“How did that turn out?”
“Oh,” Gabby said uncomfortably. “It took some time, but the person behind it was finally caught and arrested.”
Before I could ask for more details, her doorbell rang again. “It’s Papa,” a man said from the other side of the door.
When she opened the door to let him in, he wrapped her up in a hug. “Is everything okay here?”
“We’re fine, Papa,” she said. “Come on in.”
“Daphne,” he said as he walked over to the couch. “You doing okay, sweetheart?”
“I’m a little rattled,” I admitted. “But I’m okay otherwise.”
“Good. You keep your chin up, and don’t let this little fucker get to you. We’ll catch them and put a stop to all this nonsense.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said and smiled. Ranger’s presence was comforting and encouraging. It was hard to be solemn with someone like him in your corner.
“That’s all any of us can do,” he said and turned his attention to Gabby. “I heard there was pie.”
She laughed. “Yes, there’s pie. Ink, do you want a slice?”
“What kind is it?”
“Apple.”
“Yes, please.”
With that, we moved to the kitchen. “Does anyone want decaf coffee?” Gabby asked.
“Yes,” the three of us answered in unison.
“No pie for you?” Ink asked.
“I already had some when Dice and I were over here for dinner earlier,” I explained.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t have another slice,” Ranger pointed out.
“I’m not sure I can eat anything right now.”
“Well, don’t hesitate if you change your mind,” he said gently.
“I won’t.”
Ranger, Ink, and Gabby did a good job of trying to distract me and keep me engaged in the conversation, but my mind continuously strayed to what was going on at my house.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doorbell rang once again.
Ranger got up and strolled to the door with Ink on his heels. “Why in the hell are you knocking on your own door?”
“You know exactly why,” Byte said.
Ranger moved to the side, and Byte stepped through the door, followed by Dice, Dad, Uncle Buck, and several other bikers.
Dad came right over to where I was standing and pulled me in for a hug.
“I’m sorry about your boat,” I said.
“Don’t you dare apologize for something you didn’t do,” Uncle Buck said.