Chapter 20

twenty

. . .

River

I couldn't stop myself from flicking my attention to the huge fireplace as I sat at the desk in the office and worked on reconciling financials. Try as I might, Cross's parting shot from last night ran through my mind.

"...yours is just as dirty now."

The pencil I'd been using to tally up numbers snapped as I ground my teeth together. I wasn't sure who I was angrier at, Cross or myself.

I'd let him get to me. Again.

Daniel Cross knew exactly where to poke me to make me react. I hated him but still wanted to see him. Part of me said that was only because he was a cold-blooded killer, and I needed to know where he was in case he decided to take out the only witness to his heinous crime. The other, much more thirsty part just wanted to look at him. I was a damn mess.

He's a fucking murderer, River. Get it together. We do not lust after murderers.

My brain needed to have a chat with my vagina because my panties were telling a different story.

"Focus. Math takes focus," I muttered, but it was no use. I was one big ball of distraction.

Not that anyone could blame me. The events of the last couple of weeks were straight out of a soap opera. Normal life was not supposed to be like this, filled with stabbings, secret passageways, and torture rooms—not to mention three gorgeous men with questionable morals. But then, my life hadn't been normal in a long time.

"Ugh, this is useless." Throwing my hands in the air, I stared up at the ornate design on the tin ceiling tiles and began counting the repeated fleur-de-lis patterns.

The familiar ding I recognized as an email arriving came from Senior's computer, dragging my gaze down.

"Think of it as our email now, Senior," I said under my breath as his portrait stared me down across the room. I kept meaning to take that ostentatious piece of garbage down. The eyes seemed to follow me around the room. But I'd sort of gotten used to venting my frustration at it, and along the way it grew on me. Maybe I could turn it into a dartboard or something?

I clicked on the email and read aloud as I toyed with the remains of the pencil I'd mutilated.

"Reminder, you are invited to the annual Cattleman's Gala this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Fairbanks Meats and Cross Industries."

A fucking gala? Why hadn't anyone told me about this?

Further down the email, I spotted a personalized note.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Reminder: Cattleman's Gala

Dear Mr. Cross,

Reminder, you are invited to the annual Cattleman's Gala and silent auction this Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Fairbanks Meats and Cross Industries.

We still haven't received your RSVP and would love to know if we can expect you or a representative of the Cross family to accept the posthumous lifetime achievement award we'll be presenting in your father's honor.

Sincerely,

Cecilia Davenport

Secretary to Milo Quinn, Chairman of the Cattleman Society

PS I personally would love to see you again. It's been far too long since you pushed me around on the dance floor. Xoxo, Cici

"Cici? Who the fuck is Cici? This bitch can take her hugs and kisses somewhere else. Like right up her damn ass." I frowned and read through the email again. "I would personally love to see you again," I mocked. "It's been far too long since you shoved that mighty big dick of yours in my juicy fuckhole..."

Petty? Absolutely.

Did I remotely care? Nope. Not one bit.

Fuck her and the Cross she rode in on.

Only one woman was getting screwed by this family, and right now, it was me. Metaphorically, of course. We were done with the literal screwing.

I dropped my head in my hands, annoyed at the mere thought of having to watch either brother flirt with someone right in front of me. I could only imagine how well it would go down if I tried to do the same.

Wait a damn second.

Why couldn't I?

My new gal pal Cici had just given me the perfect opportunity to get a little revenge of my own. Returning my attention to the computer, I shook out my hands and gleefully sent my reply to old Cici.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: re: Reminder: Cattleman's Gala

My dear Cici,

I would be delighted to see you again. You can count on us attending. Please send over four tickets at your earliest convenience. Also, if it's not too late, I'd love to donate a month's worth of personally instructed horseback riding lessons to the silent auction.

X

I hit send before giving myself a chance to chicken out. Cross was going to lose his ever-loving mind when he found out I'd just volunteered him for one-on-one time with some snot-nosed kid.

Now I just needed a date. And I had the perfect burly bear of a man in mind.

In a perfect world, I'd just ask Bishop. I would love to see him all dressed up and waltz around on his arm, but an event like that would be his version of hell, and if I asked, he'd feel compelled to say yes. I couldn't do that to the man who'd stepped up as my protector. And even if crowds and proximity weren't triggers for him, his loyalty was to more than just me. He was entrenched in Twisted Cross Ranch, and that meant there were at least some tethers to the Cross family. I needed someone I knew. Someone I had history with and trusted beyond all doubt.

I didn't just need a date. I needed a confidant.

Pulling out my phone, I dialed Bear's number and waited to see if he'd answer. There was no telling with the man. If he'd been up late working for the club, he'd still be dead to the world this early, but there were mornings he'd met me at my door for sunrise walks too. He was unpredictable about everything—except his devotion to the people in his life.

"What's wrong, cub?" His deep, growly voice was thick with sleep. So it had been a late night then.

"You said you'd come if I needed you. That offer still good?"

"Yeah. Just say the word." The rustle of fabric in the background, followed by a woman's soft, unmistakable sigh, made me feel even more guilty for disturbing him.

"There's beensome shit going down out here. I don't have any allies. Don't know who to trust."

"Have they hurt you?"

Not unless you count my pride.

"No. Nothing like that."

Internally my brain was screaming, not yet . There was no telling what Cross would do to me if I got in his way. We might have history, but he'd proven how little that meant.

"I've been doing some digging. Unearthing a lot of dark shit. I don't know who I can talk to, but you... you're not part of this."

"Okay, look, I've got some loose ends to tie up. I can be there in a week or so. Is that soon enough, or do you need me to catch a flight out today?"

I sighed. "Next week is fine. It doesn't give me a date for this event I have to attend, but it does ease my mind knowing you'll be here to help me deal."

"You sure, cub?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks, Bear."

"All right. See you soon."

"See ya." I started to hang up, but his voice had me pull the phone back in time to catch the rest of what he was saying.

"Give ‘em hell."

"Oh, I intend to."

"That's my girl."

I hung up feeling loads better than I had before our chat. That solved one of my problems, but not the more immediate issue of needing a plus one for this gala.

"Well, Bishop, it looks like I'll have to ask you to be my plus one after all," I muttered, spotting him out the window to my right.

"Plus one to what, darlin'?" Walker's voice made me flinch, the sexy drawl hitting me straight in the gut.

"None of your business." I closed the laptop and stood, but Walker rounded on me, lifting open the computer and smirking when the screen went right back to the open email.

"Oh, shit. Cross is gonna have a hissy fit when he finds out."

"Won't that be fun. If you'll excuse me, I need to go shopping for a dress to wear to this event y'all didn't see fit to tell me about."

He snagged my wrist as I tried to walk away from him, the heat of his skin on mine reminding me of the way his touch branded me that night in the cabin.

"Don't be that way, ladybug. I'm... I hate thinkin' you're mad at me."

I jerked my arm away from him. "I am mad at you, Walker. I'm so mad I could spit. You used me."

"No, I didn't."

"Don't lie. Don't be like your brother. I heard everything you said. I am not here to be toyed with or distracted . I refuse to be a pawn in whatever sick game the two of you are playing. You may have been my best friend once, Walker Cross, but you are nothing to me now."