Page 133 of Let Me Be the One

When Blu suddenly yelped, his heart stalled and rage imploded.If anyone hurt Blu, there’d be hell to pay.

Still running, he forced his way through the tangled honeysuckle—and found Lang on his knees, holding Blu tightly as the dog struggled to get free.

Worse, Sutter was there, holding a gun on Dirk. He wasn’t a firearms expert, but the damn thing looked deadly, especially jammed against Dirk’s ribs like that.

Tanner realized almost at once that Lang was trying to protect Blu. He could hear him murmuring, “Shh, shh, dog. It’s okay. Settle down.”

The problem was that Blu didn’t like the brothers, and he really wanted a piece of Sutter.

Seeing him, Sutter cursed. “Why the fuck do you hillbillies have to hang out in packs?”

Tanner said, “Blu, stay,” repeating himself twice before Blu, panting hard, subsided. His body remained tense and ready, and he was still emitting a low angry growl.

Keeping his gaze on Sutter, Tanner moved forward. He planned to happily rip the gun from his hand and jam it down his throat.

Sutter ground the gun against Dirk, making him grit his teeth. “If you make me shoot him, then I’ll have to shoot the dog, too! Andyou.”

Noting the tinge of hysteria in Sutter’s tone, Tanner stopped. “That’s a lot of talk for a dead man.”

“I’m the one with the gun!”

Deliberately, Tanner curled his lip. “Have you ever fired one before?”

Sutter’s mouth clamped shut and he didn’t answer.

“I didn’t think so. I’m a little doubtful that you handled a snake either, so how’d you get it in her attic?”

“Clearly, you don’t understand the power of money.It’s easy to hire others to do your dirty work. To move goats, to handle snakes.” He shrugged. “And around this shithole, people needing money are around every corner.”

So that was how her goat had gotten into the woods? He owed the brothers an apology. “Is that what you tried to do with Dirk and Lang?”

For a single moment, Sutter looked confused, as if he’d never heard their names before, or had long since forgotten. “Wait. You’re talking about this local trash?”

Seeing the way Dirk narrowed his eyes, Tanner half expected him to struggle—yet he didn’t. He got the feeling Dirk was waiting for his moment to strike. “I’m talking about my neighbors. Callie’s neighbors.”

“You’ll never convince me that Callie cares about either one of them, and I find it hard to conceive that you do, either. At first, they were willing enough to take my money.”

“That’s a lie,” Dirk growled.

“Yes, yes, you have scruples.” He smiled at Tanner. “He dared to be affronted that I wanted her scared.”

“I’m more than affronted, you cowardly prick.” Tanner edged forward again. “That’s going to be a big problem for you.”

Sutter’s brows snapped together. “Stop acting territorial, you bastard! Callie ismine.”

“She was never yours. She’ll never be yours.”

“Because of you?” Sutter laughed. “She might be indulging a walk on the wild side, but it doesn’t mean anything. Normally I’d be fine waiting for her to get over her little snit, but unfortunately for her, I’m out of time.”

Tanner paused. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“My parents are threatening to give the company to my uncle if the wedding doesn’t happen in August,as planned.” With a negligent shrug, he said, “They’re absurdly old-fashioned and thought marriage to Callie and the ties to her family would influence me to settle down.” His self-indulgent smile curled. “All because I’d gotten myself into a tiny bit of trouble.”

To Tanner’s mind, too many people had wanted to sacrifice Callie. “They’re as delusional as you are.” He took a bored stance, when in reality he wanted to plant his fist in Sutter’s smug face. “Callie would never have married you. She’s too good for you.”

“But not you? Ha! Maybe you don’t know, but if Callie doesn’t marry me her parents will go bankrupt. Seems everyone wants the wedding—except you.”

“And Callie.”

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