Page 84 of Wild Bliss

“Well, four men nearly died last night.” Cam stood in thehallway, a mug of coffee in one hand and a half-eaten muffin in the other.

In this he wasn’t as manly as he sounded. “It was two.Sabrina took the other two out.”

“What?” Marshall’s eyes had gone wide.

Cam nodded. “That’s right, Marsh. She’s good with a stungun, and if I heard correctly, a bottle of vodka.”

“Tequila.” She’d bashed one of his attackers with areposado. It was kind of a tragedy since it had been one of the only expensiveliquors Sawyer bought. There had been a perfectly cheap blanco sitting rightthere, but no, she’d gone for the good stuff.

“Sabrina wouldn’t…” Marshall began.

Wyatt huffed. “Dude, you don’t know her. You’re seeing thesweet schoolteacher who would have given you some status in this town, who youlikely thought you could set up a nice life with. She could take care of acabin for you and have supper on the table every night and never give you amoment’s trouble. There’s a crazy bitch under those cardigans. You couldn’thandle her, and I’ve been told in no uncertain terms I don’t get to make thedecision whether she should be with me or not. So I suggest you do your job andensure my brother’s men don’t come back.”

“Dude, she’s Elisa’s sister.” Cam was looking at his fellowdeputy like he was a dumbass. “Did you really think she’d be some easy chick?”

“She’s a schoolteacher. She’s not like El. El is great andall but she’s not like…” Marshall began.

“Not like what?” Gemma stood up from her cubicle, remindingeveryone she had excellent hearing. She also had a headset on. “Yeah, they’retalking about you now. I’m waiting to see if Marshall is going to finish hissentence or crap his pants.”

“You called Elisa?” Cam grinned her way. “Damn, I thoughtyou were softening up in your old age.”

Gemma’s eyes rolled. “Never. Hey, I finally have a woman inthis department. Chicks before dicks and all. Elisa and I get along likegangbusters. The only argument we’ve ever had was when she set her sister up ona date with the Creede boys. You see, I thought they were a bit tootraditional.”

“I was going to share her with Knox,” Marshall pointed out.

“You liked her because she wasn’t scary like me or hersister,” Gemma shot back. “I hear everything, dude. You and Knox talkedendlessly about how scary the women are around here and how soft and sweetSabrina is. You have obviously never been in charge of a large group ofeight-year-olds. She’s a badass.” She laughed at whatever was being said in herear. “Yeah, I think he was going to say you weren’t wife material, too. I meanhe’ll make up some bullshit now, but we all know.”

“You could be more of a team player, Gemma.” Marshall’scheeks were stained with red.

“Oh, I am a total team player,” Gemma replied. “You’re justnot on my team.”

“Well, I guess Elisa isn’t the woman I thought she was ifshe’s going to let her sister fuck around with criminals.” Marshall took a stepback as though ceding the argument. “Sabrina’s going to get hurt, but I guessshe’s such a badass she doesn’t need our help. Like a lot of women in this townshe seems to have forgotten why she needs a man.”

“To clean her stun gun. Make sure it has batteries.” Wyattwas sick of the macho bullshit. He was surprised he’d found it here sinceMarshall was right. Most of the women in Bliss were badasses who loved theirmen but didn’t cling to them crying when bad times happened. Nope. They pullout their stun guns and expensive bottles of sipping tequila and go to work.“Also to bring her lunch when she forgets it. Which she did, and it’s Nell’sday to menu plan, so I’m pretty sure it’s like salad she found in the field andmaybe some weird bread. I’m getting my baby a burger from Stella’s. And thatbad-boy Sawyer? You know, the baddest dude in town? He’s picking up shampoo andfeminine products so she’ll be comfortable while she’s staying in our cabin.See, I’ve learned a few things since I left the toxic land I call my childhood.When men talk about taking care of women, they’re talking about defending herfrom vague threats while the women do all of the other work. Most women wouldrather have a dude who actively participates in the life they share. But that’sjust my criminal opinion.”

Gemma clapped. “Damn straight. I told you he’s a keeper.”

At least he might have made a slightly better impression onher sister.

“The threats aren’t vague, Kemp,” Marshall said with afrown. “They’re real, and as much as you want to play house, your past is goingto come back. I’ve studied up on the Horde and I’m surprised they let you go.They don’t tend to let family leave. Makes me wonder what you have on them. Orif you gave them something so big they know you’ll never tell.”

Marshall was way too close to the truth for Wyatt’s comfort.

“How about you leave it alone,” Cam ordered. “Wyatt isn’taccused of anything. He was defending himself and Sabrina.”

“So the report says.” Marshall sighed. “There’s somethingelse going on here. I don’t know why everyone’s burying their head in the sand.No one walks away from a group like that. He’s a danger to this community, andI intend to prove it.”

“By harassing him?” Cam asked. “I think the sheriff mighthave something to say. Our heads aren’t buried, Marshall. We think everyonedeserves a second chance if they work for it. None of us here came fromglorious pasts with no trauma or regret. It’s precisely why we’re here. If youwant to know how he paid, take a look at his chest sometime. They wouldn’t lethim leave with the tattoo they forced on him when he was eighteen so theyburned it off his body.”

“Everyone knows?” Wyatt was careful to keep his shirt on.

“Doc came in fuming about it the night he went out toSawyer’s cabin to treat you,” Cam admitted. “Don’t be pissed at him. He wasangry for you, and you wouldn’t press charges.”

“They wouldn’t have stuck. My brother had me make a videoagreeing to everything he did to me,” Wyatt explained. “Pressing charges wouldhave kept me in his world.”

“I believe the sheriff said roughly the same.” Cam moved tohis desk, dismissing Marshall. “You should know the DA is probably going towant to talk to you about a plea deal.”

“Whatever makes it go away the fastest,” Wyatt agreed.“Honestly, it wasn’t like I got hurt. I just want them to stay away. I want tolive my life here. It’s all I want.”

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