Filthy Crown by Eleanor Aldrick
I don’t fuck with cowards.
Pen’s words from last night keep rattling in my head, making my blood pressure spike.
“Who’s a coward?” Jace sneaks up behind me, making me spill the coffee I’d just been pouring.
“Jesus. Who taught you to walk around like that? A ninja?”
“Yes. Now don’t change the subject.” He slaps me on the back, a wicked grin stretching across his lips. “Who’s a coward?”
Does he know what happened in the study last night? He couldn’t, could he?
“Nobody. Are you ready to ride with the kids this morning? I was thinking we would keep them close to the house until we hear otherwise from security. As it is, we’re keeping everyone here. Even moving in Dr. Leventhal and his partner. Just in case.”
Jace is nodding when Matt and Hunter walk into the kitchen.
“How’s that going, the therapy sessions with the kids?” Hunter asks and Matt cuts in.
“And by kids, he also means Pen.” Matt raises a brow as he goes to pull a mug from the cupboard.
I roll my eyes and take a sip of the dark liquid before responding. “As well as could be expected. It’s only been a little over two weeks, so there’s been little improvement in the nightmare department with Amanda. I have the monitor set up in her room and I’ve been letting Pen handle that whenever she wakes up. I feel like my presence would be too much for her in a groggy state. The last thing I think she’d need is a looming male figure.”
Jace’s fists clench over the countertop, his face growing red with anger. “Those fuckers need to pay for what they’ve done. This can’t go unavenged.”
My brows practically hit my hairline. “That’s a drastic change from not wanting to go near the cartel. Wasn’t that your position on this whole expedition?”
Jace scoffs. “That was before I saw the kids. It’s real now. Seeing how affected they all are, even Pen.”
“Even Pen what?” Penelope walks in with both kids in tow, and I have to make a concerted effort not to go to her and take her in my arms.
I don’t fuck with cowards. Her words hit me like a bucket of iced water. I’m no fucking coward and the need to prove her wrong is so strong my feet start carrying me toward her.
As if reading what’s on my mind, Hunter steps between us, his palm landing square on my chest as his head shakes back and forth.
“So, is anyone going to answer me or are we all going to stand here in silence?” Pen raises a brow, her eyes bouncing between all of the Crown brothers.
“Someone’s in a mood this morning.” Jace teases, his gaze falling on me as if I were the reason for the attitude.
He’s not wrong, but there’s no way in hell I’d ever admit to it. “It’s nothing that needs to be discussed right now.” I look toward the kids and usher them to the table where Mary has a full spread out for us to enjoy. “Eat up, kids. We’re riding in thirty.”
Amanda and Alex don’t have to be told twice. Within seconds, they’re both seated and piling eggs and bacon onto their plates.
Pen, on the other hand, is still standing with both arms crossed over her ample chest.
“Sit, Pen. You’ll need food to keep up your energy for the ride.” I urge her to sit, but my hands remain at my side for fear that I might reach out and touch her inappropriately.
“Yes, Daddy,” Pen mutters as she sits in her chair, her words both temptation and torture wrapped up in one sinful package.
Things I want to do to her flash before me and my dick takes notice, swelling to its full length, ready and eager to meet the challenge.
“Christ, Jack,” Matt mutters under his breath, his hand clamping down on my shoulder. “Get a grip, brother.”
My eyes meet his and I know he’s seen the tent I’m sporting. Quickly maneuvering myself behind the counter, I try for a change of subject. One I know will be sure to sour the mood. “Dr. Leventhal will be moving into the main house.”
Everyone at the table stops what they’re doing, their eyes focusing on me. “Now, I know you aren’t a fan of therapy, but we think it’ll be better for everyone if the doctors could observe us in our everyday life. Get us all back to healed and happy as soon as possible.”
Pen narrows her eyes. Her bullshit radar probably going off and calling me out on my partial lie. It’s true that I want the doctor to be here for them in case Pen has another attack or another nightmare happens where Pen can’t soothe Amanda. But a big reason for their moving in is out of safety.
With the cartel possibly being out here, I don’t want to risk our guests being targeted.
“I don’t think that’s necessary.” Pen bristles, it’s obvious she doesn’t like Leventhal.
“It’s only temporary. I think we can all make the sacrifice, just for a little bit.”
She’s about to open her mouth in what I think is a rebuttal when Sam comes rushing in, his face as pale as snow. “Sir. A word.”
I nod, looking toward Pen before I follow him out. “You good with the kids?”
She nods, her eyes never leaving Sam’s face. There’s trouble, and she knows it.
I make it out of the kitchen and down the hall when I hear boots behind me. Turning, I see all Crown brothers are following. Seems they caught wind of trouble, too.
Entering my office, I instruct Hunter to shut the door. This seems serious and I don’t want anyone to overhear.
“Speak up, Sam.” I sit on my desk, not bothering with the chair.
“The horses, sir.” Sam’s face goes from white to green and my stomach drops.
“What’s happened to the horses, Sam?”
“They’ve been gutted.” Choked sounds erupt around the room, none of us having expected this.
I’m blinking long hard blinks, my breathing picking up with each intake of breath. “Have you told anyone of this?”
“No, sir. I came straight here. They were all in their stalls. Extremely quiet. Too quiet. I went in to check on them before this morning’s ride when I found them. Each and every one, sir.” His eyes well up and I know this has to be hard for him. He loved those horses as much as me, if not more.
Walking toward him, I place both hands on his shoulders. “Listen, Sam. This can’t get out to the rest of the staff. Take one or two of our most trusted men, clear the area and then send the rest of the crew home. Tell them we’ll be shutting down operations and keeping a skeleton crew. At least for a couple of weeks.”
He nods in agreement, his face rife with determination. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Once you’re done with that, I’ll need you to come back here. We have some things to discuss. And Sam, I want you to know that your hard work and dedication to this family isn’t going unnoticed. You’re like family. I hope you know that you and yours will always be cared for.”
Sam nods, his eyes welling up once more before he turns and walks out of the room without another word.
As soon as the door shuts behind him, Jace lets out a low whistle. “Christ. There’s no doubt it’s those sick fuckers who followed us down here.”
“No shit. What are we going to do now? They taunted us with the gas, but this is some next level fuckery.”
I rub at the back of my neck. “What’s troubling is that they targeted the horses. Did they somehow know we were going to be riding this morning? Are they listening now? We need to get the men of WRATH down here and see if they have a signal jammer or something while we discuss our next moves.”
All of them agree, nodding vigorously.
“Okay. I’ll message them and we’ll start this back up when they get here. In the meantime. Let’s get the kids and all their shit packed up as soon as possible. One thing is clear, we’re not staying here.”
“You can’t stay here.” Titus’s words match up with what I was thinking. “Your property is too large for us to cover and it hasn’t been set up with our surveillance. Not like our property back in Texas.”
“So what are you saying?” Jace looks toward Titus, but it’s Hudson who answers.
“We have a couple of safe homes in Texas. They’re fully decked out with surveillance and escape tunnels should we need them. We think y’all should come back with us.”
Titus cuts in, “No offense, but we’re taking our women and children from the ranch. As beautiful as it is up here, now is not the time to be enjoying nature. Not with whoever’s running amuck.”
“No offense taken. I was just telling the guys that we need to be packing up the kids. This property was built for leisure, not high-level defense. Although, that’ll be changing soon. I’ll never be caught off guard like this again.”
Hudson speaks up, “We can help you get that all set up once we’ve got the current threat neutralized. In the meantime, get everyone packed up and we’ll be shipping out within the hour.”
I nod. “Thank you, again. We appreciate everything you’ve done for our family.”
“I said it once and I’ll say it again. It’s what we do. Unfortunately, we have to be at your service once more, but hopefully sometime soon our visits will be all pleasure and no business. The kids love it here, and at the rate we’re going, there’ll be a full brood of WRATH kids storming the mountains every summer.”
A broad smile spreads across my face. “Now that’s something to look forward to.”
Clapping him on the back, I walk the men to the door, signaling for my brothers to follow.
“Better get to it then.” Hunter passes by me in the hall, heading toward the kitchen where the kids have been hanging out, patiently waiting for a ride that will never come. “I’ll be the bad guy and tell them horseback riding has been tabled.”
I’d give him a nod of gratitude, but his back is to me, his feet carrying him swiftly toward the kitchen.
“No need to walk us out.” Hudson waves a hand. “You have packing to do yourself. Titus will stay here and watch guard, the rest of us will be here within the hour to escort you to the airfield.”
With another clap to the shoulder, Hudson walks off, leaving us to get ready to head to god knows where. All I know is that anywhere is safer than the ranch, where wide open spaces leave us exposed like sitting ducks.
Wasting no time, I head toward the study where my firearms are stored. They’re coming with us. Come hell or high water, I swear no harm will come to those kids. They’ve been through enough and if I have to lay down my life to keep them safe, then so be it.
They’re worth that and more.
