14. Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
E llie rang up the next customer and checked how many more people needed help. Dex and Cannon had warned her that the gun range was always busy after Christmas, with people wanting to spend Christmas money and also sight in their new guns.
Because she’d already been on the schedule to work Friday, December twenty-seventh, she and Hennessy had driven down last night. There were things that needed to be done to start their life together smoothly. She and Hennessy didn’t have a preference for where they wanted to live. Ellie adored the apartment they all could share, and she liked her house. Hennessy felt the same way, so they’d sat the boys down and talked it out.
Richy, who had finally decided his name would be Morgan, had said he’d like a new start in a new school. Even with the changes at the high school, the boys said there were too many bad memories from there. Lyle, who had chosen Elijah as his new name, had also said a new name, a new school, and a new year would be the perfect way to start their life together.
She and Hennessy had agreed. Hennessy and the boys were working at the house to pack clothes and items they wanted to take. She didn’t have to worry about furniture because she didn’t have any that was hers. Every place she’d lived was furnished or had been things she didn’t have any sentimental feelings toward.
Since the morning was going to be busy for all of them, Sutton was playing at Winnie’s house. Sprite and Roam hadn’t gone on a honeymoon, but they’d had last night to themselves while others in the compound took care of their kids. Winnie’s house had been designated sleepover central. Sutton hadn’t slept over because they didn’t think she was ready for that, but she’d gone to play today, not even turning around when Ellie leaned down to hug her goodbye. Sprite hadn’t been willing to do that the night they were married because she said she wasn’t having her kids apart from her on Christmas.
Hennessy was bringing lunch by from the diner for all of them working—just one more way he was the nurturer for those around him. As she finished with her next customer, she saw a lull and motioned to Dex that she was going to the bathroom. She finished in there and then grabbed drinks for all of them. With the huge amount of people shopping, they’d be taking lunch separately to keep the shop covered.
Handing Dex, Cannon, and Rascal bottled water, she walked over to help the next person. Rascal only inked customers who had been his for years. He’d blocked off his schedule for two weeks around Christmas, where he wouldn’t even consider tattooing anyone. It was his first Christmas with Meg, and he’d wanted to spend it with her and their grandkids. When Winnie and Meg said they were good, he’d decided to help at the gun range. She figured she’d tease him a little. Although he had been working, he’d also been putting a nice little pile of them away for him to buy when he was done helping them. She wondered if Meg knew he was shopping, too.
“Hey, did these get put away accidentally?” Ellie asked, starting to pull the guns out and put them up for sale.
“Very funny. You must be adapting to your new life pretty well if you’re awake enough to tease me,” Rascal grumbled with a grin.
“I am. It’s been a whirlwind but a good one. Now if we can just get the boys to be ours permanently, I can relax,” Ellie said.
“Us old guys get bored sometimes. I don’t mind riding to where he’s held and participating in a little persuasion therapy,” Rascal said.
Ellie wasn’t sure she could ever adequately thank Bluff Creek for welcoming her and the boys with open arms and helping her understand what a family could be.
“Thank you. Quinton is working on the legal aspect. I think Hennessy is working some back channels. Unfortunately, my previous life wouldn’t be any help. Let’s give it another week, then I might consider seeing if you’re still interested,” Ellie said, kind of surprised at herself.
When she worked at the FBI, she would have never considered roughing up a prisoner to get their compliance, but things had changed. She had sons to think of, and her brother had chosen a path where he hurt his own child.
She looked at Cannon to find out who was next. When he motioned to the woman by the door, she headed that way. Helping the woman find a gun for protection took a little bit because she needed a little more information to see what would suit the customer’s needs. By the time she’d finished, Hennessy was walking through the door of the range, smiling at her and with the most amazing smells wafting from the bags he carried.
She was starved for food, but what she wouldn’t give for some more alone time with Hennessy. He had on jeans that hugged his thighs and the bulge in his jeans, with a plaid shirt tucked in this time and the sleeves rolled up. She got to have all the delicious, tattooed skin on the man she adored for the rest of her life. For now, she’d settle for lunch. She nodded at Cannon that she was taking lunch.
She rounded the corner and leaned up to kiss Hennessy. “Thanks for lunch.”
He smiled. “Thanks for the kiss.”
Ellie’s watch buzzed with a text, along with Hennessy’s and all of the Bluff Creek members who were in the room.
Elijah: Code Ross
Cannon had glanced at his. “Go, I’ll stay with Rascal to cover who is still in the building. Let me know if we need to close the range and back up y’all.”
Ellie, Hennessy, and Dex, carrying a large duffle bag, ran out to Hennessy’s truck and jumped in. Hennessy pulled out and drove through the compound toward Ellie’s house, which seemed as if it took forever. Ellie grabbed the ‘Oh Shit’ handle as they slid around the drive and parked to the side of the house. The front door was wide open, and Sarah was standing on the front porch.
As they got out of the truck, Sarah had her hands up.
“Everything’s okay. They received a couple of threatening things that do need to be dealt with immediately, but they are not in immediate danger.”
Ellie nodded, running into the house behind Hennessy. She still needed to lay eyes on her boys.
Elijah and Morgan were standing, talking with Locks, War, Beth, and Flick.
“Boys?” she said, pulling them close to her.
“We’re okay, Mom, but we knew we needed help quickly.”
“You guys did exactly right,” War said, turning toward Ellie and Hennessy. “They received a letter from Percy threatening them if they talked about what he’d done. A package was also delivered with a dead rat and a note saying This will be you if you talk. Both were delivered through an overnight service, which shouldn’t have been possible for a prisoner. Someone had to help him. Scoop is working on it. He and Sarah were first on scene. Sarah didn’t want to leave until she knew you were here.”
Ellie’s heart was pounding, and she wanted to scream while she beat her brother for frightening the boys. Ellie held the boys with Hennessy’s arms around all of them.
“I appreciate Scoop and Sarah’s help, War. Boys, if you’re okay with Mom, I need to make a couple of phone calls,” Hennessy said.
“We’re good, Dad,” the boys said.
Hennessy stared at her, and Ellie tried to figure out what his eyes were saying. He was as furious as she was, but they were both trying not to show it. She didn’t want to escalate the boys’ panic with how she acted. She nodded at Hennessy because she trusted him to keep them all safe. If he thought something was needed, then he’d do whatever it took to keep them safe.
He nodded and walked out of the house. She turned to the boys. “How about we get some cookies to eat? I always like some sugar after a shock. Whatever kind you want because you both handled this well. You let the adults know that you needed help and didn’t try to hide it and handle it yourself. I’m so proud of you both.”