Page 110 of Toxic

There was no deciphering which shouted curses were Toxic’s and which were the assholes that deserved to be dead as everyone tried to get out of Gus’s way. One man didn’t move fast enough. The bull lowered his head and I winced as the guy was gored by a massive horn and flung through the air. Gus didn’t stop there. He followed his target and trampled over the man with frightening speed.

Gunshots rang out, making me freeze, but I saw Toxic emerge from the shadows like a ghost. He was shooting and moving like an avenging angel. It was amazing to see. He and Daryl met up, then charged forward after the remaining men.

I looked down at Eris and she glanced up at me with her tongue lolled out. “I think they’ve got this. Why don’t we get Gus back in that field before he decides he’s better off without all of us?”

The bull was standing near the mangled body as I approached cautiously, hands outspread. He wasn’t a pet. He mostly put up with me because I gave him food and occasionally treats. In this state he’d happily kill me just to ensure his own safety and that of his herd. He’d just as likely throw me over the fence because he thought it was amusing.

“Hey there, Gus,” I called out in a soft voice, moving slowly.

He blew out a snort and swung his massive head my way. There was rage in his eyes but he didn’t move toward me. Thankfully he was standing near the large gate connecting to the barn. He wanted to go back to his ladies as much as I wanted him to. I crept around behind him.

Gus lumbered in a circle watching me with a suspicious gaze.

“Easy,” I cooed as I turned to face him. I was pinned between him and the gate. It was a dangerous position to be in, but the only way to get him contained again. Reaching behind me, I slid the latch, staring at the bull without blinking. I didn’t want to miss even the most micro of movements. That would end with me gored or trampled. Not the way I wanted to go out.

This gate opened inward, so I slowly started walking it backward. The bull watched me as I opened it. After a moment, as I moved out of the way, he took a step forward. I let out a soft whistle when Eris started to trot forward. He was hesitant, but moving on his own. I didn’t want her rushing him through the gate. She froze in her tracks at the musical directive I’d taught her as a puppy.

The bull, seeing a way to return back to his heifers, walked through the gate like a huge docile puppy now that the strangers and loud noises had died down. I shut the gate behind him then ran up the fence line to close the other gate I’d left open. As soon as there was a barrier between us again, I let out a breath of relief.

I yelped as a spotlight flared to life and lit me up from the sky. My jaw dropped as a helicopter flew into the area and landed in an open spot in the field I had my llamas and sheep in. Was that the cops? We were too far away for neighbors to have heard the gunshots, even though there had been a lot of them.

The world was nothing but loud sounds and blinding lights now. Eris pressed close to my side, her growls vibrating my leg. Ileveled my shotgun as two men ran toward me in the light from the helicopter.

“Billie!” Warrant shouted as they stuttered to a stop when they saw me pointing my gun at them.

Dropping the muzzle, I gasped. “Warrant? Lockout?”

The helicopter was whirring down, but I heard another sound, a rumbling sound. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw that there were motorcycles all over my property. The cavalry had arrived.

CHAPTER 40

Billie

The sun was just coming over the horizon as I sat down at my newly righted dining room table. Tears were streaming down my face and my hands shook so hard I could barely dial the number on my phone.

Isla sat to my right, staring down at the table with a grim expression while petting my hair as sobs tore from my throat. She didn’t seem very practiced at offering comfort, yet still, it was helping.

“Yes.”

The man who answered the phone sounded…polished. I didn’t know how else to explain it. “You won,” I croaked.

There was a pause, then he spoke again. “I’ll need you to explain what that means.”

“You can have Cholla Summit Ranch,” I cried, slamming my fist into the wooden table. “You didn’t have to do this.” A few more sobs slipped out.

“I see my men were able to convince you,” he all but purred into the phone.

The arrogant tone of his voice made me angry, but what could I do? “You killed him,” I hissed at him. “You didn’t have to do this!”

“Are you talking about the man who made this go on for far longer than it needed to?” When I didn’t respond, he said, “Good. This was his fault to begin with. This could have been handled without all the bloodshed.”

I didn’t point out that they’d started the bloodshed by beating up my grandpa. “I loved him,” I said with a shuddered breath.

“I’m going to need to speak to Jeremiah. Not that I don’t trust you, but you’ve been a real pain in my ass. You understand.” It wasn’t a question.

Without a word, I handed the phone over and listened as the deep voice standing behind me spoke with Brently. Isla leaned forward and patted my hand, as if this kind of thing happened every day and she wasn’t surprised to be caught up in it. She’d come with the others when they came to help us. And now we were here.

“You’ll meet me,” Brently said into the phone. “My men will bring you to the spot. You’ll come alone. Otherwise, anyone with you will die beside you.”

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