Page 97 of Hell or High Water

Montana

Linc’s voice carried through the wall, and my stomach knotted. My eyes flew over to Jayda, who was twirling a strand of her hair nervously. That didn’t make me feel better. She lived with Linc. If she was nervous about this, then Than could be in trouble.

“He wouldn’t—I mean, they don’t…kill other members of the, um, group, do they?” I asked hesitantly.

Jayda shook her head, then paused. “Well, it has happened, but not Than. He’s just fighting whatever Linc is telling him, and he isn’t supposed to talk back to Linc.”

I started to chew on my thumbnail, not caring if I ruined it. What was this about? Linc had called and told Than to come to the house at seven this evening. He hadn’t seemed concerned at the cabin, but then we’d had sex against the wall before his call and sat on the sofa and watched a movie while he pulled me over to curl up against him. His fingers had played with my hair the entire time, and I’d almost fallen asleep when he told me it was time to come here.

I wanted to go back to the sofa. Whatever was happening wasn’t good.

The door swung open, and Than came stalking out. His eyes sought me out immediately, and he walked over to me, slipping his arm around my shoulders. “Come with me outside. I need to talk to you about something.”

The heaviness in his voice sent off warning bells. But I went, my fear growing rapidly with each step.

“He was shouting,” I whispered.

Than nodded. “Yeah.”

“Are you okay?” I asked, looking up at him as he walked me through the house.

His lips quirked. “Yeah, I’m fine. He was just pissed.”

No kidding. “Why?” I asked.

He nodded his head toward the tall glass doors that led onto a patio. “I’m gonna explain, but let’s go out here.”

I didn’t like that this had to do with me, and the need to take me outside to tell me was a bad sign. He opened the door, then dropped his arm from my shoulders to let me walk out first.

“Let’s sit over there on the sofa,” he said, pointing to the little living room setup that even had a flat screen under the covering of the patio.

I sat, trying not to fidget.

When he took a seat, it was close to me, and that helped ease me some. But not enough. He was upset. I could see it in his eyes. Whatever this was, he didn’t like it.

“Blaise spoke with Thaddeus Davidson—Wayon’s father—and when asked about the letters and the whiskey bottle and breaking into my goddamn truck, he got Wayon on the call with them. Wayon didn’t even try and deny it. He admitted to everything. He said…” Than paused, and I could see his teeth grind as he cracked his neck to the side. “He said that after he saw you the first time, he kept coming back to Monroe just to watch you. He learned your schedule. Left groceries and other things at your front door when you hadn’t left the house due to your mom.”

My eyes widened. “What?” I whispered. “I thought the girls at the club had been dropping those things off for us. I was just so tired and emotionally worn out that I never asked. I didn’t think to.”

“It was Wayon.” He said his name like a curse. “He wants to talk to you. Alone. Here. Apologize for scaring you.”

I stiffened. “Here? At Linc’s house?”

I was still processing that a guy I’d met once stalked me and bought us groceries. He’d been engaged.

“Yes,” Than said tightly. “Seems he was already in town.” His eyes flashed angrily. “Imagine that.”

I blew out a breath. “When is he coming here?”

“Now,” he said through clenched teeth.

There were many things I should be concerned with right now, but the one thing I wanted to know was, “Is this why Linc was yelling at you?”

He nodded, cutting his eyes at me. “Yes.”

“Because you don’t want me to talk to Wayon?”

“I don’t want him near you.” Than scowled.

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