42. Colt

42

COLT

I hadn’t taken my eyes off Ridley for more than a handful of seconds since we'd gotten to the bar. Nothing longer than a hello and chin lift to Trey when I’d sat my ass on a stool at the end of the mahogany closest to her and Baker’s table. And now I was damn glad I’d picked that seat.

Because I’d seen those first flickers of annoyance pass over the bastard’s face. I’d seen it ebb and flow, retreat and come storming back in. I’d seen it morph into fury at something Ridley said to him. And I’d been out of my seat before he’d grabbed her.

The moment his hand latched onto Ridley’s wrist, a red haze slipped over my vision. It took everything in me not to reach over the table and grab him by the throat. I would’ve arrested someone else for doing the same, but all I could think about was how he was touching Ridley without her permission, hurting her.

Baker’s gaze jerked to me. “This is none of your goddamned business, hick.”

I didn’t give a damn what he thought of me, what insults he might hurl my way. All I cared about was Ridley. “I’ll give you three seconds.”

He scoffed, gripping Ridley’s wrist tighter. “You can’t do a damn thing. My lawyers would have your ass in a sling. I’m untouchable.”

“Are you sure about that?” Ridley snarled.

One second Baker had her wrist in a tight hold, and a moment later, he was twitching and crying out in pain. He curled in on himself and fell to the floor, yelling and sobbing.

The whole bar went quiet around us, the only sounds the strains of some retro rock 'n' roll and Baker’s cries. But I was already moving to Ridley, helping her out of the chair, hands going to her wrist. “Are you okay? Do you think it’s broken?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.” She flexed her hand, twisting her wrist as if to prove it. Then she held up her other hand and grinned. “Pretty sure I tased his balls.”

My eyes went wide as I took in the small pink device that looked more like a flashlight than a Taser. “Seriously?”

Ridley shrugged, still grinning. “You gave me the idea with that whole remove-your-balls-from-your-body threat.”

“Should’ve known you’d take that literally,” I mumbled.

Trey moved toward our huddle. “Deputies are on the way. You okay, Ridley?”

She sent Baker a withering stare as he still writhed on the floor, and tucked the Taser back into her pocket. “I’m fine. Sorry about the drama.”

Trey glanced at the man on the floor and then pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. “Never seen a fall quite like that one.”

“A-plus on form,” Patty called as she tucked her tray under her arm and offered Ridley a high five.

Ridley choked on a laugh and hit Patty’s palm with her good hand. “Thanks.”

Patty glared at Baker, whose cries had softened but he made no move to get up. “Rude as anything. Should’ve known he was up to no good.”

“Sorry you had to deal with him,” Ridley said.

“Not your fault, hon. Just glad to see the dirt where it belongs.”

A few of the bikers hooted at that.

“Need any backup, Ridley?” Ace called. “I got a man who can take the trash out.”

“I can help,” Norm offered.

“Jesus,” I muttered. “You’ve got bikers and senior citizens teaming up to off your enemies?”

Ridley just smiled up at me innocently. “I like making friends.”

“Fucking hell,” I mumbled as Ryan and Deputy Marshall charged into the bar.

Ryan scanned the room and started moving the second she saw us. “What happened now?”

“He assaulted Ridley. She tased him,” I answered, trying to fill her in as succinctly as possible.

“Tased him in the balls,” Ridley added helpfully. “You’re leaving out the best part.”

Ryan’s eyes widened as Sam yelled, “You show ’em, sweetheart.”

Ridley just waved at the chess-playing troublemaker.

I groaned and glanced at Trey. “Could you get Ridley some ice for her wrist?”

“Coming right up,” he said, heading for the bar.

“I’m okay,” Ridley assured me.

I pinned her with a look. “We don’t want it swelling.”

“She broke my balls,” Baker wailed. “Arrest her.”

Ryan tried to cover her laugh with a cough. “What do ruptured balls fall under in the penal code anyway?”

Ridley pressed her lips together to try to hold her laugh in but failed miserably. “ Penal code .”

“I give up,” I muttered. “Marshall, will you arrest this asshole and get him medical attention if he needs it?”

“You got it, Sheriff. Just as long as I don’t gotta look at his balls.”

“Fuck me,” I muttered.

But Marshall hauled Baker to his feet, reading him his rights as he yelled. Baker glared at Ridley. “You’re going to regret this. My reach goes farther than you know. I can get to you anywhere?—”

“Get him out of here,” I yelled. “And add threatening a witness to his charges.”

All amusement fled from Ryan’s face. “Walk me through what happened.”

Ridley did as she asked, not getting rattled until she shared why she was so mad about what Baker was attempting to force her to do.

“It matters to me, this work,” Ridley said quietly, her throat working as she tried to keep her composure. “I take it seriously. People open up to me. They share their pain. And it means everything to me to be the holder of it, to try to find them peace. I wasn’t about to let him bastardize that.”

I couldn’t stop myself from touching her now. I knew it went against our rules, but I did it anyway. My arm curled around her shoulders as if that could give her strength, protection. But the truth was, Ridley was stronger than anyone I’d ever known.

Ryan’s eyes flashed. “What you do, it’s something worth fighting for.”

“Thank you,” Ridley croaked.

“I’ve got everything we need for now,” Ryan said. “I’ll give you a ring tomorrow if I have any other questions.”

“Thanks, Ryan,” I said. “I’ll be in tomorrow morning.”

She nodded and headed for the door.

“Here you go,” Trey said, handing Ridley some ice wrapped in a towel. “You can take this home.”

Ridley sent him a grateful smile. “At least I didn’t break any furniture.”

He chuckled. “Would’ve been worth it if you did.”

“Come on. Let’s get home,” I said.

Trey’s brows lifted at that, and he sent me a pointed look. I tried to ignore my best friend. It was just a word, a slip of the tongue.

Home.

But as I guided Ridley toward the door, I couldn’t ignore the fact that my cabin had never felt like home until Ridley filled the space with light. Her papers spread out over the dining table. Her scent clinging to the walls. Her damn cat attacking me every time I gave it a new toy.

She made everything better. But when this case was done, she’d leave. And I’d be left with nothing but a bittersweet memory.