so we’ll be good and ready when the enemy shows up.”
The laughter leaves his eyes. “No, we’ll leave before they come. You’re crazy if you’re planning to turn your place into a battlefield against those sorry thugs.”
“The two of you don’t stand a chance alone. You have nowhere to go,” I tell him, raking a hand through my hair. “Enough running. It’s time to stand and fight.”
He’s shaking his head fiercely, even though he knows I’m right.
“I know this isn’t how you wanted it, Nelson. Not for you or Grace, and I’m willing to help you change it. Give you both a fresh start, but it’ll take all of us working together.”
He shakes his head, then nods, then shakes his head again.
“I’m no good to you, can’t even help fix this crap. That drill sergeant of a nurse won’t let me out of this bed except to piss,” he groans.
“Yep, that’s her job. It’s how you’re going to get better. Strong enough to help me out.” I don’t want to hint that I know as much as I do about his past, so I shift focus. “You’re paying for her, so you’d better get your money’s worth.”
“I’m not paying—”
“The VA is,” I interject, bending the truth. “You’re a veteran.”
He is, yeah, but I know full well the hoops veterans have to jump through to get decent medical care outside of an authorized facility. Of course I’m paying for the nurse and anything else he needs, and no, he doesn’t need to know it just yet.
“How’d you make that happen, anyway?” he asks, a good sign his mind is firing on all cylinders.
I give him a wink. “I have my ways. Something else I wanted to mention...I started this whole media thing. I’m the one who told that Jackknife asshole at the Purple Bobcat that Grace and I were engaged. He told his boss, and we saw the fallout.” I shrug, meeting his confused look. “Wouldn’t be much of a soldier if I didn’t accept responsibility.”
He lets that sink in before he asks, “So what’s your plan?”
“The media leaks all say Grace and I are engaged. I figure this asshole is trying to run her off, get her away from here by slandering my reputation, thinking I can’t stand the spotlight. They have to know I left Hollywood for some peace and quiet. They’re using that against me, trying to scare you both into leaving so he can snap you up.”
“That’s his style,” Nelson says glumly. “Bastard thinks he can control everything. Every movement. I’m thankful he’s a little out of his element here, having no clue how showbiz works.”
“Exactly. My plan is to make his plan backfire. Grace and I will put on a show. Act engaged. I’ll take her to town, make sure everybody knows your girl hooked the most eligible new bachelor in Dallas. It’s time I introduce myself to the town properly, too. I’ll encourage folks to go wild, posting their pics of us on their social media sites, giving interviews, the works.”
“That’s only going to—”
“Piss off the Milwaukee boys? That’s what we want. Force their hand. Bring them here, where we’ll be ready.” I pat his arm. “Our turf, our rules. I have good, capable friends who’ll help us out. All former military guys, one was even in the FBI. I know the sheriff and his right-hand man. We’ll be ready and waiting, ready to swing shut the biggest damn mousetrap you’ve ever seen.”
For a second, he turns it over, his eyes brightening. They’re a shade paler than Grace’s.
Then he shakes his head, heaving out a sigh.
“Nahhh, you can’t rope more guys into this. Wouldn’t be right. The Old Town Boys are smarter than you’d think, and Clay, he’s got millions at his disposal.” He hangs his head. “Yeah, I know you’re probably richer than him, Ridge, but he’s a straight-up thug. A savage who’s been in this game his whole life. Outsmarting him isn’t as easy as you think.”
Excitement hits my blood, knowing he trusts me enough to name names.
“I’m planning it down to the last detail,” I say, giving him a fierce nod. The more I think about this, the more I know it’s our only chance. “My buddies have taken down bigger scum than Clay. They’ll have our backs.”
He looks at me, studying my face, looking for any sign of weakness.
I can tell he’s close to agreeing, he wants to, but he’s too used to be being prey. After what they’ve suffered, it’s