Chapter 42
Will had the money, the connections, the power to take whatever he wanted, and when he promised something, his word was as good as gold. He made it happen.
God help whoever got in his way.
We traveled alone in his car at the front of our small army, down the ridge into town. He reached over for my hand and kissed it.
“The water’s cold, but the sun is warm, so it’ll still be quite nice on the beach. I’ve planned dinner for everyone at the seafood house in the center of town.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand.
“Sounds perfect, Will. Thank you for this. I know doing something like this makes it harder for you and your brothers and the entire security team.”
“Not harder, baby. It requires a different approach is all.”
Our party included fifteen as well as some friends of Thomas and John planning to meet us. We’d even invited the security team’s significant others, adding three more to the group, because it was time we considered the personal lives of the men who fought for us.
We stepped out of the shadows that day, implementing Will’s plan to take back our freedom. After filling the private car park behind the pub, we walked down the cobblestone streets to the beach and spent a quiet afternoon in the sunshine.
Cool, salty breezes caressed my skin. The high tide rolled up, pushing us farther in. Waves clapped like thunder as they slapped the shoreline, reminding me of home.
I couldn’t have been happier.
Will chased me along the edge of the water, catching me and playfully tossing me on our blanket. He lowered himself above me, his lips so close to mine.
“What do you hear?” he asked.
“Nothing. Only you.”
My watery messenger went silent that day. As much as I loved the sea and its whispers, I finally understood it had never been my home. It had been the beacon tasked with getting me home.
Will was my home.
He pushed his gaze deeply into mine, reading my thoughts, seeing into my soul, and then slanted his mouth over mine to claim me with a ruthless kiss.
“This is your home now, baby. Here…with me.”
Thomas interrupted before I could say anything, shouting at everyone to get moving as he and Kirsty came east along the shoreline. He found us in our favorite spot beneath Eastridge.
“Christ, I’m starving. Let’s get on with dinner,” he said.
Will kissed my lips and then without looking away from me, he scolded his brother.
“You have shitty timing, you arsehole. I said I would text you when we’re ready.”
Thomas chuckled.
“Ah, but the timing makes no difference, brother, now does it. You can’t ever keep your greedy fucking hands off her. Let’s go…people are gathering.”
Will agreed and pulled us both up. We packed our things and headed back to the pub.
Merchants lined the streets, selling their goods, and patrons dined and shopped. The community’s buzzing energy intoxicated me. So lively, so beautiful.
Residents, local officials, and even two photographers flocked around the restaurant as we arrived. The owner rushed out and led us to a roped off section on the large front patio. The rope did nothing. It wasn’t a wall. It couldn’t keep us safe.
Breathe. No counting.
But everyone behaved with respect and kindness, approaching Will first before engaging with me. His vibe was warning enough.
I recognized the city councilors and some other faces from the dinner at Eastridge. They all seemed so casual to me, like the violent chaos of the night before had been erased from their minds.
Will bought every bottle of the local winery’s reserve at the restaurant and gave orders to keep our glasses filled and the glasses of the other diners and anyone stopping by the patio to say hello. On top of that, he ordered servers to share trays of hors d’oeuvres with everyone.
After about thirty minutes, the chef came out to offer us the private dining room, maybe because he couldn’t keep up, but Will declined.
At that moment, I realized Will and Thomas had intentionally made our plans widely known and now literally flaunted our presence. At the same time, our party remained cautious, and everyone kept a close circle around Will and me.
Will hadn’t only sent a strong message, but he hand delivered it himself. He wanted control of Hastings, and he was taking it. He and the town shared the same name after all, and he and Ethan had bought up a lot of the business real estate, so why not?
Even when we moved inside to our table, the overall demand for our food orders, wine, and whisky created complete chaos for the charming seafood house.
Will wiped his mouth and dropped his napkin, slid his hand to the inside of my thigh, and leaned in with his mouth close to my ear, making that weak little feeling in my stomach rise.
“Go on and give Jessica a ring tomorrow,” he said.
“What? Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
“So everything is okay, Will…in Stonington, I mean?”
“The police sealed your file. They might investigate the case in other ways, but as far as I’m concerned, the case is closed for us. I gave the cop what he needed, and your interview with the commissioner satisfied his captain.”
I kissed his cheek.
“Thank you! You don’t know how much it means to me, how you take care of everything and give me what I need the most.”
Satisfaction danced in his eyes. He knew.
Right then the director of the local art museum approached our table, asking to speak with me, and Will became stern for the first time that day. He cursed when I invited her to take the seat next to me, moving John over to the next chair.
As she settled at the table, I squeezed Will’s arm.
“I’m sure it’s harmless. She’s from the museum,” I whispered.
The director was sincere, touching my arm as she spoke. Her smile reminded me of my nineteenth-century art history professor, who I had admired. She stayed only long enough for a sip of wine and to request my support for the museum’s association.
“We’ll see what happens,” I told her.
As she walked away, Will drank a shot of whisky, then leaned back in his chair and pulled me against his side. He brushed his warm mouth against my shoulder.
“You’re quite lovely, Elle. You look happy.”
I swept my fingers over his inked forearm.
He grabbed my hand and kissed it. Then he stood, gestured to John, wanting him to take his chair, and tossed his credit card on the table.
“Thom, go settle the bill so we can get out of here.”
Will watched his brothers do what he’d said before heading to the restroom.
But before he made it there, three men stepped in front of him—the Green brothers.
Ben rushed to Will’s side as the security team rose from their seats. Joe Turner rushed over, but Will jerked his chin and sent him back to guard John and me.
Thomas sprinted from the front to Will’s side.
The thrashing beat of my heart pitched into my stomach.
John took hold of my trembling hand beneath the table.
“I bet they’re trying to wring more money out of him. He’s already paying for Seth’s funeral. They don’t deserve even that much. Christ, the bastard came in our house with a gun and threatened you with it.”
John went on to tell me that the Greens had agreed to quietly bury their brother. They claimed they didn’t know Seth had the gun and apologized…but only after Will reminded them how he’d tracked and punished the man who assaulted their sister three years earlier.
But their expressions and their body language troubled me.
Those three men were no longer on board with that plan. And Will’s fisted hands, his clenched jaw, the deliberate way he moved his shoulders confirmed it for me.
The circle of men surrounding me abruptly parted, and Will came through the center. He put his arm around my waist and pulled me toward the exit.
“Come on, let’s get home, Elle.”
Later that night, when Will thought I was sleeping, he and Thomas left the house. But I knew what they were doing…
They went out to hunt down the Green brothers.