by J. L. Drake
“Not at all.” Oliver steered Kelly inside. “Come on in once you’re done. It’s much too cold to be out here for long.”
I smiled at his warmth before I answered the call.
“Sloane Harlow.”
“Why aren’t you home?”
Just like that, a frost layered my insides.
“I told you I was working on another case—”
“And I told you we weren’t finished yet.”
“Henry,” I pinched the bridge of my nose to stop the headache that wanted to come on, “let’s look at this another way. I lost your case, so why would you want me to re-open something if I did a bad job in the beginning?”
“I know you have connections, Sloane.” His voice changed to a more serious tone. “I know your father can make things happen with one phone call.”
“How do you know my father?” We went by different last names on purpose. It just made things easier.
“I know a lot about you, Sloane.”
“Well,” I lifted my hands, finished with this, “if you’re so good at finding out information, why don’t you call him yourself?”
“You will do it.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Sloane,” again his voice was laced with a sharp undertone, “remember what Ken Wind did to that girl at the bar?”
I froze on the spot and let the notes from Henry’s case flip through my head like the pages of a book. It stopped when it came to the photo of the girl flung into a field like she was nothing more than a burger wrapper. She had been beaten and raped for witnessing a meeting between two of the head mob bosses. Though he went to prison for it, he got out on bail and was never seen again.
“I take it from your silence you remember.” He seemed amused. “We are not your normal gang-banger clients, sweetheart. We are organized, methodical, so why don’t you get your sexy little ass back to Washington so we can finish what you started?”
“The judge signed off on the case, Henry.” I repeated the usual response Frank coached me to use. “Neither my father nor I can get you your guys back. I didn’t do those crimes, I didn’t kill those people, I didn’t lose your son’s case. You did. Until you can see that, I can’t speak to you. Don’t call me again.” I hung up and sucked in a huge, deep breath of cold air.
“Everything all right?” John asked from behind me. I jumped and nearly had a heart attack.
“Yeah…yes, just work.”
He studied me for a moment before he looked up at the sky. “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Sure.”
“I need to help out my parents tomorrow early in the morning for Ellie’s appointment—”
“I can drive back.” I cut him off, trying to give him an out before it got even more awkward.
He studied me for a moment. “I’d lose my job, so that’s not an option.” He stepped closer. “Do you mind if we spent the night? I can drive you back right after we drop them off.”
“Oh.” I glanced around at the huge property, wondering if I was even welcome. I knew I was now an inconvenience. His shoulders were tense with discomfort. “Of course. Let me know if I can do anything to help.”
“Thanks.” He shrugged and motioned for me to follow him inside.
Chapter Seven
John
I felt bad for Sloane. I could tell she felt our discomfort with the situation, and that wasn’t on her, that was on us. My life wasn’t easy anymore. A lot rode on my shoulders, and the guilt ran bone deep.
Despite her protest of not wanting anything to eat, she did join us at the table while Dad and I ate. She helped us through the uncomfortable silence that usually settled on the room as we ate by asking questions about the farm.
“Mostly cattle, organic wheat, and some of the best eggs Redstone has ever seen.” My pops spoke proudly, and my mother eyed me as we both thought the same thing. He was finally chatting.
“Sounds like a lot of work,” Sloane sipped her water, “but a lot of reward.”
“It is.” Pops nodded in agreement. “A dream does not become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination, and—”
“Hard work,” she finished for him, and he eyed her curiously. “Colin Powell,” she added.
“That’s right.” He glanced in my direction like he was trying to figure her out. “Do you get out of the courtroom much, Sloane?”
“Only when I’ve made someone mad.” She chuckled darkly, but I could tell something was bothering her.
“Do you horseback ride?”
“When I was a child, I did take lessons, yes.”
“Maybe sometime you and John could take a ride and see the property.”
“You should take her to the lake.” Ellie appeared at the doorway, and the mood shifted back to reality. My hand went out to ease Tripper, who wanted to greet her but knew better. She just couldn’t retain who he was. “We were there last week, and we found these pretty dark pebbles that shine when they’re wet.”
I glanced at Mom for help. “Oh, Ellie, are you hungry? You said you didn’t want any supper.” She began to stand when Sloane spoke up.
“How many did you find?”
My sister held out her hand and thought. “Six, I think.”
“Six? Wow, maybe you could show me sometime?”
Ellie’s face broke into a smile that made my stomach twist with happiness, but it was quickly replaced with a jolt of pain. She didn’t have the rocks anymore because that was almost fifteen years ago.
Mom got up and walked Ellie to the living room, and Sloane went back to the conversation like my thirty-two-year-old twin sister didn’t just come into the room after the world’s worst meltdown.
“Oliver, you’ll have to share your secret about your creamer. I’ve never tasted coffee so creamy before.”
And just like that, my father slipped back into talking, and when my mom returned, her face showing her usual strain, she was pleased to join in the conversation. It had been years since I’d brought anyone over. We weren’t like the Irons, Keith, or Logan families. We had “hidden” stress that I didn’t want to project on anyone else.
Later that night when Mom went to bed and Sloane and Pops were hanging out in the living room, I escaped outside, just needing a minute to clear my head. I found myself gravitating to the barn. I climbed the steps, flipping on the twinkle lights and special heat lamp that was safe to have near the hay, and I scooped up Doug, my favorite rooster. We both sat on the edge, and I let my legs dangle over the side. Using my phone, I played Brothers Osborne over the speakers in each corner of the room.
“How are the ladies?” I rubbed Doug’s head, and he prattled some chicken noise. “That so? Maybe you should tell her how you feel?” He pecked my hand. “Calling the kettle black, hey?” I joked at my own expense. “It’s complicated.” I defended myself and leaned my head back to rest on the frame. “There’s so many complications in my life that I’m not even sure where to begin.” Doug clucked a few times before he settled on my lap and nestled into his feathers. It was freezing tonight, and the dark clouds tried to hide the moon. Weather was coming.
“Man, that’s a long way up.” Sloane came into view and brushed her hands free of dirt. “Your pops ratted you out.” She grinned when she spotted Doug. “You really are a country boy.”
“Well, seeing that you stole my dog…” I smirked.
“Not my fault. He’s a giant flirt.”
Can’t blame him.
“This place is pretty amazing.” She looked around with her arms wrapped around her midsection.
“Look, Sloane, I’m—” I wanted to address the elephant in the room, but she cut me off.
“I really like Oliver.” Her face changed with a softness that made the rest of the words fade away. “He’s very proud of all that he’s done, and the two of you. He told me about the wagon rides he used to do for the town. That must have been fun.”
“He told you about that?” Who was that man down in the house?
&nbs
p; “He told me a lot.” She sat down opposite me and stretched out like I was, so her feet were near mine. I loved how at ease she was. “You just have to ask.”
“You asked about my childhood?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” She seemed genuinely surprised that I’d question her interest. “I shared that I have a brother moving to North Dakota and how much I’m going to miss him and my three nephews.”
“But don’t you have my entire life sitting on your conference table back at Shadows?” I muttered darkly and felt my walls twitch to shoot up. She rubbed the side of her leg before she moved her gaze out to the night sky. “You dig up dirt for a living, so you tell me what my life looks like.”
Annoyance flickered on her face. “The file they have on you and Blackstone doesn’t share the little moments you’ve had as kids, those moments that have molded you to who you are today. To me, those are the moments that count, not that you are some Green Beret who most likely was a Delta at some point.” My face dropped at the word Delta. It was a no-go line she had just crossed. She pulled at her sleeve. “Please don’t toss darts at my career, John.”
I felt the unfairness of what I said and reminded myself she’d been vetted already. I was confused where this conversation was going and why she hadn’t brought up Ellie. I found myself wanting to get angry at her. I didn’t deserve her interest.
“I’m not stupid and know a lot more about the Army and what’s going on in your life than you think.”
“I highly doubt that.” I hated that I was being a dick. I truly didn’t want to be, but she brought up feelings I didn’t want to have surface.
She moved to her feet and shook her head. “Sorry I bothered you.”
Everything inside me told me to call her back, but the words wouldn’t come. I turned away and closed my eyes and tuned in to the sound of her feet as they descended the ladder.
I woke to Doug burrowing into my sweater, and pieces of hay were stuck to the side of my face. I had fallen asleep in the barn again, something that used to happen all the time when Ellie and I were younger. I rolled my wrist and caught sight of the time.
Shit!
I jumped to my feet and slid down the ladder and landed with a heavy thud. I raced across the property and into the kitchen, where I came to a stop.
“Where’s the fire, little bro?” Ellie called out with a plate full of pancakes. She was dressed and had her shoes on.
“We’re the same age,” I reminded her and spotted Sloane and my mother over the stove.
“Then why did I slip out first?” she joked, and my mouth dropped open. Ellie hadn’t cracked a joke in years.
“Nice.” I playfully scowled but still was beyond confused on what was happening. Normally at this point, Ellie would be in a fit of rage, ready to hurt anyone who came close. “Pops?” I questioned him when he opened the door from the living room.
“Sloane wanted to help.” He was just as shocked as I was at what was happening. He sniffed the OJ like it might be laced with something.
“Here you go.” Sloane sat a pile of blueberry pancakes in front of him. “Kelly said they’re your favorite.”
“They are.” He glanced at me, still concerned. “Thank you.”
“Okay, Ellie, we made a deal.” She addressed my sister. “I’m finished. Are you?”
“Almost.” She took three more bites before she pushed the plate away.
“Can you bring your plate over here?” Sloane patted the counter, and to my utter surprise, Ellie hopped up and did what she asked. “Thanks!” She grinned like she was talking to anyone else. “You good?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Let’s go.”
My mother slowly turned to peek over her shoulder at me as the girls left the kitchen.
“What the hell is happening?”
“Don’t question a good thing.” Dad shoved a forkful into his mouth.
After a quick shower, I heard voices outside and pulled the curtain back to find Sloane and Ellie out by the car. Sloane was explaining the car to her and where they were going.
I slid my watch back over my wrist as I headed downstairs and outside, but not before I noticed both my parents were in the same room. They weren’t talking, but they were both in the same room. The fact that Pops didn’t immediately run outside and my mother wasn’t already in tears was…strange.
Once Sloane spotted me, she helped Ellie in the back and slipped into the front seat. During the drive into town Ellie told stories, and the few times she got nervous, Sloane steered the conversation in a different direction. I zoned out, wondering what the hell was happening with the North Rock situation. It has been entirely too quiet, and we should have been sent back to Mexico days ago. It was hard having your head split in two different halves, home and work.
The waiting room had a fish tank, which entertained Ellie while I checked my email. Three calls came in on Sloane’s phone, and I noticed each time she would decline the call.
“Ellie Black,” the nurse called, and Ellie looked at me in sudden panic.
“Just like we spoke about.” Sloane pulled Ellie’s attention to her and used a calm voice as she reached out and helped Ellie walk toward the nurse.
“I’m scared, John.”
“Don’t be.” I forced myself to allow Sloane to take the lead as we moved into a secondary room.
“What-what are we doing here?” She started to panic, and Sloane asked to speak to the nurse outside the room. “I don’t like this room, John.” Tears broke her dam, and she ran to me. I was ready for another epic battle.
Shit, sometimes I was just too tired for the fight. Again, guilt and pain smacked me across the face like a heartless bitch.
“I know it’s scary, but I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
She curled into a ball on the chair, and I wanted to hug her and make all the panic go away, but I knew that wouldn’t help. Nothing seemed to help.
“Hey, Ellie, check this out!” Sloane came in with energy, and I sagged into the chair. I had nothing left.
“Okay,” she sat next to Ellie with her phone and showed her some pictures, “this is where they’re going to take you. See this room right here?” She swiped the phone and pointed to something. “You’ll lie down, and then they’ll take pictures of your head. Just to see what’s going on in there.”
“Because of the accident.” She sniffed like she was following.
“Right, to make sure everything is still okay.”
“If I’m not?” she challenged.
“Do you feel okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you’re okay.”
The nurse came in, and Sloane handed Ellie the phone. “Follow the pictures, and you’ll know what’s going on.”
“’Kay.” She nodded once before she looked at me and left. No screaming, no fights, just left.
I wanted to talk to Sloane to ask her how the hell she knew to do all this stuff, but my phone rang.
“Black,” I answered sharply.
“You planning on coming to California, or did you get what you needed from our last phone call?” Trigger’s voice boomed through the speaker.
“Been a rough couple of weeks, man, but if that’s all Brick was doing in Mexico, I think we’re good.”
“Well, I got something for ya. I tried calling Irons, but he’s busy with shit, so I’m bringing it to you.”
“All right.”
“Cray heard that a cartel had one of your radios. Said it had orange triangle buttons.”
I felt my stomach twist.
“They must have poached it from the kid.”
“Any way they can find your channel?”
“There’s no way, and we talk in code.”
There was a long stretch of silence.
“What?” I asked.
“Don’t know, man. Something feels off.”
“It has from the very start,” I agreed, but I also knew
Trigger was extra sensitive since he’d found a mole within his club.
“Any chance you have a—”
“No.” I cut him off.
“How do you know?”
“Call it gut intuition.” We learned our lesson with York.
“I’ll keep my ears open, then.”
“I appreciate you doing that.”
“Yeah.” The line went dead, and I turned to find the room empty.
Ellie returned ten minutes later, and she seemed okay. We found Sloane out in the waiting room. She stood when she spotted Ellie.
“Here.” My sister handed her the phone. “Grant called three times.”
Sloane’s face fell as she tucked her phone away. Who was Grant?
After we dropped my sister off at home and said our goodbyes, we picked up Tripper and headed back to Shadows.
Sloane was quiet and stared out the window while Tripper rested his head on her shoulder from behind. He must have sensed her mood was off. Just as we passed the last checkpoint, I slowed the car to park.
“Thank you,” I whispered, “for your help.”
“Sure.” She kept her eyes away from mine as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Look, I don’t discuss my personal life with the guys, so I’d—”
“So why would I?” She grabbed her things from the trunk and headed down toward her cabin with the fucking traitor right on her heels.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I really wasn’t good with anyone anymore.
I needed some sleep.
Three hours later, the click of the radios and squeaky voices woke me from a restless sleep. Liam was in my closet shouting codes to his brother in the middle of an epic battle.
I groaned and covered my head with my pillow, but the sound of my phone pulled me from my desperate need for sleep.
Cole: Conference room, now.
John: Be there in 5.
With a quick shower and a swipe at my teeth, I hurried down the stairs to find the men at the conference room table. Coffee and pastries lured me to the plate on the side. As I sipped the brew, I tuned in to their vibe and realized something was up.
Cole cleared his throat and tapped a button on the computer, which sent a photo to the big screen behind him.
