Page 105 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
She was still on the couch and in Finn’s arms, which struck her as pretty much perfect.
Karen glanced up to find him gazing at her contentedly. “Hey.”
He bumped their noses together. “Hey. Want to go get freshened up? Alan’s about two minutes out. He’ll talk to Brandon first, then we’ll get this dealt with so we can move on. Okay?”
Which is how half an hour later she ended up at her kitchen table with a stranger in a five-thousand-dollar suit to her right and the man she’d shot directly across from her.
There had to be a better way to phrase that. Because really, she’d only shot him alittle.
Alan’s expression screamed disapproval as he stared at Brandon before focusing his attention on Zach and Finn. “Here’s what it comes down to. Brandon’s been trying to sabotage your plans to be operational in time to win the challenge.”
Zach mock gasped. “Colour me shocked. Brandon? Deceitful and underhanded?”
The lawyer continued. “He paid someone else for the first while, and then when you increased security and his hired help ran, he decided he had to come out and mess with you himself.”
“You rat bastard,” Zach said softly, his amusement vanishing. “You had someone light the fire and steal supplies, didn’t you?”
Brandon stared at the floor.
Alan spoke firmly. “He also personally booby-trapped the building that fell in on Finn.”
The entire situation had been unreal, but that comment broke through her incredulousness. Karen’s palms hit the table. “What? What did you just say?”
“It was only supposed to make you fail the challenge so I could get what I deserved.” There was zero trace of repentance in Brandon’s voice.
The numbness inside flared to fury. Karen found herself on her feet, staring at the man who’d caused Finn so much pain. “I should have shot you three feet higher. You might have killed Finn.”
“It was supposed to collapse when no one was around,” Brandon insisted. “It was an accident.”
“Just like youaccidentallyshot Zach?” The fury inside her wasn’t healthy. “We’re pressing charges.”
“Wait, you can’t do that. Youdeliberatelyshot me,” Brandon whined, his gaze darting around the room as if hoping someone would take his side. “You’ll be charged too.”
She leaned in, staring into his frightened eyes.
Thisassholehad caused Finn to be hurt, and while the man she loved had recovered, he’d suffered needlessly.
She was beyond pissed.
Every bit of the protective anger roiling through her rang out as she snapped her response. “Bring it. No jury on earth would convict me.”
Finn caught her fingers in his, tugging her into his lap. “Let’s hear what Alan has to say.”
His grip was less of a restraint and more a claiming. Holding himself in a circle around her, yet allowing her power to remain visible—and she had to be vibrating at the moment. She was ready to reach over and pull Brandon’s head from his shoulders with her bare hands.
Finn’s arms were possessive in a way that made it clear he was proud to have her there with him.
That they were together.
Alan straightened, dipping his chin toward her and Finn before returning his attention to the bastard on the far side of the table.
“Obviously, there will be consequences. But when we spoke privately a few minutes ago, Brandon agreed thathewill not press charges for the incident that caused him to beaccidentallyinjured if you will not get the police involved regarding his actions, including horse thievery and sabotage.”
Finn stroked his hand over her thigh, soothing her. It took everything in her to not shout at Brandon a little longer.
What she did manage was a fairly reasonable tone as she directed a question at the lawyer. “And those consequences you mentioned?”
Because hiding the body was on her list.
