Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
I considered that. Miller and Jose were still working, but I didn’t know either one of them well enough to ask for that kind of help.
“No, I’m on my own.”
“Do you have the gun I gave you?”
“Yes, but—”
“Listen to me. Keep it in your hand when you enter your apartment. If you hear anything, get out of there, but if you can’t escape and you need to shoot someone, remember to aim for the center of their chest. That’s your best chance for taking them out.”
“I’m not sure I—”
“You can because you have to. Shit. I wish I was closer.”
“I don’t want you putting yourself in danger. I was just hoping you knew somewhere I could stay for a while, even if it’s just an empty building or something.”
“I’ve got something a hell of a lot better than that. My brother Grant just got a sweet job managing a horse ranch, and he’s hiring. How much do you know about horses?”
“I worked with my grandparents’ horses when I was a kid, and I did a little riding, but I’m not qualified to—”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll teach you what you need to know. You being comfortable around horses is enough for now.”
I doubted that. “Your brother is not going to hire me when I don’t have any experience.”
“He will if I ask him to as a favor, and if I tell him I’ve got a friend who will fit right in, I don’t think he’ll question me much. He’s focused on the business end of things right now. Rhys and I will be the ones working with the horses at first.”
“Are you there now?”
“No. I’m moving out of my RV and heading to the ranch the day after tomorrow. Come stay with me, and we’ll go together, or I’ll find you a hotel to wait it out until it’s best to sneak you in.”
“You’re not paying for a hotel for me, and I don’t want you lying to your brother or bringing trouble to his ranch.”
“Don’t worry about that. Grant can handle your asshole ex-boyfriend.”
The name startled me at first. I’d forgotten that his older brother was named Grant. Hadn’t he also been in the military? “Rogue, I don’t think—”
“Go get your stuff and wait for me at Sid’s diner. I’ll be there to pick you up as soon as I can.”
For the thousandth time, I wished I could afford a car, but I’d left Trey with only the few hundred dollars I’d taken from him. That hadn’t lasted long between rent and food.
I tossed my phone in a dumpster and hurried along toward my apartment, terrified Trey would pop out from some dark corner. At least it wasn’t a long walk. I surveyed my apartment building as best I could, but Trey was good at hiding. If he was coming for me there, I wouldn’t know it until the last second. I reached into my backpack and retrieved the gun Rogue had given me before I unlocked my door.
I moved slowly, trying to check each room like I was in some action film. I felt ridiculous, and I had no confidence I’d be able to hit anything I aimed at, but I did feel better having a gun than I would have with no weapon at all.
I packed as fast as I could. I had to leave a lot behind, but at least I was able to take more than I had the first time I’d fled.
As I walked to the diner, I kept checking to make sure I wasn’t being followed. I never spotted anyone. I was thankful to have made it to Sid’s. At least I’d be around other people until Rogue got there.
I prayed I was doing the right thing by trusting him. I’d met him when he’d been a business associate of Trey’s. Rogue had helped me escape and find a place to hide out. That was all that mattered, right? He’d proven himself. If he was also a criminal, then so be it.
A week had passed since Rogue picked me up and took me back to his RV. When he’d said his brother had been hired to manage a ranch, I’d imagined a small operation, something slightly bigger than my grandparents’ farm, the kind of place I’d once dreamed of owning.
Paradise Ranch was far more than that. It was, in fact, paradise. The land was gorgeous, and the horses were perfect. I might be far from an expert, but even I could tell they were from quality stock. I imagined they’d be able to sell any foals they produced for an exorbitant price.
Just like with Rogue’s unknown professional activities, I thought it was probably best not to ask exactly how his brother had gotten a position like this when, according to Rogue, he only had experience on a small-scale farm. The house looked like a palace, but I hadn’t been invited inside. Rogue had thought it best for me to simply blend in with the other ranch hands.