“I just bet I did, Rusty, seeing as though you’re hanging out with my sister and her half-breeds.” Ray got up from the chair he’d been sitting in and came to stand in front of Rusty. Alex and Duncan blocked any further movement toward him by Ray.
“So they’re your bodyguards now, Rusty? Why would you need protection against your old friend Ray? We’ve been friends for a lot of years and done a lot of things together. You best be remembering that before you go shooting off your mouth or doing anything else stupid.”
The threat was clear. If Rusty talked, Ray would go after him, too.
Pushing past Duncan and Alex, Rusty came face to face with one of the men who, for the last fifteen years had held his life in their hands. Well, no more. He wasn’t going to let Ray scare him into not helping Kianna. She had left shortly after his arrival at the ranch but he heard from some of the other men just how poorly Bubba and his sons had treated her and her mom. He was just glad to hear that she had gotten out. “Listen, Ray, I’m through with all the bullshit that you and your daddy were into. If you want to continue with it then that’s your business, but leave me out of it. I won’t hurt Kianna, and I won’t stand by while you or others that work for you do. Understand? Walk away now and leave your sister alone, or suffer the consequences because you aren’t going to get away with anything. You’ve chosen the wrong people to fuck with this time, Ray, so I suggest you take what you have and find a new place to live.”
* * * *
Ray’s eyes widened as he listened to Rusty.
“You’ve grown some balls, old man, but I guess with the Featherstones behind you, anyone would. Let me tell you a few things, Rusty. My daddy only kept you around because you were so easy to keep under his thumb. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about you or me for that matter. The only thing he ever cared about was the almighty dollar. The more he had, the more he wanted, so I made him lots of it, and for all my work that old bastard goes and gets all sentimental on me and leaves the ranch to my half sister who ends up fucking not one but all three of his most hated enemies.”
Before Ray got another word out, Alex’s hand went to his throat.
“You watch what you say about Kianna, Ray. It’s not her fault your daddy didn’t think you were man enough to run the ranch. Maybe if you’d shown a little more brains and a little less brawn he might have had more respect for you, you little maggot.” He released his grip from around Ray’s throat and left him coughing and gagging for air.
Holding his throat, Ray managed to croak out, “I have more brains in my little finger than my daddy ever had, and in a couple of days, you’ll all just see how smart I am.”
“Ray, you better keep your mouth shut before it gets you into trouble,” one of the men with him said.
“Shut the fuck up, Davis. When DeMarcos gets here, there isn’t anything that will stop me, and you know it, so either back off or get the fuck out of my town.” Ray grabbed his jacket and slammed the door behind him as he left, leaving his two buddies behind.
“I suggest you get yourselves out of town now unless you want to go down with Ray. We know what he’s been up to, and we’re about to stop him,” Duncan told the two men.
“We’re gonna leave town, but this DeMarcos guy that he’s been talking about sounds like a real hard-ass. He’s coming in from the east coast, and apparently, he’s pissed at Ray for the slowdown.” The taller of the two men looked at Rusty saying, “Sorry about everything, Rusty, but Ray scares the shit out of me, and I’ve got two sisters I gotta protect.”
Taking the younger man by the shoulder, he led him to the door saying, “Go home, Davis, grab your sisters, some clothes, and head out to your parents’ place in Texas for a while. I’ll give you a call when it’s safe to come back.”
“I’ll do that, Rusty, thanks, and again, I’m real sorry for all the bullshit over the past few weeks.”
Davis and the other man left, leaving Duncan, Alex, and Rusty to quickly gather up as much of Rusty’s belongings as they could and pack them into the truck to take back to the compound. The rest they would come back for at a later time, when it was safer for Rusty to be seen. During the ride back, Alex would make some of the calls to the pack members as well as the sheriff’s office to tell them of the scheduled meeting tomorrow night.
Chapter 8
Teaghen and Kianna arrived in town just before lunch. The plan was for them to do a little shopping and then head to Patty’s Diner for lunch. As they entered one of the clothing stores, Teaghen headed straight to the lingerie department, pulling Kianna along with him.
Laughing, she tried to pull him to a stop, but he just kept on going. When they got to the department, he just stood and smiled at her.
Feeling her face heating from the blatant look of desire he was giving her, she whispered, “Teaghen, sweetheart, why don’t we just get a package of bikini panties for now. I don’t have a whole lot of money on me right now, so I can’t spend a lot.” Kianna felt a little embarrassed having to tell him her financial position. She had some money that she’d saved, but the rest hadn’t been released from the trust yet.
Teaghen just ignored her and grabbed a cart and started throwing panties of all colors in her size into it. Looking back at her he stared straight at her breasts and asked, “C or D cup, baby?”
“Teaghen,” she whispered louder, “I told you I can’t afford all this right now, so put them back.”
Stopping the cart, Teaghen turned around and walked back to where she stood with her hands on her hips. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he pulled her roughly against his chest. “You are our mate and will wear what you like to wear. I saw all the lingerie that got ruined at the ranch. You have a beautiful body, and we want to see it in gorgeous lingerie. Would you deny us the right to buy our mate a few panties?” He smiled at her.
“Well no, but that’s not a few, Teag.” Leaning in, she whispered in his ear, “It’s a D cup, sweetie,” and gently nipped his ear.
Growling low in his throat, he quickly kissed her then headed back to the lingerie department.
* * * *
Ray watched the little display between his sister and Teaghen, his mouth curling in a snarl when Kianna leaned in and nipped his ear.
What a fucking whore, just like her mother. He’d make sure that none of the Featherstones would want anything to do with her once they found out what Bubba had done all those years ago.
He just had to keep it together for the next few days until DeMarcos arrived. Once he was there, they’d figure out how to get rid of Kianna for good, and then he’d tell him of the other land he was going to purchase for the new landing strip. That way, if they did lose the ranch, he’d have a replacement field all ready to go. But from the information that Ray had received from Bubba’s attorney, if Kianna were to die before she had a will in place then the land would revert back to him, so having the second air strip would be only a bonus for them. He really didn’t want to have DeMarcos or any of his partners pissed at him for too long. That would cost him his life.
Heading back outside, he walked up the street and went into Patty’s Diner to get some lunch. It wasn’t fancy, but the food was good, and the waitresses were real nice to look at. Well, most of them at least. Betty Sue wasn’t a looker, but she had a reputation to her name, and if he played his cards right, maybe he’d take the bitch up on one of her many offers and take her for a ride. He had some time to waste before his guest arrived, so why not get his rocks off a couple of times.
He took a booth in the far corner and waited for a waitress to come and serve him. Sure enough, luck just wasn’t with him today.
Heading his way was Maggie O’Sheay, the prettiest filly he’d ever seen. They’d gone to school together since they were kids, but her daddies wouldn’t let her date anyone until her last year in high school.
Ray had tried many times to get her to go out with him, but she would just keep telling him that she didn’t feel that way about him and couldn’t they just be fr
iends. Fucking bitch thought she was better than him, that was all.
“Hi, Ray, do you need a menu, or do you already know what you want?” Maggie asked, a big smile on her face.
“I know exactly what I want, Maggie mine, and it’s not on the menu. Why don’t you and I head on out to my place and spend some time getting reacquainted.” Ray tried to grab her arm, but she stepped back before he made contact.
“Now, Ray, you know I’ve never felt that way toward you,” she said to him, trying not to cause a scene.
“But I feel that way for you, Maggie mine, and since I have a few free days, I think we should spend them together.” Ray started to move out of his seat toward Maggie as she stepped back even further.
There weren’t too many people in the diner yet, and those that were there were all friends of Ray’s. Slowly, he walked straight to her with her matching his every forward step with one backward one.
“Now, Maggie,” one of the other customers called, laughing, “give poor Ray a chance, darlin’.”
“Ray, I’m not interested in you, so if you can’t behave, I think you better leave, or I’ll have to call the sheriff.” Maggie looked around hoping to find someone that would help her.
“You might want to be a little nicer to me, Maggie. In a few days, I’m gonna own this town, so if you’re real smart, you’ll start making me happy now.” Ray quickly lunged at her, but she managed to barely slip away.
Just when Ray was about to have her cornered, Teaghen Featherstone entered the diner with Kianna, who instantly frowned when she saw Ray and immediately recognized Maggie.
“Maggie O’Sheay, you get on over here and give me a big hug. Girl, I have missed you so much.” Kianna knew she was being overly boisterous, but she wanted everyone to know that she was there and to see who she was with. She could tell by the look on Maggie’s face how frightened she was. Ray had had a thing for Maggie all through school, but Maggie never gave him the time of day. Even though she’d been a couple of grades higher than Kianna, they had become close friends during the last few years Kia lived there.
“Kia…? Is that really you?” Maggie almost ran into Kia’s arms. As they wrapped around her, she whispered into Kianna’s ear, “Thank you, Kia.”
Kianna smiled, knowingly, and they walked arm in arm over to the farthest table away from Ray.
* * * *
Teaghen could smell the fear rolling off of Maggie and knew Ray was the cause of it.
Following the ladies back to the booth, he slid in beside Kia and nuzzled her neck and whispered, “Well done, mate.”
She made him proud at the way she never showed fear in front of her brother. Ray lived on the fear of others. He’d always been a bully and was still trying to bully people to get his way, only with Kia he wasn’t getting the reaction he wanted, and Teaghen could tell it pissed him off.
“Thanks again, Kia. Ray’s never been like that before. It seems since his daddy passed that he’s only gotten meaner. I just wish he’d forget I even existed.” Maggie reached into the front of her apron and grabbed an order pad, saying, “What can I get you two today?”
Teaghen said, “Can we have a couple of coffees first, and then give us a few minutes, Mags.”
“Sure, Teaghen, I’ll bring the coffee right over.” But before leaving, she leaned in and said to Kianna, “It’s really good to see you again. I’m glad you’ve come home.”
Teaghen continued to keep an eye on Ray. He seemed to be getting bolder and bolder as time went on. The DeMarcos character that was supposed to be coming to see him must have some big connections for Ray to start acting the fool like he was.
“I don’t get it, Teag. Ray has always had a soft spot for Maggie, but he’s never tried to physically force himself on her. When we were in school, he was always asking her out, and she always shot him down, but never in a mean way. She was the only one who seemed to calm him somewhat, so why would he try to hurt her now?”
Maggie brought their coffee and left two menus for them.
“It’s as if he has no fear of any reprisals from anyone.” Kianna picked up her cup and took a sip, staring over the rim across the room at her brother.
“From what Rusty has told us, Ray thinks his partnership with this DeMarcos guy and his cohorts will give him the power he wants to take over the town,” Teaghen replied.
“Ray’s new friend must be one hell of a badass for him to think that. Not everyone in town is going to bow down to Ray Deacon, no matter how much he wants them to.” Ray looked up at Kianna staring at him. Watching him rise out of the booth and head in their direction made her palms itch with the need to smack the smug look off his face.
“It’s not very friendly of you, little sister, to not even say ‘hi’ to me when we see each other,” Ray said as he slid in their booth to join them, uninvited.
“I’m not playing games with you today, Ray, so just lift your ass back up and head back to your table.” Kianna’s hands fisted under the table and then relaxed again when Teaghen laid his hand over one of them.
Smiling arrogantly, Ray said, “I’m not playing games anymore either, Kianna. All I want is the ranch. You give it back to me, and everything will work out. You don’t, and I won’t be responsible for the fallout.”
“Fuck you, Ray Deacon,” she snarled at him. “I’m not the frightened little punching bag you and your brothers used to beat on. I’ll fight you with everything I have this time, and trust me, big brother, you really don’t want to fuck with me.”
Just then, Maggie came back and asked about their order, Teaghen ordered a cheese burger for both of them and a couple of glasses of iced tea before turning back to proudly watch the interplay between his mate and her brother.
“You think that these guys are going to want to help you after they find out what your daddy did?” Ray snapped back at her as he waved his hand in Teaghen’s direction.
“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about, Ray, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.” Kianna leaned back against the cool leather of the seat.
“You’re damn right I will. Did you know that the land the ranch is on is actually Featherstone land? And that Bubba bribed a clerk at the courthouse to arrange for the property maps to be altered?” A self-satisfied smile spread across Ray’s face at the shock he saw on both his sister and Teaghen’s faces.
“What the hell are you talking about, Ray? Bubba has owned that piece of land for over forty years,” Teaghen said, pulling Kia in close to him. He could feel how upset Ray had made her by his declaration, and he wanted her to be able to draw strength from him if she needed it.
“That’s right, some four decades ago there was a dispute of some kind about the property lines in that section of the county. Bubba bribed a young clerk to make it look as though that particular piece of property was available for sale, and for a song, too. If you don’t believe me, talk to the only two other people that know the truth. That little weasel Daniel Baker, who owns the real estate business in town, and Sean.” With that said, Ray stood and headed back to his table, dropped a couple of bills down, and left the diner.
Turning to Teaghen, Kianna looked anxious. “He can’t be telling the truth, can he?” Her face had gone pale, and when Maggie brought their burgers, she just looked at it, no longer having any appetite.
Taking both her hands in his, Teaghen tried to reassure her, “He’s just trying to piss you off, Kia. You know that.”
“But what if he’s telling the truth, Teaghen? What if the ranch land rightfully belongs to you and your brothers? What then?” Kia couldn’t believe that her dream of building up the ranch again was falling apart before her eyes.
“Here’s what we’ll do to put your mind at ease. We’ll stop off and talk to Mr. Baker before heading back to the compound. Once he lays your fears to rest, you’ll feel better, but right now, you need to eat to keep up your strength. You, my sweet mate,” he said, kissing her knuckles, “have a very busy night ahead of you, so you’ll nee
d all the energy you can get.”
Kianna smiled and snuggled up against him for a moment before grabbing the huge burger in front of her and taking a bite.
“Mmm…damn, Teaghen, this is a fabulous burger,” she said, closing her eyes as she chewed.
Teaghen’s cock was throbbing as he watched his mate eat her burger. The little moans she emitted with each bite caused him to growl low in his throat.
“No growling at the table.” Kia laughed with her mouth partially full.
“Then stop making all those lovely little noises while you eat. You’re not helping me to keep my wolf under control.” He growled once more as he stuffed a French fry into his mouth.
* * * *
Finishing their lunch and paying the bill, Kia hugged Maggie and told her that after things settled down a little they’d get together for a girls’ night out.
Walking back to the truck, Teaghen held her hand as they strolled along the sidewalk. It felt good to allow herself the freedom to show her affection to her men. It was sometimes the little things that she dreamed about as a girl, like holding hands or having a picnic. They made her life a little easier while she was still living at Bubba’s.
Kianna couldn’t believe the amount of clothing that Teaghen had purchased for her. She felt guilty as she helped carry all the bags into the house. She loved all the lingerie that they had chosen and couldn’t wait to show them it all. But first, she had to find the one special outfit that she had been able to purchase without Teaghen’s knowledge. With the help of a couple of the sales clerks, they had kept him busy while she paid for the items she had chosen to wear tonight. Kianna was nervous yet excited about finally belonging to Teaghen, Duncan, and Alex.
As a child, she had loved them for being her protectors, her knights in shining armor. As an adult, she loved them for all that and so much more. She loved them for their kindness to others and their willingness to accept her fears and give her the time she needed.
Kianna and Her Three Alpha Wolves [Featherstone Pack] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 9
