“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, that line ain’t going to work anymore, brother.Not after you sent my prospect home last night so you could take her home yourself.”
I doubt Amelia told her cousin that I was the guy who found her stranded on the side of the road, and instead of taking her home like a gentleman, I fucked her in my truck.And I highly doubt she told him I went back for seconds yesterday.That I would’ve gone for thirds if I thought she’d let me into her apartment when I dropped her off last night.
He’s fishing, but I ain’t taking the bait.
“I went to fix the mechanical bull Wyatt broke and noticed her car wasn’t there.Wasn’t sure if she had a ride home, so I figured I’d swing by and see if she did.”
“At two in the morning?”
“I couldn’t sleep.It’s a good thing too, considering your prospect wasn’t there when she walked out of the bar.”
“Sure, and I believe you.”
I shake my head.“I really don’t care if you believe me or not.”I nod toward the fence.“I’ve got work to do, so if you came here to bust my balls and gossip like a bitch, you should really hop back on your bike and get gone.”
He laughs.“Calm down, killer.I’m here to relay the club’s offer.”
“You could’ve started with that,” I growl.
He hums thoughtfully.“I could’ve but where’s the fun in that?”
I wipe my dirty hands down the front of my shirt.“Well, don’t leave me hanging, man.What are they offering?”
His eyes dart around the land before tipping his chin toward the dirt path that leads straight to the barn.“Let’s walk and talk.”
I don’t like the sound of that, but I abandon the fence and follow his lead.
“The club has some conditions, but if you agree to them, we’re all in.We’ll buy Della out and move forward.”
Relief swarms me, but it’s fleeting.
“What kind of conditions are we talking about?”
“Well, you already know one of them.The ranch is going to take the Fallen Demons name and become Fallen Meadows.This will announce the merger and provide protection to the land.We will work on sixty-forty split, with sixty percent of all revenue going to you and forty to the club.”
“And how do I pay the club back?”
“We want a provision that allows any club member to build a home on the land that is not occupied by the business end of it.Each home would sit on two acres.If you do the math, that alone pays back the debt.”
That is a big ask.This land was never meant for outsiders.The men who work it day after day and keep it functioning have never asked for a piece of it, and now I’m expected to just dole out acres to a group of men who haven’t even stepped foot on it.It feels wrong.But before I can express any of my concerns to Shadow, Tyler rushes out of the barn and shouts my name.
“It’s Della,” he calls breathlessly.“She took Rex for a ride and got bit by a fucking rattler.She radioed in, said she’s by the lookout.”
“Fuck,” I grunt.“Are the keys in the Polaris?”
“Should be,” Tyler says.“You want me to go?”
I shake my head.“I’ve got her.”I turn to Shadow.“I’m gonna need help.You mind?”
“Whatever you need.”
We hop into the ATV, and I order Tyler to call an ambulance before I slam my foot on the gas and drive us out to the lookout.Spotting Rex, I hit the brakes, but before the ATV can come to a complete stop, Shadow jumps out.
By the time I get to the horse and secure the reins, Shadow already has Della in his arms.It’s telling, and not in a good way, because my first worry should’ve been my sister and not her fucking horse.
To ease my conscience, I tell myself Rex doesn’t take kindly to strangers, and I run with the lie.I let Shadow take Della back to the house in the ATV, and I ride Rex.When we get back to the barn, the ambulance is already waiting.I bring Rex to the stables and when I return, Della is already loaded into the ambulance.
