Fractured Sky (Tattered & Torn #5)(48)

I hoped that wasn’t a rule the Millers would set. Working here had been good for Aidan. Had given him a sense of accomplishment that he desperately needed.

“You could come with me…” I was sure the boys would love to see Shiloh, a part of me hated the feeling of walking away from her, even just for an afternoon.

She toed a piece of gravel with her boot. “I think they need you right now. You’ve been where they are, and they know you understand. I don’t want to overwhelm them when they’re still settling in or ruin a chance for them opening up if they need to talk.”

My chest constricted as I stared down at this miracle of a woman, one who put the boys first when I knew she would’ve given anything to see them this afternoon.

She was close. So much so that I caught a hint of that floral scent that clung to her skin. I blamed it for my stupidity, for leaning in and closing the distance between us and pressing my lips to her forehead. It was the barest touch, and only for the briefest of moments, but the feel of her skin burned through me like a wildfire.

I jerked away, knowing I’d be scarred forever. “They’re lucky to have you.”

The pink that hit Shiloh’s cheeks only made her look more beautiful, and I knew I was screwed. She cleared her throat, staring at her boots. “I’m the lucky one.”

I twisted my keys around my finger, gripping them tightly, and then moved towards my truck without another word. I needed a little distance, some space to get my head back on straight before I started panting after her like my dog.

I beeped the locks and climbed behind the wheel. As I drove down the lane, I couldn’t resist a glance in my rearview mirror. I saw her bent over Kai, giving him a rubdown.

“Damn lucky dog.”

The drive to town didn’t take too long, but images of Shiloh played in my mind the whole way. She was a living ghost, haunting my every waking moment. So much for the space helping.

I pulled into the small parking lot outside the burger joint, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Thankfully, tourist season hadn’t hit yet. Once it did, I stayed far away.

I slid out of my truck and shut the door. As I beeped my locks, movement caught my eye. I recognized the swagger, the cocky walk that had an air of anger to it. The expression on his face held nothing but rage.

I braced. The lot had a couple of other cars, but we were just past the usual lunch rush since I wasn’t meeting the boys until two. My stance came instantly, memory carved into muscle and bone from the time I’d spent in prison, the year of having to watch my back at all times. Loose. Ready for anything.

“Bishop,” Kenny barked.

“What can I help you with?”

“You think I don’t know it was you? Heard you convinced my boy to work for you. Been filling his mind with all kinds of bullshit.”

I shrugged. “I gave him a job when he asked. Don’t think there’s a crime there.”

Kenny’s nostrils flared. “There’s a fuckin’ crime, all right. You stole from me.” He shoved at my chest.

The man had more strength than I would’ve thought, but I still barely budged. Instead, I leaned forward and lowered my voice, a growl edging my words. “Careful who you lay hands on. You’re used to picking on people smaller than you—those who won’t fight back. You know where I’ve been and what my story is. You don’t want to mess with me. I’ll end you, and no one will ever know.”

Fear bled into Kenny’s bloodshot eyes for a moment, but then his jaw hardened. “Fuck off. You don’t scare me. You just need to learn some manners. Maybe you need to know what it’s like to lose what’s yours.”

My body locked as my gaze hardened on the worthless waste of space in front of me. “Is that a threat?”

He shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. “More of a question. Do you know what it feels like to be powerless? To lose what belongs to you? Maybe those horses. Maybe something else…”





22





SHILOH





I opened the door to the Wolf Gap Bar & Grill and stepped inside. My hands clenched and flexed as I moved through the entryway. It wasn’t horribly crowded since tourist season was still a ways off, but it wasn’t empty either. I felt eyes on me before I saw them, that grating sensation against my skin.

I looked around and saw at least three different people intently focused on me. A woman who I knew was in my mom’s quilt guild bent to whisper to her husband, her gaze fixated on me. The panic started to come—the urge to run fast and far.

Ramsey’s voice echoed in my head. One foot in front of the other.

I struggled to breathe against the constriction in my chest. What was the next step? Not all of it, simply the thing I needed to do right now. It was just that—a physical step.

I forced my legs to carry me forward towards the hostess stand.

“Shiloh.” A bright voice greeted me.

I swallowed hard and lifted my gaze to the familiar face. “Hi, Cammie.” My voice trembled as I spoke, and I hated the weakness.

Cammie’s smile didn’t falter. “Hadley’s in a booth in the back. I’ll take you to her.”

I nodded but couldn’t get any other words out, just the next step as I followed Cammie to the table, ignoring the staring people.