Page 6 of Tack’s Bounty

Tack followed them out. “I’m going to have someone stay here just to make them feel better and make sure cameras are installed tomorrow. These incidents seem more targeted unless we’ve had a string of carcasses left on houses that I haven’t heard about.”

“I agree. This doesn’t seem random, and the dead squirrels along with the dog being hurt concern me. Moving from hurting animals to hurting humans is a small step for someone on this path,” the officer stated, getting in his car.

Tack stood outside, waiting until they left before scrutinizing the street. Ex-mother-in-law’s house was dark and still. A dog barked down the street. The animals on the farm had settled down, which told Tack that whoever had left the present was gone.

How was he going to protect the woman he’d just met but felt like he needed to wrap up and keep safe?

Chapter Four

Sophia waited for the coffee to finish. Although Tack and a couple of his brothers had stayed, Sophia had still been unable to sleep deeply. She’d drift off and then jerk awake, reliving the squirrels swinging on the front porch.

She had a huge sheet of notes on her to-do list to keep herself and the people and animals on her farm safe. She had a shotgun because her property backed up to a nature reserve. She didn’t mind the deer that came onto her property, but every once in a while, a coyote or bobcat would venture onto it. She wanted a way to protect herself and those on her property. One shotgun seemed like it wasn’t enough. Maybe she needed a couple of handguns and a rifle. The shotgun was by the back door and wouldn’t do any good if someone trying to hurt them came through the front door.

This early in the morning, she could hear the creaks and groans of the old farmhouse. It had been in her family for years and belonged to her parents before they passed. Her dad and she had shared the veterinary practice. She’d always loved animals, and growing up had been hard.

Kids at school hadn’t understood Sophia’s eccentricities, but the animals never judged. Her parents had encouraged her to be who she was, not conform to the popular kids at school.

This morning with everything that she’d gone through, she really missed her mom and dad. They’d died four years ago. She’d met Rufus when he came home to live with his mom because of a job move. She didn’t think her parents would have liked Rufus, but she’d been so lost and heartbroken after they died.

Him being across the street had them spending time together, and marriage had seemed like the next step. If only she’d known how that step would change everything. She’d stayed married to Rufus even though he’d started treating her differently after marriage—calling her names that demeaned her and constantly putting down her strange habits. The tipping point for her was when he kicked one of the animals that she had in their house because she needed to check it multiple times a night. She’d known he didn’t love animals like she did, but to see that side of him opened her eyes. And what he and Jolene had done the following day, but she didn’t want to think about that right now.

She’d started divorce proceedings and hired a kick-ass lawyer, who got her what she wanted—her farm, her house, and her freedom. She’d paid a pretty penny to get it. Now, eighteen months later, things had become strange.

“Is the coffee ready?” Tack asked, walking into the kitchen looking as good as he did last night.

She nodded, taking two cups from the cabinet, doctoring hers, and cocking her eyebrow at him. It was a little too early in the morning for full sentences without her coffee.

He smirked and poured a little of the caramel creamer into his coffee, taking a sip.

“This is good. Did you sleep okay?” he asked, the smirk still on his face.

So she was a little grumpy before her coffee. She finished her cup, poured and doctored another, the caffeine hitting her system enough to make forming words possible.

“No. It was intermittent, and I had so many thoughts running through my head at what all needed to be done,” she muttered, continuing to sip the coffee, staring at his cut with ‘Sgt at Arms’ on it. She’d watched the shows with biker clubs but was confused about the different positions beyond President and Vice President.

“So you’re a SWAT officer and also sergeant-at-arms for your club. That must be busy,” she concluded.

“Sometimes. Both of those roles protect people. I also help run the club’s gun shop,” he explained, taking a sip of his coffee.

She was trying to focus on his words, but it was so early, she was exhausted, and he was so nice to look at with his dark hair, close-cropped beard, and his eyes she could drown in.

“Sophia?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered.

“I asked if you’d like help taking care of cameras and an alarm,” he shared, a smile in his voice.

So maybe she’d drifted off wondering how his beard would feel between her thighs, but he was the first man in a long time that actually had her wanting to make sure everything was trimmed and shaved for visitors.

His chuckles had her wondering what was so funny. Oh, fuckity-fuck-a-duck! She sometimes said things out loud when she was thinking.

“Did I say that out loud?” she asked, scandalized he heard her.

“Oh yes, you did, and I can’t wait to share it with the other brothers,” Shield crowed.

Tack turned around, grabbing Shield’s cut. “You will not embarrass her that way. Got it?” he growled.

Oh my! That growl had her pussy waking up and roaring for Tack to come visit.