Page 40 of Tempt Me

TACK

The chief of police and two detectives arrive along with the club’s shaky ally and local cop Alec Brennan. That last one puts Aunt Fred on edge immediately. Months back, the Brennan family—an array of dirty cops and protected thugs—approached the Backcountry Kings to create an alliance to take down the Kovak Syndicate. We responded to their offer by arranging a marriage between Bear and Natasha. The Brennan family hasn’t been particularly helpful since then.

By the time the pigs show up, the club’s lawyers have already set up in the farm’s snazzy state-of-the-art barn turned meeting hall and winter play area. We regularly hold club meetings here. For today, we set up several tables and dozens of chairs.

The Banta City cops have videos of the shootout and know the target was Hunter Knutsen. This situation isn’t that fucking complicated. Hired guns turned a city block into the O.K. Corral.

Yet, while the chief of police and Alec Brennan look on, the detectives run at us with the same dumb questions. Whenever anyone gets frustrated, Alec reveals a smug little grin. Our lawyers quickly start interrupting the detectives with their own questions, throwing off the pigs’ mojo. Alec’s smirk soon disappears.

During Hunter’s questioning, I sit at her side. Her answers are weak and confused. I worry about her state of mind when she shuts down and begins crying. That’s the only time the cops back off on their own. I think they remember how Suzanne Knutsen has the governor on speed dial. Pissing off Banta City’s wealthy is the quickest way to an early retirement.

By the time the law leaves, Hunter has calmed down and is resting with Siobhan on the swing of the second farmhouse. When she offers me a knowing smile, I reconsider her entire performance in front of the cops. Was she playing them to keep her information vague?

Indigo strolls over to me when I get stuck halfway between the meeting hall and the farmhouse.

“Are you okay?” he asks and stares off in the direction of the road.

“It’s been a long fucking day.”

“You kept her alive.”

“Thanks to you.”

Indigo shrugs and grinds his boot heel into the soft ground. “I want you to have this shot with Hunter.”

“You’re a good friend.”

Indigo’s brown eyes study me. “Bear got to be with Natasha. He didn’t think that was going to happen. Now, you’re looking at your second chance. Nothing should stand in your way.”

“It won’t,” I say and add when I sense he’s got more on his mind, “What are you thinking?”

“Is there a part of you that’s worried Hunter’s only with you because she’s scared?”

“Sure, but I’ve always known she wanted me. Hunter just thought my dangerous lifestyle was a dealbreaker. With her seemingly safe life now dangerous, my shit no longer seems like a big deal.”

“You waited a long time.”

“Sure.”

“Is it like you expected?”

“Are you asking if Hunter can compare to my fantasies?”

“Yeah. Not the fucking part. That’s going to be good because your dick was desperate and she’s so pretty. But I mean having her want you as a man. Is that part what you expected?”

Studying Indigo, I hear the worry in his voice. It’s not for me. He’s thinking about a woman he likes. There’s been a running bet in the club about Indigo’s purity thing. I’ve long assumed he has a thing for Siobhan since most of his “holier than thou” behavior comes out about her. Golden claimed our club brother was molested and twisted up inside, so he couldn’t let anyone enjoy fucking. Zoot claimed Indigo was gay, and we needed to find him a man. Elvis agreed with that and figured Indigo was in love with Golden. That usually shuts down the conversation.

Right now, I’m certain this conversation is about Siobhan. I glance at her on the porch with Hunter. The women are talking to someone on the phone. Natasha has likely joined the bestie lovefest.

Studying Indigo, I don’t know what he wants to hear, so I tell him the truth. “In my head, everything between Hunter and me would become perfect once we were together. Obviously, it can’t be that way with all this craziness going down. I don’t always say the right shit. I still worry she can’t enjoy a bunch of stuff about my life. But being able to reach out and touch her feels right. When she seeks me out for comfort, I feel like a man in a new way.”

I step back and nod. “Yeah, our fantasies are always going to be flawless, but they’re also short-lived and cold. The real deal is flawed but better. I really want Hunter to accept the man I am and not the perfect guy I pretend to be in my head.”

Indigo nods. “So, did she just decide her life was scary and she wanted you? Or is this a reward for saving her? I don’t get how you went from friends to something else. Bear and Natasha did that, too. One night, she was at the clubhouse, and then he had her in bed. Like, how does that work?”

I offer Indigo a soft smile. None of the guys at the farm grew up right. We’re all damaged. With Aunt Fred and Elvis as our surrogate parents, most of us got our shit together and at least fake normalcy.

However, Indigo grew up in the hills around rough men. His mom either loved him something fierce or forgot him completely. By the time Caveman sent him to live on the farm, I think Indigo was too far gone to understand people. He still seems startled when Aunt Fred gives him affection.

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