Chapter Seventeen
JAX
“I DON’T give a fuck about the gate, the gate can be fixed. What I do give a fuck about is that this is happening at my home, and I don’t even know who I’m fighting. Is it the one guy or a group?” Mr. Harlow’s gravely voice booms across the room at the phone sitting on his desk.
We sent Callum and Scott, our explosives guy on the team, a picture of what was left of the device we found at the gate.
Scott confirmed it is an improvised explosive device (IED) that was detonated by a timer.
The whole device was crudely put together and was probably attached to the wooden post the night before it was set to detonate.
“Spits” Callum says.
A brief pause and some typing echo over the line.
“Right. I’ve been able to pinpoint an attachment between the Mancuso family out of New York and your guy there, they have an outfit in Chicago and an even smaller one in Tulsa.
Because of the death of the DA they usually use for their guys in the Tulsa area, there is a little more activity within the ranks that this ‘D’ guy is part of.
However, ‘D’ is not high enough in the ranks to warrant an attack on the ranch.
“However, that doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t use the resources and people available to him. But the fact that Hallie could know something they don’t want her to know could get him a couple of guys assigned to help intimidate, to get her back.”
“So, this whole thing is just some asshole with an ego?” Gray asks.
“Could be. It’s possible she knows something, whether it’s just him or the group, I don’t have enough information to say for sure.”
Mason shakes his head. “We already spoke with Hallie. She doesn’t know anything.”
“That she knows of,” Spits corrects.
“I don’t know that it’s safe to keep the girls here, especially Sloane.
” Mason says. He’s leaning on the frame of the large picture window, across from me, behind Mr. Harlow’s desk with his hands fisted at his sides.
He nearly went ape shit looking for her after the explosion yesterday, she was hiding in the laundry room with Hallie.
“Maybe we should send them to my house in Tennessee, it’s big enough for all them.” I offer. “They would be closer to the team and safe until we can get this under control.”
Gray, who is leaning against the office door with his arms crossed over his chest, shakes his head. “I won’t be sending my daughter to another state. If I have to, I’ll send her to Elly’s apartment in Tulsa. She likes it there.”
Mason cocks his head as he looks at Gray. “What if they know where Elly lives? It would be safer if we sent them all to Tennessee as a group and a couple of the guys can stay with them.”
“My wife can check in on them every day and show them around the area. We’ll monitor them, Gray, you’ll have nothing to worry about if they’re with us.
” As Gray listens to Callum making the offer, he slides his ball cap around his head to set the bill in the back, a habit he and Mason both have.
He looks a lot like Mason when he’s angry.
He’s also fiercely protective of his daughter.
“Elly can come with Lainey Rai if it makes you feel better about it.” Callum hedges.
Gray’s eyes move to Mason, who nods his head. “When?”
“I can send my plane for them today if you want,” Callum says.
“Yes.” Mason spits out. He’s obviously worried about Sloane and the baby and can’t get them away fast enough.
As they make arrangements for Callum’s plane, I know Marley won’t go, she won’t leave her horses. She wouldn’t even come to the house after everything was settled after the explosion, she was too worried about the gelding in the stables.
All the different arguments I could make go through my head, but I know no matter what I, or anyone else says, she’ll refuse. That just means I’m her shadow for the foreseeable future.
My thoughts drift back to the hug she initiated yesterday, and I have to suppress a smile.
That’s the first time she’s opened up to me, the first time she’s touched me by her own volition.
If that fucking bomb hadn’t gone off, I can’t say I wouldn’t have kissed her again. Christ, I want to kiss her again.
When all the arrangements are made, Gray turns and opens the office door. Hallie is standing there like she has been there the whole time. Her hands are clasped in front of her, the knuckles white and her face is even more pale than it usually is.
“I won’t go.” Her eyes move over everyone in the room.
“Now, Hallie, don’t make any rash decisions. I think you should go with Sloane to help take care of her.” Mr. Harlow is standing behind his desk with his hand raised, palm out, in front of him.
She shakes her head, her movements are quick and choppy, like someone who is nervous. “Kinley and Breanna can take care of her, she doesn’t need me. I brought all this trouble to you, and I think I should just leave, so he’ll stop.”
“No, you won’t. What makes you think we would let you walk out of here to put yourself in danger?”
Over the years, Mason has mentioned his dad’s soft spot for helping people, and I’ve seen his compassionate side. I’ve also seen him hold a red-hot branding iron to a man’s back and swing a sledgehammer at another man’s knees. I wouldn’t want to get on his bad side.
Her eyes fill with tears. “But I’m putting everyone here in danger.” She sniffs. “I don’t want to be the reason everyone has to leave their home.”
“You won’t, it’ll be like we’re going on a vacation to Tennessee. It’ll be fun.” Breanna appears behind her and puts her arm across Hallie’s back.
“How many of you are out there?” Mr. Harlow chuckles.
Kinley and Sloane appear on each side behind them.
“Don’t think that just because we don’t have a penis, we can’t know what’s going on,” Kinley says with her hand on her hip. Her long blond hair is hanging down one side of her slim frame in big waves. She looks a lot like Marley, but she doesn’t have the gentle eyes and soft smile like Marley does.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Kinley, can you be any more crude? Where’s Lainey Rai?” Gray says, looking at Kinley, his frustration setting into the lines on his face.
“I’m right here.” The muffled, high-pitched voice of a ten-year-old comes from down the hall.
Gray drops his head and pinches the bridge of his nose as Kinley smiles and cocks a brow. “Crude much?”
Gray pushes past her. “I’ve got to call Elly.”
Hallie pulls away from Breanna and steps forward. “If you want me to stay, I’ll stay, but I’m not running away to Tennessee. I’m staying here with you.” Her eyes are locked on Mr. Harlow. “I want to help however I can.”
They engage in a stare-off for several moments before Mason says, “Let her stay, Dad. She might be able to help.”
Mr. Harlow takes a deep breath and points his finger at her. “Don’t make me regret this. If you’re staying, you have to do what I say.”
She nods with a smile and takes a breath of relief.
I look at Mason. “You know Marley won’t go.”
I would be lying if I said a part of me wasn’t happy about that. I would drive myself fucking crazy if I couldn’t see her or know she’s close so I can check on her.
He nods his head. “I know, it would take an act of Congress to get her to leave her horses for one day.”
“Tag-team?” I say and lift my eyebrows.
He nods. “Lets do it.”
As we walk out of the office, my phone buzzes and I pull it out of my pocket to see it’s Dimitri. Glancing at Mason, I say, “I need to take this. Give me a few minutes.”
He nods and walks to the kitchen where Sloane is.
Dimitri 09:35: Are you alone?
Brana 09:35: Da.
Dimitri 09: 37: David Barone is part of the Mancuso Family. His father moved to Oklahoma from New York in the 80s with a small division chose to run a nightclub in a place called Grove. His father was killed in the 90s and it looks like he fell in line behind his father.
Brana 09:45: Where can I find his boss?
Dimitri 09:46: Do NOT approach them, Brana.
Brana 09:47: They need to get their dog on a leash.
Dimitri 09:48: I will reach out to our people there.
Brana 09:49: The people who run the shell company under our name?
He is silent for so long that I almost give up and slide my phone back in my pocket.
Dimitri 09:57: Are your people the only ones looking into us? Do I need to be concerned?
Brana 09:58: No need to be concerned. We are trying to figure out who we are dealing with.
Dimitri 10:00: I’ll get back to you.
Sliding my phone back into my pocket, I walk to the kitchen to find Mason.