Page 94 of Taking Denver

She throws me a grin before striding out of the room, and I sit on the bed.

Forever sounds good now. Forever with her. Forever hers. Forever mine.

How it was always meant to be.

My phone rings on the nightstand, and I answer it. “What?”

“Ranger Luxe?” The smooth, deep voice is unfamiliar.

I glance at the screen at the unknown number. “Who is this?”

“Colt Harland.”

My gaze flicks to the door. “If you’re calling to beg for your brother’s life, you’re wasting your time.”

“My brother is safe,” Colt says simply. “Your guys aren’t as fast as they should be.” I make a mental note to beat the crap out of JJ. “I’m calling to make a deal, Ranger.”

I chuckle. “Is that so? And what could you possibly offer?”

“You know my influence here.”

“I also know you have a weak link,” I point out. Colt may be strong, but he almost lost everything because of a man he’ll never kill. “And you know as well as I do that as long as Wilder is alive, your house of cards can easily fall.”

Colt pauses. “I guess we both love people who could destroy us.” I say nothing. “The police have someone who can ruin you, Ranger. Someone who knows a hell of a lot. I’ll give you their name if you leave my brother alone. I’ll call him off, he won’t bother you again, he won’t even step foot in your state. But I need your word you’ll let what happened tonight go.”

“Not a chance,” I say. “You think someone can break into my fucking house, threaten my wife, shoot me, and walk away without a scratch?”

Colt exhales. “I have no issues punishing Wilder and letting everyone know just how much he regrets crossing you.”

I pause, staring out the bedroom door and down the hall. Denver appears from her room, her hair brushed and a fresh t-shirt on. She grins as she approaches.

“I don’t need you to tell me which of my men is fucking me over,” I say.

“It isn’t one of your men,” he says, and I hate that my interest is piqued. “They were offered a deal, Ranger. They took it in exchange for you. Believe me. You want this name.”

Denver stops at the doorway and glances at the phone. She raises her brow in question, and I shake my head, signaling the call means nothing. She wiggles over to me and straddles my hips.

“Okay,” I say.

Colt gives me the name. I hide my surprise from Denver, lacing my arm around her hips as she watches me.

“Consider the matter closed,” I say to Colt.

“I appreciate it.” He hangs up.

Denver settles on my lap. “Who was that?”

“No one.” I toss the phone aside, pulling her lips to mine.

She rests her arms on my shoulders, grinning against my mouth. “What do you say to me opening a coffee shop?”

I smile. “People don’t buy drugs in coffee shops.”

“I mean to sell actual coffee.” She rolls her eyes. “I can make my foam things all day. I bet I could bake, too.”

A normal life. A normal job.

“Is that what you want?” I ask.

---