Chapter 38 #2
“Okay.” I didn’t like it, but if I knew anything about Tally it was that she wouldn’t be told what to do.
She also wanted to be in charge of her own destiny.
I’d put all my efforts into keeping her safe and hope the messages didn’t get worse.
“But if they start to increase or become violent in their tone then you—"
“Oh, you’re back.”
Fucking Glenn.
Feeling every single vertebrae of my spine turn to stone, my teeth ground together. He grated on my nerves, like a damn puppy following Tally around and every one of those nerves was on high alert, my hands clenched into fists, as I watched him watch her.
“Yep,” Tally replied. “Got back early this morning.” Her voice was tight, and I got the feeling he was beginning to piss her off, too. She could handle him, though. She was a strong woman, and she wouldn’t put up with any bullshit, or anything she wasn’t happy with.
“Was there something you needed, Glenn?” I turned slowly to face him, catching the fucking goo-goo eyes he was aiming toward her.
“Came to swap my horse out. Mine lost a shoe.”
I stood to one side and waved him past. “Fill your boots. Aren’t you missing something?” I looked past him to where his horse was tied up outside the stable. “You’d better stable him and let Davey know so he can get the farrier in.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure.” He did a half turn and then swiveled back our way. “Good Thanksgiving, Tally?”
“Great, thanks.”
“We missed you at lunch in the bunk house.”
Now my fucking hackles were raised. “Even if she had been here, Tally wouldn’t have had dinner in the bunk house. She’d have been with me and my family.”
“I need to go over to the kids camp,” Tally said, her fingers linking with mine. “Want to come with me and see how it’s looking?”
Looking at Glenn, his hands deep in his pockets, I nodded my head. “Would love to, baby.”
“We could take Dreamy.” As she turned her phone went off with a message. Instantly, we both froze, both staring at her jacket.
“Check it,” I said on a swallow.
Biting her bottom lip, Tally reached inside her jacket and took out her phone. I moved closer to give her support but didn’t encroach in case it wasn’t what we were expecting.
It was what we were expecting, because she turned the screen to me. Her face had lost its color and her hand holding the phone had a slight tremble.
Unknown Number
I’m watching you and you’ll never be happy with him.
The message was threatening enough, but the picture attached sent my heart racing and filled me with fury.
It was Tally sitting on one of the horses she was training.
She looked so damn beautiful, sitting tall, looking like the damn queen she was.
Her braid was over her shoulder, and she was smiling so brightly it hurt your fucking eyes.
Rage burned through my veins like acid. Someone was threatening my woman, and every instinct I had was screaming to hunt them down and make them pay.
I took a deep breath. “When was this?” I asked her, desperate not to show how shaken I was.
“I don’t know exactly. Last week, maybe.”
When she cleared her throat, I knew she was trying to remain strong. Trying not to break in front of me and Glenn. But I saw the fear in her eyes, and it made something primal and violent wake up in my chest. It made me want to kill anyone who hurt her.
“Glenn, get on with what you have to do instead of hanging around here.” When he hesitated, I thought I was going to burst a blood vessel. “Now!”
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
“It won’t be if you don’t do as I ask.” I grabbed Tally’s hand, feeling it tremble against mine as I tried not to focus on the rage coursing through me. “Come on, Brownie, let’s go and check the camp out.”
As I pulled her across the yard I took my own phone out and dialed Nash’s number.
“Hey, Wild.”
“Have you been to see the sheriff yet?”
“No, why? What’s happened? Bertie, baby, just take Billy’s hand for me one second while I talk to Uncle Wild.”
“Tally just got another message but there was a picture attached. It’s her working with a horse. She thinks it was taken last week sometime.”
Nash cursed quietly. “Give me a half hour and I’ll be at the sheriff’s office. I promised the kids an ice cream at Jungle Jacks.”
“No worries. Are you okay if I hang out with her for the rest of the day?” I asked, my gaze darting to Tally who was shaking her head.
“Absolutely. Stay by her side and do not leave her alone,” my brother warned.
“Never intended to. Speak later.”
We ended the call, and I took a deep breath, desperate to calm my heart rate. Desperate not to show Tally how damn scared I was for her.
“You don’t have to stay with me,” she protested. “You’re busy and I’ll be fine. I’m working over at the camp this afternoon and Gunner is there and a couple of the construction guys.”
“Don’t give a shit. And now there is no argument, you’re getting a new phone.”
“Wilder.”
“Brownie, I’m staying by your side. If I have to do that until we find Declan then I will.
Unless you want to spend the rest of the day arguing then I suggest you get on board.
” Putting a hand on her shoulder, I stooped to look into her eyes.
“We can argue if you like because let’s face it the make-up sex is bound to be phenomenal.
However, I’d much prefer ‘I’m your hero and you damn well love it’ kind of sex.
It’s softer, slower and lasts a whole lot longer, so up to you. ”
Grateful for her smile, even if it was tight and accompanied with a huff of breath, I held her hand tight and continued on our way to the camp.
All the while I counted the number of ways I would make Declan Mullaney pay, even if it took me years to find him.
I was a very patient man, and she was mine to protect, mine to keep safe, and I’d burn the whole world down before I let anyone hurt her.