Page 48 of Broken Player

He stepped closer, trying to pull me forward by the grip he still had on my hand, but he was both smaller and weaker than I was. "Listen, jackass-"

"No,youlisten," I growled over him. "I willneverstop fighting for her. And if she chooses you, I'll still be there, makingsure you don't hurt one single hair on her perfect head. And if you do? I'll fucking kill you. Just so you know," I promised before shoving away from him. He stumbled once in the dirt, the dust dirtying up his perfectly polished dress shoes.

He was shaking with the effort to contain his anger. I considered that mission accomplished.

He moved over to where Ryan stood by Quinn, and I watched with a smirk as Quinn threw his arm over her shoulder and pulled her into his side so Yates couldn't get his grubby hands on her. Yates clenched his jaw as he leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek before shooting Quinn one last glare and stomping off to his car.

"I don't like him," Connor said, stepping up beside me as we watched the bastard climb into his imported car and take off down the driveway without a backward glance.

"What's to like?"

"I mean, he's up to something," he clarified, running his hand through his close-cropped hair and watching Yates's retreat through narrowed eyes. I'd never met anyone with better instincts than Connor, so when he said something wasn't right, I trusted him.

Quinn came up beside us while Ryan went back to the house. "We hate that guy, right? Like it's not even a question?"

"Fuck, yes. I've never wanted to punch anyone more than him."

Connor nodded. "He has a punchable face, but I think there's more to it than that. I'm gonna do some digging."

Quinn perked up. "If you need help taking him down, I'm definitely down for that."

The screen door slammed behind us as Ryan passed by our little group and made her way to the barn without glancing at us once. I winced. "How mad is she?"

Quinn shrugged. "I think she's more embarrassed and doesn't know what to do with it. She'll get over it in a little while." He turned to me. "You coming back out with us this afternoon?"

The corner of my lip twitched as I almost smiled. "Were you serious about swimming and massages?"

He laughed, and Connor's eyebrows shot up. "Massages?"

I waved him off. "We spent the entire lunch fucking with Yates."

"And yes, I was serious. Skinny dipping in the pond this afternoon and massages tonight while we cuddle and watch movies. We can make a Ryan sandwich, as long as you don't mind sharingyourgirl with me," Quinn flirted.

"You have the samples Zen sent. He's waiting on you to listen and give him feedback this afternoon," Connor reminded me.

"I'll give her some time to cool down while I work. What time do you want to meet at the pond?"

Quinn glanced up at the sun, shielding his eyes. "Four?"

I nodded. "I'll see you out there then."

Turning, I headed toward the big, black truck Connor had rented and waited for him to unlock it to drive us back to my house. Zen was already gearing up for our next album, and I couldn't wait to hear what he'd come up with sound-wise.

But what I was even more excited about? Getting naked and wet with Ryan later this afternoon. Time couldn't pass fast enough.

What a complete disaster. Having Maddox around was throwing me so far off balance, I wasn't sure I even knew how to walk straight anymore. Everything was confusing. I didn't know what he wanted or expected from me. He kissed me, he told me that it had always been the two of us. And he and Quinn had both made it abundantly clear at lunch today how they felt about Yates.

But I didn't know what to do with all these feelings or information because the truth was it didn't change anything. I still had to save this ranch. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the gentle sway of Storm's walk and taking a deep breath, letting the humid air center me. I opened my eyes again and steered Storm toward the pasture we'd been working in earlier today, the hay half gathered.

I didn't know if Maddox would be coming back with Quinn, and if he was, I didn't know what I'd say to him. I got my answer a couple of minutes later when Quinn rode up on Daisy by himself. He tilted the brim of his cowboy hat at me with a sly smile as he rode up beside me. "You okay?" he asked, sliding off of Daisy and tying her rein to the wooden fence post in front of us.

Following his lead, I did the same with Storm before sighing heavily. "I honestly don't know, Quinny. What was that in there?"

He shrugged. "Yates is a tool and doesn't deserve you. Maddox and I wanted to make sure that message got across."

Quinn met my questioning gaze with a crooked smile, and I felt my own smile tug at the corner of my mouth. "I can't deny that it was a little bit fun to watch you two make him squirm."

Quinn laughed and patted me on the shoulder. "I had a feeling you'd enjoy that."

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