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Grant gestured for me to take point on that.
“Are we going to assume he’s bringing Arturo to the ranch?”
TJ frowned. “How likely is it Franco has found out I’m not on my way to Chicago?”
“Considering the intel X sent me, not likely. Franco’s been limiting contact, and like you said, he thinks everyone will ultimately do his bidding, so he expects your father to succeed in getting you there.”
“Then I think he’ll come here. He’ll want to kill Arturo here so he doesn’t have to move the body.”
Rogue sucked in a breath. When I looked his way, he was far too pale. “Jesus. I guess y’all are used to”—he gestured around—“all this death talk, but… how can you say things like that so calmly?”
“It’s the only way you can function in situations like this,” Rhys said.
Grant nodded. “You learn to do it because you have to.”
I’d forgotten how inexperienced Rogue was despite the work he’d done for the Russos. Our time in the marines, and TJ’s position in his family, made death something the rest of us had grown used to.
I let myself fully look at Rogue. “Because if you don’t, you won’t survive.”
I hated seeing the distress on Rogue’s face. How had he managed to stay so kind when he’d had an abusive asshole for a father, felt trapped working with the Russos, and dealt with fierce competition on the rodeo circuit? I didn’t understand, but I loved him for it.
I spent the afternoon working out details with X and getting everyone set up with the tech they needed so we could communicate smoothly. Rogue and I kept our distance from each other. I longed to find an opportunity to get him alone. I needed to at least have time for a kiss or just to check in and make sure he was okay, but that turned out to be impossible.
Being so close but unable to touch him was torture. I never shared anything about my private life unless I absolutely had to, not even with the men I’d been closer to in the marines—like Grant. But now I wanted the world to know Rogue was mine.
When it was time for us to get into position at various locations around the ranch to wait on Franco, I intended to pair off with Rogue. Grant fucked that up by sending Rogue with Colton, one of their ranch hands, and telling me to come with him.
Did he really think we’d work well together, or was he going to use our waiting time to tell me off? Rogue gave me a longing glance as he followed Colton to his truck.
When I turned back to Grant, he raised his brows.
I grinned, forcing myself to put on my usual abrasive persona. “What?”
“Go get in my car.”
We drove to our location in silence, and once we were there, we checked our coms, then waited. I wasn’t going to be the first one to speak. If Grant wanted to tell me off, he’d have to start it.
A few moments later, he must have had all the quiet he could stand. “Stay away from my brother.”
“Which one?”
“You know which one, and that’s an order.”
“You’re not my CO anymore.”
He growled. “You’re walking a thin line with me.”
“I’m helping you save TJ’s brother.”
“And I appreciate your help, but I’m calling the shots now.”
“Okay, if that makes you feel better.”
I wanted to continue to antagonize him, but I had no intention of ending things with Rogue, so I needed to tone it down.
“I asked X what you’d been doing that had you close by. All he would tell me was that it involved the Russos. Were you part of what happened the other day?”
“You’re going to have to be more specific.”
Grant glared at me.
“The day Rogue’s fucking ex and two of their guards disappeared.”
“I can’t talk about an active operation. You know that.”
“When it involves my brother, you can.”
He really wasn’t going to let this go. “You mean because he had a former connection to that asshole?”
“No, because he mysteriously left the ranch that day and wouldn’t tell me where he was going, but the word is that he was seeing some new man.”
“Good for him.”
Grant grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me toward him. “Stay away from my brother.”
This was not how I wanted our relationship to come out, but I wasn’t going to keep lying to Grant. Rogue might be angry, but I’d find a way to help him get over it. “That’s not going to happen.”
Grant snarled. “Are you challenging me?”
“No, I—”
“I’ve got him in sight.” It was Colton. Franco had just passed where he was hiding with Rogue.
“We’re on our way,” TJ said.
I looked at Grant. “We should head that way.”
“Not before you finish what you were saying.”
Since when did he ignore a call from his team? “They need backup.”
