AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nic dialed. “Hey, we’re behind you in the black SUV, so speed up and don’t worry.” He listened. “Yeah, babe, I’m fine. Not a scratch. Michael’s got a date with some tweezers, but overall, he’s okay too. Just get there. We’re with Trevor Mills; he’s FBI. He can take care of the cops.”
Mills grimaced and Sam shot him a glare. Warmth trickled down Michael’s cheek; he swiped at it. A needle of pain shot into his flesh and his hand came away red. Guess Nic hadn’t been joking about needing tweezers. Some of those shots must have shattered the wood siding near him and he’d caught a few splinters with his face. Lucky he’d still been wearing sunglasses or he could have damaged his eyes.
They followed Kim up the highway at a too slow eighty miles per hour, and turned on to the Rocking B Ranch Road, then into Wiz’s compound, the gates opening and closing around them. Once again, Tom stood behind a porch pillar, scanning the road and hillsides above with a scoped hunting rifle. Both vehicles pulled under the portico, and Nic tumbled out in his hurry to reach his girls, leaving the rifle in the car. He pulled Kim into an embrace, then crouched to hug both girls.
Michael picked up the AR-15, happy to have the security back in his hands. He moved behind the pillar at the other end of the porch to help Tom watch. Sam joined Nic and Kim, then led the family to the front door and inside. Mills stayed outside, glancing between it, the two of them guarding the area, and the surroundings.
After a minute, Tom raised his rifle and turned. “Let’s go, gentlemen.”
“You’re sure she wants me in there?” Mills motioned over his shoulder with his thumb. “I know she doesn’t think much of law enforcement.”
Tom frowned. “Now that’s not true, Mr. Mills. Wiz is just wary of it, and justifiably so. If you’re not here to cause problems, you won’t have any. Leave the pistols and threats holstered and you’ll be fine.” Tom smirked. “Probably.” He jerked his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”
Michael let Mills go first, watching his reaction to the unexpectedly small mudroom, which was remarkably similar to his initial response. Tom gave Mills the same speech he’d given Michael, and they entered the main house.
Deb was settling the kids into the seats in front of the TV with a tray of snacks and drinks. She shot a smile at him, then returned her attention to Sophia.
He’d never been jealous of his brother’s instant family before, but suddenly, he wished for a couple of blonde girls, or maybe a tow-headed little boy, all of whom looked like Deb, not him. He shook his stupid musings away and joined the adults seated around the long dining room table. Dreaming about things that would never happen wasn’t very useful, especially when they had real problems to face.
Sam sat at the head of the table, the rest of the adults joining her. Mills sat next to Michael.
Nic leaned forward and spoke to Sam. “Kim and Deb will join after they get a movie going.”
“Deb’s giving them the headphones, right?” Wiz tapped her ear.
Nic nodded. “Yep. They don’t need to hear this.” He waved his hand palm up across the table in front of him.
No, they didn’t. It was scary enough for the adults. Michael’s nightmares were sure to feature Deb, Kim and the kids tonight.
Chapter 18
After settling the kids with a movie, Deb led Kim toward the dining room table. As she walked, Kim turned in a circle. “This place is huge. And way too fancy for us.” She kept her voice low.
“Yeah, I know.” Deb bumped her shoulder against Kim’s. “But it’s also super safe. And Wiz is wonderful, even though she’ll seem pretty reserved.” She grimaced. “Maybe wary is a better term. But she’s been awesome.”
“Okay. Must be nice to have all this.”
“Staying in her guest house certainly isn’t a hardship.” Deb grinned, but remembering the reason they were there made her frown. Reaching the table, she sat next to Tom and Kim plopped down between her and Nic. Trevor sat across the table, next to Michael. Way too close to her and Sam.
Sam stood, her emerald green blouse and black pencil skirt perfect despite literally running for her life. “I’m calling this meeting of the Cupcake Woman Protection Society to order.”
Deb snort laughed. “You’re kidding me, right?”
Sam winked. “Nope. We had to call it something for the fund raiser. Something that wouldn’t get us sued for libel and catchy enough to get attention. But that’s not important. Getting shot at is important. Attacking people in the middle of Marcus is crazy. There are too many houses and people, even in the middle of the day.” She shuddered, seemingly lost for words.
Wiz spoke up. “Mills, I’m almost glad you’re here, because we can’t deal with that kind of collateral damage.”
Mills frowned. “None us can. But I’m not as helpful as you think. I’m not here officially. I’m on medical leave.”
Sam frowned, but with a tinge of concern. “For what?”
Deb matched her frown without the worry. Trevor was a rat and not worthy of a moment’s distress.
“Nothing critical. Don’t worry about it.” Mills waved her concern away.
Sam crossed her arms. “Whatever it is, it better not impact our safety.”
Wiz leaned forward, a crease forming between her brows. “None of that is true.” Mills stared back at Wiz, stone-faced.
