Page 4 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)

whatever

Anni

How do you admit when your past comes back not to haunt you, but to fuck you? I guess just like that.

“The MC is at it again.” His frame goes stiff.

He’s on high alert. So much so, it looks painful.

I knew this would happen. The Lost Mountain Rebels have taken and taken and taken.

And there’s no end in sight. “Heath decided he hasn’t stolen enough from me and wants more.

This time to punish me personally. Or for me to pay personally. ”

If I thought Ren was stiff before, that was nothing on now. His chest vibrates with his growl. “What the fuck?”

I tuck my temple to his chest, knowing that avoiding looking him in the eye will make this a little easier. “August had more debts. At least that’s what Heath claims. And since he’s not around to pay them, it’s my responsibility.”

When his jaw clenches so tightly, the sound of his molars grinding fills my ears, I set a hand on his chest. “Stop. Or slow down at least. Your teeth will be dust by the end of this if you keep that up. I mean, you know Pueblo. ”

Of course he knows Pueblo. It’s where we grew up.

We rode bikes through town, hiked anywhere our boots could take us, and swam each summer in any body of water we could find.

I use we loosely because mostly Ren and August were together.

I tagged along or tagged behind when and where I could.

Neither of them wanted some pesky little sister slowing them down or stopping their fun, and both hated a tattletale.

I must get lost in my thoughts, because I get a little squeeze.

“Heath throws around his power in Pueblo.”

“He has no power,” Ren argues.

“There he does.”

“No. There he has threats and little-dicked friends who do his bidding.”

“Well, those little-dicked friends are bullies. And they’ve never left the high school mentality—they’ve just included money and drugs. And control. The local turf wars are mediated by Heath and the Lost Mountain Rebels. Gangs get their territories and boundary lines by how well they pay to play.”

“So nothing’s changed since I left forever long ago.”

Thirteen years , I don’t say. I was fifteen. He was eighteen, just like August. He got free from the bullshit, but August never did.

“In my life?” My voice drops to a whisper. “Nearly everything has changed.”

His body sags. It’s the only thing I’m willing to recognize right now, since I’m still too fearful to look at him. We rarely speak of August. Hell, we’ve rarely spoken in the decade since it happened, but when we have, it’s never about August .

My brother joined the MC about the same time Ren enlisted in the Army. He left for boot camp and did a tour in Pakistan before moving to Denver for whatever brought him here. Their lives couldn’t have been more different.

“I miss him.” His admission stuns me.

“Me too, Ren.” It’s a peace offering, but it’s the truth.

Neither of us can change the past, despite how much we would if we could.

“So, anyway, Heath figures that slowly slicing the Garvers to shreds will give him pleasure, so he’s after me. Well, after might be the wrong word. That implies a chase. I’m in his snare and I need out. For good.”

“Whatever you need. Whatever fucks him over. Whatever brings some justice for what he did to Aug, I’m in.”

“You sure about that whatever ?”

“I am.”

“Then I need you to marry me.”

Ren

Marry her.

Marry her?

I force my body to stay relaxed, to not react to her words. I want to make some pithy comment, some snide remark, but her utter stillness and silence tells me she’s not joking. There’s no trick in this. She’s serious.

Growing up, I’d have done anything for Aug and Anni. Hell, I’d do the same today. But this anything is a huge ask.

“You said whatever.” Her voice is tentative and small. “Did you mean it?”

Nothing like getting called out by the petite firecracker of a woman in my arms.

Clearing my throat to swallow past the emotion and memories flooding me, I offer a one-word answer. “Yes.”

Her body in my lap sags as she hiccups a sob.

I rest my cheek on the top of her head—I guess I’m free to since she’ll be my wife—and exhale. “Now will you tell me what’s going on?”

Her head nods against my chest, her wet hair brushing back and forth, leaving marks on my shirt.

“Heath forced me to marry him.”

Fuck. Well, that’s not what I expected. “Then how…?” I trail off. My question is obvious.

“The certificate. I stole it. It never got into the mail. Sixty-three days, Ren. There are sixty-three days by law in Colorado to get it turned in. Walk it in. Mail it in. Whatever. The marriage doesn’t exist—it’s not legal— until the certificate is filed.”

“I’m no lawyer, Anni, but how does me marrying a married woman help?” I want to add that we don’t live in that part of Colorado, but avoid it since she’s not in a playful mood .

She pulls her head away from my chest and stares into my eyes. Her vibrant blues are pleading when she speaks. “Because if our marriage certificate is filed first, they can’t accept mine with Heath Giltenhouse as valid. I’d be saved from his brutality and his vengefulness.”

“Vengefulness is his whole personality. That won’t go away. That’s not who he is. And you know that Denver has open records laws? All of Colorado does. He’ll be able to find us, to find you, as soon as the paperwork goes live.”

“And I know I’d rather risk that with you than risk my life with him. If you can’t do it for me, do it for August.”

“I’ll do it for you, Squirt. I already agreed.”

She flinches.

“What?”

“I’m not six any more. I get that I’m not your type or whatever, but could you not sound so creepy right now? It’s gross. I’m a woman if you haven’t noticed.”

Oh, I’ve noticed. I couldn’t not notice. I noticed the moment she walked into Queen City; my cock did too. And it wasn’t the first time.

“Noted.”

“Is tomorrow too soon?”

“Does tomorrow give you enough time to do what you need? Get a dress and all the other shit?”

“I don’t need a dress. I can go in my jeans if it means I’m safe. ”

Nope. “I’ll marry you the day after tomorrow.

You’ll be safe. I swear on my life I’ll keep you safe.

” And I dare Heath to even try. I’d take great pride in gutting him.

“Tomorrow, we’ll get you a dress… whatever you want.

Shoes and all that, too. We’re doing this correctly.

Have to look the part, right? We can go get paperwork and do whatever else is required tomorrow too.

Friday. We’ll get married Friday. Is the courthouse okay with you? ”

She looks stunned. “I don’t need all that.”

“You deserve all that, Annika. And I won’t take no for an answer. Will you make a list of everything we need to do tomorrow? Add phones to that list. Mine didn’t survive tonight. I’m going to go shower and get the grime off. Can I trust that you won’t pull a runner while I’m in there and bolt?”

When did I get so verbose? I haven’t said this many words in the last week.

“I won’t leave.”

She climbs off my lap and extends a palm to me. She’s slight, but I accept anyway. It’s a gesture, and one I’ve been sorely missing.

She drops her eyes when I stand over her. “Thanks, Ren. I… I was scared.”

I lift her chin as if it’s the most natural thing in the world. “No need to thank me, Anni.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.

We’ll have to figure this out. Day after tomorrow, the witnesses at the courthouse will expect more.