His friend arrived quickly, eyeing Tucker’s bloody face with curiosity and concern until Tucker explained what had gone down, and then anger rose to take its place.
“He’s gone?” Luke demanded.
“Packing. I want to make sure he leaves with a full understanding of the situation.” A sense of dread slipped in even as Tucker made the decision to go ahead. His anger and sense of justice made the next step logical and inevitable, but it was also potentially trouble he couldn’t walk away from unscathed. Ginny was not going to approve. “This is mine to deal with, got it?”
Luke reluctantly nodded. “Don’t kill the man.”
“No guarantees,” Tucker murmured.
The door to Jim’s quarters stood open. Mason and Cooper stood outside with their arms over their chests and frowns fully in place.
They both snapped upright when Tucker and Luke appeared.
“We got this,” Luke said quietly, gesturing toward the mess hall. “Grab a coffee if you need one, then get back to work.”
The men eyed Tucker before offering a nod of approval, taking off quickly as ordered.
Jim must’ve heard something, because he marched through the door, sneering in their direction as he tossed bags in the back of his truck. “Come to gloat?”
Luke stepped back.
Tucker gestured toward the room. “You empty it out?”
The other man folded his arms over his chest. “What do you want?”
Tucker spread his hands in a come and get me attitude. “Since you’re no longer an employee, I’m no longer your boss. Which means if you want to take a shot at me, I’ll give you the chance.”
An evil sneer scurried across Jim’s face. “Fucking right, I want to take a shot.”
Jim moved like the snap of a slingshot, fist flying to make contact with Tucker’s jaw. Tucker turned at the last moment and let most of the impact slide off.
Then he raised his fists and stepped forward. “My turn.”
Jim threw another punch, but Tucker pushed it aside easily before slamming his fist into Jim’s face. The other man toppled to the ground, arms flung back, legs askew. He lay there motionless for a moment, shocked, before scurrying away crab-like.
He was too slow. Tucker caught him by the front of the shirt, lifting him skyward to deliver another punishing blow.
And another.
The temptation was strong to keep letting the man have it, because while Jim had only been moderately rude to Ginny in person, his threat to stalk and hurt her was fucked up. This was the kind of man who would escalate. Somewhere, sometime, things would go too far.
What if Tucker wasn't around to protect Ginny? What if some other person ended up on the receiving end of Jim’s bullshit attitude?
“Tucker, that’s enough.” Luke spoke softly. The voice of reason, cutting through the haze of Tucker’s anger.
His friend was right, dammit anyway.
Tucker hauled Jim to his feet one final time and shoved him toward his truck. The man grabbed the door and clung to it for support.
“That was for threatening my woman,” Tucker said quietly. “Here’s your final warning. I have enough contacts, so trust me when I say you will be watched. If you ever intimidate or scare or lay a hand on anyone in the future—woman, man, I don’t care—I will hear about it. You will not like what happens when I hunt you down.”
Tucker turned on his heel and left without a backward glance.
Blood pounded in his ears so hard he didn’t realize Luke marched beside him, his usually happy face turned thoughtful.
They were nearly at the arena when Luke laid a hand on Tucker’s shoulder and squeezed. “I told Kelli I’d meet her in a few. She has some crazy idea I’ll let her up on the back of that new bronco we brought in.”
“Jeez. The woman is fearless,” Tucker said.
“Scares the hell out of me sometimes,” Luke agreed. He pulled Tucker to the side of the barn where there was a sink and handed over a handkerchief. “Wipe off the blood before you scare someone.”
“A little fear might be a good thing,” Tucker growled.
Luke waited until Tucker had removed the surface evidence of the fight, then cleared his throat. “Thanks.”
Tucker glanced at his friend. “For what?”
Luke tilted his head toward the crew quarters. “For not killing the bastard, but also, for putting the fear of God into him. Kelli might scare me with how she acts sometimes, but I don’t have to wonder if she’s safe from being assaulted right here in our own backyard. Ashton’s been a big part of why that is, and it’s clear you’ve got the same mindset.” He stuck out his hand. “So, thanks.”
Tucker ignored the hand and went for a hug, pounding Luke firmly between the shoulder blades. “Aw, I love you too, sweetheart.”
Luke shoved him, and the two of them play-wrestled for a moment.
A sharp whistle rang out, followed by a laughing call. “Hey, get to work, slackers, or I’ll tell Ashton on you.” Kelli strode up, all light and happy, and Tucker felt deep satisfaction roll right down to his toes.
Yeah, Luke was right. There were a few things that his uncle Ashton had been doing over the years that were absolutely worth keeping a priority. For Kelli’s sake. For Ginny’s. For Caleb’s little girls who would eventually be a part of Silver Stone’s daily operations.
For a second, a vision of a little girl with Ginny’s dark hair and big brown eyes flashed to mind, and Tucker kept his feet through sheer willpower alone.
Only he also knew Ginny’s opinion on fighting. What if his actions had just destroyed his chance at happiness with the woman he loved? Fear at a level he’d never known before rocked through him for a split second before he forced it back.
Ginny was not like his parents. Ginny was reasonable—sort of. He had to trust that what they’d built between them was solid enough to deal with a difference in viewpoint.
There would be no compromise on this, though. Nothing less than her safety, and the safety of others, was acceptable.
He just hoped that when the dust settled, he would still be standing.
20
Something was up.
Not only did heads pivot to follow her as Ginny passed by stalls on the way to unsaddle her horse, but low murmurs followed as well.
“Let me get that for you.” Alex hurried forward to help lift off the saddle, ready to carry it to the tack room.
“Thanks.” She caught him before he could vanish, leaning in close to whisper her question. “Why is everyone suddenly acting as if we’re in church?”
Alex blinked for a second, obviously trying to figure out some non-controversial thing to tell her.
“Alex,” she warned. “Lie to me, and I will set Yvette up on a date, and it won’t be with you.”
His jaw dropped. He snapped it shut. “You’re mean.”
“Motivated,” Ginny volleyed back before taking pity on him. “I won’t do that. I can tell you like her, and from what I’ve heard, she doesn’t hate your guts. Much.”
He sighed. “It’s complicated.”
She snickered. “Tell me about it.” Then she narrowed her gaze. “Literally. What’s up with the peanut gallery? They’re all acting as if I’m about to go off like a firecracker.”