Page 70 of Honey Bee Hearts

“Can’t I?” Lennox asks, leveling me with that mile-long stare. I don’t care. I’m not afraid of him. I dealt with assholes like him both inside the police force and the criminals we faced. Men like Lennox don’t scare me. He can’t do anything to me that I’m afraid of.

But to Fable, he can.

As if knowing where my mind goes, he asks, “Where did that cute little thing you lot had staying here go?”

“She left,” I say. “Temporary guest.”

His lips curl. “Pity. She seemed like a lot of fun.”

I know instantly he doesn’t believe me, which is fucking dangerous. It’s more dangerous than anything else we’ve done, but that’s okay. I can protect Fable. I will. Nothing is gonna happen to her, not unless it’s me doin’ it.

“Why the increase?” Rhett asks. “We don’t give you any trouble. We’ve delivered on time every time. We don’t ask for anything over, but here you are asking for more and more. What does it benefit us to give you more?”

“It doesn’t. It benefits me, clearly,” Lennox says, looking away from me to focus on Rhett again. “Consider it payment for playing both teams. I really, really don’t like the Eight Balls.”

How the fuck does he know that? How the fuck does he know anything he does? The Crows would have been a short-lived problem if not for this motherfucker. What is it about him that makes them so powerful? Why is he so goddamned good at this?

And why can’t we fucking be the same?

“I don’t care really,” Lennox shrugs. “You pay up or you move more product. It doesn’t matter which.”

“We can’t move anymore,” Rhett grits out. “We’re at max capacity already.”

“Then you know which choice you’ll choose,” Lennox shrugs. He steps closer to Rhett and looks down at him. “I’m not mad, Rhett. In fact, I have to admire a survivor. I’m one of those, too. You lot have single-handedly saved this place, and I’m glad you took my offer when I came. That’s admirable.” He glances at Trent and me. “I expect the payment by the end of the day. Oh, and don’t kill my guys. It’s a pain to get good help these days.”

He smiles as if we’re not discussing criminal activities and death threats and turns back to his black sedan.

“I’ll see you around.” He meets my eyes. “Maybe I’ll see your guest around sometime.”

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “Not my business if you do.”

He chuckles and slips into the car before the goons follow and the black sedan pulls away. We watch him go, none of us speaking until the car pulls onto the main road and disappears. Only then do we collectively let out a breath.

I immediately call Gunnar, but he doesn’t answer.

“Fuck,” I snarl, looking over at Rhett. He’s standing there staring at the road, his expression dark. “What now?”

He scowls. “I’m gonna send him more money. That’s what. You make sure the Eight Balls don’t find out for certain. We can’t afford to double our pay with them, too. Especially, since they were already asking.”

Then he storms off, leaving Trent and me to stand there. I glance at him. “You got a bad feeling about this?”

“I always have a bad feeling,” he answers. “Doesn’t stop me.”

Then he leaves me there, too. My eyes dance out to the pastures. I call Gunnar again. No answer.

“Where the fuck did they go?” I snarl, annoyed.

Chapter 39

Fable

My stretches today are going well enough. I feel like my leg is starting to grow stronger and stronger with each stretch. There’s less of an ache there, but I still have a long way to go. At least I’m able to resume most activities, but there are some I’ll just never be able to do. Not like I was gonna be an Olympic runner prior to this anyways.

I’m in the middle of my stretches when Gunnar comes running out of the barn, his expression less than the calm I’m used to seeing him. I straighten, frowning as Jethro starts wagging his tail.

“Come with me,” he commands as soon as he reaches me.

“What?” I ask.

---