They need to let me go.
“How about we just tie him to the fence in the park?” Levi rests his foot on my back, bends his knee, and rests his arm there as his gaze travels across the road. “Let him think it over a bit while we enjoy ourselves at Bucky’s. And if we forget to untie him, I’m sure some single mom would love the honor.”
I shake my head. “You guys are insane. You’re not—”
“Or.” Dean raises his hand, cutting me off. “We could tie him to the top of Town Hall. Let the whole town see what happens when you try to escape a good time.”
I nearly choke on my own spit. “You are out of your damn minds if you think I’m going up there.”
They turn away from me and huddle together, like this is some fucking football play. When they finally face me, all of them have that look when they think they’ve got some brilliant idea.
Their ideas are never brilliant.
They usually land us in a cell overnight.
And one time, I got ringworm.
“Okay, okay, maybe we’ll save the Town Hall idea for later.” Levi brandishes a pocket knife. “We’ve got a much more effective one, don’t we, guys?”
“Oh, yeah. Much more effective.” Dean’s grin gets a little too wide.
“Yeah, this’ll do the trick.” Wheeler nods like a wise old owl.
I feel a cold sweat trickle down my neck as I try to jerk my legs free again.
“What the hell are y’all going on about?” I snarl.
Dean leans down close to me, his face full of glee.
“We figure a public kind of humiliation might change your tune.”
“I’m gonna change your tune when I get free.”
“We’re gonna cut away your clothes.” Levi flips the knife open with a sharp snap. “Leave you right here on the steps of Town Hall. Bare-assed for everyone to see.”
I freeze. “You’re—what?”
Dean laughs. “Let the good people of Rocky Ridge Creek see what happens when you refuse a good drink with your brothers. The ultimate public service announcement.”
Fuck no. I twist hard, but the ropes are too damn tight. I can barely move my arms.
“This is fucked, you know that, right?” My growl is loud enough; I’m sure everyone inside will hear.
“I mean, we could always go easy on you and just leave you half-naked. But where’s the fun in that?” Dean straightens.
I try to glare at him. “Untie me, dickheads.”
Dean shrugs.
I let out a frustrated groan. “I swear to God, if you do this—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Levi rolls his eyes. “You’ll remember it forever, we get it.”
They step back, staring down at me. I can practically hear the wheels turning in their heads as they prepare to execute their diabolical plan.
This is why I don’t leave the ranch. This is why I like the confines of my office.
“Alright, big bro,” Wheeler says. “What’s it gonna be? Drinks? Or do we start the public wardrobe change?”
