Page 113 of Branded

“Of course you don’t. Just like Sebastian doesn’t know about the interesting auction he participates in. The one where he bought himself a wife.” The voice is pleased now, satisfied. “See, we’ve been doing some research. Learning things. And that’s quite the story you two have got going.”

I can’t breathe. Whoever this is knows the one thing that can take this family down instantly. “What do you want?”

“Right now? Just to let you know, we’re watching. That we know more than Sebastian thinks we know. That you’re not as protected as he’s trying to make you believe.” The breathing gets closer, like he’s leaning into the phone. “Beautiful day for a ride, isn’t it? Cool, but clear. You can see for miles. It’s easy to watch someone working in a barn. Or to follow someone who thinks they’re safe on their own property.”

It is real. Someone had been watching me in the barn.

“If you touch me…” I can’t finish, bile rising in my throat.

“Who said anything about touching? We’re just observing. Learning. Waiting for the right moment.” A pause. “Tell your husband we’ll be in touch. And Mrs. Drake? Be careful out there. Accidents happen on ranches all the time. Kind of like guns misfiring. My ranch hand made it, case you were wondering. He’s been in a lot of pain. If he hadn’t been wearing Kevlar, you would have killed him. It would be a shame if you weren’t so lucky.”

The line goes dead.

I stand there shaking, the phone still pressed to my ear, trying to process what just happened. A threat. Clear, unmistakable threat. And they know about the auction, the fact that I’d nearly killed someone.

The front door opens, and it is Sebastian, his face tight with worry. “There’s no sign of anyone. But there are tire tracks near the back access road that Pete doesn’t recognize. Fresh. Within the last hour.”

“Sebastian.” My voice comes out strangled. “I just got a call.”

“What?” He crosses to me in two strides. “From who?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t give a name. But he knew, Sebastian, he knew about the auction. About the man I shot. He didn’t die but still, that was what I was aiming for.”

All the color drains from Sebastian’s face. “What exactly did he say?”

I recount the conversation word for word, watching Sebastian’s expression grow more intense with each sentence. By the time I finish, his hands are clenched into fists, his jaw so tight I can see muscles jumping.

“Thomas Marshall,” he says quietly. “It had to be him.”

“How does he know? About the auction?”

“I don’t know. But if he knows, if he has proof.” Sebastian pulls out his phone and dials. “Nathaniel. I need you at the house. Now. Caroline too. We’ve got a problem.”

He hangs up and looks at me, and I see real fear in his eyes. Not for himself. For me.

“Pack a bag,” he says. “Enough for a few days. You’re leaving.”

“What? No. I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. He’s threatened you directly, showed they can get close enough to watch you, to call you. I’m not taking chances with your safety.”

“Where would I even go?”

“Montana. Back to your family. Somewhere they can’t reach you.” He’s already moving to the bedroom. “I’ll have the jet ready in an hour. You’ll be in Sweetwater by tonight.”

“Sebastian, stop.” I grab his arm. “I’m not running. If Thomas Marshall knows about everything, if they’re planning to expose it, then hiding me in Montana doesn’t solve anything.”

“It keeps you safe,” he yells.

“For how long? A week? A month? Until they decide to come after me there, too?” I grab his face and force him to look at me. “We’re in this together. That’s what partners means. We face this together.”

“I can’t protect you if you’re here,” he says, his voice strangled.

“Then we figure out how to protect both of us. But I’m not leaving, Sebastian. Not when things get dangerous. That’s not who I am.”

We stand there, locked in a battle of wills, both terrified for different reasons.

The front door opens again. Nathaniel and Caroline come in, both looking grim.