Page 18 of Deserving Lara
“Grant’s still out there.”
Owl pressed his lips together and nodded.
Tonka stared at him for a long moment.
“What?” Owl asked.
“I want to say something, but I’m not sure how you’ll take it.”
Owl turned to face his friend. Tonka wasn’t the kind of man to gossip, or really even talk all that much, period. He’d gotten much better after getting together with Henley, but he still wasn’t someone who freely gave out advice. He generally hung back, observed, and offered his opinion only when asked. So whatever he wanted to say, it had to be important.
“Say it,” Owl told him.
“Men like Grant…they don’t stop. Once they feel as if they were wronged, or something was taken from them…she’s not going to be able to stop looking over her shoulder, no matter where she goes. At least not until he’s caught, and maybe not even then. The only thing that’s going to stop him is death.”
Owl’s belly churned. Tonka’s lips were pulled down in a frown and he sounded as serious as Owl had ever heard him. He wasn’t sure mentioning the name of the man who’d killed Tonka’s canine partner while he’d been in the Coast Guard was a good idea…but he had a feeling Tonka was talking aboutthatman as much as he was Carter Grant. “Pablo Garcia is in jail. He can’t hurt you, or those you love, ever again,” he said quietly.
Tonka snorted. It was a bitter sound. “You know as well as I do that it’s likely he’ll get out. He killed two dogs, not people. That doesn’t warrant as stiff a penalty.”
Owl did know. And it sucked.
“Garcia vowed revenge against Raiden and me. It doesn’t matter how many cameras or men I have at my back, or how much time goes by. I know that someday, somehow, he’ll be back. Doesn’t mean I won’t be living my life in the meantime. It simply means he’s always there. In my head. Taking up space. I can’t, and won’t, forget about his threats. But for now? I’m relatively sure I’m safe. That Henley and Jas are safe. As are all of you, my closest friends. That my baby can be born, and he or she will be all right…for now. But the second I get word that he’s been let go or escaped, all bets are off.”
Owl frowned. He didn’t like this for his friend. Not at all.
“Anyway, at leastmyenemy is behind bars. Lara’s isn’t. He’s out there. Watching. Waiting. He’ll make his move, I have absolutely no doubt about that…and neither does Lara. Men like Grant and Garcia, their hate is who they are. They’re like little kids who had a toy taken away, and so they’re pissed off about it. Don’t let down your guard. Not for a second. And Owl…if she leaves? She’ll do so not because she wants to, or because she thinks she’s safe—but because she wants to keepyousafe. And Cora. And everyone else here. That’s how he’ll get her.”
Owl felt nauseous. Grant coming after Lara would be stupid. But Tonka was right. And yes, Lara knew it. It was part of the reason she’d been so worried about being alone. Her time so far on The Refuge was going a long way toward healing her, as was talking with Henley, but ultimately, the threat was still somewhere about an eight out of ten.
If Grant really wanted to get his hands on Lara again, he’d find a way to do so.
“How do I help her move forward?” Owl asked his friend. “How do I encourage her to get her independence back when we all know Grant is still out there waiting for the right moment to get his hands on her again?”
“The first and most obvious thing you can do is make her want to stay,” Tonka said with no hesitation. “Here. With you. She’s not stupid. She knows she’s in danger if she leaves. Why do you think she’s latched onto you? Find a way for her to make a life here. Give her purpose. She can be independent while living with you, Owl.”
He stared at his friend. Was it that obvious how much he loved Lara?
Tonka’s lips twitched. As if he could read his mind, he said, “If you think you’ve hidden how much you care about her, you’re wrong.”
“Shit,” he swore.
Tonka laughed. The man actuallylaughed. Owl was so surprised to hear the sound come out of his stoic friend’s mouth that he simply stared.
He clapped Owl on the shoulder, then gave him a friendly shove. “If you think I’m going to give you advice on your love life, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m the last guy you should take any kind of relationship advice from.”
“Uh, you’re the one with a wife and a baby on the way,” Owl said dryly. “You think I should ask Brick, who still hasn’t actually gotten married to the woman he loves more than life itself? Or Stone, who I think isallergicto women? Or maybe Tiny, who walks around here scowling at everyone?”
Tonka chuckled again, and Owl was beginning to worry that hell had frozen over. Tonka laughing twice in less than a minute? The equilibrium of the world was definitely off.
“Right. So maybe Idohave advice for you.”
Owl realized he was almost holding his breath. He could use all the help he could get because it felt as if he’d been drowning for months. He wanted Lara for his own, but he was also well aware she could do so much better.
“Do what you’re doing.”
Owl blinked. That was it?Thatwas Tonka’s sage advice? “Not sure that’s helpful,” he told his friend.
“The difference from when Lara arrived to now…it’s miraculous,” Tonka said, his tone serious. “She couldn’t let you out of her sight. I bet you were barely able to take a piss without her freaking out in the other room,” he added, ironically repeating Lara’s own words without even realizing. “And now? You’re here. Helping me with this damn fence. And she’s where? With Cora and some of the other girls? That, my friend, is a miracle. So whatever you’re doing…keep doing it. And for the record, she doesn’t look atyoulike she does me or the rest of the guys. You’re in there. Just be her friend. Support her. Listen to her when she needs to talk. And be exactly who you are. Because, Owl, you’re a hell of a good man.”
