Page 21 of Ruthless Moon

“Are you feeling all right, Ms. Gallagher?”

“Yes, just a little out of sorts. I’m sure it’s the approaching full moon throwing off my equilibrium. You know how it is.”

Matthew doesn’t know I’m a wolf. He doesn’t know the moon does jack shit, but I’m rambling about it like he does.Fuck.

He nods slowly, each action very measured and controlled. “It’s a blood moon coming, you know. Very special. Supposed to last three nights. Between that and a whirlwind engagement and wedding coming right after, I could see you feeling a little out of sorts. Maybe you should take the rest of the day off.”

He doesn’t know, does he? My father wouldn’t have told him we’re wolves, would he? Maybe he just thinks I’m talking about my cycle.

“I have a meeting with your fiancé tomorrow, but if I can go ahead and get your signature now, then I’ll be done after he signs and I can get this wrapped up.” He slides a single sheet of paper across the desk to me along with a pen. “Mr. O’Connor didn’t have any extra specifications for you, so this is just acknowledging that the stipulations and requirements your father wrote into the agreement stand equal for both parties.”

Silence stretches uncomfortably over the few seconds it takes for me to scan the document and scratch my name at the bottom.

“Thank you.” He takes the paper back and puts it on top of a stack to his left.

A heavythunkshakes the office and Matthew’s eyes widen. His face pales by at least three shades.

My heart pounds in my chest, readying my body to flee, primal instinct warning me of impending danger. My wolf rises close to the surface and I have to fight to hold her back.

I whirl in time to see a very angry Mr. Darcy stomp across the waiting area. His eyes are wild and his body language screams vengeful-gunman.

A cold dread seizes me, making it hard to breathe.

Matthew is out of his seat in a second. He grabs my arm and yanks me around his desk, positioning himself between me and the very angry rancher. Then he leans forward and presses an almost hidden button under the edge of his desk.

Mr. Darcy yanks the heavy glass door of Matthew’s office open. “You fucking bitch!” His scream is laced with rage and pain alike. “You’ve taken everything.” The intensity of his emotions makes my stomach roll. His words strike like physical blows.

Matthew stands straight, blocking me from Darcy’s view completely.

My father did something terrible. I can feel it in the pit of my stomach the same way a person knows when they’re about to vomit.

“Mr. Darcy, I—” Matthew starts.

Darcy slams a file down on the desk. “I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to that bitch hiding behind you. This is what I think about your fucking contract.” He pulls a lighter from his pocket, picks the file back up, and sets the corner ablaze. The contract burns quickly, filling the office with the acrid smell of burnt paper. He drops the burning contract back onto the desk.

Matthew swats the flames with another folder until they stop smoking. “Sir, this is uncalled for.”

“My wife and daughter are dead. My cattle are all dead.”

My heart lurches to a stop in my chest. My breath catches halfway up my throat.Fuck. Dad, what did you do?

“Mr. Darcy, I’m so sor—”

“Be quiet, Miss Gallagher,” Matthew snaps at me with an angry authoritative growl I’m not used to hearing from him. His words sting, but I know better than to go against him even if he’s acting like an unfeeling bastard in the face of this man’s pain. “Mr. Darcy. The police have been called. I would appreciate it if you would remove yourself from this office before they arrive.”

The button. It had to be a remote signal to the police.

“Fuck you,” Darcy spits at Matthew. “You’re all going down for this. They were killed in a hit-and-run your father orchestrated. And then making it look like animals killed my cows. My whole herd! I’ll make you pay for taking everything from me. All of you. The next time you see me will be the last breath you take, you Gallagher bitch.”

His threat sends a shiver down my spine and the weight of his threat is a noose tightening around my neck.

What the hell is my father doing? He shouldn’t have even known that Mr. Darcy had tried to back out of the deal.

Darcy marches out of Matthew’s office the same way he came in, angry, broken, and dangerous. He slams the outside door so hard the glass cracks in one of the front windows.

I release the breath I’d been holding, step out from behind Matthew, and inch toward the doorway.

He pulls his cell from his pocket and holds it to his ear. “We just got a visit from a very pissed-off Mr. Darcy. They weren’t supposed to die.” He pauses a moment and I strain to hear the voice on the other end, but it’s too garbled. “Well, you fucked up. Now fix it.”

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