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 needed to hire more help, or maybe I just needed to hire TJ. I doubted his father would approve of that.
“We all need to get out of here. Fast,” Rhys said.
I turned to study him. “What are you sensing?”
“I’m not sure, but something is off.”
“Go.” I pointed in the direction of the various vehicles.
TJ didn’t argue. He jumped into the cab of my truck, gun in hand, ready to defend us.
When we were about halfway back to the ranch house without incident, our vigilance eased. TJ let his gun rest on his lap. “I already told you I can’t just sit around. I’m losing my mind.”
Why had I chosen to babysit an antsy psychopath? “We tried to put you to work.”
He snorted. “I don’t know shit about horses.”
“Your skill set isn’t exactly what we need to work a ranch.”
“It is if you’ve got someone planning to make a move on you.”
I couldn’t deny that. “You’re here so you can stay safe, not so you can—”
“If you think I’m going to just sit here waiting for someone to shoot me, you’re fucking crazy.”
I probably was for having taken this job. “I’m not asking you to do that. I’m just asking you not to start a fight. Let us handle this our way.”
“Your way is slow. I like to get right to the point.”
“That doesn’t fly here. Once you’re back home, you can do things your way.”
He huffed. “I wish that were true.”
We rode in silence most of the way back, then he said, “If your damn brother didn’t have a stick up his ass, I might have more to do.”
“Leave Rhys alone.”
“How did you know he was the one I meant?”
“Everyone knows. You’ve not been subtle in your interest.”
“Fuck.”
“Don’t treat my brother like prey.”
TJ snorted. “Your boy’s prey. Rhys is another predator, a quiet one, the kind that jumps you out of nowhere.”
“Then why are you interested?”
He shrugged. “We’re in each other’s territory, and it’s not working.”
“Rhys isn’t the only predator here.”
“I’ve already agreed to work with you, but there’s only so much I’m willing to compromise on. With him, it’s either fight or fuck, and I really don’t want to mess up his pretty face.”
“You do realize you’re talking about my brother, right?”
“Your grown-ass brother who can take care of himself. Now, seeing as he’s made himself unavailable, there is Jacob. If you’re not going to go after him—”
I had the car stopped on the side of the road and a knife to TJ’s throat in less than a second.
All he did was laugh, the movement making the edge of my knife dig into his skin. “I knew I was right. You want him.”
“Go near Jacob and it won’t be your cousin you’ll be worried about.”
“I’m not worried. My father is worried. I take care of my own problems, and you should take care of yours.”
“Jacob is not up for discussion.”
I started driving again, and after a few moments, TJ said, “Don’t shut me out. I’m not going to sit here while you make up a plan to get rid of these fuckers.”
It was likely a mistake, but I didn’t have a lot of fight left in me at that point, so I glanced over and made eye contact.
“Watch the damn road,” he yelled, reaching for the steering wheel.
I swatted his hand away. “I need to know you’re really paying attention.”
“Jesus, marine. I’m not one of your men. Don’t play games with me.”
“I’m pretty sure you’d end up in the brig if you were under my command.”
“No doubt. I wasn’t meant for those kinds of rules.”
I looked straight ahead again. The truck had never veered from the center of the dirt road. Driving while distracted was just one of many skills I’d picked up in the desert.
“If I bring you in on this, you’ll work with my team, which means accepting I’m the team leader, and you’re going to have to follow orders.”
He grunted, but he didn’t refuse.
“You might not do it easily, but I’m sure there are some people in your family’s organization you listen to.”
“When it suits me.”
“Well, see that it suits you now, or I’m going to lock you up and put guards on you.”
“It’d be fun to watch you try.”
“Don’t push me. I can and I will do what I say.”
“I’ll agree under one condition.”
“And what’s that?”
“You quit pretending you don’t want that poor boy.”
That was the last thing I expected him to say. “What?”
“The tension between the two of you is wearing on all of us. Take him like he wants to be taken.”
My hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Don’t talk about Jacob like that.”
He chuckled, obviously loving that he’d gotten me riled up. “Do we have a deal?”
“You don’t know anything about my relationship with Jacob.”
“I notice things. That’s important in my line of work.”