Page 54 of Mountain Grump Protector

“Oh yeah?”

I shrug. “Small town. People talk and…well, you know my brother.” It’s a risk bringing Bryson into this, but I have to take the chance. Ronnie scowls, but I continue, letting my finger drift away. “I have to admit, Ronnie. I never figured you for a guy important enough to move something worth stealing.”

The bait lands exactly the way I hoped it would.

“Pft. Important enough?” he laughs. “Little lady, the goods in my truck are worth more than everything your family owns.”

I widen my eyes in faux surprise.

“Really?”

“Fifty grand worth,” he says proudly. “How’s that for important enough?”

“Wow.” I bat my eyelashes, laying it on thick. “You really must be important to have that kind of…what exactly?”

“The kind of product city folk will pay top dollar for.” He puffs up his chest. “Pure and uncut.”

There it is.

“Sounds risky.”

He laughs, and I take the opportunity to take a step back, putting distance between us.

“Only if you get caught,” he says. “And I don’t plan on it.” The arrogance—and stupidity—practically drips off him. “By the time anybody figures out where my shipments are going, they’re already halfway across the province.”

Shipments. Plural.

Got you.

I knew Ronnie was into some bad shit, but I had no idea it was this bad.

I almost smile.

“But I am going to need that truck back, kid.” His head swings toward my brother, and I use his moment of distraction to step all the way back in line with Cal.

Beside me, Cal’s hand reaches out to find me. He laces his fingers through mine and squeezes quickly before pulling back.

“I don’t think you should worry about the truck, Ronnie.”

Once more, his gaze focuses on me, a quick flash of surprise on his face to see that I’m no longer standing directly in front of him with a flirty smile on my face.

He opens his mouth to protest, but before he can, I reach into my back pocket and pull out my cell phone. Quickly, I hit stop on the recording and press send on the message, sending the recording to the authorities, all before I look up to see Ronnie’s face twisted into a purple, pulsing rage as he steps toward me.

“What the fuck?”

“Don’t bother.” I hold my hand out as if it could stop his advance. “The recording’s already been sent to the authorities.”

“Joke’s on you, sweetheart,” he sneers. “There’s no cell service on the mountain.”

“Think again, Hatch.” Cal steps up, putting himself between us. Luke is right there with him.

“I installed a state-of-the-art communications system up here years ago,” Luke says. “Private network, of course.”

Ronnie’s gaze drops to the phone in my hand, and I watch the realization spread across his face. For the first time since he arrived on the mountain, the mask of confidence slips. Not completely, but enough for me to see the panic underneath. I can't stop the small smile of satisfaction that crosses my face.

“You little bitch.”

He comes at me fast enough that I barely have time to react, but Cal moves faster. His hand wraps around Ronnie's wrist before he can get anywhere close to me.