Page 83 of Against The Tide

“I don’t care who you are, you can get the fuck off my property,” she spits at the two men standing on the porch.

One of them is holding out his badge. An official FBI photocard is slotted over it. The fear of losing Avery and Iris is a hot knife through butter cutting through me. It makes no apparent sense to feel the way I do, but I know that this is the beginning of something that’s going to hurt Avery. I know that those barriers she’s relaxed are going to come right back up, and it kills me to think that she’ll pull away from me.

“Jo.” I try to calm her as I stand beside her. “I got this.”

“You ain’t got shit,” she snaps back defensively. I’m not the only one scared to shit of the fallout of this turn of events. “This is my house…my land, and I don’t want them here. Now, get!”

“We just need to talk to Mrs. Henderson for a minute.” The taller agent standing behind the one with the badge addresses me.

“Avery,” I correct him, gritting her name out to the overwhelming churn of my gut at the use of her married name. It’s wrong. She’s not Mrs. Henderson; she’s mine. “What do you want with Avery?” I make sure to use her name again so he gets the message.

“We need to go over some information. Protocol.”

The shorter guy is looking into the house nervously at the sound of Ship’s distinctive low growl. The fact that he doesn’t trust them sets me even more on edge.

“Is Mrs. Henderson here?” the stubby asshole asks, puffing up like that’s meant to make me step out of his way.

I’m twice his height, and I’m pretty certain that beneath his oversized suit jacket, there’s even less of him. The guy is the very definition of dweeb, and he wants to make up for it with hot air and a power trip. Not going to happen on my watch where Avery is concerned.

“We only want to ask a few questions and we’ll be out of your hair.” The taller guy steps forward, clearly playing the good cop card with his softer tone.

Trouble is good cop, bad cop won’t work on me. I’m used to that shit with Rowan and Callie. It’s how they parent their kids, and I’m no kid to fall for their bullshit. At the same time, I know there’s nothing I can do to stop them from talking to Avery. If I’m honest with myself, I knew this was coming, and if we send them away today, they’ll keep coming here. They’re not going to give up because I want to protect her from more hurt, more mess.

“No,” Jo yells, stomping her cane loudly on the wooden floor at the same time as I tell them, “Wait here.”

Closing the door, I take a deep breath, trying to ground myself for Jo’s reproof.

“I can’t believe I thought you would do the right thing by her,” she barks at me the minute the door is closed. “I told you to fight. Why is it so hard for you? Why can’t you do the right thing?”

“I am doing the right thing.” Even if it goes against every cell of my being. “They’re not going to leave until they’ve talked to her. Maybe they’ll drive away today, but tomorrow they’ll be back, and it will be worse because Iris will be here. Or maybe they’ll corner her somewhere else on her own. Is that what you want? To have them pounce on her when she’s alone and vulnerable?”

Pursing her mouth, she growls before heading to the kitchen, adding, “They don’t come into my house.”

“Jo…Avery can’t talk to them out there.”

“Talk to who?” Both Jo and I turn to look at the stairs where Avery is standing.

She’s in one of her loose, oversized T-shirts with the hem of her shorts peeking from beneath the hem.

“What’s going on?”

“Go on,” Jo grumbles. “Do the right thing, then. Feed her to the wolves.”

“For once in your life,” I snap, pissed at her derision even though I know it’s coming from a good place, “don’t be callous.”

“I’m trying to protect her…to protect you.” She wells up when she looks at Avery.

“You’re being stubborn and difficult, and it’s not going to help the situation.”

“Can someone tell me what is going on? I’m standing right here—you can talk to me rather than about me.” Avery comes down the last couple of steps, pausing in front of me with a confused and cross frown. “Rhett?”

“The FBI are here.”

Nodding, she takes a knowing breath as though this isn’t news. Like me, she knew this was coming, and although it’s obvious that she’s stifled by the realization, she stands taller, cracking a small smile as she comes closer.

“I’m surprised it took them this long.”

CHAPTER 23