by Jess Bryant
The heat was running and she put her hands in front of the vent before even glancing at the driver’s seat, “Hey Ford.”
He gave a slight nod and then shifted and whipped a U-turn to get them going in the right direction.
It took a couple of miles for her to fully warm back up and even still, she shivered slightly. She figured that had more to do with what she was doing than with the weather though so she finally sat back in the seat and crossed her arms over her chest. Her driver hadn’t spoken a single word so she turned to take him in.
He looked just as big and imposing as always but oddly at ease driving the old car. In the faded black leather, one big hand on the shifter and a tattooed wrist thrown over the wheel, Ford looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen him. As if he were only out for a Sunday stroll instead of picking up a scared girl on the side of the road in the middle of the night for his gang-leader brother.
“Stop staring. It’s rude.”
Rachel’s lips quirked at the growl, “I can’t figure you out.”
“Maybe because I’m not a fuckin’ puzzle.” He shot her an annoyed look out of the corner of his eye, “You shouldn’t be here.”
“You just picked me up.” She snorted.
“Because I was told to, not…”
“And do you always do what you’re told?”
That earned her another growl though he otherwise ignored the comment, “Not because I think you’re doing the right thing.”
She blew out a long breath and stared out the window into the dark, “I think you’d probably do the exact same thing if you were in my spot.”
“And I think if that’s your logic, it proves my point. Word of advice, never emulate a Bomar. It’ll only get you into trouble. You’re making a mistake.”
“I need to prove myself to Remy.”
Ford’s semi-relaxed demeanor disappeared and he rubbed as his beard, “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do.” She argued.
“He already chose you. He loves you. He doesn’t want you involved in this family bullshit any more than he wants to be involved it. He got dragged into it because my brother is a bastard that believes keeping the family tied to him is the only way to keep us all together but Remy wants out, he needs out and he needs you safe if he has a shot in hell of having a worthwhile life.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow when the bearded Bomar boy fell silent. She’d been around him enough to know he was a man of few words. Remy liked and respected him though. He’d told her that Ford was the cousin he trusted most these days, not just for the truth but to have his back. She couldn’t help but wonder if that’s what Ford was trying to do now.
“You just called your twin a bastard.”
Ford snorted, “That’s all you got out of what I said? That parts not exactly news.”
“Yeah, but, you’re Lincoln’s twin.”
“So? We’re not the same person. We don’t agree on everything. We don’t even agree on…” He rubbed his beard again, “I can disagree with him in private and with family. But out there, in our world, he has to be seen as having no weaknesses, no dissent in the ranks. It’s the only way he can rule the way he does without someone trying to kill him. And I may not like Link every day of the week but he’s my other half so I’d prefer he didn’t end up six feet under anytime soon.”
“Wow.” Rachel grinned when he shot her another annoyed look, “You get talkative on late night car rides huh?”
Ford harrumphed so she didn’t tease him again.
She shifted slightly in her seat and thought about the way things worked in the Bomar family. They were so tight-knit, even with all their differences and all their problems. Any one of them would lay down their life for the others. Remy wanted to be free of the organization, sure, but he hadn’t said a word about leaving behind his family.
He worked with Colt. He doted on Cash. He teased Bentley whenever he stopped by the salon. He’d been worried about Royce when she told him his cousin hung out with her brother. He looked up to Ford. He seemed to hate Lincoln but he still deferred to him in public.
They were family and family stood up for each other. They chose each other. Even when the choice might look like a mistake to an outsider, as long as they had each other at the end of the day then they would be okay.
If she wanted to be part of that family, she had to do this. She had to choose her place beside them all. Not just Remy.
That night in the barn when she’d been trying to steel her spine and be strong, she’d told herself she needed to be more like Skylar. Smart. Independent. Fearless. Skylar had put it all on the line to save Colt. That had earned her a distinguished place within the family, an honored place. It was fairly well known that Skylar had stood up to Lincoln and won. If Rachel was going to be a Bomar, and she hoped that Remy wanted that as much as she did, then she had to earn her place too.
The car pulled to a stop a couple of minutes later and Ford got out. Rachel squinted, looking around, trying to figure out where they were. She hadn’t asked where they were going. For some reason, she’d thought it would be the barn. Wasn’t that where Lincoln did his business? But when she stepped out of the car, she almost stopped breathing.
“What are we doing here?”
“This is where I was told to bring you.” Ford motioned her ahead, “After you.”
Rachel winced but forced her feet to move. She couldn’t run away. Not now. It was too late for that. As she walked up the one small step onto the front porch, she wished she’d stayed in bed with Remy. Warm and safe. Because she had a feeling whatever was waiting on the other side of this door, it wouldn’t be either.
The door to Colt and Skylar’s apartment opened before she could knock and she bit her lip as her best friend stared at her for a long moment. Skylar looked tired but she figured that was to be expected at this hour. Besides, just a day ago they’d all been out late celebrating Cash and Jemma. Skylar’s blonde hair was twisted up into a messy bun and she was wearing a faded old sweatshirt that looked suspiciously like it was Colt’s with a pair of cute polka-dot sleep shorts. Rachel opened her mouth to say hello and was swallowed in a hug.
“Oh.” Her breath expelled in a rush because Skylar hugged her so tight but when she regained her footing she raised her arms and returned the squeeze.
“You should’ve told us.”
Rachel instantly cringed and tried to step away but Skylar only tightened her hold.
“You could’ve told us. That’s what I meant. We love you. Well, I love you. Colt doesn’t use that word quite so freely but we love you and we support you and…” Skylar’s hurried words gasped to a stop suddenly as she released Rachel and looked over her shoulder, “Oh, hi Ford.”
“Skylar.” The bearded Bomar scuffed his boot against the ground and stared at his feet.
Interesting. Rachel looked between the two. Her friend wagged her eyebrows playfully but as she was going to ask what that look was all about, and why the hell Ford Bomar looked like he was blushing, a rough voice yelled from inside the apartment.
“Damnit Sky, get inside. You’re half-dressed and it’s freezing outside.”
“Coming.” Skylar chirped, taking Rachel’s hand and dragging her inside after her. “Come on in Ford. Make yourself at home.”
Colt’s eyes narrowed on his girlfriend at that, “Not too at home.”
“What?” Skylar asked innocently.
“Nothing.” Colt answered with an amused sigh, patting his knee so that Skylar rushed over and sat in his lap.
The two kissed and Rachel felt an answering pang in her chest. It was a feeling she’d had a lot since her friend had hooked up with the tattooed twin but for once, it wasn’t envy. It was loneliness. She wanted Remy here with her and she wished, not for the first time since she left his bed, that she’d never left it at all.
“Could you two take a breather for a minute or two so we can get through this?” An annoyed voice chimed in and Rachel wheeled to find Lincoln le
aning against the counter in the kitchen.
Logically, she’d known he was here. He was the one she’d called. He’d sent Ford to come get her and he’d told Ford to bring her here. She’d known he was here but somehow, she’d forgotten. Looking at him now, she was certain not many people could ever say that about Lincoln Bomar.
Where his twin was rough, Lincoln was smooth. Clean-shaven with shortly trimmed hair, he was the complete opposite of Ford’s wild locks and beard. But they still looked alike. Beneath the surface differences they had the same build, tall and muscular, and those same sea-glass colored eyes. But where Ford’s had looked at her with soft understanding in the car earlier, Lincoln’s only looked at her with mild curiosity and barely restrained disdain.
“You’re the one that knocked on our door, Link. Not the other way around.” Colt kissed his girlfriend one more time before looking between them all, “You can tell us what this is all about now. You said we were waiting for someone. I had no idea you meant Rachel but now that she’s here I’ve got to ask… where’s my brother?”
Lincoln raised an eyebrow and then looked directly at Rachel. She frowned at him. Clearly Colt had meant the question for him but he wanted her to answer it. Fine. She’d have to find her voice with these men sooner or later.
“He’s at home. In bed. At least he was when I left.”
Skylar raised a skeptical eyebrow, “You left Remy sleeping to come here?”
“Yes.”
“Why?” Colt’s brows furrowed as he looked between all of them, “Lincoln told us that Craig is the traitor. He’s the one responsible for all the shit that’s been happening to the family. Does Remy not know?”
“He does.” Rachel swallowed hard and sighed, “He found out this morning.”
“But he’s not here to come up with a plan with us?”
“No. He uh… he didn’t want me to help Lincoln get to Craig.”
Colt cursed. Skylar hushed him. The two of them talked to each other quietly for a moment and Rachel twisted her hands together nervously. Ford was still standing awkwardly in the doorway with it wide open behind him. She thought that was strange considering the chill in the air but didn’t say anything because she couldn’t imagine him shutting the door and enclosing her in this stifling atmosphere. Lincoln leaned against the kitchen counter, completely unmoved by anything that was going on.
Finally he pushed to his full height and sighed, “Okay, you’ve had a second to deal with the fact that Remy doesn’t want the girl to be part of this. That’s his choice. Luckily for us, this choice is hers to make, not his.”
“Now, wait just a second…” Colt started and then gave Skylar a quelling look when she started to speak, “If Remy doesn’t want her to be part of this, maybe she shouldn’t be. I wouldn’t want Sky to…”
“We all know what you wouldn’t want Sky to do but she did it anyway and she got you out.” Lincoln cut him off with a snort, “She made her own decision and this one is Rachel’s to make.”
She sucked in a shaky breath, “It’s my choice to make and I’ve made it. I’m helping do this.”
“Rachel…” Skylar started but she shook her head and cut her off too.
“No. You can’t talk me out of this. If anyone could have it would’ve been Remy. I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want to hurt any of you. I think… I think my family has done that to yours enough. So if I can help, if I can do this one thing and guarantee that nobody will get attacked like Colt was again, I have do it. Please, can you trust me that I can handle this? Please?”
She bit her lip as her best friend stared at her for another long minute. She always hated when Skylar did that. As if the other woman could see inside her head to all of the doubts and fears she’d never given voice to. Finally, the blonde nodded and Rachel let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.
“I can do this.”
“I know you can.” A familiar voice came from the doorway and Rachel gasped and spun around.
Standing directly behind Ford was Remy. She had no idea how long he’d been standing there but now it made sense why the bearded Bomar boy had left the door open. He’d known they were expecting another guest. She swallowed hard and then shot him a glare.
“You called him?”
“Before I even picked you up.” Ford shrugged, completely unfazed by her death stare, “He deserved to know what you were doing. Even if it’s not his choice, he deserved to know.”
She couldn’t fault him for that, she supposed. She returned her gaze to Remy as he stalked forward into the apartment. He looked slightly sleep-rumpled and fully annoyed. His lips were thin and his jaw was hard. His fists were clenched and she could feel the tension pouring off of him.
“You left me.”
“I was coming back.”
“You left me sleeping, to come here and do this. To put yourself in danger.” His jaw flexed as he grit his teeth, “Damnit baby, I woke up and you were gone and I thought…”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t you ever leave me like that again. Do you hear me?”
She nodded and he cupped her cheeks, kissing her gently. She kissed him back but when normally he would have deepened the kiss, he pulled back. He dropped his forehead against hers and she saw the softness in his eyes even though the rest of his body was still hard.
“I know you can do this and clearly you’re going to do it with or without my blessing so I’m here to support you. You’re not going in there without me. I’ve got your back, baby. I’ll always have your back.”
Tears welled in her eyes again and she nodded quickly, “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I love you.”
“Thank you for believing in me and for coming after me. Nobody’s ever cared that much about me before.”
“Well you have people that do care now so remember that before you do anything stupid like running away in the middle of the night, okay?”
“Okay.” She smiled softly.
Remy kissed her forehead and then pulled her against him. She hugged him tight and that pang of loneliness in her chest subsided. He was here, with her, supporting her. They were going to be okay.
“Now that we’re all here.” Lincoln spoke up, “Let’s get started.”
Rachel wiped at her cheek and turned in Remy’s arms to look at his cousin, “You were waiting for him? You knew he was coming?”
Lincoln smiled, the same all-knowing, the world is at my feet smile that was specifically designed to show off just how smart and charming he was. It was the smile that said, he knew everything. Always. About everyone. But she didn’t think he’d known Remy was coming no matter what he or his cocky smile said. She snuck a glance at Ford, who rolled his eyes, and she swallowed a knowing smile of her own.
This was her family now.
Chapter Eighteen
Earlier, when they all talked through the plan, it had seemed simple. Easy even. Make a phone call. Tell Craig she was home and they needed to talk. Wait for him to arrive. The boys would be waiting outside and once he was here, they’d take care of him. Easy.
Only, as the phone rang in her ear again and again and again, her hands had started to shake and the doubts and fears had worked their way back in.
What if she couldn’t do this? What if Craig didn’t pick up? What if he didn’t come home? Would they blame her if the plan didn’t work?
Voicemail picked up after the fourth ring and she tried to steady her breathing. It was a basic setup. One step above a burner phone. The automated voice said she’d connected with the right number and then a moment later the beep came.
“Uh… Craig?” Her voice was a whisper and she cleared her throat, “Craig, it’s Ra-Ra-Rachel. I need to talk to you. P-please.” She swallowed hard, “Something happened and… I’m home. Things with R-Remy, they’re over and I need your help. I… I’m home. Where are you? Come home. Please.”
She hung up and dropped her head into her hands. That h
ad been quite possibly the worst voicemail message ever. She blew out another unsteady breath and wondered if her brother was screening his calls. Not that she was necessarily surprised that he hadn’t picked up for her. She doubted he even had her number saved. But if he wasn’t answering his phone, she was left to wonder just where he was and what he was doing.
He’d certainly been in the trailer recently.
She looked around and scowled at the mess. On its best day, when she’d been living here and cleaning every chance she got, it had still been dingy and dirty. The trailer showed its age and the wear of its indifferent occupants. But in the time since she’d left, it had gone from simply worn to dirty to disgusting.
There was trash overflowing from the can in the corner. Piles of take-out food wrappers littered the floor and coffee table. Empty beer bottles covered most of the hard surfaces and mostly empty liquor bottles were tossed about haphazardly as well. There was a new stain on the sofa that she was fairly certain was vomit but she hadn’t gone close enough to find out for sure. The entire trailer smelled of it and her stomach turned with the urge to throw up. The pile of dishes in the sink was strange since Craig couldn’t cook to save his own life but she also hadn’t gone close enough to inspect them because a bug had crawled out of there earlier and she thought she was going to hurl.
They’d never lived like this before but she saw now that was only because she’d refused to let them. She had cooked. She had cleaned. She had taken care of the trailer because it was her mothers, because it was hers, or it should have been. And she’d tried to take care of Craig too but clearly that had been as wasted an effort as keeping this run-down trailer clean.
Her phone beeped and she jumped half a foot into the air. She gave a shaky laugh and then looked around the trailer. Still alone, she shook her head at her stupidity. It was just a phone. It couldn’t hurt her.
She raised it and smiled at the text message from Remy.
