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“Did you work for the Russos?” I tried to keep the edge out of my voice.
Jacob shook his head. “No, I never knew what Trey did. I was sure it wasn’t legal, but…”
“He doesn’t know any details,” Rogue said.
Jacob turned to Rogue, looking angry instead of scared. “Why are you keeping shit from me? What else don’t I know?”
“You’re safer if you don’t know.” I wanted nothing more than to keep Jacob safe.
Rogue glared at me. “If you don’t tell him, I will.”
How did Rogue always manage to put me in these situations? “I wondered if you were still as much trouble as you’d always been. I’ve got my answer now. You’re worse.”
“Grant, I’m serious.”
I knew he was, and Jacob at least deserved to know who Trey really was. Thank God he already knew the man was dangerous. But once I told him everything, I couldn’t send him away. I couldn’t risk him being out there knowing what really went on at the ranch or my family’s involvement with the Carlottis.
You know you weren’t really going to let Jacob leave, no matter what you said.
I tilted my head toward the mare that had wandered away during our discussion. “Get back to work. I’ll handle things with Jacob.”
“Are you—”
“Yes, I’m going to tell him what he needs to know.” I was careful to give myself plenty of leeway to leave out any details that didn’t need to be passed on.
“And you won’t make him leave?” my brother asked.
“No, not if he’s in danger.”
“He is. You know what Trey is like.”
I hadn’t seen the man in years, but it sounded like he hadn’t changed at all, not that I’d expected him to.
“Um…”
We both turned to look at Jacob.
“TJ is expecting me back. Someone should tell him I’m not coming, and I took these.” He pulled wire cutters from his pocket and held them out toward me. “I needed an excuse to get away.”
I smiled. “Good thinking.” He’d stayed calm and made a plan when he thought he was in danger. That was a damn fine skill if he was going to be staying here.
Rogue was right that TJ wouldn’t hurt him. Seduce him, lie to him, steal from him, yeah, but he wasn’t going to hurt anyone at the ranch. He had his own code. Not one that would be accepted by any law enforcement agency, but X had told me I could trust him, and that had proved to be true, and he needed to be here. The men his cousin had gotten involved with made Trey’s family look like saints.
I took the cutters from Jacob and handed them off to Rogue. “Get out there and help TJ finish the fence.”
“But I thought you wanted me to—”
“Go. Now.”
Rogue must have sensed I was near my breaking point because he nodded, hopped on the ATV, and took off.
I considered taking Jacob to the barn or back to the house, but I was hesitant to go anywhere private with him. It wouldn’t take more than a touch to have me pulling him against me and kissing him.
I leaned against the fence, resting on my forearms. Jacob stared at me for a few moments, then he joined me there, looking out at the peacefully grazing horses.
“This ranch has been idle for several months, but my brothers and I are rebuilding the breeding program. Rogue’s twin, Rhys, is a damn good horse trainer, and I’ve never seen a horse that wouldn’t listen to Rogue. But that’s not all we do here.”
“You harbor murderers.”
