Page 12 of Swallow Your Fear
I pulled on a black t-shirt and dark wash jeans, then headed downstairs, eager for a quick breakfast and to get outside. Nothing took a fraction of the stress off my shoulders like fresh air and silence, save for the sounds of nature. But as I descended the last step, I knew my wishes wouldn’t be coming true today.
Brynne stood by the kitchen island with her arms crossed as Henley and Austin dug into an egg scramble, their coffees steaming from their mugs.
“We need to talk,” Brynne said, popping that hip of hers.
Walking past her, I opened the cabinet to pull out my own mug, then poured a cup of coffee, all while she stared at me. Women always caused shit so fucking early.
“Whatcha want to talk about?” Austin asked after swallowing his bite.
She held her hands out, brows raised. “Why the fuck I’m here, for a start.”
Henley opened his mouth to respond, but I shot him a warning glare. I didn’t need the man blabbing his mouth and telling her too much. For all we knew, she was just as eager to take this ranch, or willing to be on Chase’s side, regardless of his treatment of her in the alley. Whether he handled her like that on the regular or not, she might be too attached to him to give a shit.
“Sit,” I instructed, crossing my arms.
She didn’t.
With a long exhale, my thumb andforefinger pinched the bridge of my nose. This woman was going to give me a headache for the entirety of her stay.
I leaned back against the counter, setting my mug beside me as I faced her. “Your boyfriend has something of ours.”
“Ex-boyfriend,” she corrected. “What is it?”
“That’s not for you to know,” I answered. She didn’t need to know the logistics. She just had to cooperate and be our bait.
The corners of her mouth turned down as she shrugged, dropping her arms. “Okay.” She walked out of the kitchen, disappearing from sight for a moment before reappearing with a bag.Herbag. “I’ll just be going, then.”
How did I know she wouldn’t let this go that easily?
Another sigh escaped my lips, and I had a feeling I’d be doing that a lot for the next week or so. “Put the bag down.”
She held it between her legs, both hands on the strap. “Only if you’re honest with me.”
“You don’t need to know the details of why you’re here.”
Austin’s and Henley’s eyes darted between us as they continued to eat. This was a fucking joke to them. I was really standing here arguing with a woman I’d just met. A woman I had no interest in fighting for. Any other girl, I’d have sent her to the curb by now. I didn’t have time for attitude, and yet here she stood, full of it, and I was only encouraging the behavior. I should bend her over a fucking chair and spank her till her ass was red just to teach her a little lesson, my handprint the only thing she could feel.
She kept those hard eyes on me, determination shining bright as all get out. I mentally shook my head. She’d probably fucking like it. “I say I do, so either tell me or I’m leaving.”
I crossed the kitchen, invading her space. “And where are you going to go. Huh? Crying back to Chase?”
Her lips thinned, and I could tell I’d gotten under her skin. “I have friends.”
“Then why were you at a motel? Why not their place?”
Her nostrils flared the slightest bit. “Because I left him late at night.” Her words were a tad softer, and for some fucking reason, I felt an inkling of guilt. My stomach soured at the idea of feeling even an ounce of remorse.
“Not a smart move, then. Which is exactly why you don’t need to know what he took.” I put a finger under her chin, tilting my head the slightest bit. “Just keep looking like a sad little damsel, and you’ll do just fine.”
She smacked my hand away, her cheeks turning a hint of pink. “I amnota fucking damsel in distress. In case you didn’t notice, I was doing just fine before you broke into my motel room, and when you pinned me in a fucking alley.”
“You did what?” Austin asked from behind us, but I didn’t pay him any mind.
Our chests touched as I narrowed my eyes. “Oh, is that right?”
“Mhmm,” she hummed.
“That why you had to walk to that shithole because you couldn’t fix your tire? Or why you were a sitting duck with the receptionist giving your key out like fucking candy to whatever horny shithead walked into that joint?” I backedher up until she hit the wall, and I fought not to wrap my hand around her delicate little throat. My palm practically tingled with the memory of it. “You’ll have much more fun sitting vulnerable in my house, Darlin’. Let me remind you that you agreed to come here. You’re under my roof, and once you’re in, you’re fucking in. I don’t let my targets go easy, so if you want to run, run. But I’ll find you. And you’ll regret your feet ever hit the ground.”
