Page 139 of Maddox

“Oh, no. The animals,” I said as I rushed closer. “You need to save them.”

Randy nodded. “They’re in danger. I’m headed toward the barns now. We need more help.”

“I’ll be right there, Randy.” He turned toward me as Randy ran off. “Stay right here. Lock the doors. Kage, Chuck, I think I’ll need you. We need to get the animals to safety. Do not leave this house.”

“Okay. I have the weapon.”

He pressed his hand against my face and grabbed his coat.

As soon as they rushed out, I took a deep breath. My God. What else was going to happen to our little world?

CHAPTER 34

Maddox

“Jesus Christ. You’re going to lose the barn,” Kage yelled the moment I rolled up on the fire. The flames seemed concentrated on the building itself, the farthest one from the house, yet thick smoke billowed from the open barn doors. “Do you think the plan backfired?”

This definitely wasn’t going according to plans.

Anger swept through me like a fast-rolling tidal wave. I’d felt nothing but anxious, realizing I’d gambled on greed overpowering all common sense. In doing so, I’d purposely placed the woman I couldn’t seem to get enough of deeper into harm’s way. If it had backfired, every aspect of who I’d become would be tossed aside.

And I’d become a killer.

Intentional.

Purposeful.

Targeted.

And my selections wouldn’t stop with members of cartels or the New York Bratva, nor would I care how many soldiers they had in place. They would all fucking die by my hands.

I’d sent a text the moment we’d rushed outside, the code predetermined. The game was on and there would only be one winner.

“Let’s just say I hope to hell the bastard didn’t betray me. Or. He. Will. Die.”

Kage whistled.

“There’s no sign the perimeter was breached,” Chuck called out as I slammed the gear into park.

I knew what that meant. Whatever Randy had seen could have nothing to do with the bullies in town.

All three of us jumped out, scanning the horizon.

“Fast moving,” Chuck added.

No shit.

An accelerant had definitely been used.

“Just get the animals to safety. We need to make certain they are okay. That’s all I care about.” I ran toward the fence, fighting with the latch before being able to throw open the gate. The horses were whinnying, many of them uncertain what to do.

As I began to try to guide them toward the opening, the nagging feeling I’d had since Randy had knocked on the door pushed into the forefront of my mind. This was nothing but a countermeasure, a distraction.

“Kage. Chuck. Make sure the horses get to the pasture. I’m headed into the barn.” If the jerks from town who had a vendetta against me were the reason, I knew how they operated. They’d used Molotov cocktails. Effective but cheap and something anyone could do.

“Be careful!” Kage called, immediately jumping into action.

I raced toward the barn, fighting the flames until I was inside.

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