Chapter 34
I’m five rounds deep in extremely competitive bingo at the senior center when Mrs. Charleston starts talking.
I’ve been a regular at events like this for years, just like my dad was. Ingratiating yourself with the town’s elderly population is a core pillar of the success of Clark business dealings.
The benefit and detriment of secrets is that they die with the keeper; and there are secrets in this bingo hall I’d shell out huge cash for, and trade countless favors.
Today, I got here early enough to steal the seat next to Mrs. Charleston. Her son-in-law, Joel, has been on my radar a long while for running an underground fighting ring.
Tina Middleton couldn’t help but gossip all about her ex, Joel, and his wife Brandy’s marital problems in the hardware store the other day.
That means Brandy went crying to mama, Mrs. Charleston, and the family matriarch is likely fuming mad at the son-in-law she didn’t approve of in the first place.
So here I sit, after five rounds of intentional losses in hopes she’ll start talking; and talk she does. The bingo caller dismisses the hall for intermission and conversation erupts in the previously quiet room.
Old biddies from all around crowd around our table while Mrs. Charleston holds court, savoring every ounce of attention.
“So it’s true then?”
“A fight ring? Here in Swiftwater?”
“How do you know all this?”
“That good for nothing husband of my darling Brandy is running the entire operati—”
My text tone for Mia chimes, drawing my attention immediately to my phone.
Mia: He’s here.
I’ve already upended my chair, nearly flipping the plastic table trying to get out of the bingo aisle. Complaints and shock trail behind me as I race out of the senior center, already calling Mia. No answer.
My truck door groans as I wrench it open and slam it shut. I read the text again.
Mia: He’s here.
There’s only one thing this text could mean, and it’s lit my heart up like a burner, boiling the blood in my veins.
Me: Where are you?
Call, no answer.
Me: Are you safe?
Call, no answer.
Me: Are the girls safe?
I dial Reid next, and he answers on the second ring.
“Where the fuck is Mia?” I bark.
“Woooooah. I have no idea, man. What’s going on?” Reid asks. I don’t have time for this.
“Mia’s ex is in Swiftwater. She’s in danger. Where. Is. Mia?”
“Fuck. I’ll call you right back.” He hangs up the phone.
Reid’s got immediate access to Connor, Isabelle, and Delilah. I want to call my sister but she’s away on some conservation thing out of town.
I’m just about to press James’s contact when my phone rings.
“Where is she?”
“She brought the girls to Delilah a half hour ago,” Reid explains.
“A half hour ago?” I shout into the phone. “Why didn’t Delilah call me?”
“She did, you must’ve had your phone set to Do Not Disturb or something.”
Goddamn it. He’s right. I was on my fucking bingo mission and set my phone to only let through texts and calls from Mia and the school.
“Does she know where Mia went?” I’m furious, but not at my family.
“No, but Delilah said Mia looked haunted, man. Now it makes sense knowing her fucking ex is in town,” Reid says.
“Thank Delilah for me.” And I hang up.
I’ve driven home on autopilot during that shitshow of a phone call and am taking the stairs to the apartment two at a time.
I nearly kick the front door open from my impatience with the lock.
“MIA! MIA!” She has to be here. I skid to a stop at Everly’s door where their suitcases are haphazardly packed.
No fucking way. Ain’t happening.
I skid to a stop when I reach our bathroom.
“Oh thank god.” My heart starts again. “Mia, goddamn it, why aren’t you answering your fucking phone?”
Mia’s near departure took years off my life. What matters right now is she’s safe, the kids are safe, and she’s agreed to stay.
Her skin’s ashen like she’s seen a ghost, and it took a lot of convincing to get her to sit on the couch with a blanket and a glass of water.
A part of me wants to glue myself to her like a human shield. Another, darker part of me is murderous. No one deserves to fill Mia with such terror, and it’ll never happen again.
I refuse to let this go on. This needs to be settled today. I won’t allow him to breathe the same air as Mia another sunrise.
Once I’m confident Mia will stay put, I head to the bedroom closet and open my gun safe. Dead center is the pistol that was handed down to me from my dad in his Will. The same pistol every Clark patriarch has used to protect our legacy for generations.
Concealing it in my waistband, I hope I don’t have to use it, but I’ll protect Mia at all costs. It’s not the deadly force that bothers me. It’s the fucking aftermath. Way too messy, and way too many favors to call in to get it cleaned up and erase Carter like he never existed.
I’m locking the safe when my phone rings—since I took it off fucking Do Not Disturb. Fuck that shit, that won’t ever happen again.
“Yea?” It’s nicer than my usual greeting.
“If I wasn’t already your best friend, I’m solidly cemented as your best friend now, my man,” James gloats.
“If this doesn’t have to do with Mia or her ex, I’m hanging up.”
“Oh, but it does,” James says, smug as ever.
“Spit it out,” I bite.
“Imagine my surprise when my assistant told me I had a walk-in appointment with a Carter Whitaker. Once he failed at kidnapping his own fucking kid from school, he came to me, seeing as my name’s listed as co-counsel on the divorce paperwork,” James explains.
“When was this? Where is he now?” I need eyes on this fucker immediately.
“Oh, he’s with me in my office. Say hi, Carter baby!” James shouts away from the phone. “He got here maybe fifteen minutes ago. Needed time to restrain and silence him, send the rest of the staff home, lock up, and call your ass,” James details as if he’s reading me the weather.
“What do you want to do, Grey? Reid and Connor are on stand-by waiting for marching orders.” That’s why these men are my brothers.
“Get him to the ranch and secure him at the most remote guest cabin.”
What I need to do isn’t going to be quiet, despite Lucky Spurs Ranch already being miles from curious ears.
“Done. Meet you there in thirty.” James hangs up.
A rush of adrenaline floods my system and I’m more than ready to take care of business.
Back in the living room, Mia remains a statue. Unfortunately, I’m going to be worsening her distress before alleviating it for good.
I crouch before her, rubbing her stiff quads through the blanket.
“Mia, honey. We need to go to the ranch. Think I can help you stand up?”
Her eyes, dead just a moment ago, bore right into me, lit with panic.
“Where’s Carter?” she asks, and I’ll never lie to her.
“James, Reid, and Connor are taking him to a distant property at the ranch. He has no idea where you or Everly are, or where he is. There’s no way he’ll slip his restraints, and he sure as hell won’t get past the guys.”
She nods repeatedly, processing this turn of events.
“Why do I need to come?” She sounds so defeated already, but I’ll fix everything.
“Because I need to be within reach of you at all times. I’m not leaving you here, and I’ve got some business to take care of with your soon-to-be ex-husband.” I raise both my eyebrows in a way that says I’m dead serious.
A text diverts my attention. She needs a minute anyway.
Cecelia: Bring an overnight bag for the girls with their swimsuits.
Me: Why? You taking them swimming in the frozen Whitetail River?
Cecelia: Hush. Grandma and Grandpa Andersen are taking them for a little adventure to the hot springs to get them far away from the ranch while that sorry excuse for a man is here.
Me: Thank you. Truly.
Cecelia: That’s my boy. Now get your fanny in gear!
I pocket my phone and throw together the girls’ overnight bags. Mia doesn’t even notice until I set them by the front door.
“Can I get you anything, love? We need to hit the road,” I ask, gathering up the rest of our things and slipping boots onto her feet.
“I want a grilled cheese sandwich,” she says.
I chuckle. “Alright. You’ll have a grilled cheese sandwich, honey. How do you like it?”
She thinks I’m joking, which I’m not, but it gets me a small smile, nonetheless.
“Growing up we used those processed cheese slices that come individually wrapped. It was something Charlie and I could make ourselves. Carter wouldn’t let me make grilled cheese even for Everly because he said it was unsophisticated.
I just want a grilled cheese. With good bread nice and toasted, and real cheese melted inside.
” Mia nods, her little smile disappearing, thinking this was a fun little dream exercise.
My future wife has been denied so many loving experiences, and it’s my privilege to rectify that. One tap to my phone and my call’s nearly instantly answered.
“Greyson, dear. Is everything okay?” Cecelia worries, seeing as we were just texting.
“We’re about to get in the truck and Mia wants a grilled cheese sandwich. Can you have one waiting for her?” Mia socks me in the arm, incredulous I’d ask for such a thing on her behalf. I have to hold back my smile.
“Of course. Any allergies or requests?” Cecelia asks, surely with a pen poised in hand.
“She wants the opposite of a white-bread, fake-cheese, floppy grilled cheese sandwich.
“Say no more. See you soon.”
I pocket my phone looking to Mia for approval and what I find is pure mortification. I can’t help but chuckle.
“How could you do that?” Mia squeaks.
“Do what? Feed you?”
“I’m serious! You can’t just ask people to cater to me. They’ll think I’m stuck up.”
Her voice gets higher pitched the longer she talks, and my smile grows wider.
“I can, and I will. This is family, Mia. We do anything for each other, usually with no questions asked. Better get used to it because there’s a shit-ton of love waiting to be given to you, honey,” I say earnestly.
“Now, if you’re done complaining about having the world’s best grilled cheese sandwich hand crafted for you—” Mia shuts me up with a kiss.
Against my lips she says, “Let’s go, fiancé.”
Damnit if I love the way that sounds.