“Okay, Ricky. I’ll do it. I’ll talk to Sandman and I’ll let you protect me.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face then placed his palm against her cheek.
“Together. We’re a team, together.”
She nodded her head and he smiled, for Amelia was now and forever, his everything.
* * * *
Murphy was still upset. Despite Ricky’s ability to get her to cooperate, and give information to Sandman, she hadn’t said a word to Murphy. He was used to giving orders and to making decisions for everyone. Now Amelia fell into that category as well.
He watched her quietly walk into their kitchen and look around. She smiled at Waylon as he brushed by her, tickling her side.
“Want to go sit out on the back patio for a bit, or would you like the tour?” Brody asked her.
“The tour first. This is a really nice place you guys have. It’s big, too.”
Brody reached his hand out to walk her toward the living room.
They disappeared and he stared after them.
“What’s up with you?” Ricky asked Murphy.
“Nothing.”
“Bull fucking shit, nothing. Spit it out,” Waylon said, then sat on the barstool while guzzling down a bottle of water.
“I’m just pissed off.”
“At the situation? We all are. At least she spoke to Sandman and he can check this asshole out,” Ricky said.
“It’s not just that. It’s how she reacted to me telling Sandman. She was going to just ignore those text messages. She needs to learn to trust us and not to keep things from us.”
“Murphy, she didn’t know you were going to tell Sandman. She’s used to handling things on her own. She’ll get used to it. Just give her some slack,” Ricky stated.
“No. I’m not giving her slack. I’m in charge here. You three damn well know that I run a tight, organized house and life. I’m the oldest. Looking out for all of you is my job. Amelia is our woman. She comes first. I won’t stand here and allow her to think that she can do what she wants.”
“Do what I want? What the hell is that supposed to mean, Murphy?” Amelia asked, raising her voice as she entered the hallway to the kitchen along with Brody. Now Brody looked upset.
Murphy stared down at her. “I’m pissed off, Amelia. I don’t like being second-guessed. I was trying to protect you back there at Casper’s and telling Sandman about Mano.”
She walked closer, with her hands on her hips.
“Well maybe you should have told me what your true intentions in going there were. Perhaps if you were forthright, I wouldn’t have reacted so strongly. I don’t know those men. I never even shared what happened to me with anyone but the four of you. I guess I felt betrayed.”
He thought about what she said for a moment.
“So did I. I felt like you didn’t trust us to protect you. I thought that you might even consider not telling us when that asshole calls you.”
She released an angry gasp then walked closer and shoved her finger into his chest.
“You are such a stubborn, bullheaded, royal pain in the ass. How dare you think for one minute that you can order me around or place me into your own personal troop of soldiers. Because that’s what you’re doing, Mr. Drill Sergeant. I’m not in the military. I live my life my way and that’s it. You want to bump heads some more?”
He stared at her in shock. She had a fire in her that made his cock instantly harden and his temper flare.
“Watch your tone,” he told her.
“Or what?”