Although…stop it!I admonish the sex kitten that he’s brought out in me. Hell, she’s more of a mountain lion at this point.
His eyes roam all over me and I clear my throat.
“What the hell, Dean?!” I yell at him and hear a chuckle out in the hallway.
He shuts the door behind him. “Let me explain, Kenz.”
“You said things, horrible things. What explanation could you give me to make me believe you didn’t mean them?”
He inhales and exhales deep and long. “I know. But it was all to protect you. Let’s sit and I’ll tell you what happened.”
I motion to Tig’s chair. “Is the big guy coming back?”
“No, he’s taken care of.”
My stomach drops to my knees. “You killed him?”
“No. I helped the feds to set him up.” He slides onto one of the other chairs and rubs his face, a gray cast of exhaustion over his face.
He tells me a story that I probably shouldn’t believe. It sounds like something from one of those movies with fast cars and dangerous deeds. Expensive cars, heists, and not getting away with it, in this case.
“But you could’ve told me what was happening, been honest.”
“No, if you knew it was all a ruse and they found out, they wouldn’t have thought twice to take you out with me. But this way you were oblivious. It was to protect you.” He grabs my hand leaning forward. “But I didn’t mean any of those words. I promise, sweetheart. I did it to protect you.”
I pull my hand back. “You made me feel abandoned and only solidified the fears that my mother said would come true, that you would leave me.”
He leans back. “I know. I hate that I did it. I’m sorry, baby. But I’m done with this life. I’m out of all of this and I won’t be going back.”
“I want to believe you.” I roll my lips in. “But I don’t know…”
Looking at him takes away my resolve to be mad, but it doesn’t take away the fear that he’s lying to me.
The door opens and a familiar black hat enters the room before the man wearing it. “Hey, Kenz.”
“Sheriff Briggs?” I stand. “Um, did my mom send you?”
“No, Dean’s telling the truth. He texted me, and we worked out a plan to bring down the chop shop and theft ring. Dean’s one lucky SOB that I have contacts all over Colorado and that I believed him. And maybe you should believe him, too.” He lifts one eyebrow. “If you want to, if you don’t, I’ll send him on his way with a swift kick to his–”
“No need.” I giggle. “But thank you.”
The Briggs’ aren’t all that bad. Their feud with the Winchesters is irritating, but I honestly miss Storm Canyon and what turns out to be just perfectly un-boring for me.
Dean stands and walks to me, his hands softly grasp my waist. “What do you think about going back to that hotel and getting a room for another night?”
“You’ll never leave like that again, right?”
“Never…ever.”
Colt clears his throat. “Guess I’ll let your mamma know you’re okay.”
“I’ll text her and let her know.”
“Good. And Dean?”
Dean looks back over his shoulder and finds an outstretched hand. He doesn’t let go of me but slides to my side so he can still hold me and grab the offered hand.
Sheriff Briggs pulls him toward him a little. “You treat her right or you’ll be hearing from me.”