damn thing Jack could do about it, and Ray Deacon knew it.
“I want you to do your job and arrest that asshole Featherstone. He just assaulted me right in front of you,” Ray sputtered.
* * * *
Kianna walked over to Ray and pointed a finger into his chest. “You will not press charges, Ray, or I’ll make sure your stay on the ranch is a miserable one. I don’t have to make sure you have access to water. I also don’t have to furnish that small house you’re in with lights or heat. All you’re entitled to is a roof over your head. So you go ahead and press charges and see how long you last without work as well.”
Kianna took a step back and crossed her arms over her chest and waited. She was pretty sure that Ray would take her threat seriously, but she wanted to hear him say the words.
“Dammit, Kianna, he tried to kill me. That man is an animal. But right now I don’t have the time to deal with a court case with him anyway, so I won’t press charges, but don’t think that for one minute he isn’t going to pay for it someday.” The smile that crossed Ray’s face chilled Kianna to the bone. Ray Deacon was not a man to turn your back on.
Chapter 5
Kianna watched as Ray and his crony drove off in his fancy truck. Something else was going on with Ray. He was just a little too sure of himself lately. She knew he was angry about his daddy leaving the ranch to her, but would he really try to kill her to get it back?
Did he automatically inherit the ranch if something happened to her? She’d have to call the lawyer and find out about that because, if he did, she was going to really have to watch herself around him.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Jack slammed the car door beside her.
Teaghen had come to stand behind her, putting his arms around her from behind her. He nuzzled into the side of her neck.
“I can sense your worry, baby. What’s got you so upset?” he asked.
Turning in his arm, Kianna placed her head on his chest and her arms around his waist and cuddled in close. She didn’t want to answer any more questions right now. She just wanted Teaghen to hold her and never let her go.
* * * *
Teaghen was glad that Jack had sent his deputies to the hospital to keep an eye on the driver. He didn’t trust Ray, and he wanted to make sure that, when the kid woke up again, one of the first people he saw was someone in a police uniform. Maybe it would scare him into talking.
“Do you need us for anything else, Jack? If not, I want to get Kianna home.” Teaghen was pretty sure that the enormity of the situation hadn’t quite hit Kianna. The adrenaline from the accident was still affecting her, but as soon as it wore off, she was going to crash hard. They’d already been standing around for over an hour while his truck was checked for damage and all their statements were taken. Now he just wanted to get Kianna back to the ranch.
“Nah, you take your woman home, and if I need anything else, I know where to find you. Mel is coming to tow the truck to the city lab to collect whatever evidence they can find. I just heard from one of my new deputies, Bastian Vlachos, that the driver has a broken leg and a pretty bad concussion, but it looks like he’ll be okay. He’s awake, but the doctor won’t let Bastian in to talk to him until after the surgery to set his leg.” Teaghen hoped the little dickhead was in agony right now.
Taking her hand, Teaghen led his mate back to the truck. She looked a bit shell shocked.
Kianna was aware, he knew, that her brother was dangerous, he just didn’t think she realized how dangerous. Having finally found a loving home with her mom and dads, far away from Bubba Deacon and his boys, Teaghen didn’t like having all this ugliness brought back into her life.
He felt her pull him to a stop just before they reached the truck. Turning, he looked at her questioningly.
“Ray wants me dead, doesn’t he?” she asked him quietly.
“Let’s wait until we
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