choices.”
What the fuck is going on? I know it’s not my
business but… “Monroe is using her against you, isn’t he? Why?”
He glowers and I don’t think he’s going to
answer but he surprises me. “He knows I don’t like what he does. As
long as I don’t rat on him, he’ll leave us alone. But even if I was
willing to take that risk, I won’t risk her life.”
I’m pissed on his behalf. “He’s threatened
her? Aren’t they family?”
“Second cousins. She’s Lynn’s cousin, you
know. Their mothers were sisters.”
I vaguely remember this. It should have
registered earlier. If Monroe is as dangerous as they all seem to
think I might be able to use that connection to get Serenity to
drop it.
“And yeah,” Hunter continues. “He’s made it
clear he considers her fair game. Family doesn’t mean shit to
him.”
Hunter clearly isn’t going to do anything
that might put her in the line of fire. And he expects me to
somehow get Serenity to back down. The woman is stubborn as hell. I
don’t know if it’s possible but I’m going to try.
“How deep is Monroe?” I ask.
If he saved his family business in a year
he’s hooked up with someone with deep pockets. Hunter shakes his
head.
“I don’t know much. I think he might be
involved with one of the Mexican cartels. If they think Monroe is
close to getting busted they’ll clean house and everyone connected
with him will be fair game. Shut her down, Trace.”
Oh fuck. This is not good. I weigh my
options. They pretty much suck. My chances of getting her to back
off are nil and none. But I can’t help her either. Hunter is right.
If Monroe is in with a cartel there’s no way out. If Serenity
succeeds in bringing Monroe down, they’ll go after her just for the
fun of it. So what do I do? Do I stick my neck out for this woman
who didn’t do the same for me? Or do I walk away. Walking is the
only smart thing to do but I’m not sure I can. She has a hold me
that not even ten years in prison can break. And--I look around the
room--these guys are my family. They’re the ones who stood by me
when she disappeared.
I look at Hunter and I don’t like what I see.
I recognize it. I’ve seen it on my own face. He’s wrapped up in
this woman, Honor, and he’ll do whatever he thinks he has to to
protect her. He doesn’t care much what that will do to me or
Serenity either. He rubs his hand over his face and mutters, “shit,
Trace.”
And I’m so feeling that sentiment.
“I’ll talk to her,” I say, “but I doubt it
will do any good.”
“Try,” he says.
I nod. “I will.”
Though we both know I’ll be wasting my
breath.
Chapter Five
Serenity
It’s after six and I’m pulling into my
driveway when Honor finally calls me back.
“Hey! What the fuck is up with you and Hunter
Wallace?” I snap.
There’s a long silence. Too long. I check the
phone but we’re still connected. “Honor?”
“There’s nothing going on. He’s asked me out
but I know what he is and I’m not interested.”
Liar, liar. She’s interested all right. She’s
just chicken. And listen to me casting stones. She’s right and I
know it and I’m just not sure I give a shit anymore.
“Why?” she asks.
“He demanded I meet him at his gym this
morning to ask where the hell you are.”
And that was a complete cluster fuck. I tap
my fingers on the steering wheel and stare at Trace as he steps out
on to my front porch. I need better locks. He can obviously get
past mine.
“What did you tell him?”
“That you’re out of town on business. Is that
a lie?”
I suddenly wonder if that’s an excuse she
gave us so she could avoid Hunter. Dude, she doesn’t have to do
that with me. I get it more than anyone else does.
“No, it really is a business trip. Let it go,
Lynn. It’s not happening so no worries.”
She sounds firm and resolute and who am I to
argue? Especially with Trace standing a few yards away, arms
crossed over his chest and looking
What the fuck is going on? I know it’s not my
business but… “Monroe is using her against you, isn’t he? Why?”
He glowers and I don’t think he’s going to
answer but he surprises me. “He knows I don’t like what he does. As
long as I don’t rat on him, he’ll leave us alone. But even if I was
willing to take that risk, I won’t risk her life.”
I’m pissed on his behalf. “He’s threatened
her? Aren’t they family?”
“Second cousins. She’s Lynn’s cousin, you
know. Their mothers were sisters.”
I vaguely remember this. It should have
registered earlier. If Monroe is as dangerous as they all seem to
think I might be able to use that connection to get Serenity to
drop it.
“And yeah,” Hunter continues. “He’s made it
clear he considers her fair game. Family doesn’t mean shit to
him.”
Hunter clearly isn’t going to do anything
that might put her in the line of fire. And he expects me to
somehow get Serenity to back down. The woman is stubborn as hell. I
don’t know if it’s possible but I’m going to try.
“How deep is Monroe?” I ask.
If he saved his family business in a year
he’s hooked up with someone with deep pockets. Hunter shakes his
head.
“I don’t know much. I think he might be
involved with one of the Mexican cartels. If they think Monroe is
close to getting busted they’ll clean house and everyone connected
with him will be fair game. Shut her down, Trace.”
Oh fuck. This is not good. I weigh my
options. They pretty much suck. My chances of getting her to back
off are nil and none. But I can’t help her either. Hunter is right.
If Monroe is in with a cartel there’s no way out. If Serenity
succeeds in bringing Monroe down, they’ll go after her just for the
fun of it. So what do I do? Do I stick my neck out for this woman
who didn’t do the same for me? Or do I walk away. Walking is the
only smart thing to do but I’m not sure I can. She has a hold me
that not even ten years in prison can break. And--I look around the
room--these guys are my family. They’re the ones who stood by me
when she disappeared.
I look at Hunter and I don’t like what I see.
I recognize it. I’ve seen it on my own face. He’s wrapped up in
this woman, Honor, and he’ll do whatever he thinks he has to to
protect her. He doesn’t care much what that will do to me or
Serenity either. He rubs his hand over his face and mutters, “shit,
Trace.”
And I’m so feeling that sentiment.
“I’ll talk to her,” I say, “but I doubt it
will do any good.”
“Try,” he says.
I nod. “I will.”
Though we both know I’ll be wasting my
breath.
Chapter Five
Serenity
It’s after six and I’m pulling into my
driveway when Honor finally calls me back.
“Hey! What the fuck is up with you and Hunter
Wallace?” I snap.
There’s a long silence. Too long. I check the
phone but we’re still connected. “Honor?”
“There’s nothing going on. He’s asked me out
but I know what he is and I’m not interested.”
Liar, liar. She’s interested all right. She’s
just chicken. And listen to me casting stones. She’s right and I
know it and I’m just not sure I give a shit anymore.
“Why?” she asks.
“He demanded I meet him at his gym this
morning to ask where the hell you are.”
And that was a complete cluster fuck. I tap
my fingers on the steering wheel and stare at Trace as he steps out
on to my front porch. I need better locks. He can obviously get
past mine.
“What did you tell him?”
“That you’re out of town on business. Is that
a lie?”
I suddenly wonder if that’s an excuse she
gave us so she could avoid Hunter. Dude, she doesn’t have to do
that with me. I get it more than anyone else does.
“No, it really is a business trip. Let it go,
Lynn. It’s not happening so no worries.”
She sounds firm and resolute and who am I to
argue? Especially with Trace standing a few yards away, arms
crossed over his chest and looking
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