The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I hopped out of my desk chair at the tone. Stared out the window as if I could see her through the rain. The view wasn’t as spectacular as at Billionaire Ranch, but I had three hundred acres of prime grazing land with a creek running through it. Not too shabby.

“What’s the matter?”

“Tell him we’re coming to his house.” It was one of her brothers on speaker, but I couldn’t tell which one. Not yet.

“We’re—”

“I heard,” I said, cutting her off. “What the fuck is going on?”

I could hear the sound of an engine revving, the squeal of tires.

“Someone shot at us.”

Shot?

“At the edge of town at the turn for the highway,” her brother finished.

I knew the location. Everyone on the west side of the Wainright property took the same route to the interstate. There was a cluster of businesses there. A gas station, a small, local motel, and a restaurant.

“Anyone hurt?” I asked, going to my kitchen and retrieving my gun. While I knew it was loaded, I checked the cartridge anyway. Once satisfied, I went to the gun safe in my father’s old den. Since there were no children in the house and my neighbors were a half a mile away, I kept the door closed, but unlocked.

“I’ve been hit but—”

“South? What the fuck!” North swore.

So she was with South. All three brothers had level heads, even after what they’d learned what North had done for them. Or what Macon had planned to do.

It had been clear they loved their sister, even though the relationship had been strained because of their father.

“I’m fine. It’s a scratch,” South said. “Eddie okay?”

“Your arm’s bleeding!”

“Eddie?” South asked again. The dog was in the car with them.

“He’s fine, you idiot. He’s lying on the floor.”

“Princess, you hurt?” I asked. I had to know.

“No. No, I’m fine.”

My blood pressure dropped out of stroke level, but until I had her in my arms, I wasn’t going to be calm.

“Jed, I have no idea who the fuck that was, or why,” South said. His voice was rough, but he was calm. “It wasn’t a fucking hunter’s stray bullet. Not in July and not three shots.”

South’s words told me everything I needed to know. This was intentional and my woman was the target.

“I don’t think we’re being followed, but I’m not heading back to the ranch. Not sure if it’s some kind of ambush or what the fuck. I need directions to your place. We’re heading west on the county road.”

I told him the way, which was fairly simple. There weren’t that many roads out here.

“Princess, I’ll be waiting.”