Page 190 of Mountain Boss

Simpson stands by my side as we stand over the Creep.

“You did good,” Simpson tells me after a minute of silence.

I stare down at the man at our feet. “I want to kill him.”

The man whimpers.

Simpson lays a hand on my shoulder. “You did good.”

Headlights cut through the woods, then Leon’s pickup comes into view.

It’s a big red thing with a topper. Ideal so no one can see our cargo, and so our cargo can’t fall out.

“Keep kicking him if he tries to move,” I say to Simpson before jogging into the dark.

I’m back from the Storage Shed in less than a minute with a length of rope in my grip.

Fisher, good with knots, helps me tie the man’s hands behind his back. Then we use the excess rope to tie his feet together before we not-so-carefully lift him into the back of the truck.

“You’re in the back seat,” I tell Fisher. “You can keep an eye on him through the rear window.” I roll out my shoulders. “My old ass can’t sit twisted like that.”

Fisher huffs a laugh as he climbs up into the back seat. “Maybe not, but your old ass can throw a punch.”

I grunt and grip theoh shithandle to pull myself up into the passenger seat.

Leon is still behind the wheel, having stayed seated, quietly listening to classic rock while we hog-tied a man.

He turns his head to look at me. “Where to?”

That’s it. No other questions.

“The Inn.”

Leon nods, then shifts into drive and does a U-turn, heading down the driveway.

As we reach the end of the drive, we pass the gate that’s permanently open.

It’s not electric. Just a hunk of metal with a chain and rusted open padlock.

It wouldn’t help security-wise for guests who are already here, but maybe I need to start closing it at night. Or install a security system on the Laundry Cabin. Something with a panic button.

As Leon turns out onto the road, he stomps on the gas, and the rear of the truck fishtails onto the pavement.

There’s a thud, then a cry from the bed.

Leon looks at me. “Oops.”

Fisher snickers, then heaves out a deep breath. “I’m so fucking glad you were there.” I glance back, catching his eye. “After we got to the Bunk House, Simpson and I were both feeling weird about that guy. Didn’t like how he left the same time as us.” He shakes his head. “We decided to check on Court, make sure she got to her cabin alright. Then we heard the scream… My heart fucking stopped for a second. We thought it was her.”

I work to swallow.

I was right there.

Right fucking there when that slimy fuck tried to get his hands on Courtney’s door.

Even if he’d gotten his fingers on the door, I never would’ve let him touch her.

I have to keep reminding myself.

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