Chapter 42 Rebel
Rebel
“Take my phone,” Summer whispers, “in case he arrests me. I have Kurt’s confession recorded.”
It’s in the back pocket of her pants so I slip it free and tuck it into my jeans. “He won’t do a damn thing, kitten.”
“Should I let him in? I should—” Violet starts.
“I’ve got it,” Owen interrupts with a growl. His long legs eat up the distance to the door.
Violet stiffens as Owen grips the handle and twists. Jett and Storm inch closer to the woman.
Kelsey straightens.
“Owen.” Kyle walks past Summer’s eldest brother, acting like he doesn’t see his brutal glare directed his way. The florist is his singular focus. “Violet.”
“Kyle.” She lifts her chin.
“Having a party? It’s a bit late, isn’t it?”
“There was a problem with the flowers.” Summer pulls herself up to her full feisty height. “For the event we’re hosting on Heart Ranch. We were discussing how we were going to fix it.”
Kyle turns toward Summer, his gaze malicious as he rests his hand on his weapon. “I thought you understood not to come back here.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” Owen takes a menacing step forward.
Summer signals with her hand for Owen to stay put. “I’ll be gone in a couple of days. As soon as what we came here for is done.”
“Violet’s been carting flowers out there every day. What’s the event?”
“Music video.” Kelsey straightens, giving band manager energy. “L.A. Riot is filming a music video.”
“And you need flowers for that?” He narrows his gaze.
“Black dahlias symbolize betrayal. We’re filming a video for their song “Betray Me”.” She shrugs like it’s obvious and he’s stupid for not knowing.
“That explains why there’s a famous actor with a rap sheet as long as my arm in your store, Violet.”
“It’s not that long,” I whisper in Summer’s ear. “Not as long as my dick anyway.”
She gives a minute shake of her head as she presses back on me.
“We were about to head out,” Owen says.
“I’m going to need another moment or two of your time.” Kyle digs his fingers into his pocket and pulls out an old school memo pad.
Intimidation perhaps. But more likely he hasn’t figured out how to take notes on his phone.
“There was a break-in two streets over. Kurt Helford was hogtied and nearly strangled.” Kyle flips open the notepad and retrieves a pen.
“Oh my God.” Violet, the only one of us who doesn’t have a clue where Summer and the others have been tonight, reacts perfectly. “Is he okay?”
“He’ll be sore and bruised for a few days, but he’s going to make a full recovery.” Kyle depresses the button on the top of his pen until it clicks, the action ridiculously loud.
“Funnily, there was a break-in at the Whitmore place too,” Kyle continues. “Do any of you happen to know anything about either incident?”
“Can’t say we do.” I make eye contact with Owen.
He winks. “We’ve been here a while.”
“Fine. Kurt’s place is a block over. Did any of you notice anything suspicious while you’ve been here?” Kyle turns slowly, pausing on each one of us. “Perhaps you heard something.”
“No,” Owen says.
“He probably likes being choked out,” Summer says. “Are you sure it wasn’t foreplay gone wrong?”
“Of course you would think it’s kinky.” He lowers his voice. “You always did like it rough and dirty.”
Before I can react, she shoves him. “Asshole.”
He pushes back into her space. “I know you did it.”
She rises on her tiptoes until they’re eye to eye. “Prove it.”
“We’ve been together all night.” I press my chest to Summer’s back and tower over the jackass who is trying to intimidate my woman. He is failing miserably. Gone is the girl who let other people tell her how strong she is, and I am fucking proud of the firecracker in front of me.
“He told me you were the one who did it. You and your...” he looks around, “pink haired friend.”
“Well, he’s delusional. Do you see any pink hair around here?” Storm gestures at the rest of us, crosses his arms, and layers on a shit-eating grin. “Maybe you could also ask him if he had tea with a leprechaun.”
Violet gives a nervous laugh.
“I should arrest you,” Kyle tells Summer.
“What the hell for?”
“How about assault on an officer for one,” he says smugly.
“That’s rich.” Summer snorts.
“The fuck you will.” I push forward. It’s only having Summer in front of me that stops me.
“You’re not going to arrest me,” Summer says. “Because Kurt had a crisis of conscience. He couldn’t live with his secrets anymore and decided to come clean. About everything. He told me some things about you. I know what you did now.”
Kyle blanches.
“I happened to record it.” She’s so powerful right now. It’s really fucking sexy.
Kyle must decide he needs to regroup because he zeroes in on Violet once more.
Her face drops. She tips her chin toward the ground as he closes in on her. That makes the prick’s chest puff up. He must feel like such a big man.
“Violet, you should be more conscientious of the company you keep,” he says as Jett steps between them. “You wouldn’t want to be hanging out with the wrong people. Some might think you’re breaking your deal.”
A growl comes out of at least two of the three Heart brothers in the room.
Violet starts to tremble, but when Jett reaches out to touch her, she distances herself.
“Why don’t you mosey on out, deputy.” Owen’s tone is unfriendly as he opens and holds the door for the man.
“I need to get back and write up some paperwork anyway.” Kyle strides past Summer and me. He holds my gaze and smirks. “Congratulations, by the way.”
“What?” I tighten my grip on Summer’s shoulder.
“The ring on her finger.” He runs his lecherous gaze over Summer. “You got yourself a prize pig.”
My vision turns hazy and red. But before I can launch at him Summer pulls her arm back and lets her fist fly. It connects solidly with his nose.
“Holy shit,” Jett gasps.
Storm slaps his knee. “Yeehaw.”
Owen and I exchange prideful looks.
“That’s it.” Holding his bleeding nose, Kyle grabs Summer’s arm. “I’m arresting you for—”
“For what?” I put myself in his way. “I didn’t see anything. Did you, Owen?”
“Nah, Hollywood. What did I miss, Storm?”
“Can’t say,” Storm says. “I didn’t see a thing. Jett?”
“Sorry. I must have missed something.” Jett shrugs. “Wish I could help.”
“It doesn’t matter. Violet, you’re my witness.”
“I…” She glances from one Heart brother to another. Drops her gaze to her feet. “Didn’t see a thing. Sorry, Kyle.”
“You’ll pay for that,” he warns her in a nasally tone, before turning to me. A couple of blood drops have spattered the front of his uniform. “And so will you. Should have stayed in the city.”
“But then I would have missed out on so much.” Summer grins at him.
“I don’t care that you’re the sheriff. Get out before I toss you out.” Owen’s cold voice rings through the room.
“I’ll be seeing y’all real soon,” Kyle says as he struts out.
Owen slams the door hard enough to rattle the tiny panes in the frame.
“Can’t wait,” Summer calls out, waving at him. She lowers her voice, “Because I’m not leaving until I work out how to punish all four of you bastards for what you did.”
When he’s gone her shoulders crumple and she lifts her bruised knuckles to her mouth. “That hurt.”
“I’m so proud of you.” I take her hand. The glittering emerald catches my attention and takes my breath away. I assumed that she was wearing one of her usual rings, not that she’d found the one I kept hidden from her.
Owen stalks toward Summer and me. “What is that on your hand, little?”
“Nothing.” She tugs her hand away.
I grab it and spin her to face me. How long has she known I was going to propose?
Her eyes are wide and nervous. She rolls her bottom lip with her teeth as she takes in what I’m seeing on her finger. “I should explain.”
“Have you been lying to me, Hollywood?” Owen glances to Jett and Storm. “Have you been lying to us?”
“No.” I run my finger over the stone. “I—”
“The least you could have done is ask for our blessing.” Owen bites the words out.
“Now, look here...” I thought we’d bonded earlier, but they’re still the same boneheaded neanderthals. “That’s not—”
“We’re not engaged, Owen. Jesus, how many times do we have to tell you it’s not happening?” Summer yanks at the ring, but it doesn’t budge. “Argh. It’s stuck.”
“You should run it under cold water,” Kelsey says, coming from around the counter.
“I have liquid soap in the backroom,” Violet suggests.
“No.” I say. It doesn’t need to come off.
“That should work.” Summer looks hopeful.
“If not, we have an angle grinder at home,” Storm says.
That won’t be happening.
“That isn’t necessary,” Summer echoes my thoughts. “It’s going to come off.”
That’s not what my thoughts are at all.
“I have no issue with the ring on her finger,” Owen says. “It’s the fact that they’ve had ample time to tell us. Why keep it from us, Hollywood?”
“Stop it, Owen.” Summer’s almost in tears.
“I haven’t asked her to marry me,” I say, setting him straight. I had no clue she knew I’d bought a ring, let alone brought it with me to the ranch.
“Come with me.” Violet turns to lead the women out the back.
“Let’s go get that ring off your finger.” Kelsey props an arm around Summer’s shoulders and takes her hand. She squints at the ring. “Too bad. It’s stunning.”
What have I been waiting for? This weekend isn’t ideal, but there have been plenty of times since I bought the ring when I could’ve given it to her. Why did it take seeing it on her finger to realize I can’t wait another second? “Summer.”
“Is that...?” Ivy asks as she returns to the room with Dizzy. She takes in the ring Summer is trying to twist free of her knuckle before she turns to me. “Did you finally propose?”
“No.”
“Congratulations.” Dizzy runs across the room, colliding with Summer as she frees the ring from her finger.
The whole group seems to catch its breath as the metal and stone flies sideways across the room.
Collectively we launch into action. Owen and I almost bust heads as we lunge to pluck the tiny ornament out of the air.
Jett belly flops on the hard wood like he’s a catcher in a baseball game.
Storm trips over his feet and lands face first in Violet’s cleavage.
He lets out a mumbled “damn,” that could be taken as awe as much as defeat.
There isn’t enough silence in the world to hear where the ring lands. Not enough light to catch the glimmer from the precious stones.
Summer gapes at me, then slaps a hand over her mouth. Her watery gaze locks with mine. “Shit.”