Chapter 11

eleven

. . .

Cross

" R iver! Walker! Where the fuck is everyone?" I shouted, the trail of blood leading up the staircase making my gut churn. I swear to God, if Walker died on Bishop's watch, I'd drive that broody asshole to the edge of town and leave his body by the side of the road for the coyotes to dispose of.

I'd just reached the top of the stairs when River and Bishop met up with me. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what they were doing with each other instead of helping my brother, when I caught sight of the blood-soaked shirt clinging to River. It was dry now, but she was covered in it from elbow to thigh.

"Jesus. What the hell happened?" Billy'd told me Walker was hurt bad, not that he'd bled out.

"I thought you knew," River said, her voice more gentle than it'd been since she arrived.

It reminded me of the sweet innocent girl she'd been, and I didn't want to see her like that right now, or fucking ever.

"Knew what? That you two were upstairs doing God knows what while my brother is clearly fighting for his life?"

"Calm down," Bishop snapped, his eyes flashing as he moved, placing his towering frame between her and me.

The guy had a couple inches on me and twenty pounds of solid muscle easy, but with the rage boiling in my veins, not even that would be a match for me. He better watch his fucking mouth before it signed a check his ass couldn't cash.

"In case you've forgotten, Bishop, you work for me. So unless you want to change that, you'd best never tell me to calm down again. Keep your dick away from River and your eyes on your own fucking paper."

"Technically, I work for her."

"Good point. Also, you don't get to decide whose dick goes anywhere near me, thank you very much. You're not my husband or my daddy. And for the record, the only reason Walker is still breathing is because of him, so check your goddamn temper, Cross. Right the hell now. Sterling didn't do anything to deserve it."

Sterling, is it?

I begged to differ. The way that man had been looking at her when they were coming down the hall was evidence enough. He was infatuated. I should know. She seemed to have that effect on men that came anywhere near her. She was practically a bitch in heat, luring every mutt with a functioning dick in range. Including me.

"Look, I stitched up the stab wound, got the bleeding stopped?—"

"My brother was fucking stabbed?"

It wouldn't be the first time, but fuck. That meant this wasn't some bar brawl. This was a legit attack. Walker was in someone's sights, which meant I was in someone's sights. I was in my father's seat now. You didn't come for one Cross without coming for me too. This was a message. No, a declaration of war.

Motherfucker.

"With some serious rest and fluids, he should be okay. It's too soon to say for sure that he's out of the woods, but barring infection, he'll be back on his feet in a couple weeks."

Good luck trying to get Walker to stay in bed. I bet my prized stallion he'd be trying to get out of that room by tomorrow afternoon.

"I need to see him."

River stared daggers at me. "He's sleeping."

"Then I'll be quiet. Sterling , shall we?"

Bishop didn't acknowledge me. Instead he turned to River. "Go on and get cleaned up, siren. I'll deal with this."

Motherfucking SIREN? The fuck does this guy think he is?

"Yeah, sparrow . Be a good girl and do as you're told."

The scoff Bishop didn't even try to hide had my fists clenching. He thought he was going to move in on the woman I'd already fucking claimed? He was wrong. Dead wrong.

River seemed to possess at least an ounce of self-preservation, because she didn't argue. For once. I hated that she was only listening to me because Bishop told her to do it first. I didn't know when they'd gotten so chummy, but she clearly trusted him. It looked like it was time to find a new ranch hand.

Even if this one did come equipped with combat experience and field training.

I watched her go, the sway of her hips in those jeans doing nothing to make me less of a jealous asshole. As soon as she was safely tucked away behind her bedroom door, I turned my attention to Bishop as we walked toward the family wing of the house.

"I don't know what it's been like for you on the other ranches where you've been employed, but here at Twisted Cross, you're expected to keep your dick in your pants, your tongue out of her cunt, and your hands to your goddamned self. Don't make me tell you twice."

I wanted to punch his answering smirk right off his face.

"You sure seem to think that came out as a threat, but to me, it just sounds like a jealous man's challenge. I fucking thrive on challenges."

"Did you know that a crime of passion is a legal defense here in Texas, Sterling ?"

"Did you know I can kill a man with my bare hands and make it look like natural causes?"

I stared at him.

"What?" He smirked again. "I thought we were exchanging facts, Danny."

I might murder him right here. I could dispose of his body out in the creek. Make it look like he fell and broke his neck. No one would know, and with the way he arrived here, no one would care.

Except maybe River, but some things just couldn't be avoided. She'd get over it. She'd known him what, two days?

I was the one she'd given herself to. I was the one she loved.

You were, until you tore her heart out and handed it to her with a morning-after pill and a break-up note.

I hesitated when we reached the door to Walker's room. For as distant as my brother and I had always been, one thing remained true. We were blood, and that was thicker than water. I had a responsibility to take care of my own—my family and my ranch. Today, I'd failed.

"Did you see who did it?" I asked, putting aside my rampant jealousy.

"No. The crowd was too wild, and I couldn't get eyes on him."

"But it was a man?"

"Absolutely. He disappeared before we even realized Walker'd been stabbed. If the knife had been even an inch to the left, we'd be burying him." Bishop ran a hand over his stubbled jaw. "Hell, if River hadn't kept her cool and applied pressure all the way home like she did, Walker would be in a hospital fighting for his life."

"I owe you my thanks, then. I won't forget what you did for him."

He dipped his head and turned to walk away.

"Bishop."

A glance over his shoulder was all I got.

"My gratitude doesn't extend to you taking liberties with River. You hear?"

Bishop didn't bother answering. I'd have to make sure he got the message later. Once Walker was in the clear.

I moved into the room, my anger resurfacing as I took in my little brother's pale complexion. Dark circles ringed his eyes, and his chest barely seemed to rise at all. It wasn't all that long ago I'd found my dad in a similar fashion.

Pulling his desk chair close to the bed, I sat down and took his hand, a rare gesture of affection between us.

"Don't you go and try leaving me too. I need you, half-pint. I can't deal with all the vultures circling us on my own. They're fucking everywhere."

I bowed my head and listened to his slow, even breaths, then I pulled my shit together and got to my feet. My phone vibrated in my pocket, ratcheting up my already heightened apprehension.

I pulled it out and glanced down at the screen.

Tex:

We've got a problem, boss.

Me:

What now? I'm busy.

Tex:

Shipment was sabotaged. Product missing. The Russian is pissed.

I clenched my jaw, furious he'd put anything remotely incriminating in a text, but more worried about what it meant. I hit the call button. He answered on the first ring.

"Never fucking text me again."

"Sorry, boss."

"When did this happen?"

"Couple hours ago? Can't be sure. The driver missed his check-in."

Fuck. That would have been about the same time as Walker's attack. Meaning it wasn't a coincidence, but I needed more information.

"I'll handle it."

I hung up, fuming as I stared down at my brother.

"You want to start a fucking war? You better pray you don't live long enough to meet me, motherfucker, because I'm about to bring it to your doorstep."

With that, I tore out of the room, heading for the one person who could give me more information.

My sparrow.