Page 84 of In Step

At the bottom of the stairs, we released him, shoving him toward his car, which he’d parked halfway down the drive. Kane surged past, striding after his father before I could stop him.

“Do yourself a favour and just sign the damn papers,” he called to Gerald’s back as I swore and ran after them. “You’ve got a chance to do the right thing by your kids, for once in your miserable life. Do you even know you’re a grandfather?”

Gerald’s step faltered but he didn’t turn around.

“Yeah.” Kane nodded. “And that’s all you get to know other than I’ll make sure they get their share. Just fucking sign, goddamn you.”

If Kane hoped his father might be swayed by the thought of a grandchild, he was mistaken. “And I’ll be filing a restraining order,” Kane shouted as Gerald climbed into his old Ford.

“Jesus, what an arsehole,” Leroy muttered as we watched the car disappear from view.

I put an arm around Kane’s shoulders and pulled him close. Deep lines cut across his brow and he shook like a leaf. “What’s running through that head of yours?”

He shot me a worried look. “I need to get Possum out of there. If he wants to hurt me, that’s where he’ll start. And there’s no one to stop him.”

Fox slipped an arm around Leroy’s waist and kissed his boyfriend’s hair. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

Leroy’s smile turned feral. “Hell no, we can’t.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

Kane

“I’m never gonna get ridof these stains.” Judah rolled up the hem of his jeans with a horrified expression, his warm breath fogging in the cold night air. “No one mentioned cow shit.”

I snorted but said nothing, too busy shoving my arms into the warm jacket Abe held out for me while keeping my eye on the dark paddocks just to the side of the bush. We’d taken Morgan’s old SUV, as it had slightly more room to fit the six of us, and parked in the same spot I’d used a few weeks before.

Abe turned me around and zipped me up like I was twelve years old and I kind of loved it. “You done, daddy?” I whispered, and he flushed to the roots of his hair.

He was dressed in black, as we all were, and looked good enough to lick if you liked your lollipops dark-scruffed, ballet-dancer bendy, but with a smoking cat-burglar vibe, which I apparently did. Who’d have thought? A niche market, but I was there for it, and I made a mental note to fuck the man senseless with just his trousers pulled down to his knees as soon as we got home. It would be my first time topping, but Abe had been asking for days, and I was getting hot under the collar watching him boss everyone around with that mature confidence he oozed in spades. It was going to be epic.

The whole plan was crazy, but kind of wonderful at the same time. After my father’s threat, Leroy led a crusade of determination to rescue Possum come hell or high water, and I was still trying to wrap my head around the novel idea of having friends who would actually go to bat for me.

It was a plan the local cop, Jon, wanted to know nothing about after I got him started on a restraining order. A raised eyebrow and a cautionary warning were quick to come. Although, he agreed that my half share of the property entitled me to access and that removing Possum would likely not be regarded as theft. He also said he’d keep his phone handy and find a reason to be in the general vicinity at the time if we needed him. I could’ve kissed him... or not... cop and all. But even with the camera footage and witnesses to Dad’s veiled threat and behaviour, Jon wasn’t sure it would be enough to get the restraining order through. Still, it was worth a try.

“And look at my fucking shoes,” Judah hissed. “This is all your fault.” He glared at Morgan who was making no effort to hide his amusement. “You couldn’t have parked in a shit-free zone, could you?” He gently pressed the SUV’s door, leaving the narrow dirt track lit only by Abe’s small flashlight aimed at their feet.

“It’s a farm, sweetheart.” Morgan held Judah’s coat for him to slip his arms into. “Occupational hazard. Plus, anywhere that you are, there’s bound to be a fair bit of—”

Judah’s hand clamped over his husband’s mouth. “I advise you not to finish that sentence. Besides, it’s all right for you. This is only a half-step sideways from stinky fish and sweaty fishermen’s armpits.” He shuddered. “Thank Christ I’m staying in the car. If you need a quick getaway, I’m your man.”

Leroy rolled his eyes. “You’re not even supposed to be driving.”

“Minor wrinkle. Anyway, I only have to get us down the road, then Morgan can take over.”

“You should’ve stayed at home. Safer for all concerned,” Leroy whisper-shouted, and Judah flashed his brother a killing look.

“Fuck that. No way I’m having this story told around the table and not be part of it. Now get going before I freeze my nuts off.”

Morgan cupped Judah’s face and stared intently into his eyes. “You’re such a gentle soul. I do worry about you.”

Judah snorted. “I try.”

Morgan kissed him softly. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. Just don’t be too long. And don’t get caught. Although if Kane owns half, it can’t be trespassing, right?”

Morgan shrugged. “Technically, no. But if we get caught, I think that’ll be the least of our worries.”

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