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“I’ll follow, just in case,” Jamie shouts.

“Fuck’s sake. Me too!” Calls Twang.

Arriving at the ranch, I’m surprised to see an SUV still in the yard, until I see it has a flat tire. Silas is in his chair on the porch, and there’s no sign of Ghost or Chips.

“What happened, Silas? Is everyone okay?” He looks fine, but I was expecting to see Ghost or Chips waiting for us.

“Hell, yeah, son. T’other two are in the barn. Interviewin’ two guys who came asking about a job. Least they said something about a job.” Silas grins and I know he’s enjoying all this shit that’s going down.

Cannon and I walk over to the barn, and as we get closer, we hear the sounds of Ghost interviewing the guys. Sounds of something slapping into flesh.

As we walk inside, Ghost stops hitting one of the guys who is hanging from a beam by his hands, with what looks like a leather belt or strap. Blood is showing through the man’s shirt where the welts have broken the skin. There’s a second guy hanging next to him, but he is upside down, hanging by his ankles.

“What’s happening, Ghost?” I ask pleasantly.

“These gentlemen came to talk to Silas about selling the ranch, but they became a bit unruly when he told them he had found a private buyer for the place. They became disrespectful and threatened that sweet old man with violence. It was distressing to watch, so Chips and I thought we’d teach them some manners. Perhaps ask some questions as we go. Unfortunately, they claim not to have the answers that we require, so I’m just going to have a little fun with them and then kill them.” The one hanging by his hands, his head snaps up on hearing this.

“Mister, I got told to deliver the old guy who owns the ranch an offer to buy the place. If he refused, we was to try to persuade him some. That was it. That was all I was told and all I know.”

“Exactly how did you expect to persuade an old man to sell his life’s work? Rough him up a little? Man of his age couldn’t stand much roughing up, so you’d probably have killed him. That’s what I intend to do to you, well one of you at least. The other will need to take the body back and deliver the message.”

“They ain’t gonna do shit. They ain’t got the balls to do what they’re saying. Why, I bet these pussies ain’t…” My hand flashes and one of my throwing knives sticks in the man’s throat and turns his words to a gurgle.

“That solves who gets to live and who gets to die. Let’s just rough this one up some more and then we can get some lunch. I’m starving.”

Chapter 16

*~* Allegra *~*

The clubhouse looks shipshape, and I’m finding areas where I can make improvements as I go. Several areas have never been cleaned thoroughly. They may have had a cloth run over them, but they have not been washed or polished in many years. I am noticing that the place is beginning to take on a shine, and I am pleased with my work.

Vortex left our room this morning with a spring in his step, I must say. I was horrified that I fell asleep last night after we had been so ready for a night of passion and unbridled lust, but I made up for it when I woke him. He will remember it for many years to come, I think. I know I enjoyed giving so much pleasure after he had been the giver on our other nights. Thinking back, I should be embarrassed by my forwardness, but I am not. I was so excited that it made me braver, and I tried things I would not have imagined with either of my previous lovers.

I have not heard from him, so I don’t think he will be here for lunch with me. That is not so bad, as I can have some lunch and then I need to go to the house and empty my room. They can keep the rent money for this month, but I will not be paying again. They have friends who will snatch the room, so they will not lose out by my leaving.

I can walk to the house and get an Uber back here with my belongings. God knows I have been living without much since Romeo died. I gave up the apartment we had shared, it was going to eat into my savings by being there alone, but above all else, the memories were too hard to bear.

Entering the kitchen, I see Julia hard at work making lunch. She is making hot grilled sandwiches, and they smell divine. I offer to help, but she says she has everything under control and there isn’t much that two people can do at the moment. I ask for a chicken and bacon panini, we call them panino, but hey, when in Rome.

I take a plate, put some of the salad on one side, and when my panini is done, I find a table. It tastes fantastic, and the salad is fresh and crunchy. It is missing a nice dressing, and I don’t mean a bottled store-bought one. I will have to teach Julia how to make a fresh dressing that will elevate her skills.

When a shadow falls across me, I look up and see Noah standing there. He looks as if he is desperate to say something but has become tongue-tied in my presence. I have noticed how he stutters around me, and I think it is sweet. He’ll make someone a fine man in the years to come, I’m sure.

“Join me, Noah. Tell me about your day.” I encourage him so that he may get over his puppy love.

Taking a seat opposite me, with his back to the room, I tell him to move and sit on my side, explaining that he should get into the habit of being able to see his surroundings. Romeo used to teach me little things like that when he was home on leave, along with some basic self-defense training. Even after he’s gone, he’s still taking care of me.

“Allegra, do you have any family?” Noah asks unexpectedly.

“My parents moved back to Italy some time ago. They were not happy when I said I was staying here. My brother told them I could move into his apartment, and he would keep an eye on me. They didn’t like that either. When my brother was killed overseas, they demanded I return to live with them, but again, I refused. My life is here, making my own choices, not in Italy where they would expect me to live how they want me to, marry who they want me to.”

“What about you, Noah, do you have family?”

“I don’t know anymore. My pa died and my mom remarried fairly quick after. She was never meant to be alone or a single-parent. I was the oldest and her new husband wanted me out working and handing my wage over to my mom, which obviously meant to him. I don’t think I was a rebellious kid, but it got to the point that I wanted some of my own money for my own use, and he didn’t like that. He persuaded Mom I was becoming more trouble than I was worth, and she asked me to move out.” He takes a moment here to compose himself.

“As soon as I was out, I worked harder and longer hours to make ends meet. I used to have Sundays at home with them, I missed my brother and sister, but he saw to it that I was discouraged from attending. I invited Mom over with the kids to my place one Sunday, and she brought that asshole. When he saw that I was doing okay, he suggested that I help them financially. I threw them both out and never saw them again. I tried to stay in contact with my siblings, but they were poisoned against me. In the end I just gave up. So, no family.”

“How did you become a prospect?” It’s not the story I expected, so I have to ask.