Page 109 of No Fear
“Maybe I’ll take the fight next week, work out some of my aggression since I didn’t get to kill that fucker.” Lincoln flashed his teeth and Remy snorted.
“And risk your pretty face? Not a chance.”
That earned him an actual chuckle and the tension in the room finally began to deescalate, “Take care of your girl. That’s your only worry now. You’re out, for good.”
“I’m not out of the family, though.” Remy tipped his chin up, “I’m still a Bomar. That shit about changing my last name? You know I’d never do that. We’re still family.”
“Family.” Lincoln gave a brief nod and then looked at her again, “Welcome to the most dysfunctional family on the face of the planet, sweetheart.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. The Manson’s probably have you beat there.” She smiled and he laughed.
“Well, we can’t have that. I’ll have to see about knocking them off their pedestal.” Lincoln sobered as he turned for the door, “Oh, Rachel, the cops are going to be by to talk to you about last night. You don’t have much to worry about since it’ll be the Treblys but you should tell them you were home with Remy all night.”
“Okay.” She nodded but Remy’s hands tightened on her.
“Sherriff Trebly won’t ask questions but Lawson…”
“Deputy Trebly is being handled. He’s not a problem anymore.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that Lawson isn’t a problem anymore and that’s as much as you need to know, Remington. You’re out. Remember?” Lincoln pinned him with a steady gaze.
“Yeah. Out.” Remy ground out.
“Good. I’ll check in on ya later. Take care of each other.”
He turned to leave but Rachel darted towards him and wrapped him in a hug. It took a moment but the big man finally sighed and wrapped his arms around her. He didn’t try to pull her close. There was nothing taunting or flirtatious in his touch this time. It was just a calm and reassuring hug and when she stepped back, he smiled at her softly.
“Thank you, Rachel.”
She nodded and watched him go. She had a feeling he hadn’t been thanking her for the hug. He’d been thanking her for standing up for him to Remy, for trying to help them repair their relationship. And it made her want to hug him all over again. Because Lincoln Bomar might be a cold-blooded, son-of-a-bitch, but he wasn’t the devil he’d been made out to be. Maybe Remy was right, maybe she did always try to see the good in people, because she did see good in Lincoln, even if he’d claim it wasn’t there.
“Baby?”
“Mmm?” She leaned back into Remy when he wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m sorry for all the drama. I wanted a quiet day at home with you to recover and it turned into a fight with Lincoln just like it always does when the two of us are in a room together.” He kissed the top of her head, “He just… He annoys the shit out of me with that condescending attitude and he’s never…”
“Hey.” She turned in his arms and covered his mouth with her hand, “Clean slate, remember?”
Remy rolled his eyes but kissed her hand before pulling it away, “I know. I’ll try to give him a chance. For you. Even if he doesn’t deserve it.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for smacking some sense into me.”
She smiled up at him, “Anytime.”
“I can’t believe he really let me out of that deal.”
“I can.” She snuggled close to his chest, “He’s not as bad as he seems.”
“No. He’s much, much worse.”
She snorted and pulled out of Remy’s arms, “How long do you think we have until everyone else shows up to check on us?”
“Mmm, a couple of hours maybe?”
“Then I’m going back to bed…” She headed down the hallway and then paused and looked over her shoulder, “Join me?”
Remy’s smile was the biggest she’d seen on him in days, “Always.”
