Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“I hope not but maybe.” I trusted Rogue, and I knew Grant did too, or he wouldn’t have told me I could leave the house with him. But right then, I wanted Grant with me.
“When’s Grant coming back?”
Rogue gave me his most charming smile. “I really do know how to shoot, you know. And I also have an advantage. I’m basically fearless. It comes with the territory, being a bull rider and all.”
“I don’t want you getting hurt for me.”
“It’s a hell of a lot better than getting hurt for the glory of saying I stayed on a bull.”
I smiled. “I guess it is.”
“Come on. Let’s find the best place to hunker down until Rhys gives us the all-clear.”
12
GRANT
As soon as I turned onto the ranch’s drive the hairs on the back of my neck rose. It was way too quiet, and something felt off. If something had happened, why hadn’t anyone called me? I hadn’t expected to be back so early. I’d intended to spend the rest of the day in Houston, but I couldn’t stand leaving Jacob alone that long. Not that he was actually alone. I knew my brothers would take care of him, but I wanted to be there. He was mine to protect.
The sound of gunfire had me flooring the gas. Gravel flew from under my tires as I pulled into the parking area by the house. I leaped from my truck, not even bothering to close the door. I needed proof Jacob was safe.
“Jacob?” I got no response, so I checked his room, then made my way through the rest of the house, calling out for him several times. He wasn’t there.
My heart hammered in my chest. I heard another shot. Please God, don’t let Jacob be out there somewhere, hurt or… worse.
I headed toward the barn. It was the next safest place. If he needed to hide, I hoped he would have gone there.
When I shoved the doors open, Rogue stepped from behind the tack room door, a gun aimed at my chest.
He jumped and lowered his weapon. “Jesus, I almost shot you.”
“What’s going on? Where’s—”
Jacob stepped out behind Rogue. When he saw me, his eyes widened.
“What are you doing here?”
“It was safer here. I… We…” His voice shook, and he was much too pale.
“Safer than the house? What the hell is going on? I heard shots.”
“Madison saw the guy again along with at least one more man. I came to tell Rhys. Then he went after them, and I stayed with Jacob.”
“In the barn?”
“Once we heard shots, I wasn’t going to leave.”
What was Jacob doing out there? I’d have to figure that out later. “Are you both okay?”
“Yes.” He took Jacob’s arm and pulled him out so I could fully see them both.
I gave him a careful once-over. He appeared uninjured. “Stay here with Rogue and do exactly what he tells you.”
He nodded slowly. I hated how scared he looked. When I found the men who were prowling around, I would tear them apart for doing that to him. I didn’t want to leave him, but Rhys was out there along with others I’d vowed to protect. I was in charge. It was my duty to find them.
“Which way did Rhys go?”
Rogue explained, and I turned to leave.
“Don’t go,” Jacob pleaded. I turned around, and the fear in his eyes made my heart skip a beat.
“Don’t worry,” Rogue said. “Grant’s unstoppable. You don’t have to worry about him.”
Jacob scowled at my brother. “He’s not immortal, and you said it was dangerous to cross the open space. He’ll be an easy target crossing all those pastures.”
Rogue looked between Jacob and me.
My chest tightened, and I wasn’t sure I could speak around the knot in my throat. Jacob looked so damn vulnerable, but I couldn’t stay.
Voices outside the barn had me motioning Jacob and Rogue back into the tack room. I ducked into a stall and held my gun steady. No intruders were getting past me.
Seconds later, I realized the men outside were Rhys and Colton.
“What the hell happened? I asked when Rhys dismissed the younger man and entered the barn.
“Grant? You’re back?”
“I am. Now talk.”
After repeating what Rogue had told me, he said, “TJ fired a warning shot before I got out there. They returned fire, so we had to go on the offensive. One of them is dead, but the one Colton saw the other day escaped.”
“How the fuck did that happen?”
“He literally just disappeared,” Rhys said. “Remember Ghost?”
I nodded.
“The guy’s like him, maybe even better. He just blended in with the trees and was gone like he’d never been there.”
Ghost was a tracker who’d been with our unit. I’d never known anyone as skilled as he was at disappearing. This was not good.
“All right. Once we ID the other guy, we’ll know where to start looking. Where is the body now?”