sanford got a text just before they left.” Jay looks toward the bar and back at me. “I’m sure you’ve got Kayla.” I nod. “I’ll take Patches and make a few laps around town. See if we can find out where they went and what they’re up to.”
Patches has been in the parking lot all evening. He’s done a great job watching over Kayla for me today. He’s proven his worth several times already. Pops really likes him. He’ll have no trouble patching in this summer when his year’s up.
I keep my distance from Kayla until closing time. She didn’t used to be so skittish. Somehow, we gotta find a way around that. Her new friend is still here, but it’s time for me to get my girl out of here.
“You want a drink?” Kayla asks when I sit next to the only person left at the bar. “It’ll have to be a bottle. We’ve already washed the mugs and glasses.”
There’s a dishwasher in the back. A mug or glass wouldn’t be a problem.
“Nope. I’ll get one when we get home.”
“Home?” The woman snaps her head toward Kayla. “You forget to tell me something?”
“We don’t live together,” Kayla assures her. She’s sort of wrong.
“You are?” I want to be a hundred percent sure of this woman’s name before I call her the wrong one. That never goes well. Women can hold a grudge forever if you get their name wrong.
“Eliza. We met before.” Her smile is more than sweet.
Kayla loudly clears her throat.
“Don’t worry, Sparky.” I wink at her. “I don’t fall for flirty women.”
“I’m not jealous.” She lifts her chin.
“Oh, darlin. It’s the cutest thing I’ve seen all day,” I tease.
“Oh, say that again.” Eliza rests her chin in her palm.
“Stop it,” Kayla orders and turns to me. “We don’t live together.”
“Maybe not, but you’re stuck with me tonight. You’re place or mine?”
“You live with your parents. I’m not going home with you.” She crosses her arms.
I have a room at my parents’ house and my grandparents’ ranch. I’ve been staying in my room at the clubhouse since I’ve been back.
“Your place it is. Grab your coat, Sparky. Time to go.” I walk back to my spot at the door and wait for her. She’s not happy, but she gets her things.