Page 98 of Give Me Forever Love

I have Rylee to think about now. I can’t put her in harm’s way.

“I’ll do that now,” he says, standing up and heading to the backyard.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Bryce

With my phone clutched in my hand, I walk out onto the deck and take a seat on the patio furniture. The sun is setting as a float glides across the top of the pool.

I exhale, pissed that I’m having to deal with this shit. We may have to leave everything we’ve got just to get away from this city and the men who think I’m working with Danny.

I pull out my wallet and grab the card the lawyer gave me. I never put his number in my phone. I just never did.

After I put in the number, I hit call and sit back in the chair, watching as a dragonfly buzzes above the water.

“Bryce?” Danny answers.

“Hey,” I reply.

“What’s going on?” he asks. I hear people around him, but it quiets in a matter of seconds.

“Wanna tell me why I’m sitting here with a gunshot wound, my wife is healing from a severe car wreck and stress-induced labor because someone intentionally hit my car, and then yanked me from it to tell me to tell Moretti to stay off his turf before shooting me?”

The phone line goes completely silent. I wait because I know that was a lot to digest. Hell, I’m still trying to work it out and it’s been days.

I don’t know why, but for someone reason, this motherfucker likes me. Sadly, his liking me almost got me killed.

“I’ll handle this,” he says. “Don’t worry about it.”

I chuckle. “I’m afraid I can’t not worry about it, Danny. I have a child and a wife. What the fuck is going on?”

“Remember what I told you in jail? The less you know, the better, my friend.”

“Are you running drugs out of Red?” I ask. “Is that why you bought it?”

“The less you know,” he says again. “We’ll talk soon.” With that he hangs up.

I look at my phone, and I swear I feel smoke trail from my goddamn ears. I don’t trust this will just go away. I can’t risk it.

I stand up and head inside, seeing K feeding Rylee.

“We’re going to live out at Grant Ranch. After you feed her, pack your shit and hers and we’re leaving.”

“What? We just got home.”

“Don’t start, K. Just do as I ask.” I head up the stairs and pack my own shit. I’ll sell this place and live out at the ranch permanently if that’s what it takes to keep my wife and kid safe.

I’ve fucked up.

Once again, but at least this time, I can make sure we’ll be okay. K may have to let go of Mugs & Books. We can sell it, too, and start up another bookstore somewhere else. This is just the way it has to be.

We’re caught up in some fucking gang war, and that never ends well.

_____________

An hour later, Lou has come and gone with our medication and we’ve told her we’re staying out at the ranch for a little while. It all makes sense because we could use the help with both of us being so messed up, but we’re also pretty secluded so we’ll still have our privacy.

“Yeah, Dad,” K says to Mills on the phone. “We just think it’s a good idea right now.”

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