by Tina Leonard
“Look, Ivy.” He finished the whiskey, pushed his hat back. “As far as I’m concerned, Hell can’t have enough women in it. The more the merrier, when it comes to the fairer sex. Or sex in general.”
Ivy frowned. “It’s no good to me if my team isn’t the only game in town.”
“My team.”
“Fine,” she said impatiently. “Your team.”
“And salary.”
Ivy glared at him. “A generous salary and benefits package.”
“And a trip behind the red doors.”
Ivy put the ledger back in the drawer, locked it. Met his gaze. “One time in the red palace as a performance bonus.”
“As a signing bonus. I want red door treatment up front.” What he really wanted more than anything was to see what went on behind those amazing doors. He’d heard that the women were spectacular, and the rooms more lavish than the Ritz. What lay behind those doors was for only the wealthiest, most well-connected clientele. The girls didn’t even whisper about it; mostly what gossip was passed around about the hidden passage was speculation and hearsay. Fallon was dying to know.
“Can you convince your brother to forget about another team in Hell?” she asked suspiciously. “I don’t throw money away. You’d better be able to make this happen.”
Fallon smiled. “I think I’m good.”
“Fine. Red door status is yours. One time. I don’t want you getting too used to it. And the red door is never for now. I can’t move long-time clients just because you’ve suddenly got an itch.” She gave him a long look. “Your mind needs to be fully on our team, not pleasure. But you’ll receive an invitation, sooner than later.”
At long last, he was in. Fallon took a deep breath, reveled in his moment, not caring that he had no idea how he was going to convince his twin that bringing up another team in Hell would split the town, not bring it together. He didn’t care.
He had what he’d always wanted—and that was all that mattered.
Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks later, Harper had the beginnings of her new team.
No matter what anyone in Hell thought, this was what she wanted to do. Not bullfight, not fight with anyone. Judy and Ivy could wear themselves out battling against each other to their heart’s content.
Once she’d had a taste of teaching and instructing, she knew this was what she loved to do. And now she had a brand new team, backed by Declan, which made it even better. She didn’t have to rely on Judy or the Hell committee for financial assistance.
Judy didn’t get a say in anything to do with this team, and that felt great. Not that Judy was deliberately unhelpful, but she’d seen the old team as hers.
This team is all mine.
To her surprise, Jael Hawthorne, Hattie Hawthorne’s daughter, had come home to Hell, and almost immediately talked to Harper about trying out. Harper had been delighted. Jael was talented, and she was strong. Quiet and devoted—like her mother.
And secretly, Harper hoped that Jael coming to her meant that Hattie believed in her.
It was the first time Harper felt that maybe not everyone in Hell thought she’d blown up the original team. With Declan’s generous financial support, and Hattie’s daughter training with her, Harper believed there were some in Hell who really wanted her to succeed.
It meant a lot.
Declan stayed out of her way. He acted as if the team ownership was all on her, simply nodding when she told him about the new recruits she’d brought on.
She watched the three new girls as they bonded, talked about their arsenal of skills. They seemed excited to be here, which Winter and friends never had seemed to be. Along with the tall, athletic Jael, Missy McStairs had joined the team. Missy was a five-ten brunette from Oregon, and had hauled her Appaloosa Jim down with her. The last member to come on board was Holly Baird, an insanely talented rider from Montana who could give have given Winter a run for her money with a bow and arrow from the back of her grey Athos.
All three girls had moved into the Honeysuckle Bungalow, though Harper had expected Jael to want to live with her mother. Jael said she wanted to be with the team, and that team spirit seemed to be linking the girls from the start. And they all appeared to want to make a success of the new group.
Strangely, Judy hadn’t been by once.
But Fallon had—and Harper wasn’t surprised to see him ambling into the barn now.
“That was fast,” Fallon said. “How’d you pull another team together so quickly?”
“I had kept candidate information from before. When I called to see if some of the ones I’d been interested in before were still interested, I was surprised by how many were.” Pleasantly surprised. She’d worried that having to tell prospective team members that the first team had moved on would discourage them. None of them had cared.
Missy had even said she had heard of Winter’s team before Harper had taken them on, and wasn’t surprised they’d elected to move elsewhere.
Fallon watched the girls with interest, studying their every move.
“They’re good,” he said, his tone admiring.
“Fallon.”
He turned his attention to her. Many women would go for the dark charm that Fallon unconsciously carried—but she far preferred Declan’s quieter, more solid character.
“Yes?”
“I don’t want you hanging around this team.”
He raised a brow. “I suppose that’s fair.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s fair or not. We’re competitors now, and I don’t want you trying to steal anything from this team.”
Fallon grinned at her. “I see what my brother likes about you.”
“I don’t know that Declan likes anything about me. And it’s irrelevant, anyway.” She raised her chin. “If you’re here to see Declan, he’s in his office. If you’re here to spy, you might as well go away.”
“Let me know if you need anything. I know a little bit about trick riding, you know.”
He stayed another moment, watching the new recruits. A shiver of apprehension crawled up Harper’s spine.
It didn’t matter. He’d be too busy with his new riders to bother her much. Harper turned her attention back to her team, not surprised when the girls fired perfectly-struck arrows into the targets.
This was what she’d been looking for; this was the team she’d wanted. They were committed, and they were excited about being here.
They were the face of Hell Judy had dreamed of so long ago.
Missy turned fast, shooting an arrow into the ground two feet away from where Fallon stood. Fallon’s boots were rooted to the ground; he didn’t dare move.
Declan laughed out loud at his brother’s plight as he came to join them.
“Harper says you’re not supposed to hang around us,” Missy said. “She said hit the road.” She pointed to the drain pipe that played acoustic tricks. “Harper warned us you’re bad news.”
Declan clapped his brother on the back. “There it is, the reputation you’ve always wanted, brother. Everybody’s favorite bad guy.”
Fallon scowled. “I’m not a bad guy. You were just always determined to be the good brother.”
“And I made it.” Declan winked Harper’s way. “Head off, brother. The girls say they don’t want you around. And frankly, I don’t, either.”
“I need to talk to you,” Fallon said. “Let’s get some lunch.”
Harper raised a brow. Since when did Fallon want to be super-chummy with his brother?
To her surprise, Declan shrugged. “Fine. You can buy me a burger at Redfeather's.”
“Deal.”
Fallon gave her a jaunty look as he walked past with Declan. “I’ll take good care of him.”
“He can take good care of himself,” Harper shot back.
Declan laughed as they left, shooting her a sexy wink. A second later she heard the truck doors slam, and taking a deep breath, turned back to her team.
“Okay, first rule around
here, no more scaring people half to death with our shooting skills.” She looked at Missy. “No showing off, even if your skills are top-notch.”
Missy looked pleased, and the other girls steered their horses so that they could high-five her. Then they returned to their training as if the interruption had never occurred.
But it had—and the shivery feeling she’d gotten before had returned, with a vengeance.
* * *
“Whatever it takes to get you home, I’m willing to do,” Fallon began before water was even brought to the table.
Declan scowled. “Is that what this is about? Dragging me home for a visit just so you get your inheritance?”
Fallon nodded as Stephen Redfeather set down waters and a couple of iced teas. Declan wondered if he should order a beer, decided he still had a long afternoon of hauling stuff out of the barn and didn’t need to relax. Shouldn’t allow himself to relax around Fallon, anyway.
He drank the water.
“Look, it’s just as much your inheritance as mine,” Fallon said. “They’re splitting the ranch between us. All you have to do is go home, let them make some peace. An hour or two, Declan. That’s all.”
“I don’t want the land, the ranch, or to visit.” He shrugged. “It’s really none of your damn business, either.”
“Maybe you wouldn’t feel that way if you and Harper got married. You’d have Michael to consider. Prime ranch land is meaningful.”
Declan winced. “I doubt Harper and I would ever get married. Or, if she were so inclined, that money or land would influence her one way or the other.”
“Okay, then, for me.” Fallon glared. “Can you at least consider the fact that I’d be happy to buy you out? But I don’t get anything unless you show up. The family wants everybody at peace.”
“No such thing.” Declan grunted when Stephen placed two plates in front of them, nodded his thanks for the food. Today he didn’t have a wry comment in him for the appearance of today’s offering. The joke wasn’t funny when it was just him and his twin. “Look, Fallon, you’re asking me to give a shit about something my give-a-shitter broke a long time ago over.”
Fallon dug into his meal, which as best Declan could tell was some kind of possum meatloaf.
“This is good,” Fallon said. “Don’t be so picky. Dig in.”
Declan drank some more water. Maybe it was breaking bread with his brother that was throwing him off. “I don’t get what the hurry is all of sudden. We haven’t spoken in years, what’s the big rush now? You’ve been after me about this for a couple of months.”
Fallon shot him a wary look. “If you must know, Mom’s leaving Dad.”
Declan leaned back, all temptation to eat the possum meatloaf gone now. “What happened? I thought she was going to be useless forever, living in Dad’s omnipotent shadow.”
“Do you ever realize that maybe things weren’t ideal in our home, but they weren’t awful, either?” Fallon glared at him.
“You weren’t the one on the receiving end of the old man’s rage, brother.”
“No, but I stayed and put up with his bad moods, the alcoholism, the rage. The nights he passed out with his jeans around his ankles when he pissed in the front yard.” Fallon stabbed the air with his fork. “Sometimes shipping out doesn’t make a man a hero. Nor a man, for that reason. And now, I’m asking you to help me get the birthright I should have, and if you don’t want yours, so be it.” Fallon took a deep breath. “Either the old man sees us under one roof together, or he swears he’s leaving everything to his mistress’s family, which contains a long-lost cousin, apparently.”
“Mistress.” Declan felt disgust run through him. “There were probably a dozen over the years.”
“There were, but this time, with Mom packed and ready to leave, he’s throwing punches about this. Declan, I want what I’ve worked at all my life. No one’s worked harder at that ranch than I have. I’ve held two jobs to pay my bills.”
“If you worked at the ranch, Dad gave you a cut.”
“Does that sound like the old man?” Fallon asked. “He said I was working for the family business. That nobody in the family got a paycheck. He’s never given me a dime. Sometimes I have to pay for new tack or the farrier. You know he’s a stingy old bastard.” Fallon shook his head. “Declan, let’s get what’s ours. You can raze the house if you want, I don’t care. Start over. But I want what I’ve worked my whole life for. And don’t forget we have three other brothers who would no doubt very much appreciate you stepping up, for all our sakes.”
“Do you know who shot me?” Declan demanded.
“I have my ideas, but they’re just ideas.”
“You tell me your ideas, and I’ll go out to the folks. One time, goddamnit. For you. Not that I like you, or will ever like you. But I understand about working your ass off for something. One time,” he emphasized.
“Thanks.” Relief washed over Fallon’s face. Declan felt a little bad he’d made his brother suffer that much.
“And I’m sorry Mom’s leaving Dad, though I can’t blame her. I’m sure it’s hard on you.”
“Well, the mistress is a piece of work, and I think Dad’s gotten himself into a bit of a mess with her. Strong-willed witch from over in Hawk. But he seems to think he needs her in his life.”
“Who is it?”
“Ginny Lourde.” He shook his head. “Loud, had three husbands, every one of them died. Black widow, if you ask me, but what do I know about women?”
Declan frowned. “Why don’t you ever date anybody?”
“I just told you. I’ve been working two jobs to keep things together. I’m not spending my cash on anything but keeping my head above water.” He brightened suddenly. “But I’ll soon be getting a trip behind Ivy’s fabled red doors, and I’m looking forward to it like nothing I’ve ever looked forward to before.”
“Is that a good idea?” Declan wondered why he bothered to ask. He didn’t care what happened to Fallon. “I’ve heard that whatever’s behind those red doors is addicting stuff. That’s why only Ivy’s most well-heeled clientele can afford it.” Fallon was no kingmaker, no high roller. He couldn’t afford to develop a yen for the wild pleasures of a sex palace.
“It’s a great idea.” Fallon beamed. “Don’t even try to talk me out of it.”
“Okay. So who shot me?”
Fallon’s expression turned teasing. “You come to the folks with me, today. Then I’ll tell you.”
Declan shrugged. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Fallon set down his fork, stared at him. “Okay.”
“I’m staying an hour, that’s it,” Declan warned.
“It’s all I need. We need,” Fallon said.
“How do you know Dad plans to keep his word and not give everything away anyway?”
“I don’t. But you’re the golden boy. I’m expecting you to make our case.”
He hadn’t been the golden boy. That had been Fallon.
But after today, it wouldn’t matter. If anybody had a decent idea about who had pegged him with an arrow, it was Fallon. Once he knew, he could move on.
Thinking about Harper and marriage in the same breath had startled him, and after today, he planned to think about that a lot more.
* * *
The O’Rourke ranch sat far back from town, on a thousand acres of its own, a dusty jewel where cattle dotted the land and occasional tufts of dried-out greenery. It had been years since he’d been here, but Declan wasn’t surprised to feel the old sense of foreboding sweep over him. Coming home had never been a pleasant experience. He’d spent as much time as possible in school, or at his friends’ houses, and once he’d met Saint and Trace, and they’d all decided to go into the Navy, he’d closed this door behind him for good.
He asked himself for the tenth time why he was bothering to do this mission, reminded himself it had mattered a helluva lot to Fallon, who was playing chauffeur for him at the moment. Courtesy of his injured shoulder, Fallon had said, driving
him was the least he could do.
Declan hadn’t completely minded his brother coming along on this unpleasant jaunt. Briefly he’d considered bringing Harper and Michael, too—not to “meet the parents” so much as—
Oh, who was he kidding? It would have been exactly him bringing Harper home, not just to meet his parents but to see where he’d come from, see him a little differently than just a rogue male who couldn’t be bothered to look after his parents.
Her opinion mattered to him, he realized, with more than a shock.
“It’s serious, isn’t it?” Fallon asked, breaking what had been a nearly silent drive out to the family compound. “You and Harper?”
The trouble with having a twin was that, even if you weren’t a happy shadow of your twin, sometimes they still knew you better than anyone. “At this moment, I don’t know what’s serious in my life, and what’s a dark comedy.”
“Word is you’ve got it bad.”
Declan moved his hat back, felt a sigh press unwittingly from him as they parked at the house. “And this word comes from where?”
“Winter.”
Declan glanced at his brother sharply. “I’ve had the strangest feeling that girl has caught your eye in some way.”
“Nope.” Fallon turned the truck off, opened the door. “Just think she’s a good rider.”
Declan got out, wandered around the truck to meet his brother. “Not that it’s any of my business, and not that I care, since it’s you, but fair warning, Winter is wilder than you may be prepared to handle.”
Fallon winked. “Don’t worry about me, brother. You’re the one who’s going to find yourself with a ready-made family.”
“I don’t know about that.” He followed his brother into the house, already wishing his hour here was done. Not much had changed in the hacienda-styled home. Perhaps it was a bit more faded, a little more worn-down—but otherwise, still a well-cared-for house.
