Page 47 of Rugged Fox

The bartender went back to wiping the bar down and pouring beers for anyone who raised a glass his way.

"Let's get out of here."

Maverick waited until we were back on the sidewalk before he spoke again. "That was more than we learned from the last two places. It's the first confirmation we have that Manuel put a motion in place to get rid of Alejandro."

The question now was, did that mean Lucien's life was in danger? I had a strong urge to get back to Willow Creek and see for myself that Kati and Lucien were safe.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Kati

Lucien and I were on our way back from picking him up from school. It had taken a lot of convincing on my part for Easton to allow me to go without one of his teammates following. Alejandro was dead. The biggest threat to our lives no longer existed, so it was time to start living life again.

"What are the chances of getting ice cream before dinner?"

I thought about the week we had. Hell, the last month or two if I were being honest, and then I glanced over to my son's hopeful expression.

Why the hell not? He deserved it. I deserved it. And it wasn't like we made a habit of having dessert before dinner. I knew I was trying to rationalize with myself, but really? What was the point? If someone wanted to judge me for indulging my son after the week he had, they could go to hell. And I would gladly send them there in a handbasket.

"Pretty damn good."

"Yes!" Lucien punched his fist in the air. "I feel like it’s been forever since we stopped to see Ms. Edela over at Glacial Delights. She probably misses us."

She probably did. Edela was a sweet sixty-year-old woman who had been good friends with my mother. She treated Lucien like he was her grandson and it had been so long since we stopped in. Mostly because life had been hectic, but that was no reason to neglect the person who treated us like family.

"We’ll have to be sure to stop more often."

I was just coming up to the only light in Willow Creek. It sat at the intersection before Tim's Service Station and Main Street downtown. The town wasn't big enough to have an official downtown, but considering all the businesses in town were located on the one-block strip, it had been coined that.

The light was green, and I spotted the sign for the ice cream parlor just ahead. I was focused on looking for a parking spot when my body was jarred forward and my head bounced off the steering wheel. I could feel my seat belt lock into place a little too late and slam me back into the seat.

"Lucien?" My son's name was barely more than a hoarse whisper. I lost control and had to watch like an outsider as my car slid into a parked vehicle. The airbag pounded out of the steering wheel with such force that my head snapped back against the seat. White powder filled my mouth and nostrils making it hard to catch my breath. I tried to punch down the semi-deflated bag and look around for my son.

"Lucien?" I coughed out.

I could barely make out the sound of a car door opening over the ringing in my ears and the pounding in my head. Someone was coming to help. Relief consumed me. Until I heard Lucien scream.

"Mom!"

That wasn't the sound of a boy being rescued by people he knew. That was sheer panic filling the one word.

I fought like hell against the airbag and seat belt for what felt like hours, but I’m sure it was probably mere seconds. Once I had them both out of my way, I threw myself over the center console and used my forearms to drag myself across Lucien's seat. Glass cut into my skin but I refused to stop.

A menacing voice outside gave me the courage to continue.

"You think just because your father was Alejandro, you deserve to take his place? I'll kill you before I let that happen."

"No!" I couldn't be sure if I screamed the word or if it came out as just a whisper. My throat was raw. Tears streamed down my face. I was trying desperately to get to my son but something was holding me back. I kicked my foot frantically to dislodge the offending obstruction but it wouldn't budge.

"I have no idea what you're talking about! My father is Easton Welch, I don't know an Alejandro!"

I froze at my son's confident words. There wasn't a hint of uncertainty as he said the words I wished more than anything were true. Easton would make the perfect father. He wasn’t the leader of a gang or spent my son's entire life locked behind bars. Easton was who I should've met that night in college when I was struggling with the anniversary of my parents’ death.

"It's true! What he says is true!" I did my best to scream.

I was able to move just far enough that I could see my son spread out on the road, and watched in horror as the man held a knife to my son's throat. I wanted desperately to get to him, but once again, I was failing as a mother. My foot was stuck and I could only pray that I wasn’t going to witness my son's death.

"For your sake, I hope it's the truth," the man spat. "If you want to continue to see more birthdays over the years, forget my face. Don't ever breathe the name Los Cangris, or I’ll be back to find you."

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