Page 15 of Ferocious Protector

Cole has weapons laid out on a long table in a room lined with multiple shelves of equipment. “Take what you need guys,” Cole says.

I eat and grab one of the radios off the shelf simultaneously and the other guys follow suit. I find Patti Ann pushing food around on her plate while listening to the other women talk.

I take her aside. “This button, any time you need me, you push it. This device lets you send a message the same way you would through a cell device, it just circumvents the towers. I don’t think we’ll need it, but just in case things go south, you’ll be able to get message. Beckett and I are going to stop by his place and grab a couple rifles that we’re used to on the way out to the point.” Chances are the cells will work just fine, but just in case.

Patti Ann’s eyes raise to meet mine, and she lifts up on her tiptoes to bring me down for a kiss before placing a bag full of packed up food into my hand. “Please be careful. You still owe me a dance.”

14

Patti

Krissy, Lacy, PJ, and Jules all look as on edge as I am as we wrap the remains of the catered dinner into containers and put them away in the fridge in the adjacent room and Cole and Garret go outside to explore the perimeter. “I like the way you set the basement up. Super nice freezer too,” I tell Krissy.

She nods. “Thanks. It’s so nice to have the extra fridge and freezer space. Cole likes to have everyone over and if you haven’t noticed by now these guys can eat a lot.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed.” Although in all the time I’ve known the guys I never really realized it until I met Blake. Suddenly I’m noticing every single thing about him. Not just how much food he requires to feed those rock-solid muscles of his.

Lacy laughs. “I bet you have, Patti Ann. We’ve never even seen you blush before. In all these years.”

My face breaks into a grin. “Seriously that man.”

PJ and Jules exchange a look.

“What is that look for? Shouldn’t you two be talking wedding stuff, not snooping your nose into my business?”

“We just happen to know that exact feeling. Those guys come to town and sneak right into your dreams, then into your bed and into your heart.”

“Yeah, well, into my dreams and definitely into my bed, that I can deal with. Long-term commitment and heartache, that’s off the table for me.”

Jules meets my gaze. “They’re not all bad. Beckett is a great judge of character. I don’t think he’d associate with a loser.”

“Well, me and other men typically have a different opinion of what a loser looks like. And how many men go around actually telling their friends they cheat?”

Krissy arches an eyebrow. “Good point. My brother was a loser. He may not have cheated, but I never thought he could do what he did until it happened.”

My heart constricts for my friend. Her brother was such an asshole. We all remember the stories about why she came to Deadwood and the story about how she met Cole and when Kenny was shot by the enemies these bodyguards all now protect. The scars that asshole left her with are there for life. “Right, you just never can tell. Right now though, we need to make sure we’re prepared in case things go south.”

PJ looks up. “These guys are not going to let that happen. They are excellent at their jobs and they’re going to have plenty of backup if the Larussios are sending in Tommy and the boys.”

“Yeah, those guys don’t mess around, that’s for sure. I remember what happened the last time they came to town. No doubt Sheriff Cates is going to have his hands full the next day or so.”

PJ laughs. “No doubt he will between Cole and the guys, Tucker and his antics, the Chicago boys, and now if we’ve got an MC club riding into town, he’s not going to know which way to turn.”

“Lettie will settle him down with a big piece of pie and a smile,” Lacy says, causing everyone to smile. “She’s always trying to matchmake us and doesn’t see that Sheriff Cates has a thing for her, right under her nose. She’s oblivious.”

My phone buzzes and I glance down at a message from Blake. “Things just got changed up. The motorcycle crews are heading into town, but they’re not just our guys. Beckett’s going to stay on the point tonight first shift instead of me, but they don’t know Damian, Dereck, and I so we’re going to head into town to help Mason. You ladies will be safe with Beckett on point and Garrett and Cole with you.”

15

Blake

The four wheelers are already covered, and at this point in the game I don’t want to cause any unnecessary distraction. “Damian and Dereck said to meet them at your place.”

Beckett nods to the four wheelers we brought up the trail from his house and covered with branches and leaves. “You could take one but …”

I recall the trail. “No. It’s not far through the woods. I’ll head out now and meet them by foot. Keep your phone on. Damian said the Larussios want us to let the bikers get into town, but not up to the house.”

Beckett nods, scoping in his rifle. “Roger that. Stay on the line.”