“Holy shit. You could have been killed!” Davie yelled at her as he grabbed her by her shoulders and shook her.
“Kenny, Blake, Bryant, and Quinn would have my ass, never mind Lena and the others.”
He was really upset.
“Davie, I’m fine. Look at me,” she said as she turned around in the circle. The other guys howled and her friends all cheered, just as Bill and Corey headed over the hill and into the wo
ods. They turned off the engines and got down off the bikes. They looked white as ghosts.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
“We can never do anything like that again. Holy shit, Sage. You kick ass. Here.” Corey told her as he pulled money from his pocket and handed it over to her.
She accepted the winnings from everyone and smiled. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, boys.” She grabbed her sweater, stuffed the money into her bag, and put the backpack on.
“Let’s get out of here. Put the bikes in the back and cover them up. Hopefully no one recognized any of them,” Davie said in annoyance.
Sage looked at Mary. “Give me a ride back home? I need to change before I head to work.”
“Sure.”
As she looked over her shoulder at the guys, she knew that Davie and Lenny were upset. Truth was she was too old and too smart to be doing shit like that. But there was no way she was going to get busted. Not with Kenny, Blake, Bryant, Quinn, and Lena as her legal guardians. Even though she was twenty-two, they had legally adopted her at sixteen to show her how much she meant to them and how they accepted her as family.
It was her own hang-up about being so close, and opening up her heart to others, that kept her black and hollow inside. Maybe someday she wouldn’t feel so afraid and so unaffected by emotions. She hated how dark her thoughts were. She also hated how easily she tempted fate, and took risks even when the consequences could be detrimental to her health. In some ways, she craved the need to feel something touch her deeply, and the desire to feel anything. Even if it were pain, it was better than feeling empty and as if she didn’t have a heart at all.
* * * *
“You are so full of crap, Wyatt. Damn, you haven’t changed,” Dale stated as he stood in the sheriff’s office along with Virgo.
Wyatt chuckled. “I’ve changed a lot. I’m getting older, and losing my Goddamn patience. It will be nice to have you guys in town. How are things going, staying with your cousins Matt and Quaid?”
“It’s going well. Virgo and I are looking forward to working with them, and of course you and your deputies. Anna and her friends sure have established a reputable shelter and community for women. Matt and Quaid filled us in on the need for security, especially with the expansion of the Main Street Inn & bed-and-breakfast and restaurant,” Dale added.
“Have you two been there to eat yet? It’s amazing. Lena, Sage, and Abigail are doing a fantastic job,” Wyatt told them.
“We’re supposed to go there tonight. We’re meeting Matt and Quaid after they’re done at the dojo. That place Dalton and Hank own is keeping them busy. The entire town is booming,” Dale said.
Dale looked at Virgo, who remained quiet as usual. He didn’t say much. It was part of the reason why they left Delite. All their friends were meeting women and starting families, and it seemed like there wasn’t any hope for him and Virgo. When their cousins called them, asking for some help in the town of Pearl, they jumped at the opportunity for a new start. They had been close to their cousins. The years they spent in Delite put a damper on their relationship, but since they got back, it was like they never left. Dale was already feeling positive about the move.
“It is booming, and it gets harder and harder to keep the peace and make sure the riffraff stays out of town. My deputies are doing a good job, along with the separate retired military we’ve hired with the help from Matt and Quinn and their security firm. So, what about coming over to our place this Sunday for a barbecue? Everyone will be there. You can see Anna?” Wyatt asked them.
“Yeah, and the triplets. Three boys. Anna must be beside herself with all the responsibility,” Dale stated.
Wyatt ran his fingers through his hair. “They are a blessing, considering that we weren’t even sure if we were going to be able to have children. We were so concerned about Anna’s health after the attack years ago.” Wyatt looked at the photo on his desk of him, his brothers, Anna, and the three babies.
“But those headaches and dizziness passed, and her health improved,” Virgo added, speaking for the first time. Dale knew Virgo wanted a family of his own. They talked about sharing a woman, being used to those types of relationships but also needing that continued support they shared working in the field in the military together. They’d saved one another’s asses too many times to count.
“It’s the type of town we have here. The people are caring, compassionate, and everyone is willing to lend a hand. So what do you say? Yes to Sunday?”
“We’d love to,” Dale replied.
“Tell Quaid and Matt to come along, too. I sent them an invite but never heard back from them. I know they get caught up in doing some special work for the government, but they need to return calls from friends, especially the sheriff.”
“Let me walk you guys out,” Wyatt stated.
Just as they headed toward the front door, they could hear sirens and motorcycles approaching. Wyatt ran outside with other deputies. Sure as shit, there were five motorcycles, speed bikes, flying through town with a deputy on their heels.
“Holy shit. Look at them go,” Virgo stated.