Page 90 of Branded Betrayal

“. . . wonder where he’s headed in such a hurry . . .”

“. . . looks like he’s aching to cause some trouble . . .”

Slowly, I turn, casting a glare over my shoulder. “Pleasure to see you, too, Mrs. Brixton. If you’re so curious, next time just ask instead of wondering.”

Her jaw drops. And Ms. Eloise, who’s standing next to her, is shocked silent.

Pain-in-the-ass gossips.

Yeah, they’re right, but still. I’m right fucking here. Have some tact, for Christ’s sake.

I pull open the glass door. A bell rings overhead, the jingling sound inciting me even more, if that’s possible.

Rounding a corner, I find Burgess sitting at a desk. He looks up at me. No smile. Just disdain in his eyes.

“Hartman, what can I do for you?”

I step toward the desk. “You need to back off Savannah.”

“Pissing on territory you think is yours, huh?” He lets out a dry, humorless chuckle. “I’m her vet. Just doing my job.”

“Bullshit. It’s way beyond that. I’m not a fucking idiot. I see you, showing up there to comfort her, advise her. I see the way you look at her.” I lean toward him. “She doesn’t need you, got it? So fuck off.”

“Jealous?” he says, tossing his pen on the desk. He stands up. “I get it. And you should be. She knows which one of us will always show up for her and which one will leave her hanging.”

“I’m not playing games. Stay away from her.” Anger bubbles in my chest. I’m damn close to throwing his desk against the wall. And he’ll be next.

“What are you going to do about it, Hartman? Tell her you’re better for her? That you actually give a shit about her? We both know that’s a lie. Hell, she knows it too.” A nasty smirk plays at his lips. “Why do you think she keeps calling me? Because she knows she can count on me. So maybe you should step off. Give her a chance to be with someone on her level, someone who actually cares about her happiness. Someone like me.” He glares at me. “She deserves better than you.”

I swallow hard. I know it, dammit.

His eyes harden, morphing into black ice. “Someone stable. Reliable. Someone who won’t destroy everything she has left.”

Fuck me. I knew there was something off with him. And right now he sounds like some crazed stalker.

Maybe he is. Maybe that glimpse was into something evil, something nobody in town has seen yet since everyone thinks the sun rises and sets on his scrawny ass.

He smiles at me, the professional mask slipping back into place. “If there’s nothing else, I have some work to do and house calls to make. Including one for tomorrow at Red Rock. Savannah asked me to come and check on the herd again.”

I grip the edge of the desk.

“Don’t you dare cross the line with her—”

“What line? Being helpful? Professional? Everything you’re not?” He laughs. “I’ll try.”

Tyler walks around the desk and stops when we are toe to toe. “It’s you who should really steer clear of Savannah. Men like you bring destruction wherever they go. Don’t let her be your next victim.” He folds his arms over his chest, an unhinged look flashing in his eyes and then smoothing over like he flipped an imaginary switch. “Have a good day, Hartman.”

I storm out of the building, rage burning through my veins.

She deserves better than you.

His words echo in my head, and I hate that they’re true.

Tyler’s a smug bastard with his own agenda. But that doesn’t make him wrong.

I do bring destruction. I am poison to everyone I touch. And Savannah? She’s already paid the price for being close to me once.

I should let her have a chance at something normal with someone who won’t get her killed.