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“That’s not enough time,” their mom complained.
Abby had been thrilled they were back together, but shethought they needed more time. Not for the relationship but for the massivewedding she was planning.
He wanted Nicole to wear their ring, to have the name they’dall agreed on.
“So you’re meeting with her this afternoon?” Grim wanted thetimeline.
“Yes,” Roman explained. “She’s going to give us the tape,and we’re handing over the cash your father wired. We bought her plane ticket.She’ll be in the air before her husband knows what’s happened. We originallyplanned this meeting for next week, but she bumped up the timetable. I thinkshe’s worried for her safety.”
“She should be. Ted’s already proven he can be ruthless,”Nicole said.
“We’re going to catch a plane and meet her early thisafternoon.” Kim checked her watch. “I hope to have something for you by thisevening.”
“We’ll be waiting,” Josh said with a nod, but there was atightness to his best friend that let Grim know he was still worried.
Grim was as well, but then he would be until the minute TedHolloway was locked away.
“Can someone go out to the motel and pick up my stuff?” Kimasked. “I paid through the end of this week, but I don’t think I need to flyback out there.”
Harlow held up a hand. “I can grab it when I go into town ifsomeone has a key.”
“I do,” Nicole acknowledged. “And I’d like to grab mythings, too. I left a lot of my stuff in Kim’s room because… Well, I got alittle freaked out one night.”
“Yes, that motel is not known for its safety record,” Dadmanaged to say with a frown. “A lot of criminal activity goes on there.Harlow…”
Harlow groaned. “Uncle Jack, I get enough of this crap from my dads. I assure you I can handle walking into a motel inthe light of day and getting all Kim’s stuff packed up.”
Dad’s hands came up in acknowledgment. “Sorry. I’m overlyprotective.”
“And I was paranoid,” Nicole said. “I felt like someone waswatching me all the time.”
Roman cleared his throat. “Uhm…”
Nicole laughed suddenly. “Of course. It was your mom.”
“Hey, I’m excellent at my job,” Kim assured them. “I blendinto the background.”
There was another masculine snort, and this time a bigmuscular man wearing a T-shirt and jeans walked in front of the camera. He bentover and kissed his wife’s head. “You, my love, always stand out.”
She winked her husband’s way. “All I’m saying is I’m not theone who freaked Nic out that night. It was probably the meth dealer two doorsdown. Or one of the drunks. They don’t always remember where their rooms are.But I think it’s safe enough to send someone to pick up my stuff. This shouldall be done in a couple of hours. I’ll contact you when I have the footage inhand.”
Kim gave them a wave and a smile and then she was gone.
Nicole sat back, her hand on Buddy’s fur. “I can’t believeit’s almost done.”
Josh leaned in, brushing a kiss over her lips. “Just becausewe’re at the end doesn’t mean we skip the safety protocols. I’m going to wantthose in play for a while.”
Grim did, too. “I want Landon to go with you guys. Andbefore I impugn Harlow’s abilities, I need someone to stop by the shelter andpick up a package for me. I would drive you myself, but I’ve got to check in ona couple of herds. I’ll be out of pocket most of the day, but I promise I’ll beback for the afternoon call with Kim.”
“And I have a couple of things I need to do as well,” Joshsaid. “I have a call into Uncle Lucas. I think I’m going to file a lawsuitagainst your father’s church. Not sure for what, but I’ll find a way. I’m goingto let those assholes know I’m done with them coming after my family.”
“Or we could beat the shit out of them until they leave usalone.” Grim knew which way he would go.
Pops grinned broadly as he helped Mom up. “I knew one ofthem would take after me. Grim’s the only one making sense.”
Dad sighed, but it was easy to see he was amused. “Joshknows what he’s doing. He’ll take care of the situation with the Smiths. It’stime to make things uncomfortable for them. After Nicole and Alyssa taking himon last night, I’ve already heard some of the other young women of the town arecalling for them to be removed from the square. I think they’re going to fightback now.”
“They needed to know it was okay,” Nicole said. “Sometimesall it takes is knowing you’re not alone. Although it’s weird to be on the sameside as Alyssa.”
