Michele’s eyes widened, but then she quickly shook her head. “No. That’s not possible. You were probably just tired and saw something that wasn’t there. You said yourself it was dark and you only saw the back of him. I see shadows all the time when I’m tired.”
“I know what I saw, Chele. It was him.” She’d know her brother anywhere.
There was a small beat of silence. Michele lifted her spoon but didn’t immediately press it to her lips. “Okay, let’s be crazy for a second and work under the assumption that you’re correct. That he’s alive. Why would the police and the coroner say he’s dead? And where is he? Why would he let you and your parents go through all of this?”
That’s what had her stumped. “I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”
Michele’s spoon crashed back into her bowl. “What do you mean, you’re going to find out? River, you’re not going to do anything dangerous, are you?”
“I’m going to do whatever it takes to find him.”
Her friend’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly do you think it will take?”
“Well, I’m almost certain his disappearance has something to do with Trinity Nightclub.”
“No.” The hardness in Michele’s voice had River blinking. “You are not going anywhere near Mickey.”
Only she was. Mickey was the owner of the club, so it was kind of unavoidable. “I have to. It was only after Ryker went to speak to him that it started.”
Michele’s voice lowered to a whisper. “He’s dangerous! And not just because he has no problem hitting women. Didn’t you say there were gang members hanging at his club?”
She cringed internally. “I said I thought there were gang members there.” And she was ninety-nine percent sure she was right in her suspicions.
“River—”
The door to the shop opened, and whatever her friend was about to say died on her lips when Jackson stepped inside, closely followed by two other guys. She’d never met the other two, but she knew who they were—Declan and Cole. Ryker had talked about them enough over the years that she felt like she had met them.
Jackson dipped his head to Michele. “Michele. It’s nice to see you again.”
She gave him a small smile, her cheeks tinging red.
When he turned his attention to River, his tone deepened. “River.” He turned to the first guy. He had a bit of a beard going on, but his smile was wide. “This is Dec.”
Declan winked at Michele before smiling at River.
“And this is Cole.”
The man’s smile wasn’t quite so wide. He didn’t have a beard but was just as gorgeous. They all were. A little clan of gorgeous, dangerous men.
When Jackson’s attention returned to her, she had to swallow to wet her suddenly dry throat.
“What are you guys doing here?” she asked.
He lifted a shoulder, his gaze trapping hers. Good God, did the man ever blink? “We were sitting across the street. Smelled something amazing in here.”
Yeah, right. So it had nothing to do with the fact she was here? She remembered his threat from yesterday. And it was a threat. It had been clear as day.
“Michele sells ready-made meals,” River said.
His gaze finally left her to land on Michele, and she suddenly felt like she could breathe again.
She. Was. Screwed.
“Is that right?”
Michele rose to her feet, smoothing her hands on her jeans. “Yes, um…would you like to take some home with you?”
Jackson shot a look to his friends.
Declan was the first to speak. “Hell yes. If it tastes half as good as it smells, I’ll be one happy man.”
If possible, the red in Michele’s cheeks darkened. Her gaze lingered a second longer on Declan before she quickly looked away.
River rose, too. “Aren’t you all staying at the lodge?”
Jackson raised his brows. “Been asking about us?”
He wished. She’d been doing as little “asking” about Jackson as possible. “No. Mrs. Albuquerque was talking about it at the grocery store.” And if River had stepped closer to the group of women to overhear the conversation, well, that was involuntary.
Jackson’s brows tugged together. “That old woman never liked me.”
“She doesn’t like anyone.”
Jackson had always felt like the locals looked down on him. They didn’t. When he was a kid, they’d felt sorry for him. But now? He was a hero. Not that he’d be sticking around long enough to learn that part.
She folded her arms over her chest. “When are you leaving?”
There was a ghost of a smile on his lips. “Why? Trying to get rid of me?”
“Depends if you outstay your welcome or not.”
Muffled laughs from behind Jackson floated to her ears. If she expected anger from him, she didn’t get it. In fact, he almost looked amused.
Michele cleared her throat. “Ah, I’m going to get those meals ready.”
“I’ll help you, darlin’.” Declan followed her behind the counter.
Jackson stepped forward, and his voice lowered. “I see not much has changed.”
That’s where he was wrong. “A lot has changed, Jackson. I’m not the same girl I was. In fact—”
River stopped at the sight of a car driving past. Wait, was that Kenny behind the wheel?
Before she could stop herself, she was grabbing her stuff and running out the door. She was seconds from stepping onto the road when strong fingers wrapped around her arm, tugging her back.
The car disappeared down the street.
Dammit! She needed to talk to him and find out what he knew, but he wasn’t answering her damn calls. His presence at the funeral had confirmed what River already suspected—that Ryker had started frequenting Mickey’s club.
She spun around. “What the hell?”
“You’re asking me what the hell?” Jackson looked just as frustrated as she felt, his fingers still tightly wrapped around her arm. “You were seconds from running smack bang into traffic.”
River tried to control her breaths, frustration churning her gut.
Jackson stepped closer, and even though his hold on her was firm, his touch was gentle. How was that possible? “That guy was at the funeral yesterday. Who is he?”
His quiet words had her sucking in a quick breath as she tried to ward off the sudden tugging at her heart. “He’s none of your business.”
Dang it, those words hadn’t come out nearly as firm as she’d wanted.
Annoyance flashed over his face. “He sure as hell is my business. Because you keep chasing him.”
“Wrong. What’s happening in my life is my business.”
His jaw ticked. He was getting angry. Well, guess what, buddy? I’m already there.
“You asked me how long I’ll be staying in town. I’m staying as long as it takes to figure out what the hell is going on with you.”
The man hadn’t seen her in years, yet he knew…something.
“You’ll be here for a long time then. Because I won’t be telling you a damn thing.”
Even though her words were firm, her insides were a jumbled mess. Because there was rarely a time when Jackson didn’t get exactly what he wanted, and they both knew it.
When River turned away from him and started walking down the street, the air rushed from his chest in frustration. Was the woman dismissing him? Hell no.
He caught up to her easily, matching her steps as they walked. “You could just be honest with me and save us both the time.”
“Or—and this is a crazy idea—you could just leave me alone, Jackson. Go back to wherever you’ve been living for the last year and get on with your life.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
She raised her brows. “Can’t? Or won’t?”
“Both.”
A grumble sounded from her chest, and even though he was frustrated, it had his body heating. That little sound sucked him back sixteen years to when they’d fought about anything and everything.
“Your hair looks nice,” he said softly.
She stumbled over her feet at his words, and his hand was once again on her arm, straightening her. He quirked his lips.
She shot him a quick look before tugging her arm away and continuing to walk.
“Your hair used to be long. It’s a lot shorter now. I like it,” he continued.
It used to be down to her butt, but now it sat just below the shoulders. He had a feeling he’d like any hairdo on her, though.
For a moment, River seemed lost for words, clearly not expecting a compliment. “Thanks.”
“I like the tattoo on your wrist, too.” He definitely hadn’t missed that. It was a tree. And he was almost certain he knew which one.
She stopped, spinning toward him. “Are you being nice to me because being an overreaching jerk wasn’t working?”
His lips twitched again. “No, but glad to know exactly what you think of me.”
“Jackson—”
Suddenly, a man walked around the corner, causing both of them to look up.
Immediately, Jackson’s lungs seized, tension slamming into his gut. Almost instinctively, he tugged River behind him.
He’d always hated her being around his father.
Brian Ford studied him. “Well, who do we have here? I heard you were back in town. Didn’t want to give your old man a call?”
Not in a million fucking years. “No.”
Brian’s gaze swung to River, snaking down her body, and it took every scrap of strength Jackson had not to throw a fist in the guy’s face.
“Don’t fucking look at her.”
“Jackson…” River’s voice was quieter now.
His father’s brows rose. “Back in town for two seconds and already thinking you can boss me around like you’re better than me? That what the military taught you?”
No. The military taught him self-control. Otherwise, the man would be on his back with a black eye right now. “We need to go, Brian.”
“Brian? I don’t even get the title of ‘Dad’ anymore?”
“You lost that a long time ago.” Right around the first hit. “Glad you don’t reek of beer, at least.”
He put his hand on the small of River’s back. “Let’s go.”
He was glad when she didn’t argue with him, instead taking a step forward.
When his father took a quick step of his own, blocking her way and almost causing River to collide with him, Jackson shot forward, shoving the man back—hard. “Get the fuck away from her.”
He laughed. Actually laughed. “I see you’re the same little shit you were when you were a teenager.”
River’s hand went to his arm. “Jackson. Let’s go.”
Her touch, her soft voice…they were the only things that kept him calm. “Stay out of my way. Or you’ll regret it.”
Something passed between them. Something dark and dangerous. At least the man had the smarts to keep his mouth shut this time.
After a beat of silence, Jackson’s hand once again went to the small of River’s back, and he led her away from his messed-up father.
That was his genetics. That was the reason he hadn’t returned to this godforsaken town. And the reason River was still too damn good for him.
