Page 16 of January's Bad Boy: Shane

Turning to face him to see what he’s talking about, I don’t let go of Caitlin’s hand.

Atlas is holding a manila envelope, but I have no idea what’s in it.

"What is that?" I ask.

He looks at me like I'm a complete idiot. "I should be asking you that. It was on your counter."

Then it hits me. It's the envelope that was taped to my door. I forgot all about it since I haven't been staying here at the main house. When I look at it again, it's open and I know I didn't open it.

"What is it?" Caitlin asks, her voice shaking.

"After I came up from the barn one day, it was on my door. I set it on the counter and forgot about it. What is it?" I have nothing to hide.

"It's an offer to buy the land. An offer well above what it's worth from the same people who bought the hot springs. Judging from the note inside, it seems like it's the amount you guys agreed on," Atlas spits out.

"I've never talked to those developers a day in my life. Selling this place has never been on the table. Not once, even in my darkest days in jail, did I ever consider it. I know I didn't open it, so why did you?" I spin it back on him and I can see the fight slowly leaving him.

He looks between Caitlin and me. Turning back to Caitlin, I can't read the look on her face.

"Caitlin, I think you should go home. Shane and I need to talk," Atlas says in his dominant, no messing around voice.

While I don't want to be apart from her, it hasn't gone unnoticed that she never said I love you back to me. But I know before she and I even have a chance, Atlas and I have to work things out.

"Atlas and I need to talk," I say softly. Getting her attention, I look deeply into her eyes, trying to convey what I can’t say right now.

She nods her head.

I walk her to the door, but before she leaves, I pull her into my arms and bury my face in her neck.

"This isn't over," I tell her, not sure what else to say.

She nods again, placing a kiss on my check and walks out the door.

By the look on her face, I can tell she is a bit dazed and overwhelmed. With every fiber of my being, I want to hold her and reassure her I'm all in. That nothing is going to stop me.

I watch her car move down the driveway before I turn back to Atlas to work it out with him.

"That is my fucking sister. Not some fling to get your rocks off after being locked up." He yells those ugly words at me.

"If you weren't her brother, I'd break your nose for that comment." I squeeze my hands into fists at my side and flex them in an attempt to stay in control. "I know she is your sister. This was never a fling. I plan to marry that girl. With or without your permission."

Atlas's frame softens, but only by a small fraction. If I hadn't been staring at him, I would have missed it.

"She doesn't even live here," Atlas says, shaking his head.

"That's just geography." I shrug.

Either I stunned Atlas speechless or he's plotting if he can get away with my death. But he isn't the only one with questions.

"Why didn't you tell me about the postcard you got in the mail with the threat against the club?" I know I'm not part of the club, but he is my best friend, and we've always shared everything.

"How did you find out?" he asks. All the tension leaves him as he sits on the edge of the couch.

"The whole damn town knows. They were talking about it at the café."

"Fuck. I didn't want to bother the town. I wanted them to enjoy being free from Savage Bones, and thought I could figure it out before it became an issue," he says.

"Well, I think you need to address it. At least with Ruby and Orville and the sheriff, if you haven't already. They have a right to be in on your plans."

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