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A jolt shot through me, my cool facade momentarily faltering. He’d been watching me, watching us. My grip on my emotions tightened, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my surprise.
“What can I say, Hank? I’ve got good taste.”
His laughter filled the room, a chilling sound that bounced off the walls. “Oh, I bet. Seems like you’ve got more than just atastefor her.”
My expression hardened, frost creeping into my voice. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Hank shrugged, feigning innocence. “Nothing at all, Declan. It’s just . . . I looked into those six men you killed. Apparently, they were on a trail ride of their own. A bachelor party.”
I swallowed. “What a coincidence,” I lied.
“I see. And the trail guide, would she know about these six men you killed?”
Fuck. I should have known Hank would figure it out. “Nope,” I lied. “Caught them at the end of their ride while they were heading into town for drinks.”
“I had to blow up one of my bars to make it look convincing, Declan. I lost a lot of money because of you. I covered it up because you’re going to kill that judge for me, but make no mistake, you work forme. If I ask foronebody, I meanone.I won’t punish you for being ambitious, but it wasn’t easy covering it up. We’re lucky they were all known for being stupid drunks that like to party.”
I gritted my teeth.
“That being said, Declan,” Hank continued, his eyes never leaving mine, “we’re sticking to the plan. The judge dies on the trail.”
I raised an eyebrow, my heart pounding in my chest. “I thought the cabin was a good idea.”
“Your ideas aren’t what I pay you for,” Hank spat, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his mahogany desk, his icy eyes boring into mine. “You execute my orders, and right now, my orders are for the judge to take his last breath under the open sky.”
I fought back the urge to retaliate, to tell him where he could shove his orders. But there was something bigger at stake. Something that Hank held over me, something that I needed from him.
“And remember,” Hank added, his voice a low growl, “no witnesses. I don’t need any more loose ends.”
His words were a clear threat. Not just to me, but to Clover too. I nodded, hiding the fury in my eyes behind a mask of compliance.
“I’ve got it, Hank. The judge dies on the trail. No witnesses.”
“Good.” Hank smirked, leaning back in his chair, satisfied. “Remember, Declan, you work for me. You follow my rules, my plans. If you want that name, you’ll do as I say.”
The name. The one piece of information that kept me tethered to this monstrous man. The name of the bastard who had killed my mother. The main reason I was still in this hellhole, still playing Hank’s twisted games.
“I remember, Hank,” I replied, my voice laced with grit. “I’ve always been good at following orders.”
Hank’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with cruel satisfaction. “That’s what I like to hear, Declan. Now get out of my sight.”
I nodded curtly, turning on my heel and heading for the door, Hank’s laughter was a chilling reminder of the power he held. But power shifts, and I knew, sooner or later, the tables would turn in my favor. After all, every dog has his day.
* * *
The moon was high in the sky when I arrived at Clover’s small ranch house, the quiet of the night making the task ahead even more daunting. Avery, Clover’s sister, was out with friends, her absence a small mercy. I didn’t want to have to lie to her too.
My hands were steady as I slipped the thin strip of metal into the lock of the front door, an old skill from my foster days. The lock yielded with a faint click, and I pushed the door open, the creak of the hinges sounding unnaturally loud in the silence.
Clover’s bedroom was at the end of the short hallway, the door slightly ajar. I paused at the threshold, my heart pounding in my chest. I was crossing lines when we’d made so much progress at the rodeo. But right now, I didn’t give a damn.
As quietly as possible, I stripped down to my boxers and slid into bed next to her. Clover woke with a start, her eyes flying open and darting around the dark room until they landed on me.
“Declan?” she asked, her voice groggy with sleep, confusion marring her features. “What . . . what’s wrong?”
How could I tell her? How could I say that Hank knew about her, about us? That he might use her as leverage, might hurt her to get to me? How did I tell her that he wanted me tokillher? I wouldn’t but it was yet another obstacle. The thought was a weight in my chest, a poison seeping into every vein.
“I just . . . needed to be with you,” I said instead, my voice barely above a whisper. The bed shifted as she turned to face me, her eyes searching mine in the dim light filtering through the window.
