Chapter 38
I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders
Wilder
Icouldn’t believe what I was reading. The blood in my veins was white hot at the words that were swimming in front of my eyes. Two damn messages that were nothing less than threatening.
Unknown number
You think you're so clever, fucking the boss, don't you. Make the most of it because soon I'll make sure you lose everything.
Unknown Number
You’re nothing but a tease. Thinking you’re all that. Well just watch your back!
“When did you get these?” My hand went to the back of her neck, and I pulled her in close. Inhaling her scent, I clung on tight to her, desperate to keep her safe. Desperate to find the bastard who was sending this shit to her.
“I’ve got you, Brownie,” I whispered against her hair. “No one is going to hurt you while I’m around. I swear to you.”
“I’m not worried.”
Her voice was small and a lie. I could feel the anxiety pulsing through her body. “You don’t have to pretend, not with me. But, let me tell you this, he better be fucking worried because I will end Declan for this.”
“You think it’s him?” Tally asked, her voice muffled against my chest.
“Don’t you?” I moved back a little so I could look into her eyes. “It has to be him.”
She sighed, her chest deflating as she gave me a tight smile. “Yeah, I agree.”
The little fucking leprechaun should get running back to Kentucky before I caught up with him.
“I’m going to go and talk to Nash and Gunner about stepping up security.” I kissed the top of her head. “And I know you can deal with him, but the messages that’s another level, Brownie.”
“I agree. Threatening to take Dreamy is just him trying to act like a big guy because he knows he can’t really take him.” She groaned. “I should have gotten something in writing from Bernard, saying that I could keep him.”
My heart thudded. “Did you not get his papers signed over to you?”
“No. Oh shit, Wilder, you think he really could take him back?”
I had to admit it didn’t bode well, but I’d be damned if I’d let her know that.
“I’ll get Gunner to call him.” Tally opened her mouth but before she could protest, I held up a hand.
“I know you can do it, but I think Gunner calling him would add some weight to it. One trainer to another. And that’s not me disrespecting you or your ability to talk to him but if Gun calls him and tells him the plans he has for Dreamy with the kid’s camp then he’s less likely to kick up shit about it. ”
“You’re right. I agree.”
Blinking, I barked out a laugh. “Can you repeat that so I can record it for my brothers?”
“No but I’ll vouch for you if they ask.” She visibly relaxed and gave me a smile that lit up the room like sunshine on a rainy day. “Now, we need to get dressed, we have work to do.”
There wasn’t any ounce of me that wanted to let the gloriously naked woman standing in my arms go. She had a point, though, we had to get to work.
“I’ll speak to Nash and Gunner.” A brief kiss was all I allowed myself. “Dinner out tonight?”
Tally’s eyes lit up. “Like a date? Get dressed up and eat with real cutlery and from China plates kind of dinner date?”
“Absolutely.”
“I look forward to it.” She stood on tiptoe, rubbing her tits against my chest. “How could I say no?”
“Shit, Brownie.” Groaning, I felt my dick stir. “Think we got time for another round?”
She closed one eye and tipped her head to one side. “I think so. As long as you make it quick, cowboy.”
Quick and thorough was something I could do. With bells and fucking whistles.
On my way back to the main house I considered the revelations of the morning.
I considered how I’d felt when Tally had told me she knew Nate Jenkins.
That he was like a brother to her. A year or two ago I’d have probably told her nice and calmly that we were over because she’d lied by omission.
Damn it, I’d have done that four months ago, but I didn’t know Tallulah Brown then.
Now I did, I wanted to get out of my ass and think about things before reacting to them.
She was too important to me to worry about the small shit and in the great scheme of things the Nate Jenkins thing was very small shit.
Was I pissed she didn’t tell me, tell us before, yes.
Of course I was annoyed, but I trusted her.
I trusted that if our relationship with Nate had been different she’d have been open about their connection.
And I got her reasons for not being totally transparent.
Her new job, one that she loved and was great at, could have been on the line.
I knew I’d grown as a person when I told my brothers and they both had the same response as me—a little pissed she didn’t tell us earlier but could understand why.
“It’s not like she knows anything that might have helped him.” Nash shrugged. “Nothing for him to use as leverage. Besides, it was all decided before she even came to work here.”
“Yeah, and Nate has been nothing but great with us,” Gunner added. “I agree, wish she’d told us but understand why she didn’t. Right, I need to go over some invoices with Ruthie.”
“No, wait.” I put a hand on his shoulder to stop his getting up from his seat. “There’s something else.”
“You haven’t knocked her up have you?” Nash asked, grinning.
“No, you idiot.” Weird that didn’t sound like such a bad idea. “It’s about some messages that she’s been getting.”
“What kind of messages?” Gunner frowned, gripping the arms of the chair. “I don’t like that look on your face. You look like you’re ready to strangle someone with your bare hands.”
“I am.”
I showed them the two messages that I’d got Tally to forward to me. After reading them both my brothers looked like they were happy to join me in the strangulation of whoever had sent them.
“We both think it’s Declan, her ex.”
“It’s logical,” Nash said, handing my phone back to me. “Have you spoken to him about it?”
“Nope.” Tally tried to call him, but she said he didn’t answer. I made her call again before I left her cabin but still no response.”
“Want to go look for him? Did you say he was staying at The Maple Hotel?” Nash shrugged. “We have shotguns.”
“I mean I would.” I shrugged. “But I think Tally would be pissed at me for ending up behind bars for life.”
“We could just maim him,” Gunner offered. “End his career with a well-aimed shot at his kneecap?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “No. I think I’d just like to ramp up our vigilance and let the sheriff know that the little guy might be trying to threaten my woman.”
Gunner grinned. “Your woman, hey.” He leaned forward and slapped my thigh. “Little bro grew up.”
“Fuck off, Gun.” I turned to my slightly more sensible brother. “I’m going to get Tally a new phone and number but in the meantime we need to get the guys to keep an eye out.”
“Sounds like a plan. I’m taking Billy and Bertie to Jungle Jacks later, so I’ll call in and see the sheriff while I’m passing through town.”
Lily and Cassidy had gone to the city for some Black Friday shopping, so Nash was on kid duty. It was a toss-up who was more excited about the new Jungle Jacks on the road out of town, the kids or Nash. My eldest brother loved a slide and a ball pit.
“Seems like a plan,” I told him. “In the meantime, I’ll try and track the little fucker down.”
Nash nodded. “Okay, but keep your cool, Wild. I’m with Tally, I don’t want you spending a life behind bars, you’re too pretty and would end up someone’s bitch on day one.”
Grateful for my brothers, even if they were both idiots, I left them to let Ray know what needed to be done for the day, so that I could go Irish leprechaun hunting.
There was no sign of Declan Mullaney anywhere.
While they couldn’t confirm at The Maple Hotel whether he was staying there, something to do with customer privacy or something, Anna-Marie on reception did say one guest who’d recently checked out told her how lovely Kentucky was.
It paid to be nice to your old high school friends.
I asked in a couple of stores and a couple of the local bars, but no one remembered seeing him.
It all seemed pointless, so I went back to the ranch.
“Hey Brownie.”
She was hugging Dreamy around neck, talking to him like he was a baby. It made something pull in my chest. I’d do anything to make sure she got to keep him. She adored that horse and I was going to make sure her ex never got his hands on him.
Tally slowly turned and beamed at me. “Hey you. Where’ve you been this morning?”
“Trying to find Declan.” I pulled her close, dropping a kiss to her pouty lips.
“Wilder!”
Wrapping my arms around her, I held her tight. “Don’t worry, I didn’t find him. He’s checked out of the hotel, and no one has seen him around Sweet Maple Falls.”
She sighed. “I’m glad, I don’t think orange would suit you.”
“Seriously, baby, if I’d found him I’d have just had a friendly little chat. And if that had turned sour no one would have found the body, don’t worry.”
Giggling, she snuggled against me. “I think we should just forget about him. I don’t care what messages he sends, I only care that he doesn’t get Dreamy.”
“Yeah, I spoke to Gun and he’s going to put a call into Bernard Kennedy later today.” I stroked her back, slowly, relishing in the feel of her, the warmth of her. “It’ll be good, I promise you. And we’re getting you a new phone tomorrow.”
“No, we’re not,” she said, shaking her finger at me. “I will not be bullied.”
“No arguing, Brownie.”
“You’re right, we’re not because I’m not getting one.”
“But it will stop the messages getting through,” I protested.
“And I won’t be bullied by some faceless dick. If it gets worse then I’ll consider it but for now I want to keep the phone I have.” She exhaled slowly. “Please, Wilder, don’t press me on it.”