That snaps me out of it.
“How about no?”
He shakes his head in exasperation, but I think we’re getting somewhere because he doesn’t argue.
I head back to the house to get dressed. I don’t know when my contact is due to arrive today, but the letter gave today as the date, and if I know anything about them, their word means everything.
I slip a pair of shorts on and a breezy linen shirt with my boots and then braid my hair in the mirror. The bruising on my throat looks worse in the bright lighting of this bathroom, the edges this deep, angry red color. I can see the print of Rio’shand, the outline of every finger.
What would my father think of all this?
I roll my eyes at myself. He wouldn’t be thinking about it at all, he would have ended the threat before it ever became one. But I’m not even sure he would have seen this coming.
There’s no covering the mark, so I leave it and place my hat on before I head back out. Judge perks up, and I scratch his head, pausing on the porch, eyes falling to the spot on the ground where Chase’s blood still stains the gravel.
The sun has dried it up, making it appear far darker than the red it was yesterday. I can still see his body lying there, those unseeing eyes open.
I am no stranger to death. I never thought it would affect me again, but there’s something so very haunting with the memories.
It was needless.
He died because he wouldn’t fucking move. He wouldn’t leave!
Tires moving across gravel catches my attention and I lift my eyes from the bloody spot on the ground, expecting to see a black SUV perhaps or some sleek sports car but my blood turns molten when the familiar pickup ambles toward the ranch, Everly behind the wheel.
Knox doesn’t know it was her who tipped Rio off. He promised me the town wouldn’t talk, and they didn’t, but he didn’t account for a bitch with acrush who saw an opportunity to get rid of the competition.
Dipping back inside, I grab the shotgun, the weapon far heavier than what I’m used to, and then rip open the drawer, picking out the shells before it slams shut and I’m meeting her as she gets out of the car.
CHAPTER 35
Koda lets out a low growl at my side, and when I glance down at her, pausing my task of topping up the troughs, I see her staring unwavering toward the front of the house. The hair on the nape of my neck lifts as I follow her line of sight and see Elena storming from the house, my fucking shotgun in hand, her face a mask of fury, and then I see the target of her ire.
“Fuck,” I growl, dropping the feed to put a damn stop to this lunacy now. I’ve had one too many deaths on this property in the last twenty-four hours; I don’t need another one. Bodies aren’t fucking easy to move.
“Elena!” I roar, but she doesn’t even flinch. Everly climbs out of the car, clearly not seeing thefucking devil coming right for her. “Shit, shit, shit.”
“You little fucking bitch!” Elena hisses, finally catching Everly’s attention. That gun is always loaded, and at that range it’ll blow a hole right through the vet.
“Elena!” I call for her again as I hop the fence, closing the gap.
“Knox!” Everly gasps, a tremor in her tone as she rushes to me, clinging to my arm, but despite my body being in the firing line, Elena still lifts and levels the barrel in this direction, her sights set on Everly.
“Get out from behind him, you fucking coward,” Elena demands. “Face the music, Everly.”
“She’s crazy!” Everly cries. “Knox, do something!”
“Elena,” I lower my voice, trying to calm her, but I’m not stupid, Elena isn’t the type to be placated. She’s as stubborn as a mule, with a temper to rival a bull. “Put the gun down, darlin’.”
“Go on,” Elena snaps out, “Tell him.”
“Tell me what?” Everly cowers behind me, her hand trembling.
“Tell him!” Elena yells.
“What?” Everly cries.
A cruel smile curls up Elena’s plump lips. “Tell him how you gave me up. Tell him how it’s your fucking fault Chase is dead.”
