Page 25 of Fu*kboys in Flannel

Chapter 12

Tessa

“You’re way too pretty to snarl like that, spitfire,” Bennett says in that condescending tone that makes me want to pull my hair out. I try to neutralize my expression because I don’t want to give the smug bastard any more satisfaction than he’s already gotten from me.

Bennett opens the passenger side door of the red truck that even in the dark I recognize as one of Grey’s. It isn’t uncommon for the Ravens to drive each other’s vehicles, but I quickly look around to make sure my mean brute of a cousin isn’t lurking anywhere. I don’t need any more joy rides courtesy of Grey Bishop.

“Last chance to tell my brother you want to be with me,” Mason calls from the front porch of the hunting cabin. I open my mouth to retort something just as snide, but I hear hushed male voices. I’ve lived on this mountain long enough to know the way noises carry that they could be coming from any direction.

“Did you call the other guys for backup?” I roll my eyes, crossing my arms, but I instantly straighten my posture when I see Mason reaching into the back of his jeans where he usually keeps his gun. I can tell by the way he’s furrowing his brow that in the chaos of us leaving, he isn’t as prepared as he usually is for unwelcome visitors. I feel the tiny hairs on the back of my neck prickle up because as revered as the Ravens are, there’s always someone who wants to get revenge on them.

“Fuck. Are you strapped?” Mason says gruffly to Bennett who only shakes his head in the negative. He’s completely still, scanning the land before quietly closing the truck door and swinging his arm out at me, gesturing for me to head back in the cabin.

“Are you guys fucking with me?” I whisper and Bennett stalks toward me, slapping a hand over my mouth and dragging me toward the cabin door that Mason is already opening.

“Not so fast, Slade,” I hear an unfamiliar male voice say roughly and I hear the sound of a gun cocking back. I feel Bennett stiffen at the sound, and he doesn’t let me go or take his hand off of my mouth. It’s probably for the better because the string of expletives that I want to let out right now will only make things a thousand times worse.

“Get the fuck off our property or be buried on it, your choice,” Mason snaps out and his brazen tone only comforts me a little because I know he doesn’t have a weapon. At least not one that will give him an advantage over a gun.

“Get in the fucking cabin,” another voice demands and my heart sinks into the depths of my stomach. There are at least two of them, and I’d never bet against a Raven, but I have a really bad feeling about this.

“You’re making a big mistake,” Bennett tells them, but I’m shocked when he does as they told him and carries me inside the cabin. They’re right behind us and my eyes are darting all over the dimly lit living room in hopes that one of their weapons is nearby. I chastise myself for thinking that they’d be stupid enough to think Bennett’s gun isn’t already in the truck. “Stay quiet, let us handle this,” he whispers against my ear and finally takes his hand away from my mouth. He nudges me to go sit on the sofa. I stumble because I’m confused why he wouldn’t want me to stay close to him or Mason. At this rate, I’m equidistant between where both of the Slade brothers are standing. The irony of being caught between them again isn’t lost on me.

“Grey and Remington are just outside,” Mason says, as I take a look at the intruders. They’re both dressed in black hoodies, black jeans, and black ski masks. One is slightly taller than the other one and he’s holding a baseball bat that is encased in barbed wire. The other guy is holding a handgun, and he has it pointed right at me.

“Lies. We have eyes on your King. He’s with that blonde bitch he’s always shaking around like a rag doll,” the one with the gun says and I hate how gleeful he sounds. My eyes dart from Mason to Bennett and then back to the men in front of us. I’m hoping they’re being so quiet because they have a plan, or by some miracle Grey and Remy really are lurking somewhere outside. Hell, I’d settle for Tanner at this point.

“What is it you want?” Bennett snaps, and he sounds annoyed instead of afraid.

“You’re the reason my family was torn apart and you’re going to pay with blood,” the one with the bat finally speaks, and his voice is deeper than the other guy’s. I feel like I know them, but I can’t place where I could have met them. “You Ravens have been running this mountain for far too long with no consequences. You’re going to get everything you deserve.”

“Hey fuckface, if you manage to wound one of us, the other one will get you before you can crawl out of here,” Mason says gruffly.

“The fallout will be astronomical. You should just take your little bat and head on out,” I blurt out and I instantly feel all four men staring at me.

“Shut up,” Bennett demands, and I know I should listen to him, but I’m so fucking exhausted and angry. He looks over at Mason and barks out, “Don’t try to be a hero and do something fucking stupid.”

“Who’s bitch is this?” the one with the gun asks, waving it in my direction and I see Mason’s whole body jerk as if he’s trying to force himself not to tackle them.

“They’re both fucking her,” the one with the bat says, sliding it off his shoulder and swinging it out to knock the cups off the coffee table sending them to shatter on the wood floor. He taps the end of the bat there playfully, scraping the barbed wire against the tabletop while his eyes bore into mine. “I’ll give you the choice, then. We’ll let one of them go, a head start if you will. The other one dies right now. If you’re worth anything to him, the one we let go will come back for you.”

“What?” I blurt out the word. I heard everything this evil motherfucker said, but I haven’t processed it.

The one with the gun holds it sideways pointing it at Mason first and then Bennett next. “You heard him. Pick. Which one do you pick?”

I don’t look at either Bennett or Mason because they’re going to hate me for what comes out of my mouth, but it’s the only thing I can do. “Take me instead. I won’t fight you. Just take me.”

“W-what?” the one with the gun asks in a much less confident tone and his eyes immediately go to Bennett which I find odd considering they’re enemies.

The one with the bat stalks toward me, kicking the table over in a show of dominance that should scare the fuck out of me, but I’m so desensitized at this point that the only thing I notice is the tattoo across his knuckles that reads Fox.

Elijah Pritchard. He’s as ruthless as Grey, but he has a soft spot for his girlfriend who he calls Little Fox. I let out a slow breath of relief and smile up at him when he yells at me, “I’m not fucking around. WHICH ONE LIVES?”

I glance at Mason who is still wearing a scowl and then my eyes dart over to Bennett who has a look of understanding passing over his face. He knows I know this isn’t real.

“What the fuck?” The dumbass with the gun whispers under his breath and I’d be willing to bet almost anything he’s one of the Graves brothers. I haven’t met any of them more than a few times, but I’ve heard stories about them. They live up in Violent Peak near Elijah and trade favors with the Ravens.

“I’m going to tear them apart piece by piece if you don’t make a choice,” Elijah sounds frustrated, but he doesn’t touch me. It’s another dead giveaway that this whole thing was set up because anyone who really wanted to scare me wouldn’t loom over me. Someone who respects the Ravens wouldn’t dare touch me, though.

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