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  Then I went to my bank.

  Then I went home and walked straight to Lash and my bedroom.

  Then I started packing.

  Then Lash walked in and saw what I was doing.

  Then I told him my plans.

  Then Lash started packing.

  Then Lash went to the computer and did what he had to do.

  Then he phoned Brutus.

  The next day, Brutus drove us to the airport. But he didn’t drop us off.

  He parked and went with us.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Scarlet Lady

  It was a nice place. You could tell that right off the bat. Very attractive building, one-story, sprawling. Extensive lovely grounds, safe walkways through them, lots of flowers lush even in May in Colorado.

  I could see why Gray picked this place.

  She was bossy but she loved him and Grandma Miriam deserved to be around pretty.

  I walked up to the front door, huge-ass, movie star, black shades on my nose. My body encased in crimson. A see-through blouse with puff sleeves that fit me like a glove, body-hugging blush camisole under, sexy, alluring but just hints you could take and let your imagination soar. Skintight, crimson pencil skirt that hugged my ass, hips, thighs and went down to my knees. Crimson slingbacks with a pointed toe and a high, lethal heel. Smart, thin, crimson leather clutch tucked under my pit. A ruby pendant surrounded by diamonds at my throat, not huge, not small but still, it had to be said, borderline ostentatious. Matching studs at my ears. Tennis bracelet dangling from my wrist. All of this given to me by Lash including the jewelry on our one year anniversary of moving in together.

  I gave him a Rolex.

  It was his second.

  Still, my fake boyfriend loved watches and I loved him so Rolex it was.

  I picked the outfit because if Mustang thought I was a scarlet lady then I was going to show them they hadn’t seen anything yet.

  Lash and Freddie trailed me, leaving the shiny, long, black, shaded-windowed, rented Lincoln at the curb.

  Freddie was carrying a briefcase.

  I pushed right in through the door and went directly to the reception desk.

  “I’d like to speak to the Home Administrator,” I announced, shoving my sunglasses back into my hair.

  The receptionist blinked at me then she blinked at the tall, built beauty of Lash settling on one side of me then she blinked at the enormous, powerful black beauty of Brutus taking my back then her eyes came back to me.

  “And you are?” she asked breathily.

  “I’m Ivey Larue.”

  Yes, I had my last name changed to Larue. Firstly for me because it meant getting shot of the only thing I had left that I shared with my mother and Casey. Secondly, I did it as a present upon moving in with Lash. He loved it so much, tears hit his eyes. He was butch so that was a surprise and told me exactly how much he loved it.

  I kept talking.

  “I’m here to pay for Miriam Cody’s stay for a year.”

  She blinked again but this time she added her mouth dropping open.

  Then she whispered, “What?”

  “I’m here to pay for Miriam Cody’s stay for a year.”

  “But…Mirry’s movin’ out next month,” the receptionist told me.

  “Not anymore,” I replied.

  “I…should we…I don’t know…” Her eyes were darting everywhere, taking all of us in. Then she pulled it together, focused on me and said, “I’m not certain sure but I think we need to call Gray.”

  “I would prefer you didn’t do that simply because I don’t have the time. I have two other stops scheduled and a dinner reservation tonight. I’d like to do this and move on,” I told her.

  “Are you doing this anonymously?” she asked.

  “No,” I answered. “You’re welcome to tell Mr. Cody and his grandmother about my gesture I just don’t have time for you to call Mr. Cody at this juncture.”

  “Your, uh…gesture?” She sounded dumbfounded.

  “Indeed,” I replied.

  “I, well, you know, a year on a private room like Gray has for Mirry is…”

  Then she told me how much it was.

  I immediately divided it to monthly.

  Jeez. No wonder Gray was losing the ranch. Holy crap.

  I turned and looked over my shoulder at Brutus. He stepped up, slapped the briefcase on her counter, flipped the latches and opened it, twirling it around so she could see the stacks of money in it.

  Her eyes bugged out.

  Then they shot to me.

  Then she whispered, “I’ll just go get the Administrator.”

  “I’d be grateful,” I replied.

  Then I smiled.

  * * * * *

  We settled at the desk, the man in his cheapish but well-fitting suit across from us, Lash in the chair beside me, Brutus standing at my back with his briefcase.

  I saw him when I walked in.

  Buddy Sharp sitting behind a huge desk in a glass walled, corner office.

  He’d undoubtedly moved his way up in the last seven years.

  Dickhead.

  The loan officer’s eyes settled on me.

  “This is highly unusual, Ms. Larue, and I must inform you again that I cannot discuss the details of Mr. Cody’s loan with you.”

  “I don’t want the details. I simply want to know how much it will cost to bring his payments current, including any penalties, and how much you’ll need for me to pay his payments for a year in advance. I will then give you the cash. You’ll print out and provide me with a statement for this transaction and send a copy to Mr. Cody,” I told him.

  “Again, Ms. Larue, this is highly unusual,” he told me.

  “That may be so but that doesn’t interest me. I have very little time, sir, and I have more business to see to today so if you’ll just…” I paused, twisted my neck, looked up at Brutus and he did the briefcase trick, this time on the corner of the loan manager’s desk. Once it was open and the loan manager was facing the cash, I kept going. “Give me a figure, we can proceed.”

  Freddie and my schtick didn’t work a treat like the last time, unfortunately.

  “Ms. Larue,” the loan manager started, “unless you’ve arranged with Mr. Cody to invest in his property, this is essentially a gift and the Internal Revenue Service needs to be informed of any gift to an individual that’s over five thousand dollars. What you wish to do is well over five thousand dollars. There will be taxes to be paid.”

  “That’s not your concern,” I replied. “That’s between myself and Mr. Cody.”

  That was a lie. I was never going to talk to Gray again. I paid for Grandma Miriam’s nursing home, I got his land safe, he could pay the taxes on me doing it.

  His eyes slid to Buddy’s office.

  My stomach curled.

  Lash saw it and stepped in.

  “It is highly likely that an established institution like this refusing payment on a citizen’s loan regardless of where the money was coming from might be misconstrued and definitely would be questioned by certain authorities especially if the property in question were to end up in the hands of an employee at the bank that refused the payment. Indeed, it might lead to an inquiry. And it is equally highly likely that inquiry would be uncomfortable and public. It is my understanding that Mr. Cody and the land he owns has a special meaning to the people of the county next to yours which would no doubt garner further attention should you refuse payment to keep that land safe in the family that has tended it for six generations. Ms. Larue has explained her intentions as well as the fact that we’re facing time constrictions. I would be grateful if you would quickly consider what I just explained and then didn’t delay further.”

  The loan officer watched him talk then he took in Lash’s suit that was not cheap, his Rolex, his haircut, his tan and his dentist office whitened teeth. Then he took in all that was Brutus. Then he took in me, my outfit, the blouse of which cost more than his suit and he might not k
now that but it was so exquisite, he could guess, and my jewelry.

  Then he made an intelligent decision.

  He turned to his computer and muttered, “I’ll just call up the account.”

  I let out a silent breath.

  Thirty minutes later, our briefcase lighter, we rose, exchanged handshakes but we didn’t move to the front door.

  We moved to Buddy’s office, Lash leading.

  He had a man in there but Lash didn’t hesitate to open the door and step in.

  I stepped in behind him.

  Brutus stepped in behind me.

  “I apologize for disturbing you but unfortunately my message can’t wait,” Lash announced, eyes on the man in Buddy’s visitor’s chair then they went to Buddy. “Rue explained to me about your visit, that you threatened her with violence and made her uncomfortable. You did this in her place of employment. Regardless of where you did it, no gentleman, in fact, no real man threatens a woman. Ever. See that it doesn’t happen again.”

  Buddy stared up at him, speechless, face a mask of fury.

  The man sitting in his visitor’s chair stared up at Lash, speechless, face a mask of shock.

  Lash wasn’t done.

  “It’s only fair to warn you that from here we’re going to the Mustang Police Station to inform them of your activities at my club in Las Vegas. It’s my understanding you work here but live in Mustang. In about an hour, the local police will know about your threats.”

  Buddy didn’t move and didn’t speak and neither did his visitor.

  Lash turned, put a hand to the small of my back and started guiding me to the door, Brutus trailing.

  But he stopped at the door and turned back.

  “I understand you’re a big fish in a small pond,” Lash said softly, his deep, cultured voice carrying a more eloquent threat then Buddy could ever hope to pull off. “But I’ll explain that if you want to swim in the ocean, you must understand that the ocean is populated by sharks and sharks never sleep.”

  On that fabulous finale, he turned and guided me out while Brutus followed.

  Lash and I were in the backseat of the Lincoln, Brutus at the wheel aiming the car to the road to Mustang when Brutus remarked, “Lash, pure class. Sharks never sleep.”

  I turned to Lash, leaned into him and grinned up at him. “It was, honey. That was a stroke of genius.”

  Lash grinned down at me and muttered, “Came to me on the fly.”

  “I loved it,” I whispered.

  “Good,” he whispered back.

  I leaned up and touched my mouth to his.

  Brutus watched in the rearview mirror.

  The three of us were close but still, Brutus thought Lash was banging me. Maybe Lash would let him in one day. It wasn’t my call but I had hope. I didn’t want any secrets amongst my posse.

  Like a real family.

  I settled into Lash’s side, curled in, head to his shoulder, arm around his gut. His arm curled around my waist and his head turned to look out the window.

  My eyes moved to the rearview mirror, catching Brutus’s.

  Then I smiled.

  * * * * *

  It was Lash and Freddie’s play. They called it, I didn’t like it but they wanted it for me.

  So we didn’t buzz under the radar into Mustang.

  Upon my brief and final return, they wanted me to make a statement. So we did.

  Our shiny, shaded-windowed Lincoln rolled right up to the square and parked. Then Brutus got out and opened the door for Lash and I. I alighted and Lash unfolded his long, fantastic body out behind me.

  I had my sunglasses on. Lash was also wearing shades. So was Brutus.

  I strutted across the street, Lash’s hand on my back just over my ass, Brutus Lash’s wingman.

  We caused a sensation. I knew it because I felt it. I didn’t know if anyone watching remembered me and I was in the zone, wanting to get this done and get out of there so I was blocking them all out.

  Two down, one to go.

  Looking around even though I didn’t want to, I noticed I was right all those years ago. The square in summer had perfectly tended, dazzling green turf and healthy, abundant, colorful flowers burst forth from the urns. However, I did not guess there would be huge, vibrant planters with trailing greenery hanging from the streetlamps.

  That was a nice touch.

  We walked up the courthouse steps, in and followed the sign to the police section. Then we walked up to the front desk.

  “We’d like to speak to an officer named Lenny,” Lash announced.

  “You mean Cap?” the man behind the desk asked, his eyes shifting through all of us, alert.

  Seemed like Lenny moved up too.

  Good for him.

  “Likely,” Lash answered.

  “What’s this got to do with?” the officer asked.

  “We would like to report threats made to my lady friend by Buddy Sharp,” Lash answered, tipping his head to me.

  The guy stared at him. Then he grinned.

  Not a Buddy Sharp fan.

  No surprise.

  He grabbed the phone.

  Five minutes later, down a hall I saw Officer…no, Captain Lenny coming at me. Surprisingly, he didn’t try to hide his surprise at seeing me.

  “Ivey,” he greeted, his eyes moving through Lash and Brutus then back to me. “It’s been a long time.

  “Captain,” I replied. “Please meet my partner, Lash Caldiwell.” I motioned to Lash who shook Lenny’s hand. “And this is Brutus,” I motioned to Brutus who jerked up his chin and kept his place behind me and just to my side, close to my back. Lenny read this correctly and didn’t go for a handshake.

  Then his eyes came back to me.

  “Heard about what happened to you in Vegas, Ivey,” he said softly.

  I had no doubt.

  “Ms. Larue is here to make a statement,” Lash put in and Lenny looked at him then back to me.

  Then he stated, “Think the situation was covered by Gray.”

  I felt Lash tense beside me then he requested, “Perhaps you’ll explain.”

  Lenny sighed then looked at me. “I believe you informed Gray that Buddy paid you a visit.”

  “I did,” I confirmed.

  “Well, after you did that, Gray paid Buddy a visit. It was public, it was heated and there’s not a lotta people in three counties that don’t know Buddy’s an assclown but now there’s not a lotta people in seven counties who don’t know that seein’ as Gray was pissed and when Gray gets pissed it’s serious and he don’t care who’s around. Gray managed to keep his hands off Buddy which is good. He’s got enough problems without his ass bein’ in the tank. But his message was pretty clear.”

  Lash took my hand but even though that felt nice, nothing could stop my heart from beating as hard as it was beating.

  Lenny kept speaking.

  “Anyway, Ivey, incident occurred in Vegas. That is way outta my jurisdiction. Nothin’ I can do.”

  “I understand that, Lenny, but what he said to me, something is happening. Not only did he threaten me and I’d like that down in an official capacity somewhere, it was clear he had some machinations he was instigating or had already started against Gray. If my statement is on record somewhere, wherever that may be, something happens to me or Gray, then the breadcrumb trail has already been laid,” I told him.

  Lenny was alert always but at my story he got more alert.

  “He make threats against Gray as well as you?”

  “Not directly.” I shook my head. “No. That isn’t true. To me, directly, to Gray, indirectly.”

  Lenny rolled his tongue along his lower teeth behind his lips, his eyes working.

  Then he stepped back, extended his arm down the hall and stated, “Let me introduce you to one of our officers who’ll take your statement.”

  My heart eased.

  Lash started moving me, Brutus behind but as I got abreast of Lenny, I stopped, they stopped with me and I caught Lenny’s eyes.<
br />
  “Thank you, Lenny,” I whispered.

  “My job, Ivey,” he said quietly.

  He’d said that to me before and I remembered it like it happened yesterday. The memory hurt like a mother but I didn’t let it show, nodded then walked down the hall with my two best friends.

  * * * * *

  We were sitting at a fabulous restaurant in the middle of nowhere with expensive steak dinners sitting in front of us. They weren’t VFW delicious but they were nothing to sneeze at.

  Leave it to Lash to sniff out elegance and extravagance in the mountain plains in Colorado. Not only the restaurant but the hotel spa, also in the middle of nowhere, where we were spending a couple of getaway days.

  I was smiling at Lash who’d just said something Lash-like to make me smile; I’d grabbed my wineglass and was lifting it to my curved lips when Brutus spoke and Lash and I looked at him.

  “Right, just gonna take this moment to say, not sure I get this, you two, what you’re doin’, dumpin’ a wad on this fuckin’ guy who broke Ivey’s heart.” He looked at me and his voice dropped soft. “What I do know, you doin’ this but I already knew it before, is that heart is made of pure gold, baby. That guy is fuckin’ whacked for losin’ hold ‘a you. What you did today, I would never do but I’m proud ‘a you that you had the strength to do it.”

  My heart swelled, tears filled my eyes and I whispered, “Thank you, baby.”

  “You’re welcome, baby,” Freddie whispered back.

  Lash found my thigh under the table and squeezed it.

  I breathed deep, got a lock on it and looked between the two of them.

  Then I smiled.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Nothin’ Better Than You

  Nine thirty the next morning…

  I was returning from having breakfast with Lash, walking down the hall toward our room.

  I’d lost Lash for the day. Gym, Jacuzzi, sauna, shower, haircut at the house salon, professional shave and manicure. Just his time at the gym would be over an hour. He had a popular club in Vegas that took a lot of his time but he liked to work on his body and he didn’t often have the time to get a good workout in. Rarely a sauna. Never a professional shave and manicure.

  It was cool that after taking his time to deal with my business he was going to get something he liked out of it.