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“It should,” he rumbled, drawing a snarl from Nash.
A shadow raced overhead, making me look up. A third dragon raced in, followed by a fourth. They soared over the ranch, sending the horses into a panic.
My gut dropped, because my sisters and niece were down at the ranch too. That was one reason I’d driven up to face Harlon — to buy Abby time to hustle Claire to safety while Pippa hurried into position, according to the rough plan we’d settled on the evening before.
The dragons circled in opposite directions, crossed paths, then landed, each settling down beside one of the original two. I expected them to roar and spit fire, but they did something much scarier.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. They just sat there as quietly as Alfred Hitchcock’s birds.
I scanned the horizon, wondering how many others waited in reserve.
“Interesting spell you have here.” Harlon waved around. “Child’s play to crack, but interesting, nonetheless.”
Had he broken the privacy spell entirely or simply found his way around it? Either way, I was fuming.
“You have some nerve—”
“No, I have a final offer,” Harlon cut in. Switching tactics, he flashed a winning smile. “I like you, Miss Sattler. I really do…”
He did, I realized, feeling sick.
“…and I would prefer to do this in a way with the best possible outcome for you.”
“You mean, I keep the ranch, you disappear, and never come back? Perfect.”
He shook his head. “Unfortunately, this land has something I need.”
“Well, too bad for you.”
“Ah, but this property isn’t just yours,” Harlon pointed out. “Your sisters’ names are on the deed too.”
“They agree with me.”
“They shouldn’t,” he grunted.
“Because…?”
“Because I would hate to see someone hurt.”
I snorted. “Then don’t hurt anyone.”
Harlon tilted his head. “I wouldn’t dream of it. But if an unfortunate accident were to occur, or even a natural disaster…”
My heart dropped as I thought of the cliffs above the ranch. If Harlon brought them down in a giant rockslide, would the rubble reach the main house?
Still, I kept a brave face. Or so I hoped.
“And no one will question the likelihood of another ‘natural’ disaster on the heels of yesterday’s storm?” I challenged.
Harlon shrugged. “Climate change. Maybe people will finally take action to undo the mess they’ve made of this earth.”
“Says the man who travels by private jet and creates his own flash floods,” I muttered.
Angelina huffed. “Enough talking. Let’s get this started.”
“Before the agency arrives and catches you up to no good?” I shot back.
Angelina flashed a wicked smile. Truly wicked, with her canines extending into sharp fangs.
