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The voice wasn’t loud, but it rang through the barn with enough weight to still the air. Vasili froze. His grip loosened slightly. I blinked through the haze, and after a moment, I could finally see him.

Harlan was standing just a few feet away with a pitchfork gripped tight in his hand. His jaw was locked, and his eyes glared right at Vasili. The boyish innocence he always carried was gone, and he looked threatening as he growled, “I said let her go.”

At first, he didn’t move. He just stood there with his hand on my throat, staring back at Harlan. Eventually, he looked back at me, and there was no missing the hate that flickered behind his eyes as he finally released my throat. I collapsed against the wall, coughing and gasping, and Vasili shook his head as he stepped back and smoothed his suit jacket like nothing had happened.

“This isn’t over.”

And with that, he turned and waltzed out of the barn like he ruled the world.

I held my hands to my throat, still gasping for breath. Harlan dropped the pitchfork and rushed to my side. “Easy there. You’re okay. I got ya. You just gotta breathe. Slow and easy.”

It took me a moment, but I was finally able to stop gasping as Harlan asked, “Who the hell was that?”

“No… one.”

“Sure as hell didn’t look like no one to me.”

I was still trying to steady myself when the sound of tires on gravel caught my attention. Damn. It was the buyers. They were early.

I quickly smoothed my hands over my jeans and tried to shake off the panic clawing at the edges of my thoughts. There wasn’t time to fall apart. Not now. I had horses to think about. I turned to Harlan as I said, “I’m going to need you to do me a favor.”

“Yes, ma’am. Whatever you need.”

“Pretend like none of that happened.”

“But…”

“Just for the next hour or so.” I placed my hand on his shoulder. “Please. I need you to do this. We have to get these horses sold, and then, we’ll deal with the other.”

“Yes, ma’am. Whatever you say.”

“Thank you. Now, go make sure that Beau is all set for our guests.”

He nodded, then turned and darted out of the stall. I took a second to collect myself before heading out to greet our guests. I had just made it out of the barn when the truck doors opened, and a man and a young woman stepped out. I took a quick look around, and I felt a slight sense of relief when I saw no sign of Vasili.

He was gone, but I had a feeling he wouldn’t stay gone for long.

The couple started towards me, and the man offered a friendly smile as they approached. “Afternoon.”

“Good afternoon.” He was tall with blondish-brown hair with a thick beard and tattoos, and he was wearing a leather vest with jeans and boots. He didn’t look like the horse-riding type, but that didn’t stop me from saying, “You must be my buyers.”

“Yes, ma’am. I’m Lincoln, and this is Riley.”

“Hi. I’m Tabitha. It’s nice to meet you both.” I forced a smile as I told them, “Dr. Lewis spoke very highly of you.”

“He spoke highly of you as well.”

As he spoke, I found myself staring at his leather vest. It looked very similar to Hudson’s. It even said Satan’s Fury, but at the same time, it was different. And I’d never seen him before. “You’re wearing a Satan’s Fury cut.”

Lincoln glanced down, then back at me with furrowed brows. “I am. Been wearing it longer than I’ve been shaving.”

“It’s like Hudson’s, but it’s not...”

“Hudson?”

“He’s the president of Satan’s Fury. They call him Preacher.”

“Ah, shit.” He tilted his head and looked at me a little closer. “You know Preach?”