Page 42 of Tempt Me

Siobhan isn’t wrong. Banta City is a cutthroat place. When a person or group is on the ropes, everyone’s knives come out.

The Backcountry Kings fought hard today, but we’re battered and bloody. Our enemies—and two-faced allies—are sharpening their knives and considering what tomorrow might bring.

HUNTER

I’ve always acknowledged my privilege. In a million ways over my life, people have treated me differently because of my money. I don’t really notice it most days.

When the police spoke to me about the parking garage attack, I’d been in my mother’s mansion surrounded by her staff and the family lawyers. The detectives had been deferential to me in a way they wouldn’t have been with most people.

That is absolutely not how they behave when they speak to me at the farm. The same detective from a day earlier grills me about possible suspects. He keeps bringing up the cartel as if I’ve angered my drug supplier. Reading the room, I keep my mouth shut except to say, “I don’t know.” Finally, the club’s lawyers shut down the interview.

The remainder of the evening is a blur. After my bags from the SUV are left in Tack’s room, I consider going through them. Instead, I follow Tack around and consider his dog. Based on the animal’s age and behavior, he didn’t recently adopt the golden retriever mix.

As the farm settles into its evening routine, I replay conversations I’ve had with Tack. Did he ever mention his pet before?

I’m distracted from my questions by the sight of a very pregnant Carys waddling toward me. Her husband, Pork Chop follows behind. His dark hair is shaved off, making his head look as shiny and buff as his bare arms. Walking behind their parents are eight-year-old Hicks and six-year-old Hudson.

“I’m sorry,” Carys announces as she arrives on the front porch. “I wanted to get over here sooner, but I was sick.”

“She was pooping,” Hudson helpfully explains.

“Son,” Pork Chop warns his younger boy, “your mom’s not in the mood for honesty.”

Siobhan’s older sister has reached her due date. Right now, she wears every single day of those nine months on her face.

Tack gets up from the porch swing to make room for an exhausted Carys. Before she sits, Hicks drops a donut cushion on the bench. Carys soon settles down next to me.

“I’m so sorry,” she says and hugs me.

I don’t want to cry again. I’m exhausted and dehydrated. Tears are my enemy at this point, but I can’t help myself.

While I cry, Carys guides my head to rest on her baby bump and strokes my head. The boys stare in horror at my drama before realizing their cousins Kiera and Deirdre are nearby. While the kids play and the men talk about pounding on the cops, my heart is soothed by unborn Ripley’s regular kicks to my face.

Laughing, I finally sit up and rub the bump. “She’s feisty.”

Carys wipes her wet eyes and smiles. “I’ll be able to hold her soon.”

I look at my friend and then Siobhan before whispering, “Is it safe to have me here? I don’t want to risk your lives by staying at the farm.”

“You should do what Mom says,” Carys mumbles as she rubs her stomach and looks uncomfortable. “Dad and my uncles are in the mix. They’re smart about violent crap.”

Siobhan nods her head but seems worn out since Sync arrived with the girls. Carys reaches across me to pat her sister’s head.

“Look, Hunter, I hear you’ve finally allowed Tack to tap your sweet ass,” Carys says, making Siobhan laugh. “If you let that boy love you, you’ll never walk away. But being with him isn’t all about his fine body. You’ll be a club wife. That position comes with an acceptance of how you can’t know what’s happening behind the scenes.”

We look at the men nearby who are clearly talking about the shootout.

“It’s not just you who has to remain in the dark,” Carys explains. “We all do. Natasha does with Bear. Sometimes, a club guy will marry a chick who thinks she’ll be like my mom, but that mentality gets fixed quickly.”

Carys leans her head back and rests her eyes. “There are rules on the farm. People need to know their place. And even though you’re a rich chick bringing power to the relationship with Tack, here on the farm, you’re still one of the wives. That means you let the fellas figure shit out. If what they do isn’t working for you, well, then you call your mom and you round up an army and go somewhere else. But until then, just relax and know you’re with family.”

Siobhan smiles at me. “Carys is wrong about so very many things.” Ignoring her sister’s disapproving grunt, she continues, “But she’s right about how you don’t need to worry. Not tonight, anyway. The club told the police you were leaving town. As far as anyone knows, you’re on your way out of Banta City. So just relax and heal up. I know you’re hurting.”

I glance at Tack who is watching me while Pork Chop acts out something maybe related to the shootout or possibly from a movie. Carys’s husband tends to be very animated.

“When did Tack get his dog?”

Carys shrugs and adjusts her behind on the cushion. “I don’t know. It was back after I had Hudson.”

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