Cross let out a sharp, but strangled laugh. “Fuck you.”

Derrick had opened his eyes, hearing the new exchange, and he looked from Channing to Cross with an almost awed expression.

Channing rolled his eyes. “Where are the other two dwarves?” He swung his head toward Derrick, a hardness biting his tone. “Bren’s decided, so you’re about to meet her three dwarves. Sleepy, Dopey, and Grumpy.”

A creak came from the top of the stairs…it was Zellman and Jordan. Of course, they were staying in the shadows, listening until they needed to be made known. They moved out so they were in view now. Both still shirtless, and Jordan glared at Channing. “I echo Cross’ sentiment. Fuck you.”

A hard smile crossed my brother’s face. “Here’s the Wolf Crew, Derrick. You want your daughter back in your life, they come as a package.” His gaze passed over me, softening. “Moose said he was going to take a shower. That bathroom is small downstairs. I should make sure he didn’t literally get stuck just trying to enter the room.”

He shot our dad another look before heading to the basement. Going down, we heard him holler, “Moose, you alive down there?” There was a thump, followed by a pounding of footsteps, and we could hear Moose’s deep voice responding, though his words were muffled.

Zellman and Jordan came down the stairs, hesitant as they looked from me to my dad.

Right.

Introductions.

That was my job.

Cross beat me to it. “Derrick, I’m Cross Shaw.” He touched the small of my back, nodding behind me to the others. “This is Zellman and Jordan. Like Channing said, we’re a package deal with your daughter.”

I leaned into Cross, his hand sweeping up and down my back. I needed that touch, yearning for more.

My dad saw it, noting my reaction, and he nodded slowly. “I heard, but now I’m seeing it for myself.” He gave me a timid smile. “You’re glowing, Bren. Damned glowing. Makes a dad proud to see that.”

Glowing.

Huh.

Never had that term used to describe me before, but fine. I’d take it.

Zellman yawned. “Okay. Now that it seems like knives aren’t going to be drawn, can you all move it to the kitchen? I’ve got a chick I need to move out of here.”

CROSS

We were sitting outside for a late lunch.

Bren was out there, conversing with her dad. Zellman and Jordan were there, too, but mostly to keep an eye on things. Everyone was on edge. The one who was the most calm was Bren.

I was blaming the concussion.

But still.

We ordered food in, and I was grabbing water in the kitchen for everyone when Channing and Moose got back from running errands.

“Yo.” Channing was coming in, a hard glint to his face.

I was noticing that he had the same look the entire time, and coming to stand next to me, he looked out over the scene before him. A heavy sigh left him, and he crossed his arms over his chest. Moose was coming behind him. He went to the fridge, grabbed a beer, gave me a nod, and headed to the basement.

Channing spoke without looking at me, “We gotta take off, but I need to have a word with Bren before I do.” He turned to face me now. “And since he’s here, I can’t tell all of you guys at once. You’re going to have to fill your crew in without him around.”

That didn’t sound good, but I nodded.

Better to tackle shit head on.

“What’s going on?”

“First.” He pointed at the window. “That fucker is not here just for Bren. She might be part of the reason, but she’s not the only reason. I talked to Brock and Gramps today, and a cop I know on the force back in Cain. It’s the same situation in Fallen Crest. There’s some corrupt cops and some decent ones. There’s enough decent ones that are using Brock’s team to help round up the Red Demons, so that’s saying a lot. Don’t go to the cops. Secondly, they have one big case that spans a shit ton of them with one eyewitness. That witness, I’m going to try to figure out who it is. From the rumblings we’re hearing, the Red Demons are trying to find out who it is, too. Someone local, and someone powerful. Or someone who has local ties, let’s say that. I’m also hearing that there’s a Red Demon at Cain U.”

I frowned. That was definitely news. “As a student?”

His face was grave. He nodded. “Yeah, so heads-up about that. I got no clue who it is, but we’ll do what we can on our end.”

My frown only deepened. “I thought you were friendly with the Red Demons?”

“Friendly. At an impasse. They drink my beer. I make sure they stay out of Roussou. It’s a tentative peace, and if somehow this rolls over to Bren, that peace is over.” He paused, his jaw clenching. “I hate saying this, but they’re too big for me. They got ties to a lot of people, ties I don’t know about, and they expanded fast since Raith moved into power. The good thing I found out is that they’re keeping Derrick out of it.”

I knew there was animosity between Channing and his dad. Bren had said as much, but hearing him talk about his dad as if he were a stranger, or even an enemy, was a different thing altogether. I was remembering times I wanted to tear my dad’s head off, too, and it wasn’t the same thing. Not the same at all.

I felt a twinge of regret. Maybe I’d overreacted when it came to my own?

Channing was still talking, looking back outside again. “Remember this. If they get rid of that witness, then that case is gone. There’s major tension in Cain because of it, and they’re focused on Cain because it’s the middle ground of a bunch of networks. There’s territory beefs going on down south, but from what I’m hearing, the cartel has a few people operating up here too. Red Demons are going to go after them, but while there’s warrants out for their key people, they’re laying low.”

“I don’t want to get pulled into this. Bren made a choice last year. She wanted a normal life, or normal for her. Not this.”

“I know. He should’ve steered clear, at least until everything is done.” He shook his head, grinding his teeth. “Bren’s like me. She needs to fight. Bounty hunting, that’s a clean way to do it. There’s a bad guy. You’re the good guy. Things might get rough or they might not. There’s an adrenaline rush, and I love it. I live for this shit, but dealing with an MC, and this MC specifically, is a different beast. I don’t want that for Bren.” He looked back, a roughness showing in his eyes. “I got a call from Roussou PD. His case was tossed out, so he’s not on parole or anything, but they told him not to leave town. He left, and they’re not happy about it. Having said that, there’s not much they can do about it. My buddy in the Cain Department told me that they did get a call about him. They know he’s here and they know the Red Demons are seemingly not using him at all. He’s been given the all-clear from the MC, which means he’s not to get pulled in at all. I’ve no clue why they’re doing that. Maybe they think he’ll be more beneficial as a straight civilian, who knows, but all the big players know about him.”

Got it.

It was a lot to take in, but I understood.

I asked, “What do you want us to do?”

He shook his head, rubbing his hand over his jaw. “Do what you’re already doing? Love my sister and take care of her. Keep an eye out?”

“I can do that.” Now it was my turn. I folded my arms over my chest, leaving the water on the counter. “What’s going on with Harper, Sr?”

A different look came over Channing. More business-like. He tipped his head back, his hand falling back to his side. “Right. We looked into it. Harper answers to someone else, someone illegal. We’re trying to figure out who it is and see if we know someone who can do an approach for Sweets. She’s still in Roussou?”

I nodded. “Zellman’s ex is supposed to give birth any day. They’re friends. Jordan said she dropped out of college to take care of her and help her out with the kid.”

“Or to hide?”

I cocked my head to the side. “Or to watch out for her mother, because that’s why she thought she could use Harper, Jr. for that.”

“Whole situation is sideways. You guys worked over the boy?”

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“He’s been quiet.”

“He’s starting to make noise.”

Channing frowned. “That’s not good. Either says he’s stupid, reckless, or he doesn’t need to keep quiet anymore.”

“Before we left, I threatened him, said I knew people who could hurt his own mother if he talked.”

Channing nodded, his frown deepening. “I’ll call Lincoln, have him find the mom and sit on her a bit. My guess is that you’ll find that Mrs. Harper was sent on an extended vacation somewhere, probably overseas, and definitely off the grid.”

Shit.

Shit.

Shit!

That wasn’t good.

“Then we have a problem.”

He agreed, “Then you have a problem.” He went back to staring at his problem. “I gotta go back. Got work to do. Got a woman to love on, but my gut is saying I’m needed here.”

I turned to watch Bren, too. She was smiling.