I knew what Cam would do for fifty K.
I knew what Randy would do for it.
Cam had offered his own fucking sister—again—to Randy, and he’d sent those two assholes after her. If she hadn’t fought so hard, they’d have raped her then given her over to their boss. She’d have paid off Cam’s debt that would have cost her so much more than a few zeroes on her bank balance.
She’d survived all the shit Cam had thrown at her. Again and again. She’d come out okay but taken a bunch of hits. The fight was over now. She had guys in her corner. Me. Gray. Quake, and since she was under his protection, the entire No Holds Barred crew. Thank fuck.
No matter how much I wanted to kill the asshole, Quake could take care of Randy, would ensure he forgot about Harper. But her brother?
Cam was going down, and I was going to see to it. Just like I had with my dad.
Only this time, I wasn’t going to get my hands dirty. I was smarter now.
Randy knew there was no money. Cam was in big trouble. He’d pushed Randy off for two years—I was surprised Cam hadn’t been shivved in prison—for Harper’s cash. Randy was done waiting, and we’d hand the little shit over on a fucking silver platter.
We drove back to the building in silence. I’d held Harper’s hand in my lap, not letting go the entire way. Gray and Emory met us in the lobby.
“Sorry to pull you back from the ranch,” I said to them.
Emory smiled at both of us, but Gray only nodded. He was in his usual non-workout uniform of jeans, snap shirt and Stetson.
“Gray filled me in on what’s going on,” Emory said, coming over and offering Harper a hug. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and concern filled her eyes as she glanced up at me over Harper’s shoulder. She was a nurse practitioner and a mom, which made her like a mother hen, clucking around anyone who needed help, taking care of them. That was how we’d been connected with Quake Baker in the first place.
While Emory took care of everyone, Gray was the one who took care of her. Nothing would happen to Emory that was for fucking sure.
“Come up to our apartment. We’ll get something to eat.” Emory led Harper to the elevator, and I stood back with Gray.
“I shut the gym down early,” he told me, tipping his voice low. “This gets messy, I don’t want it happening in the parking lot.”
“It’s getting messy,” I countered, cracking my knuckles.
Gray studied me for a moment then nodded. Over the summer, he’d gone off with Quake and Frankie to take care of the guy who’d broken into Emory’s house. He’d never said what they’d done with him. I was smart enough not to ask. He knew how I felt, knew I wanted a few minutes with Cam. It wouldn’t make things right, but it would sure feel fucking good.
The elevator doors slid open, and we went to join the women. Gray and Emory stepped into the car, and I looked to Harper. We’d only ever been on an elevator together that first time we met, the time she’d lost her shit.
“Stairs?” I asked. I’d skip the elevator whenever she wanted if that made her feel better.
She glanced at the elevator then me. “I’m good.” Proving it, she took a deep breath and joined Gray and Emory, who held the button to keep the doors open.
Harper turned to face me and smiled.
That fucking smile.
I nodded then joined them.
I had no idea if she’d ever get on an elevator in other places, but here, she knew she was safe. It was a start. I’d take it.
Emory made some snacks while I stood with Harper by the window in Gray’s and Emory’s apartment. While there were two apartments on the second floor, mine and Harper’s, there was only one on the third. It was open and spacious. Before Emory had moved in, the place was as neat as a fucking pin and minimal. Emory’s things had added some life to the place. Plants, knickknacks and shit like that. It felt… homey.
Harper looked down into the parking lot. Waited.
I set one hand on the window ledge, the other on her hip and stood right behind her. I was trying to reassure her, but really, touching her made me feel better.
“You’ll stay up here with Emory,” I said. “No one can get up here. You’ll be safe.”
Again, the words were just as much for me as for her. I had to know while I was dealing with Cam that nothing was going to happen to her. I wasn’t sure if Randy himself would show up to collect Cam or just Tweedldee and Tweedledum. Either way, I didn’t want them anywhere near Harper while I was distracted beating the shit out of her brother.
She nodded. “I know.”