Chapter 27
I thunder down the stairs and into Pops’ office, taking out the bottle of scotch he keeps in his desk.
Unscrewing the lid, I knock a mouthful back before taking the seat that used to be his.
I can’t stop staring at the spot where I last saw him, and it doesn't matter how many men I’ve killed tonight; the frustration’s still there.
I should have been here, instead, I was hiding out in the bunkhouse like a fucking pussy, trying to avoid her.
The door cracks open, and Cole steps inside, rubbing his hands over his eyes like he just woke up.
“Have all the fun without me?” He smiles sadly, reaching for the bottle when I offer it out.
“Where is he now?” I squeeze my eyes shut to stop ‘em from running. Now ain’t the time for tears. I’m head of the family, so I gotta show strength.
“They took him to the hospital. Police said they’d come out soon as the storm cleared. I guess it’ll buy us some time to figure out a story. How bad is it, Garrett?” He swigs straight from the bottle and takes a seat.
“Three bodies out at Grylls Creek Ranch. I still had enough sense in me to make it look like a disagreement between them. I’ll report Pops’ rifle as one of the items stolen.”
“Didn’t have enough sense in ya to stop yourself from beating the crap outta five men at that bar in Columbus, though, did it?” He’s got a judgemental look on his face.
“Someone has to know where he is. A man doesn’t just vanish.
Besides, we’re Carsons, people will expect a reaction, and folk would be more suspicious if I didn’t react.
Let ‘em think that was me seekin’ revenge.
It gives me an alibi,” I shrug, though right now, I couldn’t give a fuck if they locked me up and threw away the key.
At least it would stop me from chasing Maisie’s ass to L.A. when she leaves.
“Mitch called Miles. He’ll be here early so we can get the story straight.”
“You know anything about an offshore account?” I ask my brother, wondering why Jason and the others didn’t take any cash or my mother’s old jewelry.
It was all scattered on the floor when I arrived.
Now I’m thinking straight, this wasn’t a revenge attack at all.
Jason was looking for something specific, and I wonder where he’s been getting his information from.
Maybe him being in that bar a few weeks ago was part of the setup.
“No,” Cole shakes his head, looking as confused as I am. There ain’t no one straighter than Pops. I can’t imagine him having any dodgy accounts.
“So what do we do now?” Cole asks, looking around the room where my father spent most of his time.
“We fix all the damage that's been done and get our family its respect back,” I light a cigarette with my blood-stained fingers, fingers I should never have touched her with. Hell, I shouldn’t have touched her at all.
I made her off limits for a reason, and now I’ve kissed her.
I’m doubting if it’s gonna be possible to let her leave.
“You gonna miss him?” Cole stares at the same spot I am.
“Yeah, I’ll miss him. But men like us don’t have time for grief,” I toke back hard and fill my lungs with smoke.
“We don’t got time for love either,” I warn him because once I’ve hunted down Jason, the Masons will be the next to learn the lesson.
Things are gonna change around here, and ruthless things will have to happen.
I can’t have this family's agenda clouded by his affection for Joe Mason’s wife.
“I hear ya, and I’m here for it.” Cole stands up.
“But, I’ll warn you now. I can see you making the same mistake that I did. And if you think it hurts like this, you wait until she moves on without you,” he raises his eyebrows at me before heading out the door, and I pour myself another drink and sink back in the chair.
I guess pain just became my new best friend because no matter how much it hurts, I have to let Maisie Wildman go.
“Whatever it takes,” I raise my glass to all the Carson men who are no longer with us, be they in heaven or hell, and hope that when I join them, they’ll be grateful for the sacrifice I’m about to make.