Page 56 of Hell or High Water

Linc: Bane is south, Forge is east, Ransom is west, and Oz is north. They’ll switch out at daybreak with Locke, Gathe, Luther, and Hale. If you leave tomorrow, let Luther know before you go. He will have someone tail you. I’m in Ocala with my girls to get them settled until this afternoon, and then I’m heading back there.

I read the text as I lay on the sofa in the dark, then sent a thumbs-up before setting my phone on the coffee table and putting both hands behind my head while staring at the ceiling.

After an intense afternoon, Montana had finally relaxed while we ate a late lunch or early dinner. She’d even left her door open to the bedroom while she lay on the bed and read a book after telling me to just let her know when I needed the bathroom. That there was no need for me to go down to the stables.

I wasn’t sure if it was because she wanted to make it easier on me or if she was scared to stay here alone. I figured it was more the latter than anything. I didn’t blame her. She didn’t know that there were trained killers surrounding the property. But she had sure as hell tried to figure out what we were today. For a moment, I’d thought I was going to have to tell her, but she’d let it go.

There was already enough shit she had to deal with. I didn’t want to drop on her that she was sharing a tiny-ass cabin with a guy who had a Glock on him and a knife he liked to use to slice areas that made men talk. I doubted it would go over well.

I closed my eyes, knowing I needed to try and sleep, but that was going to be harder than usual tonight. The fucker leaving the notes had broken into my truck like a goddamn ghost today. Even with one of the guys being at each side of the property, we didn’t know who we were dealing with. If he managed to sneak past one of them, it would be up to me to make sure he never got near Montana again. He sure as shit wouldn’t be able to write another letter. If I wasn’t allowed to kill him, I’d at least slice off every finger he had and shove them in his mouth.

The sound of soft footsteps had my eyes popping back open. I thought Montana had fallen asleep over an hour ago. She had asked if I needed anything else after I took a shower, and when I said no, she had told me good night. The floorboard creaked just on the other side of the door, and I sat up to look at it.

What was she doing?

My eyes dropped to the doorknob as it turned, and I waited. There was a pause, and I was about to ask her if she was okay, but the door opened just a couple of inches.

“Are you okay?” I asked, although I couldn’t see her with the lights off in her room.

The door opened wider, and she stepped into the frame. The moonlight from the windows in here illuminated her, and…damn. All that dark hair hung in a braid over her shoulder, and the camisole and pajama shorts she had on looked like some silky number that I did not need an image of, but I had it, and it was now going in my spank bank.

“Did I wake you?” she asked, sounding apologetic.

I shook my head. “No. I’ve been awake.”

Her shoulders rose and fell slightly, and then she licked her lips. “I, uh…I’m having a hard time sleeping. I, uh…keep seeing those stupid letters when I close my eyes.”

Ah hell. Please don’t ask me if you can come in here.

“Place is secure. We have guys at every corner. You’re safe. I swear.”

She didn’t look relieved. “Um, would…would you just, uh…I mean, could you, um…sleep in my bed? I think if I’m not alone, I could sleep.”

How was I going to tell her no?

“You can have the extra quilt. We don’t even have to be under the same covers. And the bed is a double.” There was a desperation in her voice, and I knew I was fucked.

Standing, wearing nothing but my boxers, I prayed that my cock didn’t decide to react to the sight of her. Reaching for my discarded shirt, I quickly slipped it back on before starting in her direction.

“Thank you,” she breathed, then moved away and went back to the bed to start separating the covers.

“Just leave them like they are,” I told her. “It’s fine.”

She paused and glanced at me as if she wasn’t sure she agreed, but my guess was that her fear kept her from saying anything because she pulled them back and climbed inside, then watched me warily as I went to the other side of the bed to get in.

This was going to be a long night.

When I lay down, I turned to the wall and pulled the covers up. The scent of vanilla and cinnamon hit me. Clenching my teeth, I bit back the string of curse words running through my head. Fuck! The entire bed smelled like her. I pressed my nose closer to the pillow and inhaled.

Torture. This was some sort of twisted torture.

“Thank you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“No problem. This is better than the sofa,” I replied.

She didn’t say more.

Neither of us moved as we lay there. I listened to her breathing until, eventually, it began to slow. At least one of us was going to get some sleep tonight. Wondering what time it was, I went to reach for my phone and realized I’d left it on the coffee table. Shit. Getting up meant I could wake her. I hadn’t turned it on silent. Just down. If they needed me, they could call.

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