Page 124 of Gifts

As the police start to swarm and EMS tend to Tom and Maggie, Keelie sinks into me.

“It has to be over,” she mumbles into my chest. “There’re no unanswered questions now. He was behind it all.”

I don’t say anything because we do have a few things to figure out. I plan on marrying her soon and need to figure out how fast I can make that happen. But standing in the middle of a field with her dead principal lying at our feet, her coworker in the back of her car with a GSW to the chest, and an unconscious teenager, now is not the time.

Tomorrow. We’ll figure that out tomorrow.

Chapter 31

Perfect Chaos

Asa

Crew, Grady, and I are standing off to the side, watching a slew of teenagers gathered around a bonfire. The music is loud, Keelie and Danielle provided a mountain of food, and now that Keelie’s family left, it’s just the kids.

All the kids.

Keelie’s after-graduation party for Levi has proved to be the hotspot. I lost count around the seventy-fifth teenager and now I just have to make sure no one wanders off into the woods and gets pregnant on my watch.

Levi is sitting by the fire with Carissa curled into his chest. He looks away from a group of people they’re talking to and leans in to whisper something in her ear that makes her smile.

I shake my head. I don’t know whether to cringe because they’re too serious or be happy because he’s happy. My son graduated this afternoon and he leaves in a little over two months. I’ve reached the point in parenting where I can’t do much anymore—he is who he is. I’m just glad he’s not a dumbass and has his head screwed on straight. At least I’ll have more time with Emma.

“How’s Keelie doing?” Crew asks. “It’s only been a week. She looks okay, but she also looked okay right after she was grazed by a bullet the first time I met her.”

I lift my beer to my lips. “She’s good. Surprisingly good. I keep watching her, waiting for her to implode. She went to see Tom Logan yesterday. It hasn’t been easy, but he’s recovering. She also found out Maggie’s parents have put her in rehab for at least the next month. I guess she’s done a lot of experimenting. Beth is home and should make a full recovery.”

“Good news.” Grady tips his head toward the other side of the yard where Emma is sitting with a group of kids. “That, on the other hand, does not look like good news.”

When I look over, I have to agree—that is really bad fucking news. It’s all I can do not to go over there to rip the boy’s head off who’s been giving Emma way too much attention all night. I have no idea who he is, but he looks way too fucking old for her. They’d better not leave my sight or someone’s going to end up scared shitless. After all she went through this past year, I want nothing more than for her to be a teenager, enjoy school, and be happy.

But not that kind of happy.

I had less than a year with Levi, at least I have three more with her. But if this is what I have to look forward to—watching some hormonal boy drool all over my beautiful daughter—it’s going to be a long three years.

I’ve been looking at cars for her and after what happened to Keelie last week, I might just put her in a tank to keep her safe. I’m still working on ways to keep her away from the opposite sex.

“Chloe’s only a few months old and I’m already not looking forward to that stage,” Grady adds.

The goats start to raise hell, vying for attention from a group of teenagers who wandered over to see what they were all about.

“Since you and Keelie are officially a thing,” Grady starts and motions to the pasture. “You’re now the owner of a shitload of goats and a donkey.”

I don’t answer and raise a brow, wondering where this is going, because I can tell from his tone, his smartass is burning strong.

Grady looks to Crew and keeps talking. “And don’t pretend you haven’t come to like the cows. Every few months you come home from the auction, or whatever the hell that place is, with a new one.”

Crew smirks. “It’s better than mowing the pastures. And Vivi loves them, too.”

“Don’t make excuses. If you’re a cow lover, just be a man and own it. My point is that you two were badasses who traveled the world doing what we did and now you’re both basically farmers.”

I shake my head and Crew laughs silently.

Grady pushes away from the side of the barn he was leaning against and heads for the house. “You two should get your animals together for a playdate or some shit. Those goats would drive the cows up a fucking wall—they do me.”

Grinning, I call back, “I’m gonna get Cayden a goat for his birthday. He’ll love it.”

Grady pins me with a glare. “You wouldn’t dare.”

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