Page 12 of Maddox

The slight scrape of the metal legs against the tile floor behind me indicated he’d moved. I held my breath, aware the moment he slipped something under my chair. Footsteps indicated he was walking away.

My personality was such I wasn’t interested in playing by the rules and mysterious informants annoyed me. I turned around, furious as a group of people walked in blocking my view. I stood, moving closer to the window, just catching sight of a man dressed in dark jeans and a dark hoodie about to disappear into the late afternoon crowd.

Another cold shiver drifted down my spine and I had a very bad feeling what I’d find would blow anything I’d written out of the water.

I only hoped I lived long enough to bask in the success.

CHAPTER 4

Five days prior to extraction…

Maddox

“Come on, Marty. What the fuck do you mean the shipment has been delayed? I ordered the lumber almost a week ago.” I threw down my credit card for the supply of feed, glaring at him with more fury than normal furrowing into my system.

“Supply chain issue,” Marty said, shrugging. He eyed me cautiously. My reputation for being a hothead was well known even though I’d only lived in the Shenandoah Valley for a few months. He took my card, immediately processing it.

“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Sure, I could travel an hour and a half to pick up what I needed, but between the round trip and time spent in a big box store, I’d miss an entire day of work. Not something I could afford.

I snatched my card, barely scribbling my name on the receipt.

“Early next week,” he said. “Latest.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I huffed, shoved my card back into my wallet, and left the supply store. I jumped inside my pickup truck, still angry when I turned over the engine. While it was still early October, winters under the shadow of the mountains could be brutal. There were close to fifty projects that needed to be completed around the ranch before the first snowfall.

At this rate, the tasks wouldn’t be accomplished by this time next year.

After I backed up to the loading area and jumped out, my phone rang. No one called me. Even the men working at my ranch didn’t have my private number. I’d earned my privacy. So I ignored the call, heading toward the feed bags instead.

The second I finished filling the truck bed, my phone rang again. According to everyone I knew, I was a stubborn asshole. That’s why I refused to answer the second time.

But once I returned to the truck, curiosity settled in and I snatched the phone from the seat. Unknown. Snorting, I pitched it aside and headed out. As soon as I made the turn onto the main road, I glanced out the windshield toward the waning sun. Various vibrant colors crisscrossed the sky in a dazzling display.

A snicker moved past my lips from the thought. In my world, the main colors were black, white, and red, the color of blood. There was no such thing as seeing the world through rose-colored lenses.

The Navy had taught me that.

I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel just as I passed the bar I’d frequented more often than I’d done with any in my life. My entire life had been about discipline. Maybe retirement wasn’t in my best interest, but what the hell? I could use a cold beer.

As soon as I headed inside, the bartender nodded, immediately reaching for a Budweiser. Jeff was a good guy, learning early on when not to ask questions. He placed it on the bar’s surface before pulling a glass off the shelf behind him. Never saying a word, he grabbed the bottle of Jack Daniel’s, pouring a hefty shot.

Easing onto the stool, I glanced around the nearly empty space and smirked. “I see business is booming today.” I looked over my shoulder, noticing three men I’d had run-ins with since the day I’d moved into the area. They sported Marine tattoos as if being a Navy SEAL was less than exemplary.

Jeff huffed and leaned against the edge of the bar, staring up at the television hanging over the bar. “It’s Wednesday. We don’t get the wild crowd in until after six. Except for those three.” He tossed his head in the direction of the jerks who enjoyed bullying as if they were still in high school. “One of them lost their job yesterday. Might want to stay away from them. Not that you couldn’t handle what they dish out.” He laughed and patted the top of the bar.

The town was hurting, jobs lost based on a couple of businesses pulling out over the last few years. Not my concern.

Unless they made it impossible to enjoy my drinks.

I shot half the Jack and shook my head. Maybe the bar was the only one I bothered frequenting because Jeff’s sense of humor was dry as fuck. About the only humor I could take.

The beer was cold, exactly what I needed after the long, hard day that had started at five in the morning. I’d never thought running a small cattle ranch could be so damn time consuming.

He remained quiet. So did I. The words spoken would be the only ones of the day, yet he kept me company, something I found oddly comforting.

Ten minutes into the rare moment of peace, noise drew my attention and I immediately bristled.

“Don’t look now,” Jeff muttered under his breath.

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