Page 29 of Stone Cold Sinner

“I agree. Until we know what we’re dealing with…”

“Coy. This could have had an entirely different outcome today. A much more permanent one.” Kenzie continued, looking between Jackson and Devyn.

“But it didn’t. What do you think is going to happen if you try to run this your way?” Coy pointed to Ransom. “He is the fucking President, so this place will be crawling with Fed’s, and they’ll dig up every fucking secret around this town. Are you ready for that? Over potential poachers? Chances are, if this was an organized attack, whoever is behind this will just disappear until the smoke is clear, and we’ll never know if my family is safe. Do you understand that? They won’t be safe.”

“We don’t even know who or what we’re dealing with,” Dillon added. “How do you know that, Coy? What if this is just some local low life and seeing the heat a threat on the president brings is enough to get them out of here?”

“You know as well as I do local small-town criminals don’t plan roadway executions like that. And they certainly don’t use this.” Coy tossed Dillon the shell casing he’d pulled from the car.

Dillon studied it, tossed it in the air, and caught it, “Shit.”

“My thoughts exactly. That ain’t local. And it ain’t how you kill a pack of boars.” Coy confirmed.

“Who are these people?” Dillon questioned. “And what the hell are they doing here? What do they want with this family?”

All eyes turned to Nash.

“You think this is over those plants?” Nash’s voice dropped to a whisper, “Did I do this? Did I bring this here?”

“I don’t know.” Coy shook his head, “We don’t know enough to make a fair assessment. Bullets, that caliber, though? I doubt they were hunting game. Unless the marijuana trade has changed, I think any one of us could have brought this here. Those are the kind of shells we see in our line of work.”

“You think a past case?” Dillon started. “Or some kind of political retaliation with Ran?”

“I think all things are possible. Kenz, we can’t rule you out either.” Coy turned to her. “You need to run down everything you can think of. Past missions, your husband…”

She whipped her head in Coy’s direction, “He’s dead, Coy. This isn’t because of him.”

“Are you sure about that? Did he share all his demons?”

“Screw you.” Kenzie looked around the room, then sat nearby and buried her face in her hands in frustration.

“Well then. Something tells me there’s a story there for another day.” Cut said.

“Not my story to tell, brother, and don’t you dare ask her.”

Kenzie looked at Coy with appreciation as if he’d made up for the previous insult. “I can spare a couple of deputies. They’re always looking for overtime, but again, we run the risk of this getting out.”

“Appreciate it, but you’re right. The fewer outsiders we involve, the better. For now, anyway. Until we know what level of threat, if any, we’re dealing with.”

“Something tells me this is bigger than a couple of deputies anyway.”

“I got it covered,” Coy said, offering Dillon a knowing look to which she nodded. “We just need to sit tight. We’ll have answers soon enough.”

“Hey. I’m worried about Nora. I think we should get her and the baby checked out.” Cut said. “She hit the ground pretty hard, maybe on her belly.”

“I’m fine, Cut. I feel the baby moving.” Nora winced and cradled her pregnant belly.

“That don’t look fine to me,” Cut argued. “Contraction?”

“I’ve been having them for days. It’s normal. Braxton Hicks. And your child just kicked me in the middle of one. I just have a few scrapes and bruises.”

“No, he’s right, Nora.” Ransom said. “I fixed Jackson up for now, but he needs more than a field dressing, and we don’t have the supplies for that. You both need more than I can help with here.”

“I already called help,” Nash said, holding up his phone. “She was coming here anyway for a barbecue. I just asked her to bring some supplies with her.”

“Shit, Nash.” Coy’s hands landed on his hips as he shook his head at his brother. “And what do you think she’s going to do the minute she walks in here and sees all this? Hell, she probably won’t even make it to the front door. Did you see Dev’s car?”

“I’m sure Charlotte’s seen blood before. She’s a nurse. Bullets might be shocking, but I know we can trust her.” Nash fought. “She’s a good girl. Loved Mama. Feels like she knows the family already because of all the stories she’s heard. It’ll be fine.”

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