“Someone is out here trying to drag one of us back to the fate we’re hiding from. I have no intention of letting that happen.”
I needed to hire more help, or maybe I just needed to hire TJ. I doubted his father would approve of that.
“We all need to get out of here. Fast,” Rhys said.
I turned to study him. “What are you sensing?”
“I’m not sure, but something is off.”
“Go.” I pointed in the direction of the various vehicles.
TJ didn’t argue. He jumped into the cab of my truck, gun in hand, ready to defend us.
When we were about halfway back to the ranch house without incident, our vigilance eased. TJ let his gun rest on his lap. “I already told you I can’t just sit around. I’m losing my mind.”
Why had I chosen to babysit an antsy psychopath? “We tried to put you to work.”
He snorted. “I don’t know shit about horses.”
“Your skill set isn’t exactly what we need to work a ranch.”
“It is if you’ve got someone planning to make a move on you.”
I couldn’t deny that. “You’re here so you can stay safe, not so you can—”
“If you think I’m going to just sit here waiting for someone to shoot me, you’re fucking crazy.”
I probably was for having taken this job. “I’m not asking you to do that. I’m just asking you not to start a fight. Let us handle this our way.”
“Your way is slow. I like to get right to the point.”
“That doesn’t fly here. Once you’re back home, you can do things your way.”
He huffed. “I wish that were true.”
We rode in silence most of the way back, then he said, “If your damn brother didn’t have a stick up his ass, I might have more to do.”
“Leave Rhys alone.”
“How did you know he was the one I meant?”
“Everyone knows. You’ve not been subtle in your interest.”
“Fuck.”
“Don’t treat my brother like prey.”
TJ snorted. “Your boy’s prey. Rhys is another predator, a quiet one, the kind that jumps you out of nowhere.”
“Then why are you interested?”
He shrugged. “We’re in each other’s territory, and it’s not working.”
“Rhys isn’t the only predator here.”
“I’ve already agreed to work with you, but there’s only so much I’m willing to compromise on. With him, it’s either fight or fuck, and I really don’t want to mess up his pretty face.”
“You do realize you’re talking about my brother, right?”