TACK

Hunter got absolutely wrecked by her emotions yesterday. She became randomly angry and started crying over nothing. Without a doubt, she should have waited longer before watching those videos.

I won't watch them. I don't care what strangers are saying. I know my family and the club will always have my back. The only question is if Hunter will still want me after the current chaos dies down.

The next day brings some relief. Hunter seems happier from the moment she wakes up. I catch her looking at the pictures sent by the realtor. The house seems massive and weird, but I do like the slick garage and fenced property.

"I'm buying it," Hunter tells me during breakfast with Siobhan and the twins in the dining hall. "Even if you hate the actual house, the location is perfect. We can build something else there."

"Just like that?"

"Suzanne needs something to obsess over," Hunter explains as she fixes Kiera's loose barrette. "Since she received word about the FBI zeroing in on a specific suspect, she plans to come home. I know she'll be restless after holding back for the last week. If I buy the house, she can organize inspections, architects, interior designers, and landscapers. We'll keep her busy so she won't feel the need to organize you and me."

That's how Hunter works. She seems laid-back and cool, simply spending her days playing music, reading, or chilling with her friends. Yet, under her easygoing exterior, she's always calculating what needs to happen tomorrow, next month, or in ten years.

Hunter is a low-key Suzanne. Becoming one of her priorities is what I've craved for so long. Now, Hunter's taking charge of our future and refusing to let me slow her down.

After lunch, the farm feels extra quiet. Early this morning, the local cops squealed to the club about the stalker's upcoming arrest.

"We got news the asshole is outside the US," Noble texted earlier this morning. "You can leave the farm for short periods of time but keep a low profile and don't fuck about."

Indigo decides to remain at the farm. In the late morning, we find him outside Carys's house with Sleepy and Grumpy.

"She's in labor," he says as Hunter and I approach him. "I'm supposed to keep watch."

Inside the house, Carys looks absolutely miserable. The brunette is sweaty and red-faced as she stands hunched over behind the couch.

"Ripley's coming," she pants. "This isn't a rehearsal."

Hunter hurries to her friend's side while I ask, "Should you sit down?"

"It makes the baby come faster if you walk around during labor, you dumb fuck," she snarls at me. "No offense. You're a good friend and brother. But I'm ready to punch someone, and your face is begging for it."

"I hope you're as funny when you're in labor," I tell Hunter.

Carys lunges for Hunter. "You took a punch for me when I mouthed off to that bitch," she says and side-hugs her friend. "I'll take one for you once Tack makes a ginger baby in your belly."

"I know you will."

As they hug each other, I'm uncertain what to do with myself. Hudson and Hicks seem restless as they watch their mom groan.

"What's the plan here?" I ask when no one says anything.

"I'm going to give birth, Tack," Carys mutters like I'm stupid. "Then, I'm going to take a fucking nap."

"I meant before that. Where's your mom and Siobhan?"

"I'm right here!" Siobhan calls out from the kitchen. "I'm cleaning Carys's counters."

"You're my favorite sister!" Carys calls back. "The others don't come close!"

Siobhan's twins wander out from the main-floor playroom and ask if they can play outside. Carys replies by panting like a dog.

Deirdre frowns at her aunt. "Are you sick?"

"I'm having the baby."

"It's traveling her canal," Hicks helpfully explains to his cousin.

I frown at his wording, catching Carys's gaze. In between pants, she growls, "Don't scorn knowledge, jackass."

"Tack's bothering you," Hudson says and hugs his mom. "He's annoying."

"Yes, he is. That's why Tack will take you, your brother, and your cousins outside while your sister travels down my canal."

Hudson pats Carys's swollen belly. "My sister is coming."

Hicks hurries over to pat his mom's stomach, too. The boys smile at Carys who stops looking miserable long enough to grin at them.

"I always wanted two boys and a girl. The universe heard my wish and obeyed. Soon, I'll be able to cuddle all my babies. Until then, do me a favor and go outside."

"Where's Pork Chop?" I ask and add, "And Aunt Fred and Elvis? Isn't Dot supposed to be your midwife during this thing?"

"Mom and Dad were visiting Aunt Dot in the hills when I called them. They're all driving here to help me," Carys explains before her voice breaks. "I should have insisted everyone remain at my side at all times. But they got annoying, so I sent them away. I'm so stupid," she whimpers as Hunter rubs her back.

"And Pork Chop?"

Carys's blue eyes fill with tears. "He forgot his phone at home. He's out in the city somewhere. I begged Noble to find him. If that doesn't happen soon, I'm whining to Zoot, and poor Pork Chop will get his ass kicked."

Before Carys can start bawling, I corral the kids toward the door. Hunter hurries over to give me a kiss.

"Want to play babysitter with me?" I ask.

A smiling Hunter looks back at Carys. "I need to stay here and catch anything that falls out."

"I heard that!" Carys moans loudly. "I'm not wearing panties, so there's a real chance of stuff falling out."

When Hunter's blue eyes meet mine, I sense she'd rather go outside and play with the kids. I offer a pity kiss and hope she enjoys playing catcher to whatever Carys throws at her.

Once outside, Hudson and Hicks run around the yard, fighting over who gets to be Luke Skywalker. The twins play with their dolls in the shade of an oak tree.

Nearby, Indigo seems restless. I assume he's weirded out about everyone being gone during Carys's delivery. However, his gaze remains locked on the woods behind the farmhouses. The dogs also seem fixated on that spot.

We remain outside for thirty minutes before I'm distracted from my daydreaming by a text from Noble.

I smile at the words I read. Apparently, the feds zeroed in on Matt Parker's name once Zoot connected one of his shell companies to the mugger. They were also able to tie another of his shell companies to the payments to a mercenary from the road. After the last attack, Matt Parker flew to Paris, where he's been hiding at a villa. An hour ago, the French cops raided his location and made an arrest.

Justice for rich people is an impressive thing to watch unfold. If Matt Parker had messed with a normal woman, he might have spent the rest of his life without any consequences. No one would have cared enough to bring down the heat on him. However, Suzanne is old money and is tangled up with a lot of powerful people. The FBI were never going to let this case go cold. Now, Hunter can stop hiding.

Despite the good news, the end of Noble's message leaves me edgy.

"Parker hired another mercenary team," I explain to Indigo who kneels to pet the whining dogs. "The authorities tried contacting the men to call off the job, but the mercs' numbers are dead. That third team might still be in play."

"That's ominous," Indigo mutters.

I look at where Sleepy stares toward the woods. "How long have the dogs been acting this way?"

"Since yesterday. We were walking around back there, and they got spooked. I think they wanted to chase whatever they sensed, but I called them off. I'm honestly surprised they listened. Usually, they'll ignore my commands and chase the rabbit or raccoon. Maybe they sensed coyotes or wild dogs and got intimidated."

"Or they're sensing a team of mercenaries sitting out in the woods trying to figure out how to hit the farm and steal Hunter away."

Indigo flicks the safety off his gun in his back holster. "Yesterday, Golden found a few discharged traps. Nothing snagged in them. Maybe those mercs tried creeping closer and set off the traps. Now, they're waiting for the farm to be empty like today."

Indigo and I stare out at the heavy woods behind the farmhouses. As a teenager, I often got turned around in there. The woods are deceptively confusing. You can hear the farm's activities—vehicles, music, voices—yet it can feel like you're a hundred miles away.

"We could go look," Indigo says as the dogs whine again and stare at the woods.

"Or we can assume the worst and react accordingly."

Indigo glances at the twins and then the boys. His shoulders go tight. I feel the same way. The farm is our safe space, but anyone could be watching us right now.

"Kids, go play inside," Indigo says.

The boys give him a frown similar to Pork Chop's. Nearby, the girls seem confused and start shaking their heads.

"Red light, green light," Indigo announces, saying the words used by the kids' moms to indicate something is serious. "Red light. Now, take your toys inside."

Kiera instantly gets scared by the "red light" part, thinking they're in trouble. As Deirdre hugs her sister, they start whispering about their mommy.

Indigo startles the dogs when he makes a move for the kids. I keep an eye on the woods while my brother sweeps the girls up into his arms and orders the boys to follow.

"Red light means you need to take things seriously," Indigo grumbles as the girls squeal with surprise at how he has them under each arm.

While Indigo hauls the kids into the house, I text Noble since he's better about checking his messages than Zoot. As I explain how we're spooked, maybe over nothing, I murmur to Sleepy and Grumpy to keep them settled.

Noble responds immediately. "Hit the alarm. Play this like an attack. Be wrong rather than dead."

Despite worrying I'll upset Carys and Hunter over nothing, I still hit the farm's alarm. Sleepy and Grumpy flinch when the tornado-style warning winds up, blaring from speakers across the community. I bet the siren also startles anyone prowling in the woods.

A cold fear washes over me. I feel myself in someone's scope. The dogs begin to bark, focused on a specific spot past the main farmhouse.

Giving into my paranoia, I reach down and pick up each dog. A startled Grumpy snaps at me. I feel his teeth brush against my jaw. Sleepy whines as I hurry past the white picket fence surrounding Carys's house and bring the dogs inside.

"They smell," Carys whines from the couch. "What's happening? This one won't tell me anything."

I look at Indigo who frowns at where Siobhan calms the crying twins. Hunter's gaze meets mine, and she instantly understands how this is about her.

"They caught the guy," I tell her, trying to focus on the positive.

"I know," Hunter replies and lifts her phone to show a message from Suzanne. "The news showed Matt Parker getting his ass hauled out of a villa by the French police."

Carys swipes the phone from Hunter and looks over the information. "This is good news. Why are we preparing for a tornado?"

"Tornado?" Hudson asks, alarmed as he runs over to his mom. "We need to hide."

"No, baby. Or maybe yes."

Everyone looks to me. The dogs sit at the door, waiting for something. I frown at Indigo, wishing he would take charge. I'm afraid to be wrong and make Carys's delivery day worse.

"The guy hired more mercs, and they might still be in play. Now, the dogs are acting weird. With most of the guys off the farm and Carys in labor, Noble wanted us to play things safe. So, we'll stay inside and away from the windows."

Carys groans before unleashing instant sobs. "My boys are in danger."

"Daddy!" Hudson squeals. "Where's Daddy?"

"Game over, man," Hicks mutters, shaking his head. "Game over."

"That's your brother's line," Siobhan mumbles as she rounds up the kids. "We're going to the basement playroom. There'll be no windows or doors."

"I want to stay with Mommy," Hudson whines and clings to his sweaty mom.

Siobhan looks around and begins to cry. "I don't know what to do."

The twins glance at each other before mimicking their mom's tears. Indigo frowns at me as if I need to fix everything.

Hunter stands up and joins me. "We need to close all the curtains and shades. Carys can be moved downstairs. Siobhan and I will stay with her. You and Indigo can keep watch up here," she says and looks around. "That's a good plan, right?"

Carys kisses Hudson's wet cheeks. "Help Mommy downstairs. We're going to hide out in the playroom until Daddy says we're safe."

"What about the baby?" Hicks asks Hunter.

"Your mom can rest on the couch downstairs. We'll put on a fun movie for her. It'll be okay."

Hunter turns to me. "What's the plan outside the house?"

"I don't know."

Hunter blinks rapidly as if she expected me to have an overall strategy.

"We can arm up and hunt them," Indigo suggests.

"No," Siobhan hisses like he's a moron. "You can't just wander around the woods when they might be dug in like ticks. Stay here and protect us."

"Okay," Indigo replies immediately as he stares at the woman he loves.

Siobhan smiles at how she got what she wanted. Rejuvenated by Hunter's plan and Indigo's obedience, she takes her daughters' hands.

"Let's round up snacks to take downstairs for everyone. We're a team. Indigo will close the shades and curtains in the house."

As everyone moves around, I consider those men possibly hiding in the woods. Do they know their boss got pinched?

"Maybe we can use the speakers to alert the mercs to their current situation," I suggest to Hunter before she can disappear downstairs. "They might bail on this thing if they know they aren't getting paid and the cops are on to them."

Hunter's face lights up. "That's brilliant."

Her praise has me smiling like a goof. "How close is Carys to delivering?"

"I don't know. Siobhan said her mom and aunt were on their way here. Will they still come if the farm is locked down?"

"Yes," I reply, knowing Aunt Fred would ride into war zone to protect her daughters. "Noble's got the entire club headed to the farm. We just have to survive long enough for the cavalry to arrive."

"I love you," Hunter says. "Don't do anything reckless to prove your worth to me. I'd rather you be a living chickenshit than a dead hero. Do you understand?"

Smiling, I tug her against me. "I knew once you opened your heart to me, I'd dig my way inside forever."

Despite her fear, Hunter shares my smile. We're on the brink of starting our life together. Today is the final test. If we can survive this shit, I truly believe nothing will ever get in our way again.