Page 249 of Assassin

The man was riding like he was trying to die, and on that horse, that was a very good possibility. Diablo wasn’t some novice horse.

The only one crazy enough to ride him was his brother, Hemmingway.

“Oh, for fucks sake,” he said, pulling on his boots. “I am absolutely losing my license when this gets out,” he muttered.

Then, he raced down to the barn, grabbed a bridle, and got onto Honey.

It didn’t take him long to get her ready. When he was on her, Poe gave the order.

“Find Diablo, my girl!” he shouted, using the reins to slap her on the ass, and get her to haul out of there.

Honey took off, and the whole time, Poe had a bad feeling about this.

Gamble was out somewhere on his land, with a dangerous horse, and thinking that he’d raped him.

This was bad.

Very.

Bad.

For both of them.

* * * H U N T E R – C R O F T * * *

The Matrix Kitchen

Seven A.M.

When Alyona made that little declaration, they all stared at her.

No one knew what she was talking about, except for the people who traveled there with her.

Maura moved closer, needing to know what she meant by that.

“What do you mean ‘you’re plan B’?” Maura asked.

Greyson moved toward Alyona, and she stopped him. While she appreciated him wanting to protect her, she had lost her way for a little bit.

She couldn’t hide from Alexsandr.

That wasn’t the kind of woman she was. No matter what he did to her, she was going to stand on her own two feet and fight for her life.

And theirs.

If she was going down, it was as a hero, not a coward. Everyone here, who had been so kind to her, was now in danger, and if she could save them, that was her duty.

She was one of the good guys.

“I have to do this, Dad. If I don’t, he’s loose here, and he’ll come for them. He’ll destroy this country, and I love it here. I have to do what I have to do.”

Greyson smiled at her.

Honestly, he’d been putting his money on her the whole time. If anything, Aly was a good person.

“I’m so proud of you, Alyona. We love you,” he offered. There was no doubt in his mind she could do this, and she’d be okay.

That was what he hoped.

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