Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 601(@200wpm)___ 481(@250wpm)___ 401(@300wpm)
I press my hand to the horn to signal my brothers.
The brake lights flicker in front of me like the driver has realized they’re caught in a trap, but it’s too late for them to do anything about it.
Allie’s tires kick up dust, which Calder’s truck cuts through. He blocks the road while Sawyer and Levi jump out, rifles aimed at the SUV. I cut my wheel to the right to block the road, then hit the brakes, making it impossible for them to back up.
“We just want to talk!” Sawyer shouts as I climb out. “This doesn’t have to get messy.”
“You’re on Bishop land,” Calder informs them, exiting the truck with his own rifle at the ready. There’s no movement from the SUV. No attempt to escape. I still approach slowly, a pistol in hand.
I use it to tap on the driver’s side window. “Come on out.”
The two of them are unnervingly calm, showing their hands as they join us. “The man we work for knows where we are,” one of them announces. He’s the one who stepped up to the bar last night, with shifty, dark eyes that dart around like he’s sizing up the situation.
“Does he know you’re trespassing? Because that’s what you’re doing now. This is private property, got it?” Calder announces.
“Why were you following that girl?” I ask while Levi takes their wallets, and we check their IDs. “Mitch and Derek,” I add. Sawyer pulls out his phone to take pictures of the licenses before handing the wallets back.
They lean against their vehicle, hands visible, smirking at each other. The way people do when they think they’re going to get away with something. I can practically hear their silent conversation. They’ll be sorry they ever did this.
“Who said we were following anyone?” Mitch asks, still glancing around like he’s waiting for an ambush.
“Because I was following you,” I tell him. “I know you’re from out of town. I know you were following her around. You were waiting for her outside the sheriff’s station. Why?”
“What’s it to you?” Derek asks before spitting on the ground. “We have a job to do.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch my brothers staring hard at me. They want the answer to that question, too. “She’s a friend of mine.”
Mitch shrugs under his fleece-lined denim jacket. “Well, our boss wants us to follow your friend. That’s our job.”
“Why?” Levi asks.
“Who hired you?” Sawyer demands. I know who did, but I won’t give up the name in front of these assholes. That’s for them to offer.
Derek scoffs. “None of your business. As for trespassing, we weren’t aware we were on your land. We’ll be glad to leave.”
“I don’t much care what your boss wants.” Ignoring my brothers, I step up to them, looking from one to the other. “You’ll leave her alone, unless you want us to get better acquainted.”
“You don’t know who you’re screwing with,” Mitch warns.
My brothers raise their weapons.
“I think it’s you who doesn’t know. Got it?” I reply with a smile that knocks the smugness off their faces. “And don’t bother getting law enforcement involved in this. If it’s between your boss and us, we’ll win. Bet on it.”
They don’t look so sure of themselves anymore when they exchange another glance. “Fine,” Mitch mutters.
“You’re gonna be good boys and leave the girl alone?” I ask.
“He said fine,” Derek grits out. Mitch only glares at me.
A quick look at my brothers tells me they’re satisfied. “All right. Get your asses off our land.” I return to the truck and pull it off to the side of the road so they can back up, then make an awkward turn as soon as there’s enough space on either side.
I’m climbing back out when the window rolls down on the passenger side. “You’ll regret sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong,” Mitch warns. I’m supposed to feel intimidated, but I only chuckle before they pull away.
Now, the real challenge will be explaining this to my brothers.
Sawyer wastes no time tearing into me. “Now, can I ask why the hell you’re getting involved in this shit?” His disappointment is pretty fucking obvious.
“This is about that guy Emma set Allie up with, isn’t it?” Levi asks. “He went missing after the gala.”
“I’m guessing it is.” I shrug.
“You know it is,” Calder snaps. He looks at Sawyer. Sawyer looks at Levi.
Now I get it, and understanding makes me grit my teeth. “Wait a minute. Fuck off,” I grunt, shaking my head at them. “Do you think it was me? You’re assuming I did something, and that’s why I give a shit.”
Calder runs a hand over his head before letting it drop with a sigh. “That’s one thing I wanted to have a talk about,” he announces. “There have been some rumors around town.”