A shiver crawls down my spine. Something about the way he says it. It’s not protective, just flat, and makes me want to turn around and go back inside. But Violet and her friends seem to think it’s fine. It’s just a bar.
Wyatt comes tearing across the yard and barrels into my legs. “Lola! Wanna come play?”
I crouch down. “I’m just heading out for a little bit with my friend, but I won’t be long. As soon as I’m back, we can.”
He grins. “Okay! Have fun!” And darts off after Gary.
I nod to Beau. “See you.”
“Bye,” he replies, lighting another cigarette.
Violet opens the car door. “He’s intense. I can’t work out if he’s hot or not.”
I laugh. “I’m not sure he’s a big fan of me being with Hunter.”
Two out of three brothers on my side isn’t bad.
The further we drive, the less pretty the scenery gets. More concrete. Less sky. Less like home.
“Beau mentioned this part of town isn’t safe,” I say.
Luke shrugs. “It’s fine. You get some bad people here. Gangs and stuff, but they don’t usually cause problems outside of their own business. I’ll look after you two.”
Somehow, I’m not sure Luke has it in him to be the protector.
I check my phone. Nothing from Hunter. And I’m getting pissed off. He could communicate, just to ease my worries. Or not just up and leave me at a rodeo.
I press my face against the window and sigh. I need a cocktail or two.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
HUNTER
It took longerto get Jett fixed up than I anticipated. By the time I’d taken him home, hours had passed, and guilt hit me like a freight train.
Lola is going to be pissed, and I deserve every ounce of it. I need to communicate better when shit goes sideways. I’m not on my own anymore. Her feelings matter more than my own. I gotta do better by her if I want my firefly to stay. I’m already asking her to accept more than any other person would.
A dangerous life.
I check my phone. Two messages. The first one makes my chest hurt. The second one is more of a relief.
Love you. Be safe please.
Even pissed off, she’s still telling me to be safe. This woman.
I open the location tracker I put on her phone. Because, call me paranoid, I need my girl safe.
“Shit.” She’s in Red Creek. The one place I don’t want my wife. The town where my ex was murdered. The place I’m not allowed to go.
I head inside. “Daddy!” Wyatt shouts.
I scoop him up. “Have you had fun today, bud?”
He nods. “Yes! And Lola said when she’s home, she’s going to play in the yard with me.”
I ruffle his hair. “That’s awesome. I’m glad you like Lola, but it might be a bit late for that. So, how about first thing?”
“Yeah. She’s cool. Please make sure she stays, Daddy. Like forever. With that big wedding you promised.”