Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 160042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
She grinds her teeth for a few seconds before saying, “Here I thought you were different.”
“You got that by just grindin’ in my lap for ten minutes?”
“You’re just like the rest of ’em,” she spits out.
I hum. “I’m an asshole, yes; but I’m a different kind of asshole.”
She twists her hand in my grip. “I don’t think so.”
Still keeping a hold on her wrist, I shift in my seat and reach for my back pocket to get out my wallet. As soon as she sees it, her struggles halt. “Look around, look at all the guys in here; I don’t think they’ve got as much cash in their pocket as me. That’s difference number one.” Letting go of her wrist, I take out the money. “Difference number two: Even though you’ve just about bored me to death, I’ll still give it to you. Because I can respect hard work. And finally, unlike all the wannabes who come here every day, I’m a real cowboy.”
She eyes the cash in my hand, which is much more than a thousand dollars, before snatching it away and tucking it into her cleavage. Then, “You still wanna know my real name?”
“No,” I reply.
It’s not her real name I want to know anyway.
She hops off my lap and I’m out the door, walking to my car, when my phone rings in my pocket. It’s Radisson, my cousin and the one person who knows everything about me.
Before I got put away, we used to be partners in crime, working together on the ranch, riding together, starting shit together. Well, I’d start shit and he’d cover for me, but yeah. Growing up, we even had little nicknames for each other: I called him the Quiet Mustang because of his limited speech capabilities, and he called me the Dark Stallion because I was reckless and hence, dangerous. There was a time I couldn’t imagine living my life without him in it. Didn’t think I’d have to. But then what happened, happened, and here we are, eight years later.
I pick up the call, but before I can say anything, I hear, “Where the fuck are you?”
That doesn’t sound like Rad, and it wasn’t the voice I was hoping to hear on the other end.
But I guess it makes sense.
I wasn’t picking up his calls. Save for the one phone call I made the day I got out to let him know that I was out and safe, I haven’t really kept him in the loop. So he got creative; my older brother doesn’t like to be ignored. And well, Rad has always been a good boy; he can’t say no, especially to Marsden, the head of the family.
“I’m assuming,” I begin as I come to a halt beside my car, “you were polite when you asked Rad for his phone so you could call me.”
Mars breathes out sharply. “Believe it or not, he wouldn’t give it to me. Had to steal it off his saddle when he was makin’ rounds in the bunkhouse during dinner.”
Along with being our cousin, Rad also happens to be the foreman at the ranch. Meaning, he’s in charge of everything from the upkeep and operations to the ranch hands. He’s the second-most-important man at Rawhide, the first being Mars since he’s the one signing everyone’s paychecks. If anyone deserves that role, it’s Rad. He’s dedicated his entire life to Rawhide. While I’ve done the same, my goal was never to stay. I wanted to get out of there one day, build my own life, my own ranch.
I shift on my feet. “What do you want?”
“What do I want?” Mars bites out, his tone laced with disbelief.
“You called me for a reason, didn’t you? What is it?”
I hear a sharp breath coming from the other side. “I called you because you’re not home yet. Because you keep avoidin’ my calls. Because you were released a week ago but I know fuck all about what you’re doin’.” Another breath, this one just as sharp as the last. “Well, up until today.”
My body goes rigid at that. He could mean a lot of things by that, but somehow I think I know what he’s talking about. I’m proven right when he goes on to say, “Cooper called.”
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
I knew it was a risk enlisting his help. He’s got a big mouth and a very weak will. But I needed someone with connections at the city court, and I didn’t have a lot of time to go searching for someone who is loyal to us but also isn’t a spineless fucking rat. I guess I’m gonna have to make good on my promise to him and cut his throat in his sleep.
“What the fuck were you thinkin’, attacking him like that,” my brother snaps.
“He crossed a line,” I tell him, fisting and unfisting my fingers.