“What are you doing here?” I askedHenry, ignoring Cole.
“If this asshole would let me in I’dtell you,” Henry replied irritably.
“Cole, let him in, it’s okay,” I saidsoftly. Henry had always been good to me and I believed he’d been loyal to myfather. Despite everything that had happened, I trusted him.
He’d always been a large man. He wasas tall as Cole but much heavier around the middle than I remembered. Years ofbeer drinking had finally caught up with him from the looks of it. I wassurprised to see that his brown beard now had flecks of gray. They weresprinkled in his long hair as well, which was tied back in his ever-presentponytail. He definitely looked older and a bit tired, and I wondered if thestress of losing my dad accounted for most of that.
Cole swore under his breath and pulledthe door open to let Henry in. I went over and gave Henry a hug, feelingnostalgic for one of the few comforts I’d had of home. He embraced me tightly.
“Hi, Rosie,” he said, tenderly usingthe nickname he and my father had always called me.
“Hi Henry,” I smiled, feeling tearsfill my eyes. “Good to see you,” I whispered thickly.
“Wish it was under better circumstances,”he muttered as we broke apart.
“And what would those circumstancesbe?” Cole interrupted, standing behind me, a formidable presence with his armscrossed over his bare chest.
“I came to talk to Rosie. Do us afavor son and give us some privacy,” Henry requested.
I winced, knowing Cole wouldn’t taketoo kindly to being called “son.” But that was just Henry. He didn’t meananything by it.
“Henry, Cole’s my man,” I explained.“He takes good care of me. Anything you have to say to me you can say in frontof him,” I assured him as I sat on the couch and encouraged Henry to do thesame. “I trust him Henry,” I emphasized when he still seemed unsure.
He blew out a frustrated breath.“Fine. Didn’t think I’d be divulging anything of consequence in front of noKnight, but it’s crazy days,” he muttered.
I looked at him expectantly ready forhim to begin, feeling assured by Cole’s presence at my back.
“I know things with the Sinners wentto shit a while ago, you had a good sense for that and didn’t delay in gettingoutta there,” he began. “I hope you know I was always loyal to your father andto you.”
“I do,” I said.
“I never knew for sure who killed Ray,but I suspected the same thing we all did. Jake was always a bad apple. Him andthat fucking Victor Cross,” he swore. “I know you’ve always watched your backhoney, but Jake is on a fucking tear. We voted him out asPreza while back. He was a fucked up leader, never did the job right. He’s somehowconvinced that if he can get you back that he’ll improve his position. I thinkthat mother fucker has lost his god damned mind.”
I sucked in my breath at this news.
“And I know that he’s gotten wind thatyou’ve set up with the Knights. He’s already made moves against the club,”Henry stated, his eyes shifting to Cole’s. “The combination honey, it’s notgood,” he said, blowing out a breath.
Cole grasped the back of my neck andsqueezed. “He’s not going to touch a single fucking hair on your head,” he swore.
Henry sighed, looking tired. “HonestlyI don’t know what he’ll do. But I came to warn you. I was worried,” headmitted. “All I know is that you need to be careful--as in way fuckingcareful.” Then he turned his eyes to Cole. “The moves being made against theKnights don’t speak for my club. I need you to know that. I’d like a meet withyour pop,” he requested. “Clearly, we’ve got a few outliers that need to bedealt with,” he bit out angrily. The club as a whole still wants to maintainthe partnership we’ve had for the past twenty years.”
“I’ll set it up,” Cole agreed, his handon my shoulder.
“I appreciate you looking out for ourgirl. Something we should have been doing, things just got fucked up,” he said,his tone laced with guilt.
Cole simply nodded. “Appreciate theheads up.”
Henry rose to stand and I stood withhim. “I’ll be in town for a few more days, you call me if you need me okay?” heasked me.
I nodded.
“You’re a good girl Rosie, you alwayswere,” he said quietly, his expression tender and fatherly. “I want you safe.”
“I will be,” I assured him, though Iwasn’t at all sure if that was true.
“It’s taken care of,” Cole assuredhim. “I’ll be in touch,” he added.
Henry nodded and headed for the doorwith a parting flick of the wrist. A gesture I hadn’t seen in eight years. Itwas so simple, and yet, it made my heart clench.