Rain splattered against the side of Raider’s face, and he groaned, spitting out grass. Or was that hay? Pain pounded in his face, and he gingerly rolled over, letting the water cool what felt like fire. He blinked and opened his eyes. More pain, agony really, slashed into his skull. “Son of a bitch,” he muttered, forcing himself to sit.

The alfalfa stalks swayed around him from wind and rain. Even with the rain, the moon was strong enough to barely lighten the clouds above him, enough that he could see a bit, but it wasn’t dawn yet. Not even close.

He rubbed his burning temple and jaw, feeling for a fracture. Dizziness swamped him, followed by surprise. The old farmer had dropped him with one punch. He smiled and then winced at the instant agony. Okay. If he didn’t want to puke so badly, he’d be impressed. Nobody got the drop on him, and he’d learned to take a hit years ago. In fact, he hadn’t lost a fight in a decade.

Until now.

He pushed himself off the wet ground and tried to get his bearings. He stood off to the side of a barely there dirt road. Stalks and more stalks of alfalfa surrounded him. The old bastard had knocked him out and then driven him to the middle of nowhere. Raider snorted a laugh. The unit would be in hysterics right now. Apparently, Sean Banaghan didn’t want Raider dating his daughter.

It’d be funny if his face wasn’t broken. Raider ducked his head against the rain and studied the road. It narrowed farther to the left, so he should probably go right. It was as good a plan as any. He reached for his phone in his back pocket. Nope. Gone. Also his wallet with his fake identification.

Good thing he’d left his authentic license and badge beneath the seat in the rental vehicle. What he wouldn’t give for a cell phone right now.

The wind picked up, slamming against him as if it was on the farmer’s side. The smell of wet hay filled his nose as he began walking down the muddy road. What was the difference between hay and alfalfa, anyway? Just the color? It all smelled the same.

Was he concussed? A hit to the temple would do that to a guy.

He put one foot in front of the other as his mind finally started to clear. The chilly wind and unrelenting rain actually helped. What was he going to tell Brigid? More importantly, how was he going to handle Sean? This was obviously a warning—and not a subtle one. The ex-enforcer would probably go with a bullet next.

Raider had to respect that.