“You have our word,” Jax said.
“Why did you come here, Vicky?” Brianna asked. “It isn’t safe.” The last thing she wanted was someone hurt because of her, or more specifically, because of her father.
Vicky rolled her eyes and whispered, “Joshua won’t let me out of his sight.”
“Oh,” she said, immediately locking eyes with Jax. She couldn’t help but read his mind then. In twenty-five or thirty years, he’d be the same way about her, if he wasn’t already.
Joshua pulled free a white envelope. “Peyton forwarded the information you requested late last night. Rory Matthews, one of Trixie’s husbands, worked on this for you. He’s pretty accurate when he starts digging. He met us before we left this morning and told me to assure you everything you need is in that envelope.”
Jax held the information as if it were a golden ticket. He turned the envelope in his hands, studying it carefully before he finally folded it over and t
ucked it in his shirt pocket. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I’m just the delivery guy,” Joshua said. “I hope everything you need to know is in there, son.”
Jax jerked at the reference. Joshua apparently noticed because he and Aspen shot one another a quick glance. After an uncomfortable silence, Vicky rose to her feet. “Well what can I do to help today?” She smiled at Brianna. “If you just moved in last night, maybe I can help you unpack.”
Tyler said, “She doesn’t have a lot of unpacking to do. Besides, I wanted to take her for a ride this morning.” When all heads turned to him, he added, “You’re welcome to come along, if you like.”
Vicky winked at Joshua as if she fully understood she’d only be imposing. “Tell you what, if you boys don’t mind, why don’t I take over kitchen duty and you let Mrs. Gibbles have the day off.”
“She wouldn’t want to take a day off,” Flint said. “She enjoys working. We’ve tried to give her a day off before and she seems hell-bent on staying right here.”
“Get rid of her,” Joshua said, buttering another biscuit.
“I don’t understand,” Flint said. “She’s not afraid.”
“It isn’t a matter of being scared, son. It’s a matter of protecting the women. When these boys from the city arrive, they’ll come bearing arms and they’ll come for a killing season. The fewer people we have to watch, the better.”
“How do I know my sisters will be safe?” Brianna asked.
“Ansley and Brock are on their way to pick up Nory and she’ll go back to Fletcher with them. Drina and Gemma refuse to leave, but Coco has agreed to stay at a friends’ house,” Aspen explained.
“Which brings up a point of importance. What do you know about Coco’s friend Brandon?” Joshua directed his question at her.
Brianna sat completely still, accepting the idea of being under a microscope. She could almost hear the silent fits her fellas were already throwing in their minds.
“Tell me we aren’t talking about Brandon Blazier,” Tyler said, resting his fists on the table, one on each side of his breakfast plate.
She bowed her head and took a deep breath. She’d already made a silent oath to always tell her men the truth, but this wasn’t her story to tell or theirs to hear.
“Brianna?” Vicky peered under her fallen locks. “Honey, you need to tell them where she’ll be so they can make sure those who are keeping her realize what they’re up against.”
“I can’t help but feel as if I’m betraying Coco, but I think Kane has already met him. Yes, Brandon Blazier’s place is where she’ll be staying.”
Jax clucked. “Damn. I hate that she’s messed up with those boys.”
“There’s more than one Brandon Blazier?” Joshua said, clearly joking.
“Unfortunately, there are quite a few Blazier brothers. They’re known around town.”
“How many of them are there?” Aspen asked.
“Don’t worry,” Tyler said, his face splotchy red as his anger reared its ugly head. “They have plenty of dudes over there to protect her. Fact is, I don’t know if they’d protect Coco or push her out in front of them.”
“This coming from the man who hid behind his housekeeper’s apron?” Joshua asked, smirking.
“Not a very good plan, I know, but we had her covered. My gun was cocked and aimed right at you. If you’d been one of the guys coming for Brianna, I would’ve taken your head off.”