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Marcus. AKA stuck-up dude.
“Did you ask this hot man to come to the wedding with you?”
“You’re changing the subject,” I told her. “Maybe, but you’re going to need to wait to find out.”
“You’re terrible.”
I held up my glass of wine, giving her a saucy grin. And for some reason I had butterflies churning in my stomach.
“Well, this should get interesting. Are you going to tell Mom before you come?” Cammie shook her head.
“Why spoil the fun?”
“You’re one bad girl. Be careful. Mom took the liberty of inviting Lincoln to the rehearsal dinner. Assigned seats. Guess who he’s sitting next to?” Her grin was almost as devious as mine.
All I could do was laugh. “I guess Mom and Dad are in for a rude awakening.”
Now I couldn’t wait to have the sexy man on my arm. We’d make quite a couple.
* * *
Phoenix
I scanned the perimeter of Snake’s ranch before giving my dead horses one last look. They hadn’t deserved to die like this. The horses had been grazing in the back pasture, which meant the assholes had come up the back road, the one few people knew about. It serviced both ranches, but the area was overgrown, not visible from any other road. The cut through the fences had been crude, likely made from a chainsaw. What I couldn’t understand was why break through the fence? What the hell was the point?
I wasn’t the kind of man to think conspiracy theories, but I’d had a bad feeling since returning to town that I should have reconsidered my decision.
Exhaling, as I rose to my feet, Gage was just returning from looking for any evidence that might have been left.
“I’m sorry about the horses, Phoenix,” he said as he peered down.
I gave the vet a nod before he pulled the sheets over them. “The asshole who did this is going to die.”
“Don’t do anything rash,” he advised.
“I’m going to do what I need to do.” I noticed the vet was shaking his head. “What’s up?”
“Well, you’re not going to like this,” Marshall said as he rose to his feet, his expression pinched. “I don’t think the person responsible was a poacher.” Marshall Lockwood was one of the best vets in the state and someone I’d call a friend.
“A handgun was used,” Gage suggested.
Marshall nodded. “Do you want me to dig out one of the bullets?”
I glanced at Gage. “Why not. That might tell us if the hit was personal.”
“Like I said. Don’t go off halfcocked,” Gage advised again.
“It’s not about doing anything rash. It’s about hunting down a fucking lowlife and providing payback.”
“That’s my job.”
I turned my head in his direction. I’d known Gage for even longer than I had Snake. We’d been buddies since the first grade, but he’d taken a much different route than I had, almost landing in prison. He’d gone way off the deep end after the incident in the mountains, enough so he was almost institutionalized. Instead, he’d been forced by his father to join the Army to clean up his act. In my opinion, he was lucky to be standing here wearing a badge after the crimes he’d committed as a kid. “You have more important things to handle.”
“You know how I feel about animals. And you do too, buddy. Let me know what you find, Marshall.”
“As soon as I get the ballistics report I’ll give you a call.” Marshall clapped me on the back. “We should catch up sometime.”
“We’ll do that.” I’d been saying that for months. I worked. I cared for my kid, and I fought nightmares. That’s all that I had the energy to do.
