Chapter 7
Ronan knocked on Emmalyn’s door. As opposed to the noise and activity of Havoc’s house, it seemed to be quiet inside.
The door opened and Emmalyn leaned on her door as she held her cell phone to her ear. She winked at Ronan as she finished speaking. “Mmhmm. Hmpf. Okay. Thanks for the heads up. I’ll call you later.” She ended the call and stepped forward, hugging Ronan. “I hear you want to be my neighbor.”
Ronan laughed. “How did she manage to call you already? I just walked across the street— literally. My car is still parked over there.”
“We update each other all the time before anybody else can. So, I hear you’ve found your mate. Good for you.”
“Yes. And I want safety. I was thinking beside Havoc, but now I’m thinking across from Havoc. But he said that you bought all the land between you and the end of the street.”
“Yep. And on the other side, too.”
He kind of winced. “Here’s the thing. She’s terrified to even let me in. She confided in me that she can’t even enroll her boys in school because she’s afraid they’ll be found. I really want her tucked away in the back over here.”
Emmalyn’s entire easygoing demeanor shifted into ‘oh, hell no’. “You know that means she’s running from somebody, right?”
“Yes, I do. And that’s why I want her sandwiched in over here across from Havoc and next to you. I’m going to be finishing my degree at Tulane. Totally doable, but I’ll be away a lot during the day, most likely some late nights. If I’m not here and somebody comes after her…”
“Say no more. I completely understand. And nobody, but nobody, will be threatening any woman on my watch. Put her right there beside me. What are you picturing for your house? How much land do you think you’ll need?”
“Well, I mean, it’s really how much do you want to sell me?”
“Sell?”
“Yes. Havoc and I were talking about it, and if you don’t want to part with any land, I can buy some from him, but I’d rather her be next to you and across from him.”
“Sell you land? He’s going to sell you land?”
“Well, yeah, he bought it, so I wouldn’t expect him to give it to me.”
She was already shaking her head as she grabbed his arm and yanked him inside her house. “Come on. Let’s sit down and talk.” She locked her door, three deadbolts, and then led him into the living room.
“I always forget how nice your house is, Em,” Ronan said.
“It’s a fortress.”
“I know. And it’s awesome. Looks Victorian, but like a castle, too. Inside cathedral ceilings, and classy, but comfortable furniture. Huge entertainment wall.”
“Thank you, Ronan. I appreciate that. I put a lot of thought into it.”
“And it’s perfect for you? Just the way you want it?”
“It is. I feel completely untouchable here. I know my kids are safe. I’m just almost myself again, only more cautious.”
“I’m happy for you. And speaking of kids… where are they? I’m surprised it’s so quiet. Havoc’s house sounds like they’re tearing the walls down.”
“That’s because his kids act like him. Mine act like Barron. They’re even too calm for me to be able to claim they act like me,” she said laughing. “But Barron and Barrett are playing video games in the game room, and Roslyn is right over there, waiting for me to finish coloring with her.”
A little head popped up over the back of the sofa and a beautiful child with dark wavy hair much like her mother’s waved at Ronan. “Hi, Uncle Ronan.”
“Hi, baby. You’re so quiet I didn’t know you were there.”
She smiled, nodded at him, then ducked back down behind the sofa.
“Want something to drink? Or are you hungry? We’ve already had dinner, but I can heat something up for you,” Emmalyn said.
“No, thanks. I ate.”
“Okay, let’s get down to it, then,” Emmalyn said, leading the way into the kitchen and sitting down in one of the barstools at the kitchen island.
Ronan followed and sat beside her.
“Do you know exactly what the situation is?” Emmalyn asked.
“No, just that she’s terrified.”
“Poor girl.”
“Yeah. I’m gonna have to kill something, and frankly, I’m looking forward to it. But in the meantime, I want to start working on a place for us to live.”
“You’re in the guest house that used to be Remi’s, right?”
“Yes. And that’s fine temporarily. But I want to make arrangements for something else, something ours, and honestly, more safely surrounded.
You can’t get much safer than living between Havoc and you and Barron.
One of the three of you will always notice if something is off.
I mean, Analise called you Mrs. Kravitz. ”
“I knew she started that!” Emmalyn exclaimed. She huffed out an exasperated sigh, then seemed to shrug it off — literally. “Doesn’t matter. She’s right. I keep up with everything. I don’t care what anybody does, honestly I don’t, as long as they belong here. And I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
“I don’t think anybody faults you that, Em. I certainly don’t.”
“Neither do I,” Barron said, walking into the room.
“Barron!” Ronan said, getting up to greet him.
“Hey, man. You doing alright?”
“Yep. Just looking to get a little of your surplus land to build on.”
“I heard,” Barron said.
“Havoc?” Ronan asked.
“You know it. Don’t be too hard on him. He’s calling himself helping by smoothing the way for whatever you need.”
“He’s just like my dad,” Ronan said.
“And even more so as he ages,” Barron said.
“I’m thinking of giving him the land between us and the pool,” Emmalyn said.
“You don’t want to be nearer the corner? You’d have a little more space to spread out on that side,” Barron said.
“His mate is not exactly in a safe situation. Between us and Havoc, tucked away at this end of the street is for the best,” Emmalyn said.
“Havoc alluded to something like that, but didn’t mention any details.”
“She’s afraid if she puts her boys in school they’d all be found,” Emmalyn said meaningfully, without saying too much because Roslyn was sitting across the room with her crayons, though she seemed completely absorbed in whatever animated movie she was watching.
Ronan lowered his voice. “I’m going to have to do something about that.”
“You won’t be doing it alone,” Barron said.
“Appreciate that,” Ronan said.
“So, there’s four acres between us and the end of the street. Leave us an acre between us and you on that side, and the rest is yours. And it goes two acres deep behind us the whole length of the street, too, so the two acres that extend behind you will be yours, too.”
“That sounds perfect, Em! How much do you want for it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you paid Brandt for it. That’s how it works. You buy it, it’s yours unless you don’t want to live here anymore, in which case he buys it back. In this case, you’re selling it to me, so, how much?”
“Right, but I’m gifting it to you. He’s not out anything, so you don’t need to pay anything,” Emmalyn said.
“You paid for it, Emmalyn. If you give it to me, you’re out the cost.”
Emmalyn looked at Barron and raised an eyebrow.
Barron gave a half-hearted shrug, which was apparently the answer she wanted.
Emmalyn turned back to Ronan. “Not everybody knows this, but I was paid a huge — huge, huge — settlement by the agency after everything happened. They didn’t keep our private information safe, which allowed my stalker to get it, even if he was an agent.
No one, not even another agent should have access to the private information in our work files.
I didn’t even have to hire a lawyer, hadn’t gotten to the point of thinking of it yet, when their attorneys contacted me with an offer to make it go away and sign away any future rights for legal action.
I counter-offered with a ridiculous amount thinking we’d settle somewhere in the middle, but they accepted my counter-offer and settled.
I don’t need the money. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with.
I’ve helped any of our family that needed it, and I’ve donated to the shelter, and I’m a silent investor in a new domestic battery shelter for women and their children and pets in New Orleans.
And I’ve still got money. I don’t need you to buy it from me.
It’s yours. I’ll transfer the deed to your name. ”
“I don’t know what to say, Emmalyn.”
“Say thank you. And make sure that Havoc knows that though he wanted to sell his brother a parcel of his land, I simply gave it to him.”
Ronan burst out laughing. When he recovered he was still grinning. He reached out and hugged her. “And there’s the Emmalyn I know and love.”
“Oh, yeah. She’s in there. Don’t think for a second she’s not.
Especially when it comes to outdoing Havoc.
It’s her favorite pastime that doesn’t involve the kids and me,” Barron said, slipping his arm around Emmalynn’s shoulders.
She leaned into him and it was obvious to anyone watching that he was her rock. He kept her grounded and safe.
“I appreciate everything you’re offering me, but I want to be clear, I can pay you for it. It would be over time, but I can do it,” Ronan said.
“You owe me nothing. What good is money if you can’t help your family with it? It’s not costing me a penny — I already bought it years ago. I’ll have the paperwork drawn up and all you’ll have to do is sign. It’s yours.”
“Thank you, Emmalyn.”
“I can’t wait to meet your female! And Analise said she’s got littles?”
“Two boys. One just barely six and the other seven.”
“They’ll have plenty of friends to play with here.”
“Yes, they will. They’re something special. I love them already.”
“What are their names?” Barron asked.
“She’s Giada. The boys are Matteo and Leo.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. She’ll be safe here, and she’ll feel it once she’s comfortable enough to accept you. It might take a minute, though, so don’t get frustrated,” Emmalyn offered.
“That’s exactly what’s happening. She’s afraid, but I’m doing all I can to make her see that I’ll protect her. We just met a few days ago, though, so it’s all new.”
“It’ll work out,” Barron said.
“I won’t accept anything less,” Ronan said.
“Mommy, can we finish coloring?” Roslyn asked, as the credits to the movie she’d been watching played behind her.
“Of course, baby,” Emmalyn said. She hugged Ronan. “I’ll see you in a couple of days to sign the paperwork.”
“Sounds great. And thank you again.”
“You’re welcome. Very welcome. And don’t forget to tell Havoc!” she said as she hurried toward her daughter.
“I’ll tell him,” Ronan promised. He did the man hug thing with Barron again, before Barron walked him to the door. “I’ll see you guys in a few days. If anything changes let me know. I fully planned to pay you for it.”
“Nah, it’s not necessary. And it makes Em happy that she can do things for family.”
“Again, I’m so grateful.”
“She knows. That’s why she did it.” Barron watched as Ronan headed down his driveway and started across the street to get his truck from Havoc’s drive. He remembered suddenly what he’d wanted to comment on and hadn’t. He stepped out on the porch and raised his fist in the air. “Roll Wave!”
Ronan turned back and grinned, holding his own fist in the air. “Roll Wave!” he shouted back.
“Later, dude!” Barron said.
“Later!” Ronan said, as he headed toward his truck again. He got in the truck and turned the key to start the ignition.
Havoc’s front door opened and he peeked out, then ran down the steps to catch Ronan before he left.
“You aren’t even wearing shoes, Havoc,” Ronan said.
“I don’t need shoes. I’m a Wolf. You know that, so are you,” Havoc said.
“Don’t mean you don’t get cold in the cold weather.”
“It was warm today.”
“Yeah, but the sun’s setting. It’s getting cooler.”
“Yeah, yeah. So, Emmalyn give you the land?”
“She did. She was very gracious about it. Didn’t hesitate.”
“Good.”
Ronan chuckled and shook his head. “She said to tell you that while you offered to sell me, your own brother, a parcel of land, she gifted me the land, free of charge.”
Havoc laughed. “Why do you think I told you I’d sell you some land? She’ll outdo me at every turn. Loves it more than anything else.”
“So you find things for her to outdo you at?” Ronan asked.
“Yep. Even pretend I’m irritated when she comes over first thing in the morning with the kids.”
“Those are some seriously well behaved kids.”
“I know! Who’d have thought mine and Analise’s would be the wild ones and hers would be the calm ones?”
“Anybody that knows you,” Ronan said.
Havoc laughed for a second or two before it cut off suddenly. “That ain’t right. But the point is, you needed some land, and beside her across from me is actually the best place for the reasons you already pointed out.”
“You’re right. But why do you give her the opportunity to outdo you, and pretend you’re irritated when you’re not?”
“It’s almost the only time we get to see the old Em. I miss her sometimes, you know? And all it takes is to leave myself open and she’ll slide in and torque me a little just like the old days,” Havoc said with a sad smile.
“I missed a lot being away so much. I just assumed that she’d healed,” Ronan said.
“She has to a point, but it’s hard to catch her in a completely carefree moment.
Sometimes you do, but not like before. It’s hard for any woman to rebound from that kind of trauma.
She’s okay. She’s happy, adores her babies and Barron.
She and Analise are as close as ever, but there will always be something that keeps her looking over her shoulder, keeps her from the completely carefree, fearless female she was.
And if I can give her stupid little things to come at me over, I love to see that fire rise to the surface again.
And I think she does, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s aware and just let’s me get away with it, because she needs it sometimes, too,” Havoc said.
“Yeah. I need to be home. I need to be a part of all this, not just learning about it as I go.”
“Problem solved. You’re home.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Don’t forget to talk to Brandt.”
“I won’t. Heading over there now.”