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“Go, boy. You have to get out of here.”
Other horses were kicking on the stall doors, rearing up as the flames started to crawl across the wall. I’d never seen a fire burn so quickly or so hot. God. There were so many of them. How could I release them all?
You can do it. You can do it.
I finally lunged into the stall, smacking the horse on the ass. “Go, boy. Go. Go!” When he finally bolted, I breathed a sigh of relief, heading to the next one, easily able to throw it open, the mare needing help in getting the hell out.
By the time I opened almost every stall door, the entire roof was engulfed in flames. The only horse left was Sophia. I’d seen Jorge with her. She was still skittish, terrified of any loud noises. Now she stood as if paralyzed in the back of the stall, her nostrils flared, snorting every few seconds.
“Come on, baby girl. You need to come with me.” As soon as I placed my hand on the stall door, a loud cracking sound drew my attention, a thick beam heading straight for me.
Jumping aside, I barely avoided being crushed, the engulfed piece of wood setting the hay bales on fire. The rush of fire was tremendous, the stench so overpowering I couldn’t breathe, the acrid odor burning my eyes. As I scrambled to my feet, I started to cough. “You have to… get… out.” Now the roar was so loud it was like a freight train speeding down the tracks.
I fought my way through the smoke, doing everything I could to guide her out of the stall. When I managed, another beam came crashing down. This time I screamed. Then I realized both entrances were blocked off.
Sophia reared up on her back legs, whinnying as loudly as my scream.
Then she came crashing down and I…
* * *
Phoenix
Fifteen minutes earlier
Bart.
I should have beaten the asshole to death when I’d had the chance. Now, I would. I didn’t give a shit who his father had been or who he was best friends with. He’d made the first offer on the ranch, but it had all been a ploy. Then he’d been paid to try to force me out, likely responsible for the murders of several innocent people in doing so.
While all the pieces had yet to be put into place, what I did know is that Bart had the key to the remaining answers. If what Adam told me was true, the son of a bitch could provide the names of the people who’d hired him, and I’d get it even if I had to beat the information out of him.
I floored the engine, twisting around curves at well over the speed limit. I wasn’t in the mood to waste any time. At minimum, the son of a bitch would know I was onto him. Then he’d lead me straight to the remaining members of Blue Waters.
The man in charge of the corporation had already been identified. The fucker was going down one way or the other.
When my phone rang, I grabbed it within a split second. “Gage. Good. I’m going to confess right now that I will beat the shit out of Bart. You’ll need to clean up the mess.”
“Where the hell are you?”
“On my way to hunt down the pig.”
“Turn the fuck around,” Gage snapped.
“You can’t talk me out of it.”
“Stop fucking talking. Your goddamn barn is on fire. I caught the call. The fire department is on the way.”
I slammed on the brakes. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“Shit. I’m headed there now.” A fog developed around my head as I tried to dial Wren. As it rang and rang, rage bloomed inside of me. “Come on. Pick up the phone, honey. Pick it up.”
When it finally went to voicemail, I tossed my phone, gripping the steering wheel with both hands, swerving around curve after curve, passing every car that got in my way. By the time I skidded onto the road leading to the ranch, I could see the flames licking into the air.
As I swung into the driveway, I slammed on the accelerator, pushing the car to the maximum speed. Then I noticed Jorge’s truck and skidded to a stop. The barn was completely engulfed.
I raced out as he started running in my direction. Horses were everywhere, Jorge trying to get them further away from the barn. “What the hell is going on?”
