Joker smiles at me, but I can see he’s struggling to hold it together for my sake so as not to scare me. “Don’t worry; nothing is going to happen to Madison. I can promise you that.”
I look around the street as dread fills my stomach. It's as if someone is watching me right now, and it’s definitely not a good thing. A shiver races down my spine from it.
“Are you okay, Babydoll? I called your name three times. We can go home if you're not ready to go back to work. Grandma Silvia would understand.” Camden looks at me all over to make sure I’m okay with a worried expression on his face.
I plaster a smile on my face to ease his worry. “Sorry, I spaced out a little, but yes, I’m okay.”
He doesn’t look convinced at all and looks like he wants to argue the fact. Before he can say anything else, the door to the general store opens, and Grandma Silvia flies out, wrapping me in her arms.
“Oh, my Tinkerbell, I’m so happy to see you.”
“Hi Grandma Silvia, I missed you.”
She pulls back and has tears in her eyes. “I missed you as well. And don’t you just look beautiful with the new haircut? I told you Kira was amazing.”
“She truly is. I also think she has an admirer in Crow.” I can’t help the laugh that escapes. Grandma Silvia gets a wicked smile on her face.
“My oh my. We have a lot of catching up to do. Boys, don’t you worry about a thing. If Ian even shows his ugly face here, he will meet the business end of my handgun that Owen insists I keep under thecounter. And our Tinkerbell is a crack shot. Owen taught her himself, so we girls are going to be just fine.”
My face goes red as the guys look at me shocked. Grandpa Owen wanted to make sure we stayed safe, so he taught me how to fire and handle a gun. I’ve just never had to use it.
“Well, hopefully he’s not stupid enough to come in here today, but you use it if need be. You do everything you can to stay safe until I can get here. We are leaving Alex here today with you, and we are just across the street. I love you, babydoll. Call me if you even feel slightly scared, and I will be right here.”
I walk into his arms as he kisses me. I pull back and smile at him. “I love you too.”
Grandma Silvia walks over to me, linking her arm through mine. And walks back towards the store. “Come on, Tink. I have a coffee and sweets with your name on it, and we have a lot of catching up to do.”
I turn my head one last time, looking at Camden, and smile at him. And yet, the feeling of being watched still lingers. I have a feeling I’m going to be seeing my father sooner than I would like.
Twelve
Ghost
I watch her walk away. Inside, something tugs at me to follow her, to protect her at all costs. Knowing Ian is still out there is making me twitch, and I don't like the unknown. I know Joker has news from last night, but he kept that shit from Scarlett, and I appreciate it. She doesn’t need to hear the details.
I turn towards the prospect Alex, who’s proved himself time and again. He’s ex army so I know he has what it takes to do the job. “Protect Scarlett at all costs. Failure isn’t an option.”
He nods at me. “I will protect her with my life.” He doesn’t say anything else and heads inside. I look through the window one more time, seeing her laughing with Grandma Silvia.
Joker nods his head, and we both turn around and head for the cafe. “I know you kept what happened when going after Ian last night from Scarlett, so I know it must have been bad, so just tell me.”
We stop outside the cafe, and Joker runs his hands through his hair in frustration. “We found out where he was staying, but by the time we got there, he was gone. But he left a nice gift for us. The group he was running with was all dead. I’m telling you, man, he has well and truly lost it. He took them all out, so I know he has nothing left to lose. It was a goddamn massacre.”
I run my hands through my hair because this isn't good. “Fuck. We need to find this fucker. I know when Scarlett spaced out back there she felt something shift.” Blade walks out the cafe door, looking around on high alert.
“I take it Joker filled you in on what happened?”
“Ya he just did. This fucker needs to be put to ground.” I growl out my words, wishing he would just pop out right now so I can end this for her.
“I agree, brother, and he will. We will stay close since it’s Scarlett's first day back because I have a feeling he’s going to make his move and soon. I can feel it. So for now, we watch and wait.”
I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. “So what’s going on with Madison?”
“She told the girls one night that she thinks someone is breaking into her bakery. Shit being moved, stuff is missing. Hailey came to me and told me what’s been going on for the last month. So we are going to set up some better security.”
“Shit, it’s been going on for a month and she didn’t say anything?”
I look at Joker, and he’s got a pissed- off look on his face. “No, the crazy woman didn’t say anything. Saying she had everything handled. Anything could have fuckin happened to her.” With that, he storms inside, and I know he’s thinking about what happened to his sister all those years ago. I think that’s why he’s so fiercely protective of all the women in our lives. But that’s his story to tell.