CHAPTER FOUR

A few days later

– ROURKE –

"It's hard on some and everyone has their own theory about it," Eastlynne quips and gives me one of her warm, rare smiles.

It makes my heart fucking skip as if I'm a teenager with a huge crush for the first time in my life. I clear my throat and force my mind to keep on track with the discussion at hand. We've been talking non-stop during our time together over the past few days.

Weaning horses, that's what we're talking about now. "We don't wean just because an animal is at a certain age. We know each and every horse that's born here and we assess their development. Either socially, physically, or mentally, we will always observe and act on what's best for the animal."

"It shows." Her gaze slides to the pasture with four fillies.

"Prez? A word, please," Decker rumbles.

I'm annoyed by the interruption because every single one of my brothers knows to leave me alone when Eastlynne is at the ranch. Decker is still around from the older generation. He used to work for the FBI. He wouldn't have come to me if it wasn't important.

"What's up, Decker?" I question.

His eyes slide to Eastlynne. "Maybe it's best to talk in private?"

"East is trustworthy," I state.

Over the past few days, she's opened up to me through discussions and working together on Buckey. It's as if I've moved through an invisible wall she has formed around her and entered her circle.

"It involves Winfield," Decker states with a hint of warning.

Eastlynne is not the kind of person to blabber out secrets to anyone. Hell, as far as I know, she only interacts with her sister and lets Cosima handle everyone while she focuses on what she loves in life; working with horses.

I'm about to explain to Decker how Eastlynne demands people to respect her personal space and how she doesn't let others close when she touches my arm. "It's okay, I can give you two some privacy."

My skin prickles where her palm touches me. It's as if our connection causes an electric current of awareness between us. Our eyes lock and the sharp intake of breath along with her pupils dilating lets me know she feels it too. Yeah, these past few days have definitely moved me into her inner circle.

Without taking my eyes off her I tell Decker, "East is my person, talk freely."

What I want to say is, "East is mine," but that would probably send her running. The discussion we had this morning was about having a person you fall back on without thinking. For East it was a no-brainer; her sister Cosima. I told her I had more than one…with me telling her right now I consider her my person, it's to let her know I think she's fucking precious. Which I sure as fuck do.

Decker raises one of his eyebrows and I know I've made myself clear; he's aware of my silent claim. East isn't like any other woman, and those I've encountered are clingy, demanding, and have expectations I don't want to live up to.

When it comes to Eastlynne, though? I want to protect her, savor her every touch and closeness because it's fucking special when it comes from her. I see her for what she is; a gem amidst a field of plain rocks. Fuck her weird quirks or reasons to function in her own way. From the time I've spent with her, I can honestly say she's kind, caring, funny, and has a heart of gold.

"Okay, Prez," Decker rumbles and I turn my head to face him as he adds, "Kathleen called. Winfield had a motorcycle accident. Well, it seems that way, but for now, they are sticking to that scenario."

Kathleen, Decker's daughter, is the sheriff of this town.

"What do you mean with they are sticking to that scenario? And why the fuck would I care? He's out, remember?" I rumble, still pissed as hell about what that fucker did.

"He's dead," Decker states. "It might have looked like he went off the cliff with a motorcycle, but where the fuck is his motorcycle? Because it wasn't there. Then there's the little fact that his house was broken into yesterday. Kathleen was off yesterday and only discovered this little fact this morning."

"No coincidence," I grit. "Sounds more like retaliation."

"That's what I was thinking," Decker growls.

"Send a group text. I want a full table in half an hour," I order. "We have to talk shit through to make sure there's no risk for us. I was the one retrieving the horse, and it's a no-brainer that this is all tied to what just happened. 'Cause I don't think he was wrapped in any other shit that might have backfired on that fucker."

Decker nods and grabs his phone as he strides away.

"Sorry, darlin', I have to cut this short," I regretfully tell East.

Her eyes are on me, and it feels as if she's trying to read my thoughts. I want nothing more than to spend more time with her today, but this shit concerning Winfield needs to be handled. If what I'm thinking is true, then his so-called friends he sold Buckey to killed him. I hope to prove myself wrong, but the details Decker just shared led both of us to jump to that conclusion.

"Something I can do to help?" she offers.

The corner of my mouth twitches. "You're not allowed in church."

"Church?" She frowns. "You guys have a church on the property and are gonna…wait. Is that what bikers call the room they have meetings in?"

I shake my head. "Let me guess, you binge motorcycle club series on TV?"

"Nope, Cosima likes those and I read while she watches but I still overhear stuff. I prefer series, movies and books, with a supernatural twist."

"Supernatural, eh? Well, I don't have a lot of time to watch anything on TV. I guess you'll have to educate me on some of your favorites. I could come over to your place tonight and watch some, or you could come back here. Though, I have to warn you. I mostly sleep in a room at the clubhouse and the main room will be busy tonight."

Her eyes are wide and I can practically see her mind going into overdrive.

"Never mind." I sigh, knowing I overstepped.

Too soon, too fucking quick. Even if we spent a few days together chatting and getting comfortable around one another.

My phone gives a notification, probably the group text Decker sent. "Listen, I'll just see you tomorrow, okay? I'll walk you to your truck."

Her shoulders sag and she silently follows me. She's frozen in front of her truck with her back to me when I hear her mutter something.

"What was that?" I question.

She opens the door and I hear her loud and clear this time when she says, "You can come to my house."

I don't get to reply because she jumps into her truck, slams the door, and has it fired up and spitting dirt from the wheels as she speeds off. A bark of laughter rips from me as I stare at her taillights.

Fuck. Here I thought I fucked it all up, instead, she surprised the hell out of me by being brave and asking me into her house. I know it's a big deal because she told me how she doesn't even like it when others hang their coat next to hers or if her sister sits on her bed.

I'm wearing a huge smile when I step inside church. Except, it slides right off when I'm reminded of why we have a full table.

"Kathleen." I nod at Decker's daughter.

Women might not be allowed in church, but there are exceptions to the rule. Especially when the woman in question has crucial information.

She places her hands on her belt. "They raided his house, Rourke. I went there myself after I became aware Winfield's house was broken into. Anything of value they took with them and they even tried to cover up their tracks by starting a fire. They didn't count on Winfield having a sprinkler system, though. Anyway, his truck is gone and so is his bike. There are track marks where he went over the hill and his body is mangled as if he was dragged behind a car or something before they threw him over. If I didn't know the whole situation with him selling off the stallion and you retrieving the horse, I would have considered it a possible accident. The bike missing does seem fishy, though. Anyway, a lot of things don't add up. I've brought the two case files with all the details we have. Let me know if there's anything else you need."

"Thanks, Kathleen, appreciate it," I rumble and take a seat.

She nods and strides out of the room. Not only is Kathleen law enforcement, she also has a killer voice, just like her mother, Muriel. Decker's old lady is a country singer and has recorded some songs with her daughter. Kathleen never goes public with her singing though. She's devoted her life to becoming sheriff of this town and she has been for almost a year now. Thank fuck, because it comes in handy now.

"I did a background check when I found out Winfield sold the stallion," I explain. "The ranch where Buckey was has a bad reputation. Horses end up dead and are easily replaced if they don't live up to their demands."

"Easy enough if you steal horses," Luke growls. "I did a little digging of my own and it only cost me a few minutes and some keystrokes. There have been a lot of accusations but no binding evidence."

"I've thrown pictures of all the men who are working or have worked on that ranch into the group app so make sure you thumb through them. If any of those fuckers show up around here, we'll know," Silas states.

Luke and Silas are not only club brothers, but biological as well, sharing the same parents. Even if they have two fathers and one mother. Alfie, Joaquin, and Greta have a special kind of relationship and the three children that came from them are raised with a truckload of love and two fathers to balance it all out. I can't imagine sharing my woman with another man, but then again, it's their choice, not mine.

"Do you think they'll come after us?" Walker questions, curling his fingers into fists as if he's ready to pounce if they come bursting through the door this very second.

His father, Colt, used to be the club's enforcer. Walker took over two months ago, and he's clearly cut from the same cloth as his father.

"I think it would be foolish not to be prepared." I glance around the full table at each and every one of my brothers of the older and younger generation. "Especially when I've been working with the stallion I took from them out in the open. They might have had their eyes on us for the past few days without us realizing it."

"Which means your lady friend could be under their watchful eye as well," Parker remarks.

The thought of Eastlynne getting pulled into dangerous shit makes me feel as if there's a tight fist gripping my heart, trying to yank it out through my rib cage.

"I'm heading over to her house after we're done here. We need to gather more information about these fuckers. Decker, can you make a few calls to your old contacts or have your daughter reach out, whatever works. Going after these fuckers ourselves might bring heat to the ranch."

"Smart move bringing in the authorities. Kathleen can handle it, but I will make her reach out to make sure she has enough manpower in case shit goes south." Decker takes out his phone and chuckles. "She never likes it when I interfere with her job. So much fun to make her pissed and have Muriel smooth things over at the dinner table."

"Whatever," I grumble, not caring one bit about those details. "I want a team having eyes on the security feed. No one goes off alone until we have this shit handled. I'm heading out to Eastlynne. If something needs your attention right away, talk to your VP." I turn to Parker. "Text me updates if you have some. I'll be back tomorrow morning."

Parker snickers. "Confident you get to spend the night at her place, eh?"

I glare at the fucker. Eastlynne won't be amused, to put it lightly, and it might fuck things up between us, but I will not risk her safety.