Page 40 of Outlaw

“I know,” I replied quietly, not wanting Linc to hear us. That might cause a problem. “It’s just…” I said gently, placing a hand on his chest. “This is new. All of it. For all of us. Give it some time.”

Hudson glared at the vehicle, and the driver took a step toward him and tilted his head down to look at him. I wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a warning or a challenge, but I was going with both.

“Please just go back inside,” I pleaded.

Although he was trying to appear like he wasn’t scared of the man, his skin had paled, and his eyes were wary. This was never going to work. He’d see soon enough that it was best to end it.

Hudson barely nodded his head. “Okay. Go get your car and drive it back. You need it, and it’s yours. I want to know you have something safe to drive in.”

I was ninety-five percent sure Linc wasn’t going to let me go get that car. I needed to give him the fob back, but he did have the second one at his house. It had come with two of them. I could always mail this one to him. Arguing with him about it with the current audience we had wasn’t smart.

I opened my mouth to tell him okay when the door on the other side of the limo opened. My head snapped around, and my stomach sank as Linc stepped out. I shouldn’t have let Hudson come out here. Shit!

Linc placed his cowboy hat on his head, then pulled something from his back pocket. I moved quickly to stand between him and Hudson. But when he turned around, I realized he hadn’treached for his gun. He stuck a cigarette between his lips and was holding a lighter up to the tip. His eyes brushed past Hudson as the flame went out, and he tucked it back into his pocket. When his eyes met mine, I let out the breath I had been holding. He didn’t look ready to kill anyone. He just appeared bored.

“She’s asleep,” he drawled. “If y’all are gonna keep talking, then I need a smoke.”

When he leaned against the limo casually, like some badass cowboy from a movie, the tension radiating off Hudson just got worse. I could feel it, and I wanted to slap my hand over his mouth to keep him from saying anything that might make Linc pull the gun he kept on him at all times. If Stevie were awake, then there was a chance he wouldn’t, but with her asleep, Hudson wasn’t safe.

“The doors are open,” Hudson said tightly. “The smoke can drift inside, and that’s not good for Stevie’s lungs.”

Oh God. Why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?

Linc’s gaze shifted to him slowly. As if it were a chore he didn’t enjoy. “Then, I reckon you oughta shut the fuck up and let Branwen inside the limo.”

I turned to look at Hudson, placing both hands on his chest to try and get his attention. He could not react to Linc.

“It’s fine,” I almost hissed. “We need to go. I’ll call you tonight.”

“Gotta admit, I didn’t think you’d keep that tiny diamond on her finger after you found out she’d be living with another man for a year.”

I closed my eyes for a moment and sucked in a breath. He was purposely trying to get a rise out of Hudson. This wasn’t a game, and if it were, he had already won. So, he had no reason to do this.

“I trust her.” Hudson’s anger was heavy in his tone.

Linc let out a deep chuckle. “Do you now?” There was a pause,but I didn’t turn to look at him. “Aren’t you a little old to let a pretty face get in your head?”

Hudson’s body was rigid. He was going to walk right into whatever Linc was doing. Defusing the situation was the only way to end this. I had no control over Linc, but it seemed I did over Hudson.

“Ignore him. He is trying to piss you off,” I whispered, pushing at his chest, but he wasn’t budging.

“Not that it’s your business, but I love Branwen. What we have is real, and this ridiculous setup you are forcing on her isn’t going to change that. She might be scared of you, but I’m not. I’ve got the best lawyers in this city at my disposal.”

Another chuckle, but this one held a threat that I wasn’t sure Hudson would pick up on. It was dark and sinister. There were no rules for Linc. Hudson hadn’t believed me when I explained that inside.

“You go right on ahead with that,” Linc replied. “Branwen.” My name came out as a demand in a sharp snap.

Having no choice, I turned to face him, letting my hands fall from Hudson’s chest.

He inhaled deeply, then took the cigarette from his lips. “Get in the limo.”

The glint in his eyes made it clear that if I didn’t do exactly as he said, then this would get ugly. But leaving Hudson alone out here with him wasn’t smart either.

Lifting my chin, I glared back at him. “Only if you do.”

A slow smile spread across his mouth, and he took another pull from the cigarette, then dropped it, covering it with his boot. “What’s wrong, Dollface? You afraid the dentist won’t be safe without you to stand in front of him?”

Dollface. That was what he’d called me in Vegas. My face heated at the reminder of the things he’d done to me while calling me that. Damn him.

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