Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Grant glanced at me, a scowl on his face. “Don’t treat my brother like prey.”
Just how mad could I make him. “Jacob is prey. Rhys is another predator, a quiet one, the kind that jumps you out of nowhere.”
I saw the tick in his jaw, but he didn’t acknowledge what I’d said about the boy he wanted so badly. “Then why are you interested?”
Why was I interested? It was something I couldn’t explain. Rhys called to me. I needed to make him mine. I needed to meet his challenge and win. “We’re in each other’s territory, and it’s not working.”
“Rhys isn’t the only predator here.”
“I’ve already agreed to work with you, but there’s only so much I’m willing to compromise on. With him, it’s either fight or fuck, and I really don’t want to mess up his pretty face.”
“You do realize you’re talking about my brother, right?”
“Your grown-ass brother who can take care of himself. Now, seeing as he’s made himself unavailable, there is Jacob. If you’re not going to go after him—”
He had the car on the side of the road and a knife to my throat in less than a second. I’d finally pushed him as far as I could.
I wasn’t about to let him sense fear from me. I’d known what I was doing, even if I was slightly worried he was going to slice me open. “I knew I was right. You want him.”
His eyes burned with rage. “Go near Jacob and it won’t be your cousin you’ll be worried about.”
“I’m not worried. My father is worried. I take care of my own problems, and you should take care of yours.”
“Jacob is not up for discussion.”
He started driving again, and a few moments later, I took a different tack. If I couldn’t get my way with taunting, I was going to have to be nice, even if it killed me. “Don’t shut me out. I’m not going to sit here while you make up a plan to get rid of these fuckers.”
“If I bring you in on this, you’ll work with my team, which means accepting I’m the team leader, and you’re going to have to follow orders.”
I huffed. My father was the only one I took orders from, and I resented that more and more each time he put me to work.
“You might not do it easily, but I’m sure there are some people in your family’s organization you listen to.”
I shrugged. “When it suits me.” When I have to for self-preservation.
“Well, see that it suits you now, or I’m going to lock you up and put guards on you.”
“It’d be fun to watch you try.”
“Don’t push me. I can and I will do what I say.”
“If I find one of the assholes that are after me, I will kill him very, very slowly.”
Grant nodded. “Unless you’re putting my people in danger, I won’t stop you.”
That was good to know. I wondered how well he’d accept it when I won my battle with his brother and finally made him mine. Would he consider that putting Rhys in danger? I’d fight all of them if I had to. I was going to get what I wanted.
8
RHYS
The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed. I was even more tired than I’d been when I’d gone to bed for the night. I’d hardly slept, tossing and turning, dreaming about my father chasing me and trying to kill my brothers. When I wasn’t dreaming of him, I dreamed of TJ. He was in my bed. He seemed to surround me completely, and I wanted him to stay just like that.
Nightmares. They were all nightmares.
Usually, even if I had a bad night, working in the barn cheered me up, but not that day. I was feeling just as bad after turning the horses out to the pasture and taking care of their stalls.
I’d been looking forward to the distraction of giving Jacob another riding lesson, but Grant came swaggering in, insisting that should be his job. I left to go on a walk, but I ran into Rogue.
He frowned when he saw me. “Wow, you look like shit.
“Thanks.
“Come on. What’s wrong? I felt your irritation before I saw you.”
I glared at him.
“Don’t try telling me you’re fine. Is it about TJ?”
“What?”
“Don’t play games with me. Are you moping around here this morning looking like death warmed over because you won’t just make a fucking move?”
“There are no moves to be made. I’m not interested in TJ.”
“You don’t really think you can lie to me like that, do you? I’m your twin, remember? We have a bond.”
I snorted. “The man doesn’t listen. He acts like he owns the place, and he thinks he can have whatever he wants. I can’t wait until we get rid of him.”
“I know you don’t want to like anyone who is connected to the kind of assholes our father worked for, but—”