Page 125 of Maddox

Moo!

CHAPTER 31

Maddox

“You should have seen the look on your face,” Charmaine said from beside me.

By the time I’d mended the fence, darkness had fallen. Doing so by headlights had been interesting. At least only one cow had ventured out. I chuckled as I rolled up the hill leading to the house. “I should spank you just for teasing me.”

She slipped her hand over my groin, wrapping her long fingers around my cock. “Are you sure about that? How about round two instead?”

“Now who’s the insatiable one?” The headlights caught something in the distance and I immediately slowed, peering out the windshield.

“What is it?”

I rolled forward, craning my neck. “I don’t know for certain.” Within a few yards, the headlights captured what I’d thoughtI’d seen. There was a dark van partially hidden in the trees just beyond the house. From what I could tell, the cargo van was windowless past the cab.

“Wait here,” I told her as I unholstered my weapon, pulling it into my hands.

Charmaine eased back, staring out the windshield. “Were you expecting company?”

“Not this soon.” Leaning over, I opened the glovebox, pulling out a second weapon. “Keep this. You know what to do if anything happens.”

She was hesitant before taking it in her hand. “I should go with you.”

I gave her a look and killed the headlights. “Keep the engine running. After I get out, lock the doors and slide into the driver’s seat. If you hear gunshots, get the hell out of here.”

“I’m not going to leave you alone. That’s crazy.”

“You will do as I say.” I cupped her chin, giving her a side-eye. “Do what I say this time. If everything is okay, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay.”

Nodding once more, I opened the door, sliding out carefully. We were far enough away from the house and with the angle of the windows, I doubted the headlights had been noticed from inside. Whoever had paid a visit certainly didn’t want their vehicle to be seen right away.

The van didn’t appear to have anyone waiting inside. I headed toward it, placing my hand on the engine. It was cool to the touch, which meant they’d been here for a little while. None ofthis made any sense. There was nothing glaring in the cab that could easily be seen so I concentrated my efforts on the house.

I moved around the front, crouching lower and keeping the weapon in both hands. There were lights on inside the house. What the hell? I had a thief stupid enough to turn on lights while determined to discover something worthwhile to steal? Hell, even the single television I owned was old. At least they couldn’t get to the weapons. Those were safely locked away.

I moved to the side of the house, peering in and seeing nothing. By the time I made it to the front porch, I heard a sound. Spinning to face the noise, I pointed my weapon in the direction.

“It’s just me.” Charmaine was standing only a few feet away from me.

There was no time to argue with her. “Stay back. Just do it.”

She nodded, but I had a feeling she wasn’t going to follow my orders. I placed my hand on the doorknob, taking a deep breath before opening it slowly.

The moment I walked in I caught movement and immediately pointed the barrel of my weapon toward the source.

“What the fuck?” I barked out.

The man sitting on my couch grinned and took another pull of the beer in his hand. My beer.

“Well, if it isn’t Bonnie and Clyde or should I say Nancy Drew and one of the Hardy Boys?” It had been a long time since I’d seen Kage, so long it took my brain a few seconds to kick in that’s who was sitting on my couch with his feet propped up.

Charmaine flanked my side and I offered her a single look of frustration before returning my attention to Kage. When an unknown man walked in from the kitchen with a partially eaten sandwich in his hand, I took another deep breath to keep from overreacting.

“What in God’s name are you doing in my house?” I slipped the weapon back into the holster and closed the door.

---