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I wait for a few moments before I push up from the table.
“Where you going?” Harlow asks.
“I need some fresh air,” I nod, reaching over and giving her hand a squeeze. “I won’t be long.”
“Okay, if you’re not back in five I’ll come and find you,” she winks.
“I’ll be back,” I smile, lifting my hand from hers and I walk towards the front of the bar, then push through the door and once I am outside I stop, my head tipping back as I take in as much of the fresh air as I can, filling my lungs until they burn.
I hear the front door click and I smirk thinking that Harlow has come out a little earlier, but it’s not until I turn round to look that I see Clay walking towards me with a thunderous look on his face.
“You think you’re smart, don’t you?” his head tilts to the side and I see an evil smirk play across his lips, a glint of darkness in his eyes.
“Sorry?” I cross my arms against my chest, suddenly very aware that I am out here by myself.
“How long did you think it was going to be until I found out who you really were?” he steps closer to me again, and within seconds he is in front of me, towering over me. “You’re Riggs’ little whore, Aspen fucking Warren.” He sucks in air through his teeth. “I’ll be honest, I had no clue who you were when I bumped into you at Sunny’s, but when you started getting ill-tempered over the ranches, I knew you had to have some connection to them cunts… and then my little friend confirmed it for me,” his hand swipes up and grips my cheeks, pressing them into my teeth and I ignore the pain that radiates through me.
“Who?” I manage to squeeze out my small voice through my pursed lips.
“Me,” and the voice that fills my ears makes my skin erupt in goosebumps and the hairs on the back of my neck stand. My heart plummets out of my chest and falls into the stomach.
“Hello darling.”
And my blood runs cold.
* * *
RIGGS
In my own little daydream, I zone in and out of the conversations that are being had in front of me. Austin’s phone begins buzzing on the table and after a few rings, it dies off. Within seconds it’s flashing up again. Groaning, I reach forward and see Harlow’s name flashing and fear cripples me.
“Austin!” I shout across the loud bunkhouse and I see his head pop up from his card game. “Harlow is calling,” I wave his phone around that is still buzzing in my hand.
He walks over quickly, ignoring my warning looks as he takes it from me and answers.
“Hey, yo—” I see Austin turn to look at me, eyes wide and he pales. “Slow down, what? Clay? Fuck!” he shouts, reaching for his jacket off the coat rack and I am up and out of my seat, pushing my fingers between my lips as I whistle for Pacey and Tripp. “Stay put, we’re on our way.” Austin cuts the phone off and runs for the door, me and my brothers behind him.
“What the fuck is going on?” I growl, my temper rising by the second.
“Clay showed up at the Boot, asked Aspen on another date and she turned him down. He seemed fine and walked away and then a few moments later, Aspen needed some air and Harlow watched as Clay followed her out there. She hasn’t come back. I told Harlow to stay put but whether she listens or not?—”
I cut Austin off.
“Fuck!” I shout, opening the truck door, climbing inside and slamming it shut as I slip the key into the ignition, booting the pedal to the floor, not even caring if Tripp and Pacey made it in the back of the truck. “This is why I didn’t want her involved,” I am fucking furious, my whole body convulses, and I punch the steering wheel over and over as I drive out of the ranch and straight onto the road that leads us up to the Boot.
My eyes are on my brothers in the back and I can see the guilt etched all over their faces. Tripp feels for his gun and his eyes flutter shut for a moment.
My heart is racing, I feel sick with worry and Austin is back on the phone with Harlow.
“Tell her we’re five minutes away.”
I fucking speed all the way there, not giving two fucks about any law.
* * *
ASPEN
“Hello darling,” Luke’s voice echoes through the eerie silent night and my heart bottoms out. Clay drops my cheek and I ignore the want to rub the ache out. I slowly turn round to see Luke step forward out of the shadows and my eyes widen.
