Chapter 6
When we got back to the house, I went inside and immediately went upstairs to shower. I needed to let the hot water run over my skin to help me relax so I could start thinking clearly again.
As I stepped out of the shower and brushed my hair and teeth, I began to notice the smell of cooking bacon and coffee. My mouth watered, and my stomach growled.
I pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Grabbing a pair of socks, I headed downstairs.
When I reached the kitchen, Ronan was sliding bacon and eggs onto two plates just as the toaster popped.
“I made coffee. We are just waiting on Maddox, so ye may as well sit and eat. Ye’re going to need ye strength.”
I poured myself a large cup of coffee and sat down at the nook, in front of one of the steaming plates. It smelled amazing and tasted even better.
We ate in silence. When Ronan set his napkin on his plate, he stood.
“I’m going to run out to me vehicle. I always keep extra clothes in de truck.”
He paused, then added—
“Den I ’ope ye don’t mind if I borrow ye shower.”
“Not at all,” I said, carrying the plates to the sink.
I refilled both of our coffee mugs and began cleaning up the dishes, rinsing them and loading the dishwasher.
About fifteen minutes later, Ronan returned to the kitchen with damp hair and fresh clothes.
“Maddox will be ’ere any time. He should ’ave de information dat we’re looking fer.” He leaned down and kissed my lips gently.
“Who is Maddox, Ronan?” I asked, wanting an honest answer.
“It’s going to be easier on everyone if I explain dat at a later time. Please trust me on dis one. As of right now, ’e is just a guy gathering de information we need to find Charlotte.”
I could see the pleading in his eyes. He really didn’t have the energy to explain this right now. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I had the energy to hear it; if he thought it was that big of a deal.
The doorbell rang and we both started walking toward the door.
Ronan looked out the window, then turned the handle and opened it.
As soon as the door was open, Maddox stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.
“I have information for you. Either I can go get her or you can. One of my people recalls seeing a new girl at a club the night before last. She was in the company of a guy with a taste for trouble. A relative newcomer was watching her and decided he wanted her for himself. Which would explain why he would have no clue who Charlotte was or that she was off-limits.”
“Do ye expect us to ’ave a problem getting ’er back?” Ronan asked Maddox.
“A problem? For us? Probably not. However, I don’t think he’s just going to hand her over and apologize.
I think he hasn’t been fully taught about how things work.
It may already be too late for education.
If it’s easier, I could retrieve her and handle the matter myself, and then you won’t be inconvenienced at all. ”
“Except for some asshat kidnapped my cousin,” I said flatly.
“It might not even be entirely his fault. She has a bad habit of choosing men that aren’t the most stable, and then continuing to push them until they snap.
She really loves that whole damsel-in-distress thing and how well it works for her.
Y’all do what you need to do, but I do not want to know about it. Ignorance is bliss, in this case.”
Even as I said it, I felt a flicker of sympathy for this asshat and whatever fate awaited him.
Ronan looked at Maddox.
“I will go wit ye, and we will ’andle de problem and bring Charlotte back.”
“You know that isn’t an option,” Maddox said evenly. “We are not leaving Joslyn here by herself. So, you decide—do you want to be the hero, or stay here with Joslyn.”
I was slightly confused as to why I couldn’t be left alone. Besides the fact that something had just torn through a window to rip my cousin from her bed and vanish into the dark. Were they having a pissing contest right now?
“I will go get Charlotte,” Ronan said, looking at Maddox with contempt.
“Ah, hero it is.” Maddox replied, smiling at him.
“While I am gone, I will ring someone to get dat window fixed. Maybe Maddox can find some wood somewhere and get dat boarded up.” He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek right before he walked out the door.
Maddox followed him outside.
I watched through the window as he opened the passenger door of his truck. He reached into the glove box. When he turned around, he handed Ronan a very large handgun. Ronan handed him back a smaller one. Maddox placed the smaller gun in the glove box, essentially just swapping one for the other.
What the hell was I dealing with?
Apparently, my grandfather dealt with dangerous people. Oddly enough, I did feel safe. Safer than I probably should have.
I walked back into the kitchen and refilled my coffee. A moment later, I heard the front door open and close. Maddox entered the kitchen.
“I am going to go out to the barn and see if there are any boards lying around so I can get that window boarded up.”
“Okay. Do you want me to come with you? I can help.”
“No, you stay here. I can board up a window, and you should stay in the house until we get Charlotte back. It shouldn’t take me too long.”
He didn’t wait for a response before turning and leaving again.
I carried my coffee into the living room and sat down on the couch. I switched on the television and searched for something to occupy my mind while I waited for Ronan to return. I had no idea how long this was going to take.
I put a movie on and grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch, curling beneath it and trying to make myself comfortable.