Page 120 of Wild Card

We’re a protective bunch. All of us. But Ford has a fucking darkness inside of him.

Which is why I know, if there was anything I thought could put a stain on Joseph Wynn, he wouldn’t hesitate.

The nights I’m not on shift, Willow stays with me.

Which means Ford and Rowan have had the most time with her. All the women love her, but she and Rowan have fallen into a friendship like they’ve known each other forever.

The shield Willow lived behind is long gone. Carefree, happy, relaxed—not an ounce of drama.

I plan for it to stay that way.

“The dad going to help out the sister?” Ace’s question is loaded with disgust.

“Not sure how he’s leaning. Watching the video footage of his youngest daughter acting bat-shit crazy had him worried for both his girls. He thinks it’s time Rylee learns responsibility for her actions but doesn’t want it to backfire on Willow.”

“Any word from the mom?”

“Sterling said she’s embarrassed, ashamed, and rethinking her decisions and allegiances. Rylee’s outburst at Rendezvous was a wake-up call.”

“Shoulda thrown her in the fucking clink.” Major’s voice is tight.

“One night in would be too easy.”

Ford turns in the front seat to face me, crossing his arms. “You onto something other than Shayla getting her banned from every high-end salon in five counties?”

I nod. “First up, she’s got a meeting at work tomorrow. She coasted into her position as a glorified receptionist because her mom sits on the board at the charity. Board member or not, her boss wasn’t too keen on his employee showing her ass in public at one of the hottest spots in the city. Rylee violated their values. She’s out with no severance.”

“It’s been two weeks; the boss took his sweet ass time.”

“He may have been sent a copy of the video from an anonymous and concerned donor.”

Ace grunts his approval.

“The woman is maxed out and drowning in debt. She’s been using cash advances to float her lifestyle. Those credit accounts have been flagged as high-risk and cut off. “

“No job and no money. Think her mom will bail her out?”

“Possibly, but there’s more. Rylee used Joe’s information to open one of those credit cards. The billing address is a P.O. Box. The address has been updated, and he should be getting his bill any day now, along with a copy of his credit report.”

“Good call, but he can fight it.”

“My guess is that’s his first instinct until he sees the charges. If he knows his woman at all, no amount of stupid could deny it’s Rylee. He’s backed into a corner. She has no job, no credit, no savings, and no way to pay that shit off. Unless he wants his credit to take a hit, he has to pay. He chooses not to, the company won’t willingly walk away. He files fraud—they investigate and the trail leads to Rylee, and she gets slapped with identity theft and whatever else.”

Ford’s eyes light with admiration. “Nice. The asshole doesn’t drop her after that, he’s the dumbest motherfucker on the planet.”

“Willow know any of this?” Major asks.

“Not yet. She has enough on her plate.”

“Meaning you know she’ll be pissed about you getting involved?”

I shrug, not wanting to agree even though he’s right. “Bitch had it coming.”

“Fucking finally.” Ace veers off the exit.

The weight in my gut releases the closer we get to our neighborhood.

By the time he pulls into Major’s driveway, I’m beyond fucking ready to see Willow. I stop briefly in the doorway to kiss Jewls on the cheek and then make my way straight to Willow.

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