Page 15 of Rett

“Not in a million fucking years,” frowned Nine as he and Gaspar walked closer to the group. “Pissed me off for a lot of years. We loved Grip. He was a stellar fucking operative. He proved that by saving Montana’s life. Now, Doug and Miguel are making a life for themselves.” Gaspar pointed to a table where the two men were eating. There was a sad smile on Grip’s face but no signs of jealousy or anger.

“That could have been you,” she whispered.

“Believe me, honey, I know. I think, in some ways, this is my penance for not being honest with my friends. I’m happy for him and Miguel. They needed one another.”

“Are there more of you?” asked Casey.

“Definitely,” laughed Martha. “We have Nathan Redhawk, my love. Tony and Claudette, also in love. Billy, who rarely shows himself, but he’s around. A few others, but we’ll leave it to them to show themselves should they need to.”

“So, you can find love in the afterlife?”

“I’m not sure we’re in the afterlife,” said Yori. “I think we’re somewhere in between. It feels as though we’re still alive, and yet we cannot eat food or touch humans.”

“This is the most remarkable place I’ve ever been in my entire life,” smiled Casey. “I promise I’ll tell no one about you.”

“I’m glad you said that,” smirked Rett. “Our anonymity and location are very important to our survival and to our way of life. That was nearly taken from all of us, which is how Gray Wolf came about.”

“Well, I, for one, am very glad it did. I don’t know where I’d be without them or where Wes would be.”

Casey saw a tall, dark-haired man speaking with the men she’d met the night before. He seemed serious, a frown causing lines across his brow. When the men started to walk toward her, her stomach dropped.

“Good morning, Casey,” said Luke.

“Is it? Your expression tells me it’s not.”

“Casey, Wes was attacked last night at the restaurant. Three men were looking for you, and when he refused to tell them where you’d gone, they beat him.”

“Oh, my God. I have to go to him!”

“No. No need,” said Hex. “He’s at our clinic and protected now. He’s going to be fine. A few broken ribs, broken nose, and some other things. But he’ll be okay. We’ve closed the restaurant for a week, citing a gas leak.”

“It’s always a gas leak,” frowned Grip. They laughed nervously at his statement. They’d used the gas leak excuse on multiple occasions.

“Can I go see him?” she asked.

“In a while,” said Luke. “We’re trying to make him comfortable, and he’s undergoing a battery of tests right now. I promise he’ll be fine. What we need to be sure of now is that you are not seen by anyone. I know that Rett explained this to you, and so did Otto, but you cannot leave this compound, Casey.

“If you need clothing, supplies, anything, we will get it for you. Don’t use your cell phone, credit cards, anything.”

“Oh, that man that was talking to you took my cell phone last night,” she said, pointing at Ace.

“That’s Ace. He’s one of several technology experts we have on our team. One of the best. He’s making sure that they can’t track you and that if there are any calls coming through on the phone, he answers them. It’s all for your safety, I assure you. We don’t want to invade your privacy.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t have anything that I’m ashamed of or afraid to show all of you. I have no boyfriend, no parents, no siblings. I barely have friends other than those in the kitchen. I’ve been pretty much alone since my mom died.”

“Not anymore,” growled Rett. She stared up at him, unsure of what to say. His mother and father came toward them, grinning.

“You know, my son is a great deal like his father. Devilishly handsome and woefully lacking intelligent vocabulary sometimes,” she smiled. “I’m Liz. I believe you met my husband, Kiel. These are my parents, Rose and Baptiste, and Kiel’s parents, Zeke and Noelle.”

“Wow, you guys are unbelievably beautiful and young-looking.”

“She can stay,” said Kiel, looking at his son. “You, I’m not so sure about.”

“Very funny, Dad. I’m staying until this is settled. First, they come after me, now they’re after Casey. Why? What does Ramos want from me? From us?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out,” said Kiel. “Joseph, Nathan, and I have all had run-ins with him long before he became head of the cartel. I’m wondering if he just wants to get to one of us, any of us.”

“It could be, but how would he know that we’re connected?” asked Rett. Casey burst into laughter, then realized that no one else was laughing with her.

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