Page 112 of Honey Bee Hearts

He blinks in surprise. “What?”

“I’ll pay you right now for their freedom. Five hundred thousand.”

He sets the fork down and studies me. “You love them that much?”

I don’t answer his question. “Take it or leave it, Lennox.”

He shakes his head and sits back in his chair. “What is it about the cowboys out here that make women throw all common sense to the wind? These men lied to you,” he points out like a dad lecturing his daughter.

“To protect me,” I counter.

A slow smile pulls at his lips despite his surprise. “I like you, Fable,” he says. “Shame what happened to your friend. I imagine she was just as much a spitfire as you are.”

“She was more so,” I answer honestly. “Shame you couldn’t meet her. She’d have had you by your balls in no time.”

He smiles, watching me for a long minute, before he takes another bite. “I don’t want your money, Everhart. Especially money from the settlement of your best friend’s death.”

I don’t ask how he knows where it would come from. I already realize he knows more than he should. “Then what do you want?”

“How very interesting,” he comments. “Steele Mountain and now Circle Bee.” He stands. “It seems Circle Bee found their queen bee in you, Everhart.” He throws down a hundred-dollar bill on the table. “I’ll give them their freedom under one condition.”

“Which is?” I ask.

“Information. About the thirteen,” he answers before picking up his plate with the pie on it.

“No more drugs?” I ask suspiciously.

“No more drugs, but I expect information when I ask,” he warns. “Or else this negotiation never happened.”

I nod and stand, offering my hand. “Deal.”

He smirks and wraps my hand with his, shaking on it. He points to his plate with his fork. “You really should try the pie.” Like we were two friends having lunch.

He weaves between the tables, over to the guys. I follow, my sword in my hand just in case.

“You have a fine cowgirl in Fable,” he tells them. “Make sure you keep her safe. No idea how many dangers lurk in these mountains.” He raises his brows mockingly. “I hear there’s mountain lions out there.” Then he leaves, walking along the sidewalk, stealing the plate and fork from the restaurant, though I suppose he left more than enough money to cover it. I watch him go, watch as the sedan appears again, and a man gets out. He hands the plate to the guy before climbing into the back seat. I only relax when it drives away.

“What happened?” Rhett asks, standing and wrapping his hand around me. “What did he say?”

“You’re free,” I answer, smiling up at him. “No drugs. Only information.”

“Just like that?” Colt asks. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Does it matter if it doesn’t make sense?” I shrug. “You’re free. That’s all that matters.”

But something niggles at the back of my mind, a warning. We’re not done with Lennox and his Crows yet. I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite us all in the ass.

Chapter 62

Fable

Today’s the day. My bags are all packed. I’ve made sure to get everything together and now I’m standing in the driveway, watching for a car with the guys. My flight is in five hours, a flight back to Florida.

“You should stay,” Colt growls. “There’s no reason for you to leave now.”

“I have things to figure out,” I tell him. “You know that.”

Trent stands silently, his eyes on me. “You should still go. Just because we got out of the drug deal doesn’t mean we’re not safe. The Eight Balls might regroup.”

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