Chapter 54
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
HUNTER
It took longer to get Jett fixed up than I anticipated. By the time I’d taken him home, hours had passed, and guilt hit me like a freight train.
Lola is going to be pissed, and I deserve every ounce of it.
I need to communicate better when shit goes sideways.
I’m not on my own anymore. Her feelings matter more than my own.
I gotta do better by her if I want my firefly to stay.
I’m already asking her to accept more than any other person would.
A dangerous life.
I check my phone. Two messages. The first one makes my chest hurt. The second one is more of a relief.
Love you. Be safe please.
Even pissed off, she’s still telling me to be safe. This woman.
I open the location tracker I put on her phone. Because, call me paranoid, I need my girl safe.
“Shit.” She’s in Red Creek. The one place I don’t want my wife. The town where my ex was murdered. The place I’m not allowed to go.
I head inside. “Daddy!” Wyatt shouts.
I scoop him up. “Have you had fun today, bud?”
He nods. “Yes! And Lola said when she’s home, she’s going to play in the yard with me.”
I ruffle his hair. “That’s awesome. I’m glad you like Lola, but it might be a bit late for that. So, how about first thing?”
“Yeah. She’s cool. Please make sure she stays, Daddy. Like forever. With that big wedding you promised.”
Fuck. That hits me.
“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she never leaves us,” I say with every ounce of confidence I can muster.
But the part that kills me? It’s that I might not be the one who is around for him growing up. And now, the only solace I can take from that is knowing that Lola loves my boy.
I set him down, and Beau steps in.
“Was Lola okay when she left? Did you see her?” I ask.
“I don’t really know her, brother. Can’t tell you what she’s feeling.”
Fucking hell, he irritates me.
“She’s in Red Creek,” I say flatly.
“Yeah. I told her to be careful.”
He fucking knew? That place is evil. It’s not safe. I told Ashley that. “Next time, send someone with her,” I hiss.
I’m trying not to be annoyed at him. But he could have called me. Or used his common sense.
“You’re her husband. You go.” He tilts his head with a smirk. “Oh, right. You can’t. You made your choice when you sided with that piece over your best friend.”
My fists clench. Is he fucking serious?
“Watch your fuckin’ mouth, Beau.”
“You realize marrying her just gave you someone else to babysit,” he spits, full of bitterness. And then he grabs his phone from his pocket, totally clocking out of our conversation.
He’s got a damn problem with my marriage, and it’s nothing to do with the woman.
“She’s my wife, and you’ll treat her with some damn respect. If I tell you to watch out for her, you do it,” I snap.
He glances up over his phone, uninterested. “Whatever. Fine.”
“Get the fuck out of my house, Beau.”
He goes. Without looking back. Good. Because I’m one more comment away from smacking him in the mouth.
I text Lola.
ME: I’m sorry about how I handled today, firefly. I’ll make it up to you later. I love you.
LOLA: Yeah you will, cowboy. I love you more.