Chapter 3
MAGGIE
The text we’d all been waiting for came through. Shiloh had just arrived.
MDF Friends
Jason: She’s gone in by her front door.
That was what we were all waiting for. Shiloh had arrived at home, which meant they had mere minutes to all get to her and Ryder’s house.
All of our friends who could make it into town piled into the cars in the driveway.
Less than five minutes later we all stood waiting outside Ryder and Shiloh’s home.
Theo pulled up next to me with his two younger siblings. I tried hard not to pay too much attention to the judgemental asshole. We were friends, but I always felt the weight of his judgement about my ex-in-laws. He was the last to talk though. The rumors about him were not much better.
The minutes ticked by while we waited. I’d helped Ryder pick out the ring, but the proposal was all his own.
The front door opened with Ryder wearing a big beaming smile. “She said yes!”
With the eagerness of puppies seeking attention we made our way around the house to the backyard. Someone lit the fire while another lit the Tiki torches that dotted the backyard. My kids and Ethan were being entertained by some of the teenagers.
With a plastic wine glass in my hand I rested against the deck railing, trying hard to appreciate the country music blaring from the large speaker just inside the door. Though, I got enough of that at my bar, The Reverse Cowgirl.
All I needed was a moment to myself to shake off the feeling of dread that had wormed its way into my bloodstream since that call came earlier in the day.
I took a long deep breath allowing the joy of the people around me to take over.
I was surrounded by people I loved. Everyone present wanted what was best for me.
On the exhale, I watched as all the kids interacted. Jaycee was the youngest of all the kids. Matty Salinger was technically the oldest kid at seventeen. Listening to their laughter as one of the teens swayed my little girl in the air, I allowed the negativity of that phone call to leave me.
After all the obligatory greetings and toasts everyone split off into little groups.
My parents had left saying, we’ll leave the wild celebrations to the young folk.
Harry and Tess Bauman were barely fifty, nowhere old enough to have that attitude.
Though, maybe they had an ulterior motive.
They took Jaycee, Hayden, and Ethan with them, allowing both Shiloh and I to have few drinks and enjoy ourselves.
With one more deep breath, I plastered on a smile, and turned around to join my friends.
Shiloh was tucked into Ryder’s side, while my other sisters, Cat and Grace were laughing at something Tiffany was talking about.
Layla, the newest addition to our group sat on one of the loungers in a heated conversation with Jason.
He choreographed many of her music videos and I was sure she was working on her next album.
Holden’s fingers tapped across his phone, no doubt texting our friends who couldn’t make it home while huddled in a whispered conversation with Hunter and Theo.
They had all made themselves comfortable on the patio furniture scattered around the deck. Shiloh smiled up at me and patted the seat on the side her new fiancé was not sitting.
I nodded and walked around everyone and settled in next to her. She grabbed my hand and squeezed.
“I know that Fred’s release is upsetting.” She leaned into Ryder but faced me. “But you look downright terrified. Mags, is there something you’re not telling us?”
“Not tonight.” I smiled at her concern. “Tonight is about you and Ryder. I’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
Tiffany pushed herself to the edge of her seat and pushed her hair behind her ears. “No. Tomorrow you would’ve convinced yourself that you’re overreacting about whatever it is that’s bothering you. No. We'll sort it out tonight.”
I frowned as I darted my gaze among my friends. “You all feel this way?”
Shiloh gave my hand another squeeze. “Talk to us, Maggie. Ryder and I have the rest of our lives to enjoy each other. You’re my sister. So spill.”
“Besides.” Ryder's lips twitched in a sly smile and he wiggled his brows. “We’ll get to the real fun when all of you are gone.”
All the other men groaned. Tiffany and Layla clapped their hands and squealed. Then everyone’s eyes were back on me and I couldn’t help but squirm in my seat. “You guys are relentless.”
Shiloh looked at me. “Stop stalling and talk. We have all night.”
My gaze shifted to Theo then quickly back to the girls. He was an early riser and hated being out late. He certainly wouldn’t agree with the all night sentiment.
But there was no escaping everyone’s gaze. Instead of looking any of them in the eye, my gaze made its way over to the teens who were sitting in a similar huddle in the grass. “The warden of the California State Penitentiary called this afternoon.”
“Yes.” Shiloh nodded. “You told me that part. I took the liberty of sharing that with everyone else.”
Of course she did. Not that I minded. I understood that she would tell Ryder. They had fake plans after all. And well… the men in our group were the biggest gossips. And Ryder had fit right in after a bar fight with the Rippers last year.
“Maggie.” Holden was always the calmest of all of us. “You were never scared of Fred. Even when things were at their worst. You were mad and sad, but not terrified.”
He was right. “After the warden told me the news. Which I think was more for the kids' benefit than mine. He had told me about a rumor that had been going around the prison.”
I took a deep breath knowing I would need to explain to all of them what was happening. I wasn’t stupid. I knew I was surrounded by people who could protect me and my kids. But they needed to know what was happening.
“What’s the rumor, Maggie?” Holden had moved from his seat and sat cross-legged on the floor beside me.
“According to him, Fred was not happy that everything was taken from him.” I pulled my hands from both Shiloh and Holden and sat on them. “He’s not happy that he lost his wife and his children. And I imagine he was especially not happy he lost one of his businesses.”
Tiff sat back once more. “Well, that makes sense. He was douche, he paid the price. It wouldn’t be a punishment if he was happy with what he got.”
I stifled a smile at her simplistic outlook. She was a drama queen with a privileged background, but the woman could not stand injustice.
Shiloh pushed a shoulder into mine. “That’s not all, is it?”
“No.” I shook my head. “According to the warden. Fred has promised revenge for everyone who put him in that position.”
“Fuuuck.” That came from Theo who hadn’t said anything up to that point. He shared a glance with Hunter and turned back to me.
I shook my head and continued. “I mean surely the police and the lawyers and the judge have been warned as well. Right?”
Shiloh nodded. “They would’ve been warned. But I doubt they would change too much. It wasn’t like Fred was a big player in the weapons world or anything. Still, I want you and the kids protected.”
“Oh, absolutely.”
“Definitely.”
“That goes without saying.”
Jason, Holden, and Tiffany spoke at the same time. Still, nothing more from Theo. I knew that he didn’t approve of my relationship and marriage with Fred. And until a few months ago, he’d taken every opportunity to remind me what a bad decision that was.
As everyone exchanged ideas I frowned and held up my hand. “Hold it. This is my life we’re discussing.”
“But we need to figure out a plan.” Holden leaned back with arms stretched behind him. “Shiloh’s right, that does sound like a threat against you and the kids.”
“Wait.” Tiffany’s smile brightened as she shot to her feet holding her hands in a stop motion.
She placed her hands on her hips and darted her eyes between me and Theo.
“I have a brilliant idea. Maggie should move into the mansion. There’s a whole wing not being used, and that place is practically Fort Knox. This is perfect.”
“Absolutely not.” I gave her a stern look.
She didn’t want to live there. But suddenly it was okay for me to.
Her words were like a physical punch to the solar plexus.
That house represented everything I hated.
The damage to Cat and Tiff, a life Theo chose instead of following his dreams. It represented all the judgment he threw my way, not to mention the hypocrisy.
I couldn’t live there. “I am not disrupting Theo’s life.
What about Zoe and Connor? We can’t just uproot their lives.
And it wouldn’t be just me. My kids would be with me. ”
Tiffany’s frown deepened. “Of course, the kiddos would be with you.” She turned to her brother. “You’ve been awfully quiet. Back me up here.”
Even before I turned in his direction I could feel his eyes on me.
Theo always had a way of watching me with a focused intensity, those beautiful green eyes stripping away my defenses.
I risked a glance. He leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees.
The air crackled between us as all my focus shifted to him.
“Maggie, move in. I have the best security system on the market.” He shoved a thumb in Hunter’s direction.
“A bodyguard that lives on the property. And if it's your pride that’s the problem, I am in need of a new housekeeper. I can include board and lodging into whatever compensation package we work out and you’ll still have time to go into the bar a few times a week. ”
Was he insane? We couldn’t stay under the same roof. “We can barely stand each other. I don’t think living in the same house will make that better.”
“Probably not. So, are we taking your things tonight? Or are Hunter and I collecting them in the morning?”
I shook. “I haven’t even agreed yet.”
“Only because you think this is optional, when in fact it is the plan that is the most practical.”
“Thee.” Tiff used the nickname when she was trying to get her brother’s attention. “I don’t think being bossy is going to make her more amenable.”
Theo’s eyes never left mine, and the silence stretched between us thick with the hurtful words we spat at each other over the last eight years. He never approved of my relationship with Fred. At least, I never gave up on my dreams in exchange for a billionaire lifestyle.
There was no warmth in that beautiful green gaze, just a knowing look pleading with me to be reasonable.
There was logic to what he said. I knew there was.
Everything he said was correct. That expression was a mix of a plea and dare.
A plea for me not to be difficult, and dare to refute all logic and refuse his offer.
His gaze dropped to the coloring book on the table and then back up at me. His features softened and only the plea was evident.
Was I really considering my pride over my children’s safety?
I turned to Tiffany. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll pack enough for me and the kids for a few weeks.”
Tiff’s brows raised to her hairline. “Okay, so maybe being bossy does make you amenable.”