Page 44 of Still Yours
“I’m not hit,” he says.
I sag with relief as he digs his fingers into my hair, tipping my head up.
Stone’s eyes grow hooded, but it doesn’t contain the spreading wildfire. His fingers stroke the side of my face and the sharp pain that follows tells me he’s found a cut. “They hurt you.”
Stone says it so flatly and with such certainty that I stiffen even as he helps pull me into a sit.
“Stone, don’t go anywhere near him again.” When Stone doesn’t acknowledge me and stares down the aisle where the motorcycle couple took their exit, I repeat, “That man just fired a gun in a crowded store to win a fistfight with you. He’s reckless and dangerous. Stay away from him, okay?William?”
My use of his birth name causes him to blink and come back to me, the depths of his eyes, like black oil on blue fire, ebbing into smoldering embers.
“There you are.” I breathe out in relief.
Stone frowns at me, confused. “What are you talking about? I didn’t go anywhere.”
Yes, you did. You transformed into an uncontrollable avenger right in front of me.
Sometimes I forget Stone doesn’t have to reach too far inside himself to find the personality he’s looking for. It’s all there, atempest of emotions he keeps at bay until his patience thins and he’s called upon to use them.
Without voicing my fear, I take his hand and come to a stand. His eyes won’t leave my face.
“You sure you’re all right? You didn’t hit your head or anything, did you?”
“No. Just slipped.” I take a moment to scan the detritus around us and I’m about to voice my dismay when Maisy comes storming around the corner.
“Police and ambulance are on their way. Is anybody hurt? Everybody okay?” she asks.
Her voice draws the ones that hid behind display items and fled into the storage room back into the light. The ones I spot seem stunned but fine.
“Good.” Maisy puts her hands on her ample hips before her stare beelines to us. “And you two. What in thehellwas that?”
“That man was part of the White Tigers,” I say before Stone can open his mouth. “He was looking for trouble.”
Maisy squints at my explanation, weighing the truth of my statement. My reputation precedes me, because she says, “Fair enough, though they try to keep their antics out of my business most days. Seeing him must’ve set them off.” She jerks her head at Stone. “You should know better than to engage with them.”
Stone gives her anaw shucksdip of his chin. “Lost my head for a moment, ma’am.”
“Literally,” she retorts, having none of his charm. The sound of sirens redirects her attention. “I’ll let them in. Nobody goes anywhere until you give your statements. Those fuckers damaged my property and nearly killed someone.”
It’s not like Maisy to swear. She worked her tail off to buy this building from the previous owner and be granted a business loan. She converted it from an old bread factory to what it is today, and nothing like this has ever happened on her watch. Ibet she feels as violated as I do after being attacked by a woman who started this whole thing, then walked away scott-free.
The sheriff approaches us, his mouth grim under his hat.
“Sheriff Miles,” I greet, just barely resisting the urge to lower my head and shuffle my feet like a chastened kid.
His square face and broad frame screamed authority back when he was a rookie police officer dropping off his kid at elementary school. As sheriff of Falcon Haven, he essentially holds the keys to the town and often meets any malfeasance under his supervision with the highest punishment.
“Mr. Stalinski,” his tobacco-laced voice grinds as he considers Stone. “Been a while since I had you under my thumb.”
“Sheriff.” Stone tips his head. “I apologize for all of this.”
“Don’t be sayin’ sorry to me, son. You owe Maisy that and then some. From what I’ve gathered so far, this all began with a selfie.”
Stone rubs his chin. “I don’t like cameras.”
“Uh-huh.” Sheriff Miles’s flat gaze shows just how much he appreciates Stone’s excuse. “I liked you better on the other side of the country. How long are you here for?”
“Originally? A couple of weeks. Since finding out about my mother, as long as it takes.”
