Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
“Tell me you were, Dad,” I whispered to the man I held up on a pedestal. “You were the man I thought, right?” Eyes the carbon copy of mine stared back at me. I shook my head. He was. I knew it. These letters were just a way to unnerve me. I didn’t believe my father was a morally corrupt man. And some unhinged stalker wouldn’t make me begin to doubt that now.
I placed the letter in the file with all the others and put them in my drawer. I had barely powered up my computer to work on some Knighton Equestrian contracts when there was a knock on the door and Leon poked his head through.
He held a to-go mug of tea in his hands and said, “I come bearing gifts.”
“You’re a lifesaver,” I said. I accepted the tea from him and took a sip, letting the scalding, milky brew relax my tight throat. Leon dropped into the seat opposite me.
“The horses have landed and have been taken to the venue’s stable yard,” Leon said as he made himself comfortable. “The grooms and staff are all there and set up in the hotel.”
I nodded, but my leg bounced under the table. That letter had left more than a bad taste in my mouth. “Security are there too and have cleared the stables, hotel, and venue,” I said, which gave me some peace. “I’ve spoken to the owner of the arena. They’ve told me no one will go near our horses, and they are in the most secure section with both our men and the arena’s added security.”
Atticus, Sage, and Hallie, as well as our other riders, were flying out to Doha, Qatar, tomorrow for the opening of the Sandings Grand Prix and the start of the season. Everything they had been working for began in a few days’ time.
Forrest and Felix were still in training here at Golden Oaks. Genny was concentrating on her recovery, and I would be staying here, of course.
Leon shook his head, smirking. “How does it feel to still be king of the circuit even after over a year away?” I rolled my eyes at my friend. He held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, you being worshipped makes it so the rest of us get the best treatment and the best facilities. I’m not complaining!”
A knock sounded on my door. Atticus stuck his head through. Leon got to his feet when he saw my younger cousin. “I registered Lord Henry, remember,” he said, and I exhaled an exaggerated sigh. Leon put his hands up again. “Just saying, there’s still space for the returning world champion to join us. Your rankings still stand from previous years.”
I held out my hand for Leon to shake, ignoring his offer, as tempting as it might be. He shook my hand back, and I said, “Keep safe out there, okay? Keep me informed of everything.”
“I will, Jas.” Leon cocked his head to the side. “Come see us sometime, yeah? It’s not the same being out there without you.” A pang of homesickness hit me. Because that circuit was my home. Leon had trained me for years. I felt terrible not going this year. But the letter that had come this morning had me all in my head and told me I was doing the right thing. I swayed between whether my presence on the tour would bring danger or security. But I hadn’t shown my face on the circuit for an age, so in the end I felt it best to stay put.
Leon waved and left. Atticus strutted over to the chair Leon had just vacated and sat down. He threw his feet up on the desk, his arms behind his head. “Make yourself at home, Cousin,” I said dryly.
“Always do,” Atticus said, then threw a mint imperial in his mouth from the bowl Geraldine always put out on my desk. Atticus sucked on the mint and said, “You wanted to see me. What’s up?”
“Look after them all, okay?” I said, straight to the point, causing Atticus to still and narrow his eyes on me. “If you feel anything is amiss, you contact me. Immediately.”
“What’s happened?” he asked, all playfulness forgotten. Atticus was a clown most of the time, but he was loyal to the nth degree and would protect anyone he cared about with a fierce determination. “Have we been threatened again?”
“I’m just being vigilant,” I said, evading the question. He was about to go and compete; he didn’t need to worry about anything else but the team doing well. Atticus hung on my every word. “Security is already over there, but I want you to be my eyes and ears on the tour.” Atticus tipped his head to the side, assessing.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with our resident cowgirl-come-show-jumper, does it?” I glared at my cousin, but as usual, it did nothing to intimidate him. He leaned forward and put his elbows on my desk. “You know,” he said, his voice slipping into a singsong tone, “you could just, I don’t know, come.” He shrugged. “That way, you wouldn’t need me to be your eyes and ears,” he said, air-quoting my words. “You wouldn’t have to parade yourself around. You could keep to yourself. But at least you’d be there to keep watch over us all and put your mind at ease . . .” He smirked. “And make sure a certain blue-eyed hottie was fully intact.”