Chapter 53

John gets here faster than I expect, but I suppose when someone calls and reports that I’m probably gonna shoot someone, they send them out real quick. As the Sheriff, John handles most crime around us. He’s about the only law enforcement I trust to never be corrupted. His morals would never allow it.

Unfortunately for me, it makes him cast a harsh eye on my own actions. I clearly don’t have the same morals.

“What kind of trouble you three get yourselves into now?” he asks, shaking his head. “I ain’t seen nothin’ like this up here in a long time.”

“I told you about the death threats,” I point out, hopin’ that’s all it takes. We don’t need anyone sniffing around at Steele Mountain, not when we’ve got it covered.

John eyes me. “Yeah, I know what you said.” He gestures for me to follow him over to the Suburban where the back is now open as other officers take photos of everything. As we round the end of the car, I take in the sheer number of guns in the back. Guns, ammo, tools, handcuffs, and a folder full of information I have no doubt shows Kate. John reaches in and pulls open a duffel bag to show me the bands of cash inside. “This is gang shit, Dakota.”

I meet his eyes. “Whatcha sayin’, John?”

He lets go of the bag and crosses his arms as he levels me with his gaze. “You involved in anything illegal?”

“No,” I respond. “And you can search the ranch if it’ll make you feel better.”

John narrows his eyes before leaning around me to take in where Kate stands with Wiley and Levi, answering questions like a fucking actress. I was worried, but I shouldn’t have been. “Seems like a lot of trouble followed that woman into town, didn’t it?”

“Oh, can your superstition,” I deadpan. “It’s twenty twenty-four, John. This ain’t the time for outsider nonsense.”

John raises his brow. “So you’re telling me this folder doesn’t contain photos of that woman there?”

My eyes flicker to the folder. “I don’t know what it contains, and that’s the truth.”

John picks it up and flips it open. “Well, it does.” Photos appear of Kate out at the ranch, Kate at the coffee shop, in town. Kate back in a city, standing in line at a restaurant with someone I don’t recognize, a man. “It’s got all her information in here. Even her damn social security number and her coffee order.”

My face hardens. “What are you suggesting?”

“I ain’t suggestin’ anything,” John growls. “What I am sayin’ is that you three are keeping secrets and that poor woman is in the middle of it. You three have been in trouble before, so I expect it, but this? This feels bigger.” He shakes his head and hands me the folder. “I hope you know what the fuck you’re doin’.”

I blink down in surprise at the folder in my hands. “This is evidence.”

“Yeah, and I know you’re probably innocent in all this. You don’t fuck around with drugs, and I know you ain’t trafficking shit. So this is something more personal. But I can’t protect you from the law this time. This is clearly self-defense, but I can’t promise what any other incidents will be decided as.”

I straighten. “We don’t need your protection, John. We’ll do alright. I thought it would just be courteous to let you know there were dead bodies out here. You can see the bullet hole in my truck where they shot at us after I told them to move along. I ain’t lyin’.”

John studies me. “You ain’t lyin’ about that. I know. But why were they blocking the road? Why do they have Kate’s information? Where are these death threats comin’ from?” He picks up one of the guns with his gloved hand and points to a tiny crow etched into the barrel. “And why the fuck are you mixed up with a gang from the east coast, Dakota Steele?”

I pause, my face going blank. “I don’t know what you mean.”

John scoffs. “I ain’t stupid despite what my daddy claims. I know what this looks like. My question is what do The Crows want with a ranch clear out here in Wyoming?” He looks over at Kate with narrowed eyes. “And I’d damn sure like to know what they want with sweet little ole Kate over there.”

“You and me both,” I say before clapping him on the shoulder. “But you’re getting superstitious and paranoid in your old age, John. You know we’re all law-abiding citizens out here.”

His face pinches. “I don’t know that. Actually, I don’t think any of our town knows that.” He meets my eyes, and something passes through them, something I don’t want to look too closely at. “Tell me,” he says, straightening. “You been out to visit your daddy’s grave lately?”

My face twists. “No.”

He nods. “I figured.” Then he tips his hat at me. “You better know what you’re doin’, Steele. For Kate’s sake, I hope you don’t get her killed. Georgia is mighty fond of her.”

He turns and leaves me, dismissing us from further questioning.

His eyes follow me as we leave though, and his words do the same.

A hint. A tease. A fucking reminder of my past.

Bastard.

I ignore the speed limit on the way back, and once we’re through the gate, it clangs shut with a final menacing lock. When Kate asks if I’m okay, I don’t answer and leave her to Levi and Wiley. They can handle it.

For now, I need to make it safe. I need to make it safe.

It’s not fucking safe enough!