HUNTER
My body feels calmer after I share it with Tack. I'm also less frantic mentally. When I focus on Tack, everything falls into place. That's why I can't stop smiling while he holds me on his lap.
"You're so beautiful," I whisper against his jaw. "I still remember how gaga I went when I first saw you."
"Yeah, I remember that, too. You were all over me. It was a bit much."
"Sure," I murmur before throwing my head back and laughing at how he teases me. "I also recall how you were strutting around that night, trying to impress me."
Tack chuckles at the thought of his seduction routine. I kiss both of his cheeks and ignore how his phone vibrates. Tack loses his smile as the world crowds us again.
"If there's time, let's take a quick shower together," I suggest, gently lifting my hips and releasing his cock from my body. "I need you to make sure the taser burns are healing well."
Tack's fingers instantly search my back. I shiver at the feel of him on my bare skin.
"Are you going to check your phone?" I ask when it vibrates again.
Exhaling deeply, Tack stares at me like a sullen child. "I want to be alone with you."
"Once I've dealt with the federal agents, we can focus on us while we wait for Carys to have her baby."
Tack instantly smiles in reaction to my words. For years, he's stifled his possessive nature by playing stalker rather than claiming me. I suspect we'll both need a while to adjust to this new reality.
After Tack checks his phone, he explains how the federal agents will be at the farm in less than two hours. We hurry to the shower, where we soap each other up and wash away our afternoon lovemaking.
Back in Tack's room, I go through my suitcases. I'm overly concerned about making the right impression with the federal agents. I guess I worry they'll blame me if I seem slutty.
I nearly put on a shirt and pants completely inappropriate for a relaxing day at the farm. Stopping myself, I face where my fears are coming from and why they're invalid. After the attack on Austen and me, her father hinted the rapes were a misunderstanding. I'd always sensed he believed Austen egged on the men. Or maybe he blamed me. Either way, I'd felt judged.
Back home with Suzanne, I saw things clearly and worked through those feelings with my psychiatrist. Now, I'm facing my guilt over yesterday's deaths. Did I inadvertently instigate what's happened the last week?
As I walk with Tack outside to find a late afternoon mugginess, I give myself a little talking-to about how the only person to blame is the one who hired the mercenaries.
I glance at Tack. He's a powerful man capable of extreme violence. When I told him no, he likely wanted to force me to submit. Instead, Tack waited.
Yeah, he followed me around or had me tailed. However, that behavior was more about keeping me safe. He didn't force himself into my space. When I asked him to leave my condo last week, he did so, even if it hurt him.
Tack loves me, yet he respects my boundaries. I should feel no responsibility for the asshole hunting me. His selfish needs ended lives. I'm not the bad guy. I don't need to feel guilty.
Despite my mental pep talk, I'm nervous when Noble walks over to Tack and me in the open grassy area between the two main farmhouses.
The Backcountry Kings' VP holds himself with a casual tension. I know Noble better than Zoot because he spends more time at the clubhouse. I've even played a few games of pool with him. He's a friendly man who hides his true self. I'm beginning to see how much Tack does the same. Though they both act easygoing, they only reveal their true selves to very few people.
Right now, Noble seems calm. Yet, I'm unsure what he's really feeling as he hands me three stapled sheets of paper.
"How are you feeling?" he asks me, but I suspect he's also checking on Tack.
"Tired and nervous."
"Don't worry about anything," Noble says, and I'm now certain he's mostly talking to Tack. "With so many pigs running around town, Banta City is quiet. Plus, Zoot is pissed and hounding our every snitch. Mostly, he's trying to find out about the dead mugger."
Running his hands through his thick blond hair, Tack offers a grumpy shrug. "I did what anyone would do."
Noble gives him a little smile before focusing on me. "We figure the mugger was someone in the main asshole's circle. These others were hired guns. So, Zoot's using his warm personality to scare people into giving up any details on the mugger. However, we plan to use the feds' resources to track down different leads."
Tapping the papers in my hands, Noble continues, "I was looking over your list of stalkers. It's got a helluva lot of names."
Feeling guilty again, I mumble, "Because I look like a slutty Molly Ringwald."
Noble cups my jaw and smiles. "No, Hunter, you look like your mom."
Though I grin at Noble's words, Tack pushes his VP's hand away from me. "No."
Noble's body language shifts, and I worry the men will fight. Then, Noble's expression changes, and he sighs dramatically. "Good Lord, not this shit."
"Why are you crowding her?" Tack says, standing between us now. "What's this about?"
"Kid, I remember acting just like this. Of course, when I did the possessive-jackass thing, I was a young buck, and my behavior was adorable. You're too old to act this way."
"I don't want you fondling my woman."
I peek around Tack's arm to find he's completely serious. Noble tries not to laugh in the younger man's face.
"I'm your foster uncle. That basically makes me Hunter's foster uncle-in-law, so just chill out, will ya?"
Tack glances at where my cheek is pressed against his arm. He considers Noble's words and nods.
"Fine. I'll allow this."
"Dumbass," Noble mutters and focuses on me. "A lot of men have made moves on you. But before we hand the list over to the feds, I'd like you to highlight the big spenders so the law can focus on them first."
Nodding, I take the highlighter Noble hands me. Tack and I walk toward the main farmhouse's front porch where Siobhan sits with Sync. Deirdre and Kiera look adorable in their matching denim shorts and flowery yellow shirts. The girls sit in the grass and squirt each other with water pistols.
As I join Siobhan on the front swing and Sync walks over to Tack, Indigo exits the house. He looks over everyone, twists his face into a scary expression, and stalks off. Sleepy and Grumpy run after him while Sync scratches his jaw and shrugs.
"Tack is getting on people's nerves again," Sync announces. "Girls, tell your uncle to stop hassling your other uncle."
Kiera frowns. "Who?"
"What?" Deirdre asks, looking around.
Sync leans down to stroke their long brown ponytails. "Tack is making Indigo sad."
"No, it's you, man," Tack insists. "It's always you."
"I'm not doing anything. You were ready to tackle Noble. We all saw your caveman shit."
Siobhan shakes her head at the men's pointless bickering and asks about the papers in my hand. "What's this about?"
As I explain the plan, Tack and Sync stand next to the girls and argue over who pissed off Indigo.
"Are you staying at the farm again tonight?" I ask her while highlighting Matt Parker who invited me to Monto Carlo.
"Yes, I can't risk leaving the farm when Carys looks ready to pop at any minute."
"Pop!" Deirdre yells and squirts her twin.
"Ka-bloom!" Kiera cries and shoots her sister.
"Here, give me that, baby," Sync says and gently tugs the pistol from Kiera's grip. "I need to shoot your uncle."
Deirdre immediately hands hers over to Tack.
Tack tells Sync, "I'd rather shove your head in the mud."
"You've got to stay clean for the feds," Sync replies and squirts him.
Siobhan watches the men point the pistols an inch from each other's faces and squeeze rapidly. Rolling her eyes, she turns to me.
"Anyway, Sync and the girls are staying one more night before heading back to his place."
"We live here now," Kiera announces and looks at her twin. "Right?"
"Yes. I'll miss you," Deirdre says and hugs her sister.
Kiera instantly starts crying. "I want to go with you!"
Deirdre sees her sister's tears and squeals in horror. "Don't go!"
Siobhan sighs. "Sync, fix that while I talk to Hunter."
"I will once I'm out of water."
Siobhan frowns at him while he drops to the ground and wraps the crying girls in his arms. After he asks them several questions, the twins seem confused about why they are even crying.
"I'm so glad my sister will soon know the pleasure of her own little drama queen," Siobhan whispers to me.
"I hope I have a daughter. Boys are weird to me."
Siobhan snuggles up with me and whispers, "I wouldn't mind a boy. The girls would be so good with a little brother. Or sister. Hmm, maybe I should get Sync to knock me up."
"No," I reply instantly. "You swore to never fuck him again."
"How about if he jizzes in a cup like Aneta's man did for her? No fucking would be necessary."
"Give it six months and see if that's something you still want."
Siobhan smiles at me, knowing she said the same thing to me when I swore Tack wasn't an option. Every few months, I'd wonder if I was making a mistake or if I should try dating someone else. She'd always swear I needed to wait six months before I chose.
"Unlike your reaction to my wonderful advice," Siobhan says, knowing I never listened to her, "I will wait six months before I do anything that can't be undone."
"Good," I reply and highlight a big roller who offered to buy me a car after he claimed I sprinkled him with good luck. "If you do decide you want another baby, maybe get sperm from someone who hasn't broken your heart."
"But I know we make pretty babies."
"You're beautiful. You'll make a pretty baby with anyone. And other men haven't stolen your smile."
Siobhan glances at Sync still on the ground with the girls. They seem rattled about more than their misunderstanding. I suspect the twins want to remain with Siobhan at the farm rather than leave with their dad tomorrow. Sync listens to their complaints and notices Siobhan watching them.
"I'm winning this argument," Siobhan whispers to me as she looks away from Sync. "The girls need to be here until things settle down."
Sync and Siobhan don't engage on the topic as we wait for the FBI to arrive. While the girls return to playing, I focus on highlighting the names of men I feel could be suspects. However, I don't recognize half of them, mostly the ones sent over by Leon Kovak.
After arriving in a line of SUVs, the FBI agents remain professional throughout my interview. I sense they're very aware of my mother's wealth. They don't give away what they're thinking. I mention Matt Parker more than once since he showed interest in me so recently.
One of the agents evidently recognizes the name. Matt is a big deal in tech circles, having turned his nerdy skills into a fortune.
After the federal agents and my lawyers leave, I reach for Tack who stood behind me for the entire interview. His arms wrap around me, silencing the chaos in my head. The world stopped making sense yesterday on the street. In Tack's arms, though, I can see my future clearly.