Chapter 68

68

The little, sweet-faced one who looked like a fairy wasn't sweet at all. Cashlyn Noelle Coleson was a true dictator, in a five foot five, one-hundred-twenty-pound body. She was a diabolical little monster who could give Napoleon lessons on how to be in charge.

And she would then send any man on the planet running for his sanity. All while fluttering ridiculously long eyelashes in his direction and giving him a beyond-precious smile.

That gorgeous little beast was far more dangerous than Heather Coleson could ever be, hands down.

She had him, Daniel—who she really despised—and Miguel out in the garage, moving boxes from the bottom level of the garage to the attic level of the three-story garage. Sometimes almost arbitrarily moving them.

Why? So that the Colesons could paint the space, hang mirrors, and stain the concrete floor to build Heather a dance studio. As a surprise, after all the hell she had been through. They were very excited about it—and arguing about what colors would best suit their aunt. Colesons liked to argue too .

Cashlyn's baby sister Crispin was her second-in-command, and that girl could try the patience of a saint while having just a simple conversation with her. He suspected that demon worked at it.

Colesons were the most maddening female creatures on the planet.

And they were enjoying taunting Daniel.

Daniel was just taking it.

Probably because he thought he deserved it or something.

They must have been hauling boxes for a good ninety minutes before some of the anger inside Gunnar started to mellow. The physical labor most certainly had helped him center himself. He stood up with a sigh and just stared out of the open garage door toward the end of Jude Way. And breathed.

Cashlyn sent him a wicked, knowing little look that made him suspect he'd been played by that small witchy beast. Gunnar just kept slugging boxes.

"Why are you really here?" Miguel asked when the Coleson demons' backs were turned for a moment.

"DNA—" Gunnar started. He would have said more, but the sound of cars in the driveway had him stopping.

He, Daniel, and Miguel hurried down the steps to the lower level, making certain they were in front of Crispin and Cashlyn. They still had potential threats out there against Heather.

None of them had forgotten that.

And there was a patrol car roaming around inside the Hughes Heights gates now. One volunteered by the Wichita Falls post to help . Which…might have been inviting the devil in to party with the angels instead of protect them. Gunnar would probably never fully trust the TSP at his back ever again. Just the friends he had now.

Gunnar turned, seeing the Barratt-Handley limos that had just parked over in Alex's driveway. He tensed even more when Powell climbed from the backseat of the first one.

He crossed the driveway immediately. He'd left her sleeping, resting, with Haldyn watching over her.

"Powell, what's going on?"

"I am here to see Heather. And you will not be questioning her without me in there. None of you. That includes you, Commander Daniel Butthead McKellen. I will kick your butt myself if you even try." She had a look of fury in her eyes. That same protective rage he remembered from the first time they had ever met when she'd stood between them and Shelby. "What have you already asked her? That woman just got out of the hospital after experiencing a massive trauma, and you are here about the damned TSP? What are you thinking?"

Her brothers stepped up behind her. Mac just shook his head at Gunnar—almost in warning. Well, Gunnar wasn't a stupid man. He was going to tread carefully here.

"Powell is on the Pow-path. Similar to warpath but much, much worse," Mac said. Gunnar took a moment to study her brothers. Alex was more subdued than he usually was. Mac, hell, that man looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. "You should learn to recognize the signs and be prepared, Erickson. She's little, but she can do serious damage when she looks like this. Her Powell-spawn will probably be just like her, considering. Something to keep in mind."

"I'll do that." He wrapped his hands around her waist but didn't pull her close. "I'm a bit sweaty, actually."

"No kidding. What are you doing exactly?" she asked as the rest of the occupants of the cars climbed out. Powell's father stepped up behind her.

"Grunt labor, actually. We pulled in, and Cashlyn immediately put us to work. She likes being in charge." Gunnar looked over his shoulder. "That is one very, very, very scary woman. She has Heather and Zo beat by a thousand miles."

Cashlyn was there, with Crispin beside her. There were more Colesons coming out of the house to see what was going on. They started down the winding path that spanned at least an acre between their front entry and their garage like an army of far-too-gorgeous women.

Colesons seemed to travel in packs, at times. No denying that.

"Powell, how are you feeling?" Cashlyn asked quietly. She was far more subdued with Rafe and Zoey showing up there. Gone was the wicked little monster who had enjoyed teasing him and Miguel and tormenting Daniel just a few minutes ago. She looked almost terrified right now.

"I am sore and bruised, but I really am just here to check on Heather. We heard she left the hospital, and if they are going to ask her questions, I am going to be here too." She shot Daniel a glare. "No questioning her without me here. Period."

"You hate me?" Daniel asked. "Are you throwing your lot in with these demon women now too?"

"Why shouldn't she?" Cara asked, glaring at him. And Alex. "We all voted Powell gets to be a Coleson if she wants. She'll blend right in with us too. It was a unanimous vote."

Well, with the dark hair, big brown eyes, smaller build, and beautiful face—his Powell would. And she was just as maddening as every single Coleson looking at them all now.

"Of course I don't hate you, Daniel, but I know what a bonehead you can be when you are determined about something," Powell said.

Bonnie was there, joining them all. She shot a look at Rafe and Zoey and Murdoch. "Hello, this is a surprise."

"Bon-Bon, second love of my life, I brought the party to you," Murdoch said, hugging her quickly. "We're actually…I am not sure why I am here, come to think of it. Zoey decided to follow Powell this direction, and well, I just followed my Zo like a good little husband. It's kind of what I do."

"Hello, Bonnie, I'm just here to do a quick check on Heather," Rafe said, crossing his arms over his chest. Bonnie and Cashlyn both seemed uneasy in his presence now, and Crispin just stood there, inching away.

"She woke about ten minutes ago. Eden and Joy are helping her shower at the moment. Heather rather demanded a shower. She can be a bit hardheaded. Would you all like to come inside? Norm and Marcia are starting dinner prep soon. You are welcome to all stay if you like. Plenty for everyone. We always make extra to heat up later. Norm makes a wonderful barbecue, and Marcia will need to be doing something while she works through what has happened," Bonnie said. Bonnie turned to Powell. "Powell, how are you feeling?"

"Tired and sore. But I'm more worried about Heather. You sure she's okay?" Powell reached for Bonnie's hand. Bonnie took it and patted it with her own gently.

"She…will be, sweetie. Eventually. Heather is a very strong girl. She always has been. But…I am not exactly certain why Commander Butthead McKellen and Gunnar are here? Miguel has an open invitation, as does Gunnar, of course. But…why?" Bonnie was a sweetheart, but she definitely was not a pushover. Just quiet and nurturing, with a backbone of utter steel. Especially where her family was concerned.

"We have some questions, Bonnie. The man who we think is responsible for what happened, for creating OPJ, said some things. That make us think…well, we believe we know who he is. DNA tests are conclusive, and it brought up some more questions. But we need to talk to Heather—and you and some of your family— first, " Gunnar said, lead forming in his gut at what he was about to tell them.

The last thing he wanted to do was cause this family more pain.

"I see. Well, actually, I don't see. But at this point in life, I'm almost convinced nothing can really shock me. Come inside."

"We will, Bonnie. As soon as we finish this," Miguel said pointedly. He looked at Daniel and Gunnar and the three Barratt men, Murdoch and Jarrod and Rafe. "With so much help just showing up, we can get this finished in about ten minutes."

"I will have fresh drinks waiting on everyone. Powell, Haldyn, Zoey, please come inside. Excuse the mess. We have a lot of littles running around everywhere at the moment. Like we do at almost every moment, actually. Colesons, well, we got used to the chaos long ago."

"Chaos is my Zo-Zo's middle name, Auntie Bonnie," Murdoch said, hefting a box. "I'm sure she'll fit right in with you Coleson goddesses. For some reason…not like she has a look-alike aunt amongst you or anything like that…"