Page 32

“So, there’s no adult with you guys anymore,” Colette finished.

“Yes. But that’s no big deal. I just need a ride back into town.”

“Yes, it is a big deal with O’Connor roaming around after our family.” Colette sounded just like my mother had when scolding me during high school, and I couldn’t help but smile. Being an older sister suited her, which only made me—

Hold up, Ford. No. I didn’t need to jump to that. Not yet. I needed to fix things with her before I told her that she would make a great mom. That would fucking scare her off even if it was an innocent thing to have crossed my mind.

I focused on the conversation as Colette finished scolding Azelie for not being concerned about the fact that there were only three other kids around her at the moment.

“Okay, yes. It’s a big deal. Anyway, can you come get me?” Azelie grumbled in annoyance once Colette finished speaking.

“Just you? What about the others?” Coletteanswered.

“Well, Macy’s mom won’t be here for another half hour, and I don’t want to wait that long. Cory and Thomas are also waiting on Cory’s brother, but he’s only got that bench seat in his truck, so I won’t fit.” Azelie’s voice reminded me of Colette’s the longer she spoke.

Colette closed her eyes and tightened her hold on the phone. “Yeah, I’ll be there in just a bit. Stay safe, love you.”

“Love you, too,” Azelie replied, and the line went dead.

“I’ll go,” I stated immediately as Colette dropped the phone on the seat beside her and snatched up her shirt.

“What?” She froze and stared at me wide-eyed.

“You said your parents haven’t even had much of a chance to talk toyouabout being attacked. If you have to leave to go pick up Azelie, who’s also been specifically threatened, what are they going to think?”

She fervently shook her head. “No. It’s my job to protect her. To protect my parents.”

“I know. But you can’t do both right now. Look, my mom only lets me sleep in my room because of my dad and Mawmaw, and because I know she secretly still loves me, but she doesn’t want me around the restaurant yet. I can’t blame her, but that means I don’t have to explain where I’m going and why. You go take care of your parents, and I’ll go pick up Azelie.”

Colette slowly inhaled and slid her shirt back over her head.

“I hate how logical that sounds,” she grumbled. “Except you hate any sort of confrontation. So, if this is O’Connor and his doing, or if he gets wind of this, and just happens to take advantage of it—”

“Cher. Just because I hate it, and try to avoid it, doesn’t mean I can’t handle my shit. Besides, I tend to intimidate people by simply showingup. I’ll take care of her, okay? You’ve gotta start trusting that I’m not as complacent as you think I am.” I slid my hands off her waist reluctantly, giving her room to climb off my lap.

She chewed on her bottom lip as if the concept that someone else could take care of her was foreign to her. I opened the car door, grabbed my hat, and wiggled awkwardly out, bumping my head on the frame as I exited.

“Okay. She’s at the high school up on the track,” Colette said, crawling out after me.

“Send Azelie a picture of me, with my name. Tell her to speak to no one, and go with no one else. And if anyone approaches her, to go and hide until I get there. Send her my number as well, so if she needs to call me, she can. And send me her number,” I instructed as Colette shut the door behind her.

She nodded once, quickly snapped a photo on her phone, and then tapped away on the screen. “Same number?”

I nodded once and gave her a tight smile, tucking the baseball cap back on my head. “Just in case you ever needed me after I left.”

Her fingers froze mid-text, and her chest stopped slowly expanding as the breath caught in her lungs.

“Also, here’s your car keys back.” I dug my hand in my pocket and pulled them out, quickly diverting the attention.

She shook her head, and without lifting her gaze toward me, she resumed typing. “No, you’ll need that to go pick her up.”

“I’ll take my motorcycle. We don’t need your parents wondering why your car is gone.”

“Oh,” she muttered and finally locked her phone. My own phone buzzed in the front of my black cargo pants pockets as she slipped hers into the back of her jeans.

And I jogged off without another word to her. I knew we were on some very rocky ground. Knew that everything was confusing and we hadn’t even addressed the fact that we were about to very much fuck in the back of her car, but right now wasn’t the time to discuss any of that.

Someone she cared about was possibly in danger. A teenage girl whom O’Connor had called out specifically. I took a mental note to find out if there was some connection between Azelie and one of O’Connor’s contacts; otherwise, the mention of her was just an empty threat and something to rattle Colette’s tough exterior. I prayed it was just that. Just something to try and intimidate her into selling, because I couldn’t fathom how a teenager and O’Connor might be connected.