Page 18 of Daddy’s Firm Hands (Saddle Up)
STONE
D ealing with the police took a while, and I searched the rodeo for an hour trying to find Milo. Stew eventually told me he heard from Lucky they were going back to the ranch.
When I get to our room, his bags are gone. Lucky’s truck is missing from the parking lot. I think they really left. His words from earlier hit me like a brick in the face.
“So I guess we aren’t in a relationship anymore. And since you don’t trust me, I’ll leave the ranch by the end of the week.”
No, I refuse to let Milo leave me. He can’t. Why didn’t I run after him as soon as he took off? Why did I have to give us space?
Maybe they just went out to burn off some steam or grab dinner.
Lucky is always yammering on about a restaurant he used to love going to when he lived in these parts.
They couldn’t have possibly started driving back home.
I run to the front desk, hoping the concierge can give me some more information.
“Hello, Jacci,” I greet her, reading her name off her nametag. I pull out my phone, showing her a picture of Milo. “Have you seen my partner? I can’t find him.”
She looks at the picture for a moment, then frowns. Oh shit. Frowning is never a good sign.
“Yes, I have. He was crying a river, and his friend was helping him bring his bags to the truck. Poor baby.”
Her coworker, a redhead named Darcy, says, “Are you talking about Lucky’s friend?”
Of course Lucky already made friends with the women who work at the front desk. I nod, and she glares at me.
“When Milo went to the restroom to freshen up before they left, Lucky cancelled his dinner plans with me tonight. He told me you broke that poor boy’s heart. They’re going home to sort out his affairs in Montana before he leaves. You should be ashamed of yourself,” she admonishes me.
And I deserve it. I let my anger and my fear of history repeating itself take over my common sense. Pushing Milo to bare his soul in a public place right after someone tried to shoot him was a dick move. I see that now.
“Ma’am, I’m going to make it right. Thank you for confirming where they went.”
I go back upstairs and pack as fast as I can, then close out my reservation with Dacry at the front desk, who’s still giving me the death glare.
As I throw my bag into my trunk, a call comes through my bluetooth. It’s Sunny.
“Hey. Sorry it took me a while to get back to you, had to deal with some shit. So the car Milo had was a stolen vehicle. And this Piero guy is bad news. He’s in the Nueva Notte mafia from New York City.”
Holy shit. Did Milo witness a crime? Does he owe them money? Was he dating that scumbag, and tried to get away from him after getting the crap kicked out of him?
Dozens more questions swarm my mind, but one stands out. Why did I let him leave? The mob is nothing to mess with, and it’s known for ruling with an iron fist. No wonder he didn’t want to tell me.
I failed my brat, pushed him away when he needed my support the most. What a fucking awful Daddy I turned out to be. Now he’s on the road with Lucky, who can’t fight his way out of an open paper bag.
“Stone, are you there?” Sunny asks.
“Yeah I am. Thanks Sunny. I fucked up, and I need to set it right. I’ll talk to you later.”
Before I end the call, Sunny says, “Milo is in some trouble, Stone. If you love him as much as I think you do, you need to get him out of it. The mob is dangerous.”
I rake my hand through my hair as the realization hits me like a brick. I do love Milo. “How did you know before I did?”
“Because I know everything. I was a super secret spy for the government, remember?” he laughs, the sound a little unnerving. Sunny did a lot more than spying for our unit, but I don’t want to get into it. I have a brat to find.
“Thanks, friend. If I need you, I’ll let you know.”
I end the call, and use my bluetooth to dial Doc.
“Yeah boss,” he answers. I hear the shuffle and bustle of the rodeo behind him.
“Pack everyone up. We need to go home. I found out what Milo’s been hiding and he’s in trouble. Lucky is driving him back to Montana, and I'm a few hours behind them.”
“Lucky left?” Doc growls.
“Yes…he left with Milo. Who’s being chased down by the mafia. They cornered him in a bathroom at the rodeo and almost shot him. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you when we’re home.”
“If they knew he was here with us, they know where Ironhide is. They could be following them home. I’ll talk to the hands who stayed behind about protecting it. Talk to you soon.” Doc hangs up, and I’m left with a sour feeling in my gut.
They know where Milo is, and they’ll pick him off like an injured deer if he leaves Ironhide.
I make a promise to myself. I will find Milo, and I’ll fix everything between us.
He belongs to me, and I won’t fail him again.