Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
He walked around the counter toward me. “What other things?”
I licked my lips. I wasn’t ready to be blunt about what I had been thinking. But the tent beginning in his sweats drew my attention. He was thinking about things too. At least I wasn’t the only one who seemed to stay in a constant state of arousal.
A sharp knock on the door stopped me from responding as we both looked in that direction. Than immediately turned and went to answer it. When it opened, I could see Bane Cash standing outside.
“Got something,” he said. “You need to come see.”
Than glanced back at me briefly before responding, “I’m not leaving her here alone.”
“I’ll send for Gathe to come.”
“No. Not Gathe. Where’s Oz?” Than said adamantly.
“Home, in bed.”
“Can it wait until we go to Linc’s? She can stay there with Jayda.”
Bane’s glower made me back up closer to the bedroom. “Gathe doesn’t have to come inside. Just watch the cabin.”
“I said no,” Than repeated. “Who else is here?”
Bane was silent, and although I didn’t have a clear view of his face anymore, I was nervous. He was frightening. Nothing like the man who had held his wife so gently and lovingly.
“Sure,” Bane muttered, “you’re not fucking.” Sarcasm dripped from his tone.
“Who else?” Than insisted.
“Just bring her. She can stay in the truck,” Bane said, clearly annoyed.
Than swung his gaze back to me. “Get dressed.”
I nodded and hurried into the bedroom.
Thirty-Five
Than
The moment Bane turned the truck toward the east entrance, I tensed. Why hadn’t he told me this was where we were going? I would have taken Montana to Linc’s house. She didn’t need to see or overhear us. I didn’t want her being scared. Thankfully, Bane had remained silent. The less she knew about it, the better. The only thing she ever needed to be told was that the fucker was gone. No longer around to bother her.
He slowed just right off the property line and came to a stop. “Get out,” he said gruffly before swinging his door open and exiting the truck.
I turned to glance back at Montana in the backseat, looking wary. “I won’t be long. You good back there?”
She nodded, then glanced out the window. Something was wrong.
I reached over and squeezed her knee. “Hey. Look at me. What is it?”
She took a deep breath, then licked her lips nervously. “Is it…is this about him? The one leaving me notes?”
Dammit. I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also wanted her to feel safe. Because she was safe.
“Yes, but he didn’t get far when he tried. He did get away though. We have a lead, it seems, or Bane wouldn’t have brought me to see whatever it is out there.”
There was the flash of panic in her green eyes I didn’t want.
“Trust me?”
She paused, then nodded.
“Good. Now relax. No one is getting to you. I swear.”
“Okay,” she said softly.
I didn’t want to leave her, but I also wanted to find the fucker. If Bane had some clue or lead, then I was ready to hunt the bastard down now. Well, once I had Montana safely tucked away at Linc’s.
With one more squeeze to her knee, I let it go, then opened the truck door and got out. Bane looked impatient, but I didn’t give a fuck. He’d get over it.
“There,” he said, pointing at something near the tree line.
I walked closer, trying to figure out what the hell he was showing me. To the side of one of the trees, there was an empty bottle of whiskey.
“The whiskey bottle?” I asked, glancing back at him.
He nodded his head in its direction. “Not just any bottle.”
I walked over and squatted down. Liquid Hale. Motherfucker.
My head snapped back around to Bane. “This wasn’t left by one of us?” I demanded.
He shook his head. “No. Ransom is on his way now to determine the batch it came from and trace who would have had it.”
Liquid Hale was one of the whiskeys made at our distillery. But it wasn’t just any whiskey. It was a high-proof one, made from my great-grandfather’s moonshine recipe, which was still illegal. We couldn’t sell it, and we didn’t market it. We only gave it or sold it to those who were family. Sometimes, those close to the family. It was impossible to get unless it was given or sold to you by a Carver.
“Who the fuck would have had this bottle? And why were they stalking Montana before she ever got here?” My mind was racing as I stood back up.
“They shut down the distillery’s security cameras, and they somehow made it past Forge and knew their way to the cabin and that Montana was in it. They didn’t bank on you being in her bed with her though. My guess is, whoever it was got a glimpse of your shadow in the window when you got up and left. And they had a bottle of Liquid Hale. It’s starting to look like it’s someone in the family.”