Page 28 of Dark Things (Payback Duet #1)

“On your six, we have company. Seems like we’re not the only suspicious ones,” I say, taking Midnight’s lead from Haunt as he walks back into the trailer to get my tack.

Colt, Brooks, and Staff are standing off to the side of the practice ring.

They’re lined up looking like they want a fight.

My muscles tense, but I silently shake it off and continue getting ready.

He discreetly looks behind him and then nods. “Too many curious eyes right now. We might have to do something about this.”

“I’m thinking if they’re involved like we think they are, they’re testing the waters. Trying to figure out how we fit into this whole thing. Who knows what Mario’s told them or if they have a job. Heck, we might be the job,” I say, smiling. I’d love nothing more than to get a little stabby.

Haunt kisses my forehead before draping Midnight with his saddle pad. He hoists up his saddle and starts doing up the buckles. I reach into my bag, grab the bridle and slip it over Midnight’s head.

“Once you get out there, I’ll walk over and see what they want. Causing a scene isn’t in our best interest, not with Cat here,” he says.

I see Brooks shift out of the corner of my eye, as if he’s going to come our way, but Colt stops him by putting his arm out. Brooks doesn’t look happy, but he steps back.

I pout, “Not fair. I wanna be the all threatening and ominous one. You get to do it all too often.”

He laughs, garnering stares from a few of the girls on the team. “That’s because you’re a demon, gioia mia . People usually run screaming in your presence.”

I smirk, checking around to make sure no one is looking and pull him down for a quick kiss. “That smart mouth is going to get you in trouble.”

He slaps my ass and gives me a leg up. Midnight does a small shuffle before reaching his head back to wait for his treat. I pull out a peppermint puff from my pocket and give it to him before giving him a small pat on his neck.

Haunt hands me my helmet, and I clip it on and walk over to where the rest of the team are. Cat’s already on Starlight, and Aslyn is next to her on her own horse.

“Hey Reb,” Aslyn says, leading her horse closer to us. Her mare is a beautiful chocolate color with white socks. She’s got a few pink ribbons tied into her mane, and it’s so perfectly Aslyn.

“Hey, As. Is everything all good?” I ask, looking around for the coach. My gaze lands on Mary, who’s staring daggers at my face. I give her a little wave and then the middle finger before I turn around to the girls again.

They snicker before schooling their faces. “Yeah, all good. It’s going to be an interesting practice for sure. Mary’s already tried to re-up her smear campaign on you. Seems like she isn’t going to let go of what happened at the diner.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “She’s not going to learn is she?”

“Nope,” Cat says, popping her ‘p.’ “Mary is living in her Regina George era and I’m not sure she’ll ever grow out of it.”

“Jesus, what a fucking nightmare. I can’t imagine being that obsessed with wanting people to worship me. She must be fucking exhausted.”

I discreetly pat the pocket of my breeches and make sure I have my switchblade on me in case Mary gets too close. I bet she’d look horrible with bangs.

While I’m living my best hairstylist fantasy in my head, Coach James comes to stand in front of us and starts his speech. I try to listen, but really I don’t care what he’s saying. I just need to look like I’m following along enough to blend in.

“Reb Vischer, you’re up first. I want to see how you and…” his voice trails off while he looks down at his clipboard. “Midnight Blue do on this course. Do a warm up lap first and then start.”

I click my tongue and put pressure on Midnight’s sides with my heels.

He walks on, and we enter the arena. I look out over the course and note the different jumps and count the strides in between, then push him into a trot, keeping my eyes on the order of the jumps and anything else that would be important.

As I push him into a light canter to start coming around to the first jump, I notice the guys chatting on the side of the arena. Brooks is looking at me with a confused expression, his arms dangling over the railing. I try to put it out of my mind, but with his stare it’s hard.

Once I line up the first jump, I drop my hands down and click my tongue again.

Midnight’s head dips down and our energies meld.

He lets out a loud snort, releasing the air in his lungs as we reach the line.

He flies over it flawlessly, landing and taking the turn to the next in a single fluid movement.

Riding Midnight is like riding on a cloud. He moves like liquid, nothing disturbing his gait or jostling me. When he catches air on the next jump, I let out a whoop , and he matches my energy with a small head shake.

At this moment, there’s nothing but my horse and our magic on this course.

Time is suspended, and all I can hear is our breathing.

By the time we get to the last jump, my adrenaline is on fire, and when he clears the three poles I hear clapping as I stand up in my saddle, kissing my three fingers and throwing them up in the air.

As my ass hits the saddle again, I look over and see Colter, Staff, and Brooks frozen in place. At first I’m confused, and then a memory slams into me with such force that I almost lose my seat.

The first time I ever did that move was my first competition when I was fourteen.

The guys insisted they come, and when my jumps were flawless, I kissed my three fingers, one for each of them, and held my hand out as I trotted back through the gate.

It became something I did every time I won, a small dedication to them.

And I just did it. As if nothing changed.

Haunt’s curious expression meets mine, and I bite my lip before turning away. He’s seen me do that move a hundred times, but I’ve never told him about it or what it means and he’s never asked.

Fuck.

When I get back to the rest of the team, Coach James walks over and I dismount, digging into my pocket for another peppermint puff. I give it to Midnight, along with some scratches on his neck.

“That was a beautiful time. I didn’t expect this behemoth of a creature to move like that. He’s a real life Pegasus,” Coach says, extending his hand to shake mine, but Midnight has other thoughts. He walks into me and puts his huge body in between the coach and I.

I laugh, and give him a shove. “He’s okay, boy. This is Coach. He’s not going to hurt me.”

Coach James eyebrows are in his hairline. “Have yourself a guard horse, Vischer?”

“I’ve seen him charge at someone who thought to get too close to me while my back is turned. He’s definitely part Roman war horse. No prey-drive in him.”

He chuckles and extends his hand again. “Welcome to the team. I can’t wait to see what you and ole Spartacus over there can do,” he says.

He eyes Midnight with good-natured respect.

“Thanks, Coach. We’ll do our best for the team. Let me know if you have any critiques. I have a full course at the house, so we can practice until we get it right.”

“For now, I don’t have anything for you, but I’m sure I can find something to pick on you with soon enough,” he says, before turning away.

I watch Cat take her turn and am just as impressed with her and Starlight.

Aslyn and her mare are awesome, too. I wonder if the girls would want to come to the house this week and practice alone, without the rest of the team.

I’m sure they’re all great, but being around this many people always leaves me drained.

It’s one part of competing I’ve always hated.

By the time practice is over, all I want is food and my bed, but Cat looks like she’s gotten a second wind. Waiting at the trailer are the guys, and Cat looks over at me, but I shrug.

“I have no idea what they want,” I say.

Midnight must pick up on my energy, because he starts to shuffle forward a bit. I don’t slack my grip on his reins, but I do give him a little more room to walk ahead of me.

“Good practice,” Haunt says, coming over to us. I don’t say anything, but Cat picks up a conversation with him while he helps her untack Starlight.

I loop Midnight’s reins through a “d” ring on the side of the trailer and begin to unbuckle his saddle.

“Nice riding,” Colter says, coming up to us. Midnight’s head whips around and his ears go back slightly, but I pat his side to settle him down.

“Thanks. I didn't think you guys were the watching type. Got a thing for women in breeches?” I sass.

He doesn’t say anything for a minute, and I don’t look over at him, just keep going through the motions of what needs to get done before I can load up Midnight.

“We’re here for you,” he says. It’s low enough that I might have imagined it, but I’ve been so in tune with Colter and his voice since I was a little kid that I could pick out his whisper in a crowded room.

I turn around and tilt my head. “Why the fuck would you be here for me?”

“I think you know why,” he says, crossing his arms across his massive chest. Colter’s always been a big guy, even when we were kids, but now it’s like he’s his own type of giant.

“Forgive me, Colt, but I have no fucking clue what you’re going on about.”

I make it a point to look around us and smirk. I tap my fingers on my thigh and he tracks the movement, nostrils flaring. Yeah, buddy this isn’t the time or the place.

Staff comes over to us and places a hand on Colter’s shoulder. “Good practice, Reb. We haven’t been to one of these things in a long time. We had a best friend once that used to compete. She was amazing at it. I forgot how exciting it could be.”

I lock down every emotion that runs through me. Every pore of my body turns to stone, and I stop breathing. I can’t form words or offer a comeback. I only stare at both of them while my chest cracks open. I almost look down to see if I’m actually bleeding.

“Super exciting.” I spin around and haul Midnight’s saddle off before walking around to the small side door on the trailer and putting it on the saddle holder before walking back out.

Haunt is about to get Starlight into the trailer, but now all three guys are standing with Midnight, who is not impressed. It’s almost like he’s daring them to get within kicking range. It lets me breathe a little better.

“Haunt suggested that we all go somewhere and talk,” Brooks says, eyes running down my body. A lick of fire runs through me, but I squash it down fast .

“No he didn’t,” I scoff, taking off Midnight’s bridle and putting on his halter.

Staff’s chuckle makes me look over. “I’m almost positive Haunt told you fuckers that this wasn’t the place, and that business isn’t discussed where it doesn’t pertain.

You want a sit-down, schedule a meeting.

You boys should know how this shit is done by now, unless you’re fucking new, and then I can’t help you. ”

I hear the car door open and close before Haunt comes around to the side where we’re standing. “It’s exactly what I told them; guess they wanted to see if you’d fall for it.”

“That right? Well, gentlemen, let me clear this up real quick. Your rules? The ones that you’ve been making up as you go along, they’re not worth shit in the real world.” I take a step closer and lower my voice. “You want to talk, do it the right way.”

I hand Haunt Midnight’s lead and spin on my heels getting into the truck. I can’t stand next to them for another moment. I need to get the fuck out of here and quick before I make the mistake of killing or kissing them.