Crymsyn Hart (9 page)

“Cliff, right?”

“Oh my God, are you okay?” He dropped the hay.

“Yeah, I’m fine. What are you doing here?”

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“Waiting for you actually.”

She gave him a questioning look. “Me? I thought you were with Trina. Wait. How did you know I’d be here?”

His smile widened. He grew taller, towering over her. His hair lengthened. His eyes darkened and he was dressed all in black. “Your friend was only a distraction. I’ve been waiting for us to have a private chat. Have the boys told you all their secrets? I figured they would sooner or later.”

She inched along the wall, heading toward the door, but the barn door slammed shut when a large gust blew through. She bolted toward it and tried to force it open but couldn’t make it budge. Something held it shut. She heard the pounding of boots.

Landon and Wyatt banged on the door trying to get it open.

“Let them try. They won’t be able to get it open. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do this.” He pushed his coat aside and revealed a gun. He pulled it out and examined the barrel. She assumed it was full of bullets.

“You really don’t have to do that. I’d never tell anyone about them. I swear.” He clicked the barrel shut and pointed the gun at her. “It’s not that simple. A rule is a rule. And if my Riders don’t follow the rules they know they must be punished.

This small infraction doesn’t mean they will have to be taken to the higher-ups. Your death will be punishment enough I think. I don’t understand why humans like you are even allowed to be born. All you do is cause trouble for us.”

“George, what’s going on?” Landon yelled.

He aimed the gun at her and released the safety.

“Please, you don’t have to do this. No!” she cried.

Landon pounded on the doors again. She was frozen with fear. The evil spark in his eye brightened and twisted his smile. George shut her eyes expecting the pain. Time stopped for a split second. Her mind flashed back to the instant she had been transfixed by the twister which had changed her life. Her father was screaming behind her. This time she could hear him. He was telling her to run. A tear slipped from her lashes because she wasn’t able to. She tried to break away from the fear holding her but she 84

wasn’t able to move no matter how much her father’s screams urged her to. Time started again when the gunshot exploded and deafened her for a moment. A puff of air brushed her cheek as something whizzed past her ear. She opened her eyes and saw Wyatt on top of her attacker. The gun was on the floor. She turned to look behind her and saw the shot had missed her by centimeters.

“Raul, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

The door burst open. Landon gripped his left shoulder. Blood trickled down his chest. He darted in and grabbed the revolver when Raul threw Wyatt off his back.

Wyatt flew back a few feet and banged his head on one of the barn doors. Landon pointed the gun at Raul.

The larger man put up his hands. “Do you really believe you can kill me with that?

I’m one of the original Riders. It would bring down more anger from above if you killed me. Do you want to go through that kind of punishment again?” George touched Landon’s arm. “It’s not worth it.”

“You don’t know him. He won’t stop until you’re dead and next time we might not be there to save you.”

Her gaze darted to Raul, but he had disappeared. “What the—?” She spun around.

Wyatt was getting up and Landon held the gun out before him. Suddenly an arm wrapped her waist and another went around her throat making it hard for her to breath. Strong fingers wrenched her head to the side. Landon stepped toward George and Raul.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. One wrong move and … snap. There goes her pretty little head. I’ll tear it off and you won’t have anything left. Now give me the gun and I’ll let her go.”

George tried not to panic, but it was hard. A death knell tolled through her mind. It was hard to breathe, but underneath it all she sensed the power inside the man holding her. It was strong, stronger than Landon or Wyatt.
If I open myself up to it, what will
happen?
Will I shut down the way I did when I touched both Landon and Wyatt? I can’t let
them get killed over me. I have to try something.
She closed her eyes and tried to use the 85

ability on purpose. With her guard down, the buzzing in her ears increased. The charge in her system crept over her skin. It seemed she was surrounded by a violent storm.

Thunder rumbled in her ears. Jolts of electricity passed from Raul into her. She tried not to convulse from the power. She needed to go limp and focus on the storm inside Raul.

On his actions. George forced herself to go lax. Her instincts kicked in and said her captor was going to turn quickly. A fraction later, he did.

“Raul, let her go!” Wyatt shouted.

Without thinking, she stomped her heel down on his boot and elbowed him in the stomach at the same time. The surprise was enough for him to let her go. She was pitched forward and into Wyatt’s arms. A shot rang out again. She turned in time to see Raul fall down and hit the cement floor with a bullet hole in the center of his forehead.

A small trickle of blood oozed from the hole. His eyes were blank, but the smile held on his face. She gazed at Landon and saw the smoke billowing from the gun barrel.

At that moment, the clamor of hooves erupted in the barn. A black horse appeared with a black rider on top of him. He slid down from his mount. His face was hidden by a black cowboy hat and the collar of his black duster was pulled up high. Something about him didn’t seem right to George.

He knelt before Raul, got up, and then went to Landon. Wyatt let her go and both men went to their knees kneeling before the new arrival. “You Riders have done well.” Landon glanced up, but she noticed his pained expression and his shoulder was still bleeding. “I saw no other course of action. He shot at me and he was going to kill George. We couldn’t let that happen.”

The stranger glanced in her direction. He took a few steps over and took his hat off.

She recognized him as Daniel from
Spunky’s
. Only he seemed much older. “You know about them? You know that Landon suffered reprimand for saving your life when you were a child. We only punish once and then after that the sentence is death for those who don’t comply.”

Her eyes darted between the two riders and then back to Daniel. “You can’t.

Please. They were trying to save me.”

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Daniel stroked his chin. “It’s our way.”

“Well screw your way. Haven’t you ever heard of change?”

“George, shut up!” Wyatt hissed.

Landon hit him and he quieted.

Daniel addressed her again. “Do you know what I am?” She stuck her chin out. “You’re an ass if you think you can hurt them again. I don’t care about what you do to me, but leave them alone. They did it because they loved me.

Before any of this started we were talking about me becoming like them.” Daniel’s dark eyes widened. “So they didn’t tell you I’m an angel? The very same one who punished Landon. You’re becoming a Rider? That’s an interesting concept. Let me see.” He snatched her wrist, unfurled her palm, and studied her hand. Once he touched her a feeling of peace overtook George, but it was an uneasy one. The angel didn’t need to be here. He wasn’t of the earth and the wrongness was apparent in her bones.

“I see.” His horse neighed and bumped her shoulder. She reached out to stroke the magnificent animal. When she did, she experienced a oneness with the beast she couldn’t explain.

“There’s potential. A natural born Rider. Very rare.” He let go of her hand and went to the other riders.

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“Rise.”

They did what they were told.

“Landon, your sentence is averted because you have disposed of Raul. I’ve been keeping an eye on him. We feared he was becoming unstable. Because of his death, it appears we have an opening in upper management. If you were to take this position, there would be an opening for a Rider. What do you say?” Landon was stunned to hear an offer of a job in upper management from Daniel.

His shoulder throbbed from the gunshot. He hadn’t been in this much pain since he was human. Whatever the bullets were made of, they were one of the only things that could wound or kill a rider. “I-I’m honored for the offer, but what about George and Wyatt. I can’t leave them. I won’t leave them.”

“Afraid I’ll claim her all for myself?” Wyatt joked.

She jabbed him in the gut. “Shut up.”

Landon laughed. “No. I’m not worried about that. Sir, I have a life here. I’m not cut out for whatever it was that Raul was doing and honestly being around all of you doesn’t sit too well. I assume you know why.”

The angel nodded. “Think on it. The offer stands. If the decision is made for Georgiana to become a Rider then we’ll see what happens. Keep the gun, Landon. They are rare and in your position it will be needed. You could be called to other Territories to keep order.”

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Daniel laid his hand on Landon’s chest. A warm pulse went through him and the pain receded from his shoulder. He glanced over and saw the wound was healed.

“Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do. Wyatt, no more showing off please. George, I think you can whip the two of them into shape.” He passed his hand over Raul’s body and it disappeared. He swung up onto his horse. Landon watched in awe as he landed gracefully on the horse’s back. They turned as the echo of hooves left the barn. Once Daniel was gone, Landon grabbed the door, grateful he had just dodged a bullet. Now there was only one problem left to solve.

George had to figure out what she wanted. Seeing her in Wyatt’s arms made him jealous. He couldn’t let his partner have her all to himself. They were made for one another. After Wyatt had discussed his concern that morning and his plan, it all made perfect sense. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to go through with it, but they had to try something. It was all for George’s sake. After they revealed their arrangement, she had rushed out.

He had sensed Raul immediately but wasn’t able to get the door open. Thinking about his love lying dead on the barn floor made his blood run cold. The gun went off.

All he could see was her dead body. That wasn’t going to happen. It couldn’t happen.

Then seeing the angel, one that he had known, he knew they were all fucked.

“Landon.” George touched his face making him come back to himself.

“Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

He searched her eyes seeing her distress and the buried feelings she was fighting.

Standing before him was the woman who had gone up against one of the most power men he knew of and she had come out alive. She’d stood up to Daniel and was asking him if he was okay. She should be the one running away from him screaming.

“I’m not sure.”

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He really didn’t know if he was or not. He’d been so sure he was going to be killed, but they’d left him alive. He just didn’t know what to believe in at the moment. George came closer, the warmth of her body made him realize he was here and so was Wyatt.

“Bro, you have to be sure. We’re alive so that has to mean something. Alive is good.” Wyatt patted him on the back and walked out of the barn. George stayed close by. He gripped the gun knowing it was otherworldly and in the wrong hands could be used to kill him or Wyatt. Daniel’s offer ran through his mind. Was it something he wanted to consider? Could he do the job? Would it mean he had to give up this new life with Wyatt and George?

George placed a hand on his chest. A jolt of energy passed through him. He knew he couldn’t give her up. If he didn’t take the promotion though she couldn’t become a Rider.

“I think a storm is brewing.”

He gazed deep into her eyes. He didn’t feel one. Her fingers trailed over his jeans.

His eyes widened. “Do you know what will happen if we do this?” She kissed the side of his neck. “I know. I’m scared, but standing there with Raul, I didn’t want to lose you. When that shot went through the door and I saw you bleeding, I didn’t know what to think. It’s like you said, all of us are part of something. Life kinda changes when you’re forced into a dangerous situation. Everything gets put into perspective. I’m afraid, but I trust you.”

“And you’re okay with having both of us? Being with both of us? Last time you passed out when we touched you.”

She shrugged. “We have to find out how to make this work. I think I know how to filter it better. If not, well you’ll just have to revive me. I can’t have you gone from my life. I know that.” George kissed him again and then walked toward the house. He stared after her dumbfounded. Whirlwind came up behind him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“You like her?”

He got a positive answer.

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“I don’t know if I can do this. Wyatt isn’t exactly bedding material in my book.”
Don’t think about it that way. Remember you have the power of the storms. When you get
into it, you’ll be more focused on one another than semantics. It’s okay to share.
She nipped his ear and then walked away.

It took him a moment to realize that he had understood her. “Hey. When did you and I get to communicating this way?”

She turned and eyed him.
Comes with the big job. Guess you already got the promotion
.

She swished her tail and walked back to her stall.

Landon shrugged and felt a longing he hadn’t had in a long time. It was time to see if this was going to work.
I can’t believe I’m getting advice on my love life from a horse.

I’m not a horse.

“Whatever. If it quacks—”

I’m not a duck either
.

He smiled and shook his head, wondering what in the world was going to happen next.

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