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Me—I’m not that nice.
My hand balls into a fist.
“You’re trespassing,” I bark. Stomping up the porch steps, I step in front of the bastard and block Ruby with my body. “Get back in your car and drive.”
The man isn’t fazed. He stares at me with a cool expression. “In due time,” he says. “I was just talking to your pretty friend here ...” His eyes move from me to Ruby.
“Ruby,” she chirps, and I make a mental note to tell her later she shouldn’t be so nice to everyone. It’s one thing I love about her—her innocent sweetness—but it also terrifies the fuck out of me.
“Ruby,” the man repeats, his gaze zeroing in on her like a target.
Shoulders locking, I spin her away from him.
“Mr. Montgomery. It’s about time we met.” He extends a hand my way. “Declan Valiante.”
A gasp pops out of Ruby.
Fuck. It is him. The man on all those campaign posters. I recognize the silver head of hair and his rigid, robotic face. Gold-flecked eyes like a reptile.
I refuse his handshake. “You have no business here.”
“Oh, but I do.” He adjusts the sleeve of his suit. “I understand you’ve met my wife. My son, Colton.”
Ruby pales.
“I have,” I tell him, edging closer to Ruby. “And they’ve done nothin’ but cause trouble for our ranch.” A chuckle shakes out of me. “Sending in the boss. Things must be bad for business.”
Declan’s face stays placid. “I’ll admit I was wrong,” he says. “I should have offered you what your land is worth. I should have tried other negotiation tactics. So, I’ve come to make amends. Your community is loyal. Your town is honest, which has me feeling ... let’s just say generous.”
“Negotiations?” I take a step forward. Ruby slips her hand around my bicep, her touch calm and reassuring. “Don’t you mean sabotage? I know what you tried to do.”
“Call it what you will, but putting hands on my son wasn’t a wise move, Mr. Montgomery.”
I clench my teeth so hard my jaw aches. “I’ll put hands on anyone who touches my family. Your son got off lucky in my book.”
A long sigh, then the mask slips on Valiante’s face. “I’ve been a nice man, Mr. Montgomery. I’ve sent someone to talk. I’ve offered money. I have pushed. But now ...” Declan unbuttons his suit jacket, exposing a holstered gun on his waistband.
All I see is red.
Is this motherfucker really threatening me?
“Ruby,” I say, pressing her back slowly. “Go into the house. Now.”
She doesn’t move.
I glance down at her. She’s staring at Declan with narrowed eyes.
“Go, baby.” I give her a pat on the ass, and she scowls, but lets me usher her inside. Relief courses through me.
I want her far away from this confrontation, because Declan’s about two seconds from getting his head ripped off.
“This isn’t up for discussion,” I say gruffly. “We’re not selling, so get off my property.”
His lip curls. “You might want to rethink your decision. By refusing DVL, refusing me, you play with fire, Mr. Montgomery. I know people in Chicago who can make your life a living hell.”
I snort as he buttons up his jacket. This piece of shit is all show. Never in a million years would he use his gun. He’ll get someone else to do his dirty work.
That’s when I see Declan’s eyes on Ruby. The angle of his gaze, intense and scrutinizing, sets off an atom bomb inside of me.
