Didn’t do what? My gut tightens to the point of pain at what she means.
“They’re dead,” I grind out through clenched teeth.
“Coyote,” Tinsley says weakly as she tilts her head up to look up at me over her shoulder.
“No argument. They not only threatened my son. They killed his mother and have hurt you. Those fuckers are not getting away with causing any more harm to you. And they sure as fuck aren’t getting their grimy hands on Cody.” By the time I finish, I'm yelling the last words.
“Tinsley, either way whether it’s Coyote and the club or me, they are all dead. And I’m guessing me handling it will be more merciful than the club,” Grigory says.
“But . . . you don’t need to kill for me, again,” Tinsley murmurs, tilting her head back to speak to her cousin.
Shaking my head, I turn her in my arm so that Tinsley is facing me. “Doesn’t matter, baby. They threatened more than just you at this point. I won’t allow them to hurt you more than they have. Milley made her choice and in doing so brought you to me. Now it’s my job to protect you and my son. Got me?”
Tinsley seems to be trying to search for something inside me with the way she stares deep within me. All the way to my soul. Finally, she nods her head in understanding. “Okay. Just do me a favor.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“You all work together, that way I don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt.” At Tinsley’s words, I can’t help but grin down at her. Go figure she would say something like that.
A normal woman would have demanded that we go to the cops or some shit like leave it be. Better yet, they would have contacted the police at the hospital when Milley left Cody in her care.
No, not Tinsley, she’s unique in every way that I can see thus far. She hadn’t blinked an eye when Grigory talked about killing the men who hurt her. Nor did she tell those motherfuckers where my son was when they beat her.
A lesser woman would have caved after the first slap.
“Yeah, Luce Mia, I’m pretty sure we can do that,” I murmur, lifting a hand to cup the side of her face. “Now how about you sit down, and I’ll fix you a sandwich, while you and Grigory tell me what the hell you’re talking about when you mean the first fuckin’ time.”
Tinsley’s face loses it’s coloring as I help her sit on a stool. Her cousin steps closer to her as I move to the other side of the kitchen. Throughout this entire movement I don’t take my eyes off of Tinsley.
“Do you want me to call someone to do something about your hair for you?” Grigory asks, running a hand through Tinsley’s hair.
Sucking in a breath, Tinsley shakes her head. “I’ll get it straightened out. Thank you though. You have enough on your plate.”
“Why don’t I call Hades? See if his ol’ lady, Emerson, can come up and help you out,” I suggest.
“That’s already taken care off. Emerson is on her way up here.” We all turn our heads to see Victoria standing there with Izzy.
“What the hell, woman?” I snap, narrowing my gaze on the two of them.
“You didn’t think I wasn’t coming here after finding out about Tinsley, did you?” Izzy smirks.
“Fuckin’ A. Iz, you’re going to drive me fuckin’ nuts. No wonder Chase kept talking about wanting to pull his hair out with me,” I mutter and instantly regret it at the grimace that crosses her face. “Sorry, Izzy.”
Tears shimmer in her gaze but she smiles through them. “It’s okay. Hearing his name doesn’t hurt as much as it used to. And you’re right, I drove my brother batshit crazy with all the bullshit I pulled,” she says, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Glancing from Izzy to Tinsley, I can see the questions swirling around in her head. Fuck, she’s probably thinking the wrong ideas about this right now.
Chapter Eleven
Tinsley
Staring at Coyote interacting with this woman, Izzy, I’m curious as to who they are to each other. I can sense they’re not intimate. I can relax somewhat at this knowledge due to the ring set that’s on Izzy’s left hand and the cut she’s wearing.
When Coyote turns his attention back to me, he seems nervous and I can’t help but wonder if he was in love with Izzy. He seems to know her very well.
Clearing his throat, he comes to me and wraps an arm around my shoulders. “Izzy, since you’re a pain in the ass and couldn’t wait to come up here, I’d like for you to officially meet Tinsley.”
Giving Izzy a small smile I wave my hand. “Hi.”
Izzy seems to take a moment to take in my appearance before a smile crosses her face. “It’s about damn time someone captures this guy’s heart,” she says coming toward me.
Umm . . . Okay?
“Izzy, woman, if you don’t chill the hell out, I’m going to end up tying your ass up in a bed.” This comes from a drop-dead gorgeous man who’d come in without me realizing it.
What’s up with that?
How am I missing these people popping into the kitchen without seeing or hearing them? Maybe I’m losing my mind. This man here has power flowing off him the same way I’d noticed Grigory does. Eyeing him, I take in the fact he’s wearing a cut the same as Coyote’s only his says President where Coyote’s says Road Captain.
“You wish,” Izzy laughs as the man wraps his arms around her waist.
Returning her focus back to me, Izzy smiles. “Hi, it’s nice to finally meet the woman who brought my nephew to his father.”
My heart starts to beat rapidly in my chest. This woman may be smiling but her words don’t sound too friendly. Then again, besides the few people I talk to, I don’t have friends. I haven’t in a long, long time.
“Izzy,” Coyote warns, he must have sensed this in me.
“What?” Izzy says, furrowing her brow as she lifts her gaze to Coyote.
“Leave that shit alone,” he states.
“I didn’t say anything wrong. I was just saying I was happy to finally meet her. I mean she did bring Cody to you. I don’t know her and neither do you, but she was kind enough to do Cody’s mom’s bidding for her.” Ouch and that right there is another slap to the face.
“Baby, I suggest you be quiet. Not only are you running your mouth about things you don’t know all the facts about. You’re pissing people off,” the guy holding Izzy suggests.
“Twister, I’m not trying to piss anyone off. Coyote is family. The only link I have left to my brother, and I’m not going to stand by and see him get hurt. Or that little boy. So, excuse me if I come across brash. I don’t care. If she doesn’t understand that then she’s not good enough for him,” Izzy snaps.
“Umm, excuse me. But for the record you don’t know me,” I say, quietly before anyone else can say anything to Izzy. “None of you know who I am. Or what I’ve been through. As for your information Izzy, I not only was there when Cody was born, I was the first to hold him when the doctor delivered him. I’d never hurt him or Coyote. Shit, I just fuckin’ woke up after getting the shit beat out of me, my hair fuckin’ sawed off. That’s not the worse I’ve been through, but I sure as hell hope it’s the last time I deal with something like this. Now if you don’t mind knocking the ‘I’m gonna test the new bitch’ off that would be great.”