“No, shit, it’s not good. I have a fucking stalker.”
“Yeah, you do.” Christian shook his head in disbelief. “You can’t be on the circuit by yourself anymore.”
“I’m not by my-fucking-self.” I could feel my own anger rising now, but it wasn’t at Christian. I was angry at myself for not handling this when he first approached me in Joseph. “I have you and Kale.”
“Lina, I’m serious. You need to have someone with you all the time. Kale and I have our own events. We can’t be by your side 24/7. Can your dad come with you for a while?”
I grimaced, knowing Dad would be wanting to kill this guy. “Maybe. He has a lot going on at the ranch right now, though.”
“You have to tell him, or I fucking will. If that’s what he did to your face in the middle of the fairgrounds, he can’t catch you alone anymore.”
7
reed
Irode in from moving the herd to the southern pasture. Lina was back, by the look of it, blocking my truck in the yard per usual. I shook my head, but I couldn’t help the twitch of my lips. My heartbeat picked up the closer I got to the stables at the mere thought of seeing her. I could hear Chuck and Lina talking. A third voice jumped in, sounding low and irritated.Jude.
Something was going on because as soon as I dismounted and led Warrior in, they stopped speaking, and all three of them looked up from their huddle. Lina shifted on her feet, avoiding eye contact. The vice wrapped around my heart nearly broke it in two. Chuck rubbed his mustache like he was thinking, and Jude flipped his hat restlessly.
My brows lifted.
“Maybe we should talk to Reed about what’s going on?” Chuck suggested, gesturing to me.
“Dad! What the actual fuck?” Lina threw out her arms in exasperation, shooting Chuck a look that would shrivel any man’s dick, except her father’s. And mine.
It was fucking hot.
Maybe that said something about me. I loved a strong, ferocious woman who didn’t take shit. I loved it even more if I could get that fiercely independent woman to submit to me.
I crossed my arms and braced my feet while I held on to Warrior’s reins, amused by whatever argument this was.
“I’m going to go with you,” Jude demanded, his brow pinched.
“No, you’re not.” Lina spun her icy glare on her cousin. “You have a new baby and a wedding to plan.”
My heart rate kicked up a notch, but for different reasons. Something was wrong. Lina was purposely avoiding my eyes, and I swear from here, her face looked darker.
“I’d go with you myself if it weren’t for the vandalism and the missing cattle,” Chuck explained.
“I thought you got the game cams up this week,” she protested.
“We did.” He heaved a big sigh. “But someone’s tampering with them. We also have ranch hands running night shifts, and it’s still happening. We lost a few head of cattle this week. I can’t risk leaving right now with?—”
“Put Reed in charge,” she interrupted, gesturing to me, but she still hadn’t acknowledged my presence.
He shook his head. “He’s been running shifts with the others, but as I was saying, I also need to be here to go to Grandpa’s appointments with him. His dementia is getting worse.”
“What’s this about?” I spoke up, tired of being ignored like I wasn’t standing right in front of them.
Everyone’s heads spun to me, but my eyes only went to Lina’s as they finally met mine. I thought I saw a flicker of anxiety before her lashes fluttered, and her gaze shifted to her feet.
Chuck’s voice was firm and commanding. “Lina’s had some trouble on the circuit. Some creep’s been following her and harassing her.”
“Dad,” Lina warned through her teeth.
“We need to ask for help when we need it, darlin’. You know I’d go with you if I could. Maybe it’s for the best that I don’t. Otherwise, there might be a dead man who turns up on the circuit.”
There may still end up being a dead man. I could feel my blood boiling. Warrior was shaking his head beside me, trying to jerk the reins from my fists, mirroring my agitation. But this was more than agitation. I was fucking on fire. I never felt this type of protective rage before, and I didn’t even know the whole story yet.
