Page 11 of Brutal Heir

Addler blows out a frustrated breath. “Then, get the admin to go with you.”

I let my eyelids drop as I mouth the only word that fills my mind:Fuck. Is he actually going to pull this shit on me? I can still picture the way her back straightened and her expression changed. That button on her shirt was struggling to keep it together.

“The woman?” I ask, trying to buy time to come up with a good reason not to have her tagging along.

“Yeah. That way, it looks like you’re doing rounds.”

In all the years I’ve been working the ranch, I’ve never needed a partner, much less a damn babysitter. What help would she be when she can’t even look after herself?

“Are you—” I start to protest, but Addler cuts me off.

“Just do it.” The reply is curt, not like him at all.

I grit my teeth, knowing I’m royally fucked. Addler’s in a damn hurry, and he’s not gonna take no for an answer. It’s moments like this when I wonder what the hell I’m doing here. I have the money to go anywhere or do anything. Though I have my family’s shadow following close behind. It’s the reason I don’t buy my own place. But then I end up dealing with this shit.

“We’ll talk later,” he adds in his usual tone.

Okay, that changes things. Shit must be going down.

“Got it,” I reply, reading between the lines.

“Later.” Addler ends the call.

He takes over that new company on Monday and, with him at the office right now, he probably found something wrong. Whatever it is, he can’t talk about it in front of those people. But it’s bad enough he’s pulling me from what I’m doing to help.

The question is, why send me? Why not Bill? I can’t imagine the old lawman would be into any shady shit. I’ll check with Mayela, his sister-in-law. She might be able to give me some clue to what’s going on.

Meanwhile, I still have to deal with Sage. I slump in the seat. Damn woman has no business out here, but Addler probablyneeds someone to back me up in case something ain’t right. I wish he’d given me some clue about what I’m looking for. Considering everything that goes on in this region, so close to the Mexican border, it could be anything.

“God damn it.” I exhale in defeat and scroll through my phone messages. When I come across Sage’s name, I pause. Never thought I’d actually use the cell number Bill sent me, so I didn’t bother to add it to my contact list.

Sage Donohue. What the hell kind of name is that? Makes me think she belongs in some small town on the East Coast that brings in a lot of seafood. I let out a breath, I do miss a good lobster roll…and pizza.

I can picture her having a slice. The cheese stretching out from the piece she’s just bitten into…and those lips of hers.Fuck.

Fine. I open the contact card he sent and press the button on her number.

The line rings.

I need you to come in? No that doesn’t sound right. I don’tneedher anywhere around me. Addler wants her here.

The line rings several times, but there’s no answer.

That’d be something,Addler wants you here. If she’s like the other women around here, she’ll fall all over herself to get here. That’s what comes with having a pretty face.

The line rings.

The thought of her falling for Addler rubs me wrong. That’s too much damn time thinking about her for my own good.

The line rings.

I pull the phone away from my ear. What the hell? She’ssupposed to be the one I call in case of an emergency?

The sound changes from the ringtone to a hollow sound as she finally answers. “This is Sage.”

“Well I’m glad it wasn’t an emergency,” I mutter. She stays quiet. I’m caught somewhere between not knowing how to proceed and being annoyed at having to call her at all. “Where are you?”

She pauses. “I’m out of town,” she replies, her voice hesitant. “Well, on my way to Laredo.”

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