Page 68 of Dark Horse

“I don’t know. But I don’t want to risk it. Give me a chance to look into some things first, and then we’ll get you home, okay?”

“I’m sorry for dragging you out here in the middle of the night.” The tears start to roll down my cheeks, half relief and half exhaustion.

“You know as well as I do that we’re both up at these hours. It’s fine. More than fine. I’m just happy I could be there to get you.” He reaches over and gently places his hand on my thigh.

“Thank you.” I run my palm over the backs of his knuckles.

He pulls my hand up to his mouth and kisses it softly, keeping his eyes on the road, and then lets it fall to the center console, still squeezing tight. He drives the rest of the way like that, in the quiet of the night. Letting me have my peace while still making sure I know he’s there. Things like this are what are going to break me. The man might not be the best with words or with saying all the things I’d like to hear. But he does all the right things to show that he cares and always shows up when I need him the most.

TWENTY-SIX

GRANT

When I getDakota back to my place, through the back entrance and up the private elevator to the floor where the residences are, she seems hesitant to even enter. She hovers at the entrance, pulling her boots off slowly as she strikes a quick glance around the place when she thinks I’m not watching. My place looks fancier than it is. All dark walls and flooring, drenched with muted golden light and dimmed at this hour because I can’t stand a flood of neon white light when I’ve been in the bar or on the casino floor most of the day.

The blackout drapes are drawn, or she’d see the massive floor-to-ceiling view of the mountains and the surrounding woods. This place is one of my favorite things in the world. My own little fortress in the treetops, safe in the quiet and solitude.A place where I can escape and almost feel human again for a few hours.

I rarely let anyone up here, and almost never anyone who isn’t family. The Kellys are the only exception to that rule. But she’s as close as it gets to family, even if it’s not true blood that links us. Not to mention, this is the only place I trust that I can keep her safe besides the ranch, and it’s too late to drive over there and wake them at this hour to get to one of the cabins. That could wait for the morning, if we need it.

“If you give me your clothes, I can put them in the wash and give you a T-shirt and some sweats to put on for the night.”

“You have a washer in here?” She looks skeptical.

“Technically, yes. But I was just going to have housekeeping come get them to wash and deliver back in a couple hours.”

“That would be nice. I feel disgusting from… everything.” She sighs.

Her shoulders slump, and I can tell she’s emotionally exhausted as well as physically. The cops who did this to her are going to pay. What I saw on the camera footage had my blood boiling, and I’m already plotting how I’m going to make their lives miserable. But I’m doing my best to keep the desire to slit throats and smash bones to myself right now and focusing on making sure she feels better in this moment.

“Let’s get you cleaned up. I can get you some towels.”

I motion for her to follow me, and we make our way to the guest bathroom. I flip on only the necessary lights, as I’m not trying to blind either of us in the middle of the night, before I grab some towels out of the linen closet and put them out for her.

“All right. Here.” I turn on the hot water in the shower. “That should get the hot water coming pretty quickly. Benefits of living in a hotel. I’ll go get you some clothes tochange into.”

“Thank you.” She’s already stripping out of the shorts she has on, and it draws my attention to her leg where I can see the giant scrape and the bruises already forming on her knees. I kneel down for a better look, gently running my palms over her skin.

“He shouldn’t have done that to you.”

“It’s fine. I was mouthing off.” She shakes her head.

“Don’t blame yourself. You were asking questions. That doesn’t give him any fucking right to manhandle you. A guy does that to a woman in any other situation, his ass would be in jail or worse.” I run my thumb lightly over the blooming bruise on her right knee and look up at her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“You’re a little bit busy with other things. I don’t expect you to be my personal bodyguard, Grant.”

“No, but I can get you one. We’re putting security in your bar. Starting tomorrow. I’ll give you a couple of guys. They won’t let them treat you like that.”

“Your security is going to override the cops?” She gives me a skeptical look.

“They’ll make them think twice before they knock women around and give me names if they do.” I kiss the tops of her knees before I stand again.

“I don’t like the look in your eyes. Don’t do anything about this on my behalf. I’ll get my lawyer to deal with it.”

“My lawyers are already on it. They knew it was my family when they touched you, and they knew it was my property when they went in there. They knew exactly what they were doing, and I’m not going to stand by and let them think they can do it again.”

“Grant.” She reaches out and puts her hand on my shoulder. “Please. It’s not worth going to war with the cops over. You told me it was a stupid idea to be doing those shots, and I didn’t listen. I wanted the money and the exposure the bar got with it.I should have listened. These are the consequences. I’m sure I’ll get a slap on the wrist and have to pull them from the menu. I’ll make a formal complaint about the cop.”

“You make a formal complaint about that cop, and he’ll just find you after hours and make you pay for it. He already has a reputation for coloring outside the lines of his job. The fact that they sent him was a message.”

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