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“And how the fuck did you make it past the locked gate?” Tildi didn’t recognize that voice. But she didn’t have to wonder for long.

Ruby, obviously used to dealing with cowboys, ventured into the fray. “Grant Spicer! You watch that mouth. I know your mama’s number and don’t think I won’t call her.”

“Um, sorry, Miss Ruby. But you do know I am thirty two years old now. That threat don’t have the same weight it did when I was a kid.”

“Oh, really?” Ruby snapped. “Well, let me get my phone and we’ll just see about that.”

Boone took Tildi’s hand and stepped in front of her, leading her into the warm, if somewhat tension filled kitchen. She tried to step around him so she could see what was happening but had to settle for peeking around his arm when he stepped over to block her.

A tall, muscular man sighed as he gazed down at his feet, hat in one hand and the other rubbing the back of his neck. “That’s all right, Miss Ruby. I apologize for my phraseology.” Then lifting his gaze to glare at one of three men wearing suits.Grant singled out the one who sat at the table, calmly eating a cinnamon roll. “That don’t mean you ain’t got to answer my question.”

Grant’s words seemed to trigger everyone’s questions. And they all wanted them answered at the same time. Tildi was tempted to cover her ears.

Boone spoke up, his voice booming over the other conversation taking place. “Quiet down! That’s on me, Grant. This is Sev Midnight. He’s a friend of mine from Vancouver. I gave Sev the code to the front gate.” It was Boone’s turn to glare at Sevin. “I didn’t realize he was bringing anyone with him.”

Sev smirked at Boone and shrugged. “I thought I might get lonely.” His gaze slid to Kenzie. “I can see I didn’t need to bother.”

Tanner snapped to attention. “Oh, hell, no.”

He stomped toward Sev. Sev’s two men closed ranks and blocked Tanner’s approach. They stood wide with their jackets open. Bored but alert expressions graced their faces, standing there with their hands clasped in front. They looked like every mafia soldier she’d ever seen. And she’d seen plenty over the past year.

With friends like Sev, she could see why her Daddy had been upset with her last night.

She almost jumped out of her skin when the kitchen door burst open so hard it slammed into the wall. It would have bounced back closed if Grif, Dutch, and another man she didn’t know hadn’t run through the doorway, guns drawn and pointed at the men in suits.

The men had their guns drawn before Tildi even saw them move.

Chance made it to Kenzie and Ruby in two long strides, pulling the women behind him. “Put those damn guns away. Now. What in the hell is the matter with you. Boone, I’m gettingthe women out of here. I’d be obliged if you’d sort this shit before I get back.”

Chance disappeared through the door on the opposite side of the room, keeping Ruby and a furiously protesting Kenzie in front of him.

Sev appeared amused. “Lovely vacation getaway you’ve got here. I may have to book a longer stay this summer.”

Sidestepping again, Tildi tried to stand beside her Daddy. He had a big mess to clean up and might need her help. She had experience with mafia soldiers. Even better, with Midnight mafia soldiers. Well, Nico Midnight soldiers anyway.

Boone immediately tried to tug her back behind him. “Don’t worry, Daddy. I’ve got this. I won’t let them hurt you.”

The response in the room was less than encouraging. Boone growled. Tanner and Trace hit her with a look she’d only seen them use with Kenzie up until that point. Grif and Dutch were annoyed. And Sev’s men glared at her like she’d insulted their manhood.

The only one who looked impressed was Sev. He was also the only one smiling. “That’s all right,piccola, I admire your bravery. Of course, if you were my Little girl, that would be another matter. I suspect that’s why your Daddy is frowning so hard.”

“Damn straight.” Boone scowled, first at her then at Sev. “I told you to call me when you got here. Not drive all the way to my house and make yourself at home.”

“You did.” Sev held his smile. “We drove all this way. The last thing we want to do is hurt anyone. Vinnie, Tino, put your guns away. We’re among friends.” His gaze dared Boone to follow suit.

“Grif, Dutch, Kai, stand down.” Boone’s men obeyed his command without hesitation. Looking down at Tildi, eyes blazing, he spoke in a voice only she could hear. “And if you everwant to sit comfortably again, you will get your pretty little ass behind me.”

Such a bossy Daddy. If he was never going to let her protect him, he shouldn’t have taught her to shoot a pistol. But when her Daddy’s hand twitched, she decided to take her cue from his men and do as she was told.

Once she was safely behind the wall that was Fort Boone, he turned his attention to his friend. “When we talked last night, he said you’d head this way, but I didn’t think you meant overnight. What did you find that has you here so soon? Without so much as a call.”

Sev rose to his feet. Stepping in front of his men, Sev had a quiet word with his men then approached Boone. There was something in Sev’s eyes she couldn’t identify, but it unnerved.

Sev turned his attention back to Boone. “I’m not sure now is the ideal time to go into details. Suffice it to say after our phone conversation, I dug deeper into who could have sent the texts and how. Based on what I found, I decided we needed to speak sooner than later. In the current circumstances, I didn’t feel comfortable talking over the phone. So, I grabbed the men I knew I could trust and came to talk with you in person.”

Boone rubbed his hands over his face. “Fuck. Okay, do you have a place for you and your men to stay?”

Sev nodded. “We do.”