Page 66 of Into the Fire
Levi’s voice dropped low and hard as he stepped closer. “What the hell are you doing? Why the fuck are you here?”
“I’m sure you’ve pieced together that I’ve been behind the little inconveniences around here,” Cole said with a shrug. “But I’m not the only one who wants hergone.”
“You drunk? Or just stupid?” Levi snapped, slowly stepping forward again. “Maybe both.”
Cole just smiled wider. “No. I’m the only one with the balls to do the dirty work. You didn’t even put it together, did you?”
Levi paused, instincts kicking in hard. “What are you saying?”
Cole took a slow step forward, his voice low and mean. “Denny wants what she owes him; he’s behind it all.”
Levi’s stomach dropped.
“Yeah,” Cole said, eyes gleaming with cruelty. “He paid me to make things… difficult. Stir the pot. Make her crack. And I was happy to oblige. She doesn't belong here anyway.”
“You son of a bitch.” Levi’s voice broke into a snarl.
Inside the farmhouse, the clock ticked on, somethingin Emery’s gut twisted, something was wrong. Off. Too quiet.
She backed against the wall near the window with a view of the barn, holding her phone, hands trembling as she dialed.
Even though it was three in the morning, Jess sleepily answered on the second ring. “Emery, what's wrong?”
“Jess, I don't know what to do,” Emery whispered, moving toward the front door. “Something’s not right. The horses were going crazy, Levi ran out to the barn—and he hasn’t come back. I have to go out there.”
“I’ll be there in two minutes,” Jess said without hesitation. “I’ll take the back trail.”
Without waiting for him, she slipped out into the cold night and jogged toward the barn, the crunch of gravel under her feet the only sound.
She slowed as she neared the doors, hearing voices raised inside Levi’s, sharp and furious... and another familiar one? Cole.
A shiver climbed up her spine as she slippedaround to the side door, peering around just in time to hear Cole’s voice dripping with venom.
“I’m tired of breaking my back around here, making you money while you spout orders and play house with your feet up every day. You’re throwing everything away for a piece of ass?” Cole sneered. “Hell, I doubt she’s even worth it. Not that it’s going to stop me from taking a turn once you’re out of the picture.”
Emery’s breath caught.
That was all Levi needed. With a roar, he lunged at Cole.
The two men collided hard, fists swinging, boots skidding in hay and dirt. Levi slammed Cole into the wall with a loud crack of wood behind them. Cole fought dirty—elbows and knees, but Levi didn’t back down for a second.
They grappled near the tack room, throwing wild punches. Levi landed a brutal right hook that sent Cole crashing to the floor. Blood streamed from Cole’s nose as he coughed, stunned but not done.
While Levi stood over him, chest heaving, Cole’s hand slipped into his jacket pocket.
The click of a lighter echoed in the barn.
A small flame flicked to life in his hand, and then he tossed it.
The dry pile of hay ignited instantly.
“No!” Levi lunged forward.
That’s when Emery came around the corner.
Smoke licked up to the rafters, but Emery’s movement distracted Levi for a brief second, and Cole took advantage of that. In another act of rage, he grabbed a thick 2x4 from the ground, jumped to his feet, and swung it like a bat.
The sound of it hitting Levi’s back was sickening, a sharp, hollow crack followed by his shout of agony.
