Hold On

I put my hands on my hips and snapped, “You hung up on me.”


I held my ground even as he got toe to toe to me, bowed his back, and put his mug right into mine.

“You did not hear whatever you heard from your neighbors,” he growled.

My blood ran cold.

“And from here on out, woman, you do not even fuckin’ look in the direction of that house. It does not exist for you. The people in it do not exist for you. You don’t let your boy anywhere near that house or the people in it. Are you hearing me?”

Jesus, what was going on?

“Ryker—”

He got closer and his nose brushed mine when he barked, “Are you hearing me?”

“I’m hearing you, brother. Stand down.”

He didn’t stand down, but he did edge his face away half an inch.

“And you don’t mention that shit to anyone, Cher. Not a fuckin’ soul. Not Colt. Not Sully. Not pillow talk with Merry.”

At the pillow talk comment, I screwed up my eyes at him. “Back off, Ryker. Now.”

“I’m tellin’ you ’cause you’re one of the ten people I actually like in this world, do not say a motherfucking word.”

“What’s going on?” I asked sharply.

“That’s not for you to know. You’re smart, sister. Stay smart, keep yourself to yourself, and your mouth shut.”

“Jesus, Ryker, okay,” I replied.

He scowled at me and I endured it, not happy at all with this turn of events.

Finally, he moved away, heading toward the door.

He stopped at it, hand on the handle, and turned back to me.

“Just so you know, we got you covered. Tanner briefed me. I’m all over the church lady,” he shared.

My body locked in order to battle the sudden burn engulfing it.

His mood shifted and he grinned his maniacal grin.

“And just to weigh in, I’m feelin’ all rosy, Merrick finally got his head screwed on straight and turned his eye to a decent woman worth his attention. Lissa’s beside herself. She’s been sayin’ for years, he just shook off the ghost of that bitch, he’d see what’s in front of his face. Good he finally took off the blinders that stupid twat locked on and looked. But this ‘one-time thing’ is fucked up, sister. Advice? Hook that boy. Sink those claws in deep.”

And with that, he lifted a long-fingered, veined, humongous hand, gave me a salute, and disappeared behind the door.

His last declaration was lost on me.

The one before it had all my attention.

Tanner briefed me. I’m all over the church lady.

Tanner briefed me…

Tanner…

Merry had shared. Merry had promised right to my face he wouldn’t tell a soul, and he’d shared. He’d told Tanner. Tanner had enlisted Ryker. Now they all knew and they were all up in my shit.

With intent, not allowing myself a moment to think better of it, I reached back and yanked out my phone.

I was shaking, I was so pissed, but I still managed to fire it up and get to my texts.

I found Merry, my last text to him hovering unanswered on the string.

Using both my thumbs, they flew over the screen.

Talked to Ryker. He’s been briefed by Tanner. He’s all over the church lady.

I was so pissed, I hit send before I was done.

That means you broke your promise to me. Right to my face, you promised. You lied.

I hit send again, even though I was still far from done.

You know what that means, Merry. You shared my shit. That means we’re over in every way we can be over.

I hit send right when my phone started ringing.

I declined the call and finished up.

DONE, I typed and sent, my phone telling me that Merry was calling again. I declined that too.

Then I went in and blocked a second number that day.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and, with wooden movements, walked on my spike heels around the bar.

The door opened and our first customer came in.

That meant I did one of the few things I was really good at doing.

I hid the shit of my life, burying it down deep, plastered a cocky smile on my face, and called out a greeting.

*

Garrett