She is no good for me, no good for this ranch. She is to right the wrong her blood created, andthat is it.
I head into the stables to retrieve Honey from her stall beside Apollo’s. She’s the only horse that can be next to him; he bullies all the others. He makes a huffing noise when he sees me approaching, his ears pinning back.
“Behave,” I grumble to him, “Not today, Apollo.”
I hear the scuff of his hoof on the ground, his lips pulling back to show his teeth. As I reach for the lock on Honey’s door, he reaches over his head and nips at my shirtsleeve. He could have easily got my skin if he had wanted to. I think he does it when he knows I’m in a mood and wants to push me over the edge.
“I said, not today,” I snap.
He makes a chuffing sound, but I get Honey out without another incident, walking her out to her paddock for the afternoon. I need to go back and get the little devil too, and I just know he’s going to be a pain in the ass today. He has mood swings like this, even with me.
When Honey is secure in her field, I head back to Apollo, coming to a stop a safe distance from his door. His dark eyes hold me where I stand, those ears still pinned.
“You have to go out,” I grumble at him. “You can’t stay in there and rot.”
As if he understands exactly what I am saying, he turns in his stall, showing me his hind.
“You’re as bad as she is.” I shake my head, reaching for the gate. Where he would attempt to kick the others, I do trust him enough not to kick me, but there’s a moment every time I do this that this could be the day. I’d like to think I’m a hard man, brave even, but a little fear injects itself into me when that gate first opens.
When I don’t get a hoof to the chest or head, Ihead into the stall, running my hand down the Blue Roan’s flank, his muscles quivering with the touch and hook him up to the halter and lead rope so I can guide him out into the field with Honey.
He dawdles behind me, the walk taking twice as long as it should do, but then he sees something he wants and speeds up enough, it catches me off guard and I almost fall on my fucking face.
“What got up your ass!?” I snap at him, tugging on the lead rope to try and redirect him, but it’s Apollo; he’s stubborn as fuck.
A moment later, and I know exactly what he’s spotted.
“Hey!” Elena cries as he grabs hold of her shirt and gives it a tug. “What was that for?” I glance around Apollo to see her hands on her hips, her eyes glaring at the horse that towers above her, her head doesn’t even come over his back.
“Apollo,” I tug on the rein, but he’s solid, attention locked on the little Hellion.
He dips his head, turning it toward her, and everything in him seems to… settle.
He softens, and I watch in somewhat fascination as he leans his forehead to her shoulder and lets out a long sigh.
“Oh,” Elena blinks a few times, lifting her hands to frame the horse’s face, thumbs circling on his jaw.
I’m stunned silent. I knew he liked her, but Ididn’t realize he liked herthismuch.
I haven’t seen him this soft with anyone but my late father.
Curiosity has me handing her the rope, which she takes with a frown, dropping one hand off his face to wrap her fingers around the rope.
“What’s this for?”
“Take him over there,” I point to where Honey is secured in the pasture.
“Okay, but why?”
“Color me curious,” I shrug.
She pouts but then sighs and does as I ask, turning to head toward the gate where she can let Apollo through. At her side, the bull walks with her, and behind her, Apollo follows. Judge comes galloping toward her too, and honestly, I could fucking laugh.
This woman, this dangerous mafia heiress, has all my damn animals fawning.
“I’m not Snow fucking White,” I hear her mumble, the words not directed at any one of them in particular. “I’m more evil queen. I think you’ve got the wrong girl.”
It’s obvious she’s talking to the three animals following her every move.
