Page 42 of Perfect Storm

“I hid her laptop and her cell phone,” Archer laughs. “She’s with Sandy and Stone.”

“Sandy and Stone?” he brushes a hand over his chin and his eyes widen but he covers it quickly. “You gonna have a go?” he points back to the horses.

“Damn straight. I’m gonna show that asshole up too,” he indicates to Nick.

“I don’t know Arch, he’s been doing pretty good.”

The horse Nick is astride starts trotting. He’s bouncing up and down, his thick thighs gripping on for dear life. But he sees us all watching and tentatively lifts one arm and waves. I whoop at him in encouragement.

“Come on,” Arch grabs my arm. “I don’t know why you’re sitting up here on the fence when you know you’re dying to ride.”

I couldn’t agree more, so I hop down, and we hurry over to get our own horses.

Archer fucks up the mount and ends up hanging over the horse with his ass in the air. Nick laughs so hysterically his horse hops. He makes a girly sounding shriek, gripping the saddle handle. Even the ranch hands laugh at that.

Easing up on my horse, I let the trainers know I’m okay without a lead. They watch me before they relax, seeing I’m well aware of how to handle a horse.

We ride for another half hour, Nick growing more at ease and confident. Archer decides quickly this isn’t for him.

He gets down and bends over, cupping his balls and shouting to Jordan he was right. But Jordan is preoccupied. Stone and Sandy are with him and they’re talking in a little huddle. I frown, wondering what’s going on.

Stone has been with BreakNeck for years. He’s Adam’s bodyguard, but he’s part of the BreakNeck family.

Stone is older than us by about fifteen years I think. He’s huge, intimidating and stoic when he works, but he’s easy going and fun when he relaxes. I like him a lot.

Seeing him standing there looking stern as he speaks with Jordan and Sandy, makes me worry something has happened.

I cast aside any concern when Jordan slaps Stone’s arm and he leaves, striding back up to the ranch. Sandy yells over its time for lunch before we head off on the hike. She leaves to round up everyone else.

I’ve not seen Alessa so far this morning, but figure she’ll be there for the hike.

I can't wait for this.

Chapter 12

Jack

Sandy is giving me shit about my boots. I’ve had them for years. They’re comfortable and more than good enough to get me through this hike. I read up on the information Jordan and Alessa gave us. It said there isn’t much climbing involved.

“As pretty as these boots are,” I point at the brand-new footwear. “I’m not about having my feet chewed to pieces.”

“Or you think they’re not cool enough,” she sasses me.

“I like you, Sandy,” I tell her with a huge smile. “But nothing you say will make me wear those.”

She eyes me, in that way moms do, when they know they’re right, but can’t convince their kid to believe them.

“I’ll take some, Sandy,” Archer appears behind us.

Sandy beams, dropping the pair she was holding out to me and taking a box from the pile beside her. They have his name on. I’d seen some others taking her up on the offer.

Ciro didn’t even look before striding outside, adjusting a ball cap on his head to cover his face.

Adrestia brought sensible footwear, because, of course, Adrestia would be prepared.

“You’re making me look bad, bro,” I tell him as he plonks his ass down on the stairs to change his shoes.

“Oh, it’s way worse than that,” Archer told me. “Disappointing Sandy Montanari is a mind fuck. You’ll never recover.”

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