Page 64 of Property of Rattler

She tuts as if she should have remembered, goes to a drawer and pulls out what I need.

The conditioner seems to have done its job, and the brush goes through relatively easily. I style it using my hands. It will dry curly, but right now there are more important things to worry about, and the only person’s opinion that matters, is Flynn’s. And he’s not here. If he was, I know he’d be breaking down the door to get to me.

Unless he somehow blames me for Malachi finding the cabin?

I voice the question I’ve so far omitted to ask. “How did Malachi find us?”

Trixie snorts, “That’s a question for Bullseye, not for me.”

I walk to the door, impatience now driving me. Bullseye must have answers to the questions that are rolling around my head on repeat.

Trixie lets me lead the way down the stairs, when I get to the bottom, I hesitate, not knowing where Bullseye might be waiting for me. And also, because there’s a roomful of men, who all swing around to look at me. I can’t read the expressions on their faces, well, to be honest, I don’t look long to see, it’s me who lowers their head. I’m embarrassed, and certain they blame me. If it wasn’t for him being forced to marry me, Flynn would be here and not missing.

“Trix?” A loud voice booms. “Get Ames some breakfast and coffee and bring it into my office.”

As she goes to move past me, I grab her arm. “I couldn’t eat anything,” especially not in front of their prez, “but I’d love a coffee. Black with cream, please.” I request.

Suddenly the man himself appears in front of me. “Ames, I need to speak to you. Come this way.”

Meekly, I follow Bullseye into his office, the meeting so reminiscent of the one a few weeks ago, when Flynn was sitting beside me. I swallow hard as I remember how far he and I had come since that time when we were enemies.

This time it’s just me and their prez. His officers are absent. As I take the chair that he waves me to, he again seats himself behind his desk.

He wastes no time. “We believe Rattler’s alive. Your brother’s holding him. We’ve got a plan to get him back.”

Again, I find myself swallowing hard. Sitting forward, I tell him earnestly, “I’ll do anything, Bullseye. Exchange me for Flynn, please. It’s my fault Malachi has him.”

His face is inscrutable. Instead of answering, he taps some paperwork before passing it over the desk.

I raise my eyes to his, he lifts his chin. Taking it, he wants me to read what he’s given me, I do so, and gasp. It’s a petition for an annulment of our marriage. On the grounds of lack of intent.

My heart misses a beat as I respond in a whisper. “It might have started that way…”

He lifts his shoulders, then drops them. “And what would Rattler say? He didn’t want this marriage, why do you think he’s changed?”

My mouth opens to utter the inadequate words,I just do,before I press my lips together again. How do I know? Flynn’s transformation had meant I’d believed we were both on the same page. That we were both prepared to give our marriage a real try. Then, as Bullseye pushes a pen over to me, I wonderwhether there’s a reason behind this. I cry out, “Why, why are you doing this to me? Why do you want me to sign?”

He pierces me with his eyes. “I don’t,” he states. “These papers arrived first thing this morning from Malachi.” Again, he shrugs. “It’s possible he’s got Rat to admit the truth of your marriage, and that you didn’t mean your marriage vows.”

“We didn’t say any,” I huff. “But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t real.” Then I try to process what he’s telling me. I straighten my back. “If I sign this, does it mean Malachi sets Rattler free? He’ll have no further need to hurt him.”

“Wish I could answer that,” he drawls, leaning back in his chair and linking his hands behind his head. “I think your brother’s playing tricks. Though I can believe that Rat’s planted that idea in his head.”

“It keeps Flynn safe,” I breathe. I don’t want to do this. Don’t want to break the bond that Flynn and I shared. But I’d rather he was alive and kicking, even if he never wanted to see me again. With sudden resolve, I pick up the pen.

Bullseye stands, he leans over the table, and whips the writing implement out of my hands. “Don’t sign.”

What?

“The courier is coming back later this morning to collect. I say we send him away for a few hours.”

“But why?” My voice is so low, I’m surprised he can hear it.

“Because we’re going to ride to get our brother back. And when we do, it’s up to Rat whether he wants your autograph on that piece of paper.”

They’re going to get Flynn back?“You know where Malachi’s holding him?”

“We hopefully will, in about an hour.” He grins, suddenly. “Just wanted to see if you wanted to take the easy way out.”