Page 52 of Mountain Grump Protector

I can hear Bryson exhale beside me, but I don’t spare him a glance. I’m not doing this for him.

“Really, Reeves? You don’t even like him.”

“No,” I say. “I don’t.”

“Then why exactly are we having this conversation?” Hatch takes a step toward us, but I hold my ground.

Because I know exactly what it means if I hand him over. Because I know what he means to Willow and what it will do to her if I do. Because I already care way more than I should. But mostly, because it’s the right fucking thing to do.

“You’re not taking him.”

Hatch sighs dramatically and flexes his fingers tighter, cracking his knuckles. “I was hoping to do this the easy way.”

“Funny.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I was hoping you’d take your money and crawl back under whatever rock you came from.” My jaw twitches.

The men behind him laugh nervously and exchange glances. Beside me, I hear Luke sigh. He knows the situation is about to go sideways. As if it wasn’t already.

Hatch’s smile slips.

“That’s a problem with you mountain boys.” Hatch shakes his head. “You think you’re untouchable up here.”

“No.” Luke’s voice is calm beside me. “We just don’t like bullies.”

Hatch ignores him, his gaze fixed on me. "I’m not leaving till I get what I came for.”

“You got your money.”

He shakes his head once and spits tobacco juice into the dirt. “Not my truck.”

“Not my problem.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Bryson trying to back away. I shoot him a quick glare, and he stays put. We’re here right now because of him. I’ll be damned if he’s going anywhere.

“The product I lost sure as hell is your problem, Reeves.”

Product?

That catches my attention. I swallow hard and pinch the bridge of my nose. Of course, this isn’t as simple as some money and a stolen truck, not that anything about this situation has been simple up till now.

Luke curses under his breath as he, too, figures out how deep this situation goes. I turn to Bryson. “What the hell have you gotten yourself into, kid?”

His face is sheet white, and he looks like he might throw up.

“Tell me, Cal,” Hatch takes another step forward and jerks his head toward my garage. “You have enough cash back there to cover the product this asshole stole? Or do I start searching on my own?”

“Take one more step and I⁠—”

The threat is lost to the slamming of the screen door behind me.

I watch as Hatch’s eyes widen and his lip curls up as he turns in the direction of the cabin.

And Willow.

I don’t need to turn to know it’s her standing there.

Luke mutters a curse under his breath. I swallow back my own string of expletives.

“Well, well, there she is. I was wondering when you were going to join us, little lady.”