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ASHER

“Are you sure we can’t talk you into staying?” Chase asked.

“Not even a little. The last thing Holly’s parents need is any more time in a bunker. Her dad has worn a tinfoil hat since arriving,” I chuckled.

Chase sighed heavily, always so serious about everything. I’d learned to let shit go since moving to Colorado, but Chase just couldn’t do that.

“Just be safe. Watch your back. We have no idea if this shit is really over. I’d hate to get a phone call from the local LEOs telling us that you’ve been found brutally murdered.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, warning him about speaking like that with Holly so close by. “Don’t worry. I’ll be on top of my game.”

“You don’t even carry a gun anymore,” Patrick commented, leaning back in his chair, popping a cutie into his mouth.

“I have one stashed under my seat.”

He nodded, grinning at me. “I know when I’m threatened, it’s always a good thing to say, Hold up. Let me get my gun out from under the seat of my truck. Very useful. And nine times out of ten, they comply.”

“I live a different life than you,” I reminded him.

“Yep, and that worked out great,” he said, getting to his feet. Then he snapped his fingers as he pretended to think something over. “Hey, didn’t your house just get blown up?”

“And your boss was shot,” Chase reminded me. “While running away from the men who were after you.”

“If you’re going to be pessimistic, then you can fuck right off. I will not live the rest of my life worried about shit going on with OPS.”

“Logical,” Patrick nodded. “Better to bury your head in the sand than face reality.”

I cut him a look, telling him to shut up, right as Holly walked over and wrapped her arm around my waist.

“Are we ready to go?”

“Yeah, Holly bear. How’s your dad?”

“Holly bear,” Patrick snorted. “You guys are so cute. I never thought I’d see the day Asher would have pet nicknames for his woman.”

Holly rubbed her stomach, grimacing slightly. “I think I might need some crackers for the flight home. My stomach has been queasy all morning.”

“The morning sickness only seems to be getting worse,” I frowned. “We should get you to a doctor.”

“Morning sickness is perfectly normal. Besides, I think I’m more nauseous about the thought of flying with your pilots than anything else.”

“Scottie can fly us. From what I hear, Max is the one vomiting all the time now.”

“Scottie isn’t available,” Chase answered. “He’s out on a job. I’m afraid Max is all you have.”

“Perfect,” Holly muttered.

“Hey, are we leaving soon?” Wyatt called out. “There’s only so much of this woman I can take.”

Noelle punched him on the arm, then pulled him in for a kiss that had everyone staring like they were watching a live porno. Whatever the hell was going on between them, they were keeping tight-lipped.

I choked out a laugh, pulling Holly tighter to my side. “Yeah, I think we’re ready to go.”

“One last thing,” Chase piped up, glancing at Holly. “Uh…there’s the small problem of your…previous wife.”

“What about her?” My whole body stiffened at the mention of her. I really didn’t want to be dragged back into her life, and Holly didn’t deserve to go through any of that again.

“Cash stashed her somewhere and we still don’t know where?—”

“I don’t need to know the details, man.”

“I just thought you’d like to know that she’s still out there.”

I didn’t want to sound so callous, but how the fuck was this any of my business? “I’m not about to run off and find her. I have my own family to worry about. Do what you need to do, but leave me out of it.”

“She’s a big girl,” Patrick reminded him. “She’ll be fine.”

Holly turned to me, her eyes full of sympathy and regret. “If…if you need to go with them?—”

“Don’t even fucking finish that sentence. I’m not going to run off and chase down a woman I’ve already let go. They can handle the situation. There is absolutely nothing I can do that would help any more than they could.”

“Well, as touching as this is, I’d really like to get on that plane,” Wyatt grumbled. “You know, since my business basically went up in flames and I have to start over.” He winced slightly. “Kind of like your house.”

“I’ve been in contact with the insurance company. They’ve cleared us of all liability. Though, we might have to sleep in your shop with your cat.”

“Ew!” Noelle screeched. “I am not stepping foot in that shop if you two are gonna be doing the nasty all over the place. I put my foot down!”

“I’ll put my foot down on your ass if you keep thinking about them having sex,” Wyatt muttered.

I started tugging Holly to the door. “And that is our cue to leave before everyone around here gets a visual of…whatever the two of you are doing.”

Chase held out his hand, shaking mine in a firm grip. “Don’t be a stranger.”

Patrick, however, threw himself into my arms, burying his face in my neck. “I’m gonna miss you, man.”

I shoved him off, laughing at his theatrics. “Fuck off.”

Holly sighed, tucking herself into my side. “Are you sure you’re okay leaving?”

It wasn’t even something I needed to think about.

This was my past, but my future was waiting for me, and that only required the woman by my side, her crazy parents, and our friends—all of whom knew nothing about guns, killing people, and the kind of camaraderie I once had with the men I was walking away from.

And it was refreshing.

“Yeah, baby. I’m absolutely certain.”