Page 68 of Captured By the Billionaire Cowboy
“We’re not here for the auction.” A large bald man with a torn shirt moved closer.
“Not anymore,” a scraggly man with a long white beard added.
“No,” the third one said, this one taller and even rougher looking. “We’re here for you.”
CHAPTER 13
“We’re here for you.”
Ciara forced herself to remain calm, to not show her fear. Yet she couldn’t stop the unease, or the terror, as Rowan’s warnings blazed through her. Had these men sent the threatening messages?
Had they come to carry them out?
She might be scared, but she wouldn’t let them see it. “I have no business with you,” she calmly replied. “I’m not in charge of the auction.”
“No, you just ended it.” The bald man stepped forward, his eyes bright with menace and unvoiced threats. “You took what belonged to us.”
“I took nothing of yours. Like I said, I wasn’t running the sale.” Of course, the auctioneers resided in the house a few yards away, but she couldn’t direct them there. The elderly couple couldn’t handle the furious men.
“You might not know us, but we know you. You’re the woman who made that contest,” the man growled. “Now people are complaining about us.”
“You’re the reason there’s no auction,” the other spat. “You bought every single horse before we even had the chance to bid.”
“We drove hours to get these horses, and suddenly we get a message it’s over,” the third snarled. “That doesn’t work for us. We’ve already sold them.”
Anger chased away her fear. “How can you sell something you don’t own?”
“We were prepared to offer a high amount since we already had a buyer, and that should have been enough to secure the product. Our buyer is going to be furious when we don’t supply the pounds of meat we promised.”
Anger turned to fury, and fury to rage. “They aren’t pounds of meat,” she bit out. “They’re animals. Living, breathing, beautiful animals, and they deserve to live. And that’s exactly what they’re going to do.” She glared at each man. “It’s not my fault people don’t like your disgusting profession. You chose to earn money this way.”
“But now we’re not earning money,” The bald man’s voice was soulless, chilling. “This isn’t the first time you messed with us. But it will be the last.”
Stay calm. Relax. Breathe.Ciara slid her hand into her pocket, grasping her cell phone. Only if she tried to call the police, would they grab the phone? “I’m not sorry you don’t have animals to slaughter, but I’m sorry you wasted your time.” She spoke in a quiet tone, to avoid further escalation. “But it’s over.”
It didn’t work. “You’re not as sorry as you’re going to be,” the man in the middle growled. “And it’s not close to over.”
He started forward, but the bearded man stopped him. His eyes flashed ice, his anger more controlled, powerful,dangerous. “We want those horses.”
Her heart stumbled out of the gate. Would they try to steal the horses? How could she stop them? Even if she managed to call the authorities, their response could be slow in the rural countryside. The men could easily get away with a trailerful ofhorses, and there would be nothing she could do. “What do you see when you look at them?”
The men stopped, exchanged glances. “Sick animals that should be put out of their misery,” the bald man answered roughly, while the others nodded. “These animals are only good for one thing.”
“That’s not what I see.” Ciara touched a horses’ flank, channeling the strength he represented, conveying her own. Even now, the fur was silky smooth, muscles underneath with the power to heal. “I see beautiful animals in need of love and care, creatures with feelings and emotions. Horses with the potential for riding, for companionship, even for showing. I will not surrender to your dictates, or your threats. I love these animals, and if there’s a chance to save them, I will.”
The men opened and closed their fists, staring at her, assheapproached them. “So what are you planning to do? Are you going tobreak the law?”
Before they could answer, a new voice boomed, “Think very carefully before you answer that question, gentlemen.”
Rowan appeared, as she’d never seen him before. Power defined, massive and so verydangerous. A black t-shirt and form-fitting jeans outlined his chiseled body as he prowled towards them, accompanied by Quinn, Spencer and two other large men. His back was straight, his jaw set and his gaze hard. Tension thickened the air, stealing the oxygen.
But for Ciara?Pure relief.
The men’s eyes darted between the five newcomers who had the advantage in size, strength and number. Like middle school bullies, they withered in the presence of greater strength. “We weren’t going to do anything!” The bearded man held up his hands, and even the mean one blinked rapidly. “We just wanted to talk to her.”
“Talk tome.” Rowan stalked forward in barely controlled fury, like dynamite that would explode with a single spark. “Not her. You will never contact this woman again. Not by phone, not on the Internet and certainly not in person. Don’t even look at her again. And if you dare threaten her…” His voice trailed off, the consequences unsaid yet massive under the power that was Rowan Byrne.
The man’s expression faltered, and the others stepped back. “We didn’t mean anything by it.” He kicked the dirt, sending up a cloud of gray. “She’s just caused a lot of problems.”
