“It looks like a bunch of damn gibberish,” Leroy grumbled, not seeming to care that I was having a conversation with Cadence. “You ain’t messing it up are you?”
“Can you go get me a cup of coffee?” Cadence asked sweetly. “It helps me work.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure,” Leroy groused and I could hear his feet shuffling as he walked away.
“You okay?” Cadence asked and I snorted.
“I should be asking you that.”
“Yeah, but I’m not the one trying to right decades’ worth of wrongs,” Cadence mentioned, not realizing exactly how accurate she was, “What happened with your uncle?”
I closed my eyes, cursing myself silently for not telling her immediately. “About that.”
“Uh oh.”
“Yeah, that about sums it up.” I scratched my cheek, just now noticing I hadn’t shaved. “The next motorcycle you see will be parked there.”
“That bad?”
“Yeah,” I answered gruffly, aggravated with myself for not taking care of my uncle when I had the chance. “My uncle is MIA and you’re my number one priority.”
“Because he’s going to come after me.” It wasn’t a question, her tone resigned, and again I cursed myself for trying to hold my uncle responsible by legal means. “It seems trouble follows me wherever I go.”
“I will take care of this,” I promised, needing her to know I meant it. “He won’t hurt you.”
“I believe you, Noah,” she paused and I waited, afraid she was about to tell me she’d changed her mind and was going to leave town. “I just hate that I brought this on you.”
I let out a relieved sigh. “You didn’t. I swear. It’s been coming. Ronnie was the last straw for this town,” I explained. “I won’t let what happened to her, happen to you.”
“Ease up on yourself, March. This damsel can take care of herself, you know? You don’t have to worry so much.”
A small laugh escaped me. “I’m not sure that’s possible anymore. Not when it involves you.” The line grew heavy and I cleared my throat, trying to distract her from the raw honesty of my words. “Are you good staying there a little while longer?”
“Yeah, I have more work to do here.”
“You still talking to that boyfriend?” I heard Leroy say as Cadence stifled a sigh. “Aren’t you supposed to be working?” There was static and then Leroy’s voice boomed in my ear. “She’s working. You can sweet talk her later.”
“LEROY,” Cadence exclaimed, the sounds of a tussle coming across the line. “Thank you,” she huffed, her voice muffled. “Noah? You still there?”
“Not going anywhere,” I replied.
“Good. He’s right though. I do need to finish this and I can’t concentrate when I’m talking to you.” My mouth curved at the admission. “Be careful and –” there was a long pause before she said in a rush, “I’m glad you worry.”
The line went dead before I could respond but I couldn’t stop a stupid grin from spreading across my face as I headed to the Hayes’ house.
***
My phone rang as I left Clutch, the house crammed full to bursting, and I answered absentmindedly, “Hello.”
“Where is she?”
“Uncle Cal,” I breathed, coming to a standstill and catching Cord’s attention. “What are you doing?”
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Goddamn it, don’t take that tone with me. You know. You know where she is and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll bring her to me.”
“Where are you?” I asked, barely daring to believe it could be that simple.
“I ain’t stupid, boy.”
Normally, I’d agree but when it came to Cadence I wasn’t so sure. “Why her?”
“She’s mine,” he answered instantly. “Mine, you hear me, mine.”
“She doesn’t agree.” Uncle Cal made an enraged sound and my phone dinged, indicating the perimeter alarm around my property had been set off. I took a chance and said, “What are you doing on my property?”
Cord had been watching me, but at my question he ran to his bike, gravel flying as he took off. I jogged to the car, praying we’d make it in time, knowing this was our best opportunity to catch him.
“You can’t watch her 24/7. I’ll get her,” Uncle Cal ranted, his words almost unintelligible.
“Not if I get you first,” I swore. “You’ll never lay a hand on her.”
“Weak. That’s all you’ve ever been, boy. Weak and spineless,” Uncle Cal snarled. “You couldn’t pull the trigger when you had the chance. You never will. You won’t stop me.” The line went dead as impotent rage filled me. I accelerated the car, fury pumping through me as I sped home.
When I got there, I parked next to the mailbox, since Cord had used his bike to block the driveway. I got out of the car and he shook his head.
“Son of a bitch,” I exploded, slamming my fist into the stupid fish mailbox, and sent it flying. “He’s not going to stop,” I rasped, the realization triggering a desperate fear. “What if I’m not enough? What if I can’t keep her safe?”