Patience breathed gratefully “Thank you, sweet baby Jesus.”
“If that’s all it’s gonna take to keep your ass here where it belongs, give me a half hour upstairs with no condoms and I’ll solve this problem,” Jake said to Harmony in a low voice.
“Spoken like a true barbarian,” Harmony retorted, rolling her eyes. “My mind hasn’t changed, Jake. I have a client that expects her wedding to go off without a hitch tomorrow. She’s a bride that deserves a perfect day, and she’s depending on me to make that happen. Today, I need to meet with the preacher, the florist and the caterers responsible for the main course. Honor has to make the wedding cake and the appetizers. Our family restaurant is in chaos. This week alone, one waitress has quit and Aunt Orla needed to fire another one for stealing. Our employees are dropping like flies, and we can’t expect Patience or Orla to handle it all. We have responsibilities to fulfill.”
“I agree,” Honor backed Harmony up. “Our parents didn’t work as hard as they did for us to just let our business fall apart now.”
“Your parents would be screaming at the top of their lungs for you girls to keep your butts planted here where you’re all safe if they were alive, Honor,” Zeke returned severely. “They’d want you to put your safety first.”
“We can be safe at the café!” Honor countered. “Park your deputies all over the place. I’ll feed them pie and give them all the coffee they can handle, Zeke, but I will not hide in this house any longer.”
Holding up both hands, Jake barked out, “Will you two please just stop and think about what’s at stake here?”
Lifting her chin, Harmony glared at him. “I know exactly what I’m risking. And I’m telling you that I’m done with this. If Tanner and Diego want to find me, give them directions. You’re all standing around waiting for something to happen? Well, let’s make it easier. Maybe you’ll finally catch these monsters and we can all get the hell on with our lives!”
“Son of a bitch! You’re trying to use yourself as bait!” he accused harshly, slamming his fist against the kitchen counter. “You both are!” he yelled, shifting his gaze to an expressionless Honor. “Have you both lost your minds?”
Looking at Honor, Zeke’s face hardened. “You do not play games with these men, Honor Grace. You do not get anywhere near this, you hear me?”
Honor blinked. “Oh, I hear you,” she acknowledged softly. “Now, you hear me. I’ve let Tanner Suarez have the last piece of me he’s going to get. Not he nor Diego Fuentes is taking one more thing from me, including my freedom. I’m going with Harmony today, and not you, the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost is going to stop me, Ezekiel Monroe, so I suggest you find a way for us to do this as safely as possible.”
“Fuck!” Jake snarled, whirling on his booted heel and stomping toward the window, staring sightlessly out at the bright day as he tried to think of a way to talk them out of their foolish plan. The truth was that if Harmony was anybody else, he’d jump all over the plan of drawing out Suarez. But Harmony wasn’t just anybody, she was the woman he loved. And she was talking about a hell of a risk.
Staring at Honor a long minute, Zeke’s jaw clenched. “If something happens to you…”
“Then make it so nothing will,” Honor snapped impatiently, propping one hand on her hip.
“We’re serious, Jake. With or without your protection, I’m doing this. In fact, I’ve got a meeting with the florist for the McCafferty wedding at the café in less than an hour. What’s it going to be?” Harmony asked, staring at him with resolute eyes.
“Shit,” Jake muttered, hanging his head. He knew Harmony well enough to recognize her ‘Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead’ voice. Hell, he loved that sassy attitude when it wasn’t putting her perfect ass on the line. Turning, he locked eyes with her. “You’re never out of my sight. You arrange to take all your meetings at the café. And you are never, under any circumstances, to leave the premises. No matter what happens, you’ll keep your ass inside the café. And Heaven and Aunt Orla remain here with Ice.”
“Agreed,” Harmony replied breathlessly, her lips curving into a wide smile.
“No. Nuh uh,” he denied, shaking his head. “Don’t grin at me. I still think this is a huge mistake, but if you’re determined to go through with it, we do it my way.” Looking at Zeke, he asked, “Can you spare a couple of your deputies? Post ‘em around the café?”