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)
“Afraid not,” I said. I gestured to the door. “Excuse me, Gordon, but I’m needed inside. We can talk soon, okay?”
“Okay, son. Good to see you,” he said, and I could see by his expression that he had another bunch of questions to ask me. I supposed that happened when you mysteriously retired from the circuit at the peak of your career.
I tapped Gordon on his arm and, on a deep breath, walked through the double doors. Music was blaring and there were round tables scattered around the room, where riders from all over the globe were sitting. I caught the hushed, shocked whispers from those nearby.
My name floated in the air around me, but I didn’t pay anyone any mind, my gaze roving over the crowd, looking for a certain angel in gold. A couple moved off the dance floor, and behind them, Hallie and Sage came into view. They were sitting at a table, talking to other riders from Germany and Belgium, if my memory served me well.
I cut through the crowd, making a beeline for Hallie, only for Atticus to walk into my path. “Hello, Cousin,” he said, with an arrogant smirk on his lips.
“Atticus,” I said on a sigh. He glanced around us. I didn’t follow his journey. “Looks like you’ve caused quite the stir.” I finally flicked my gaze around me, to see hundreds of eyes focused on me. Anger filled my veins when Alexis Hobbs stopped in her tracks on the way back from the bar and a smirk pulled on her red-painted lips. I made sure to keep my eyes on Atticus and just watch Hallie from my peripheral.
“Jasper!” Spencer Franklin, from the Franklin Stud, slapped me on the back. “Long time no see, friend!” I smiled as Spence stood before me. He looked good. I hadn’t seen him in ages.
“Good to see you, Spence,” I said, and his sister Lucy appeared next. I hugged her too. When I was competing, Spencer was who I spent most of my time with outside of Atticus. He was a great guy and fierce competitor.
“I’m so sorry about the attack on your stud,” I said, and Spencer and Lucy nodded solemnly.
“At least whoever did it was stopped.” Spencer shook his head. “I don’t want to imagine what would have happened if they’d succeeded.”
“Is your dad okay?” I asked.
“He’s getting there,” Lucy said. And smiled. “More determined than ever to protect his business and find out if the people responsible run deeper than the one random man who was caught and refuses to talk.” She shrugged. “You know what Dad’s like; he’s a bulldog with a bone now.”
Spencer looked behind us and said, “It doesn’t help that vipers like Alexis Hobbs are circling.” Alexis was now draped over Colin Ross, a competitor from Scotland. He looked about as happy to have her touch him as everyone else was. Spencer turned back to me. “The minute she saw us yesterday at the stables she asked us how our yard was recovering.” Spencer snarled. “But it was the way she asked it. Like she would have rejoiced if the loss of our stallion semen sales had buried us.”
Lucy nodded. “She told us to remind our father of her offer. And that our family had done enough for the industry and deserved to retire.” Lucy’s face frosted over. “Bitch.” I huffed a laugh at the venom in her voice. Lucy smiled too. “I can’t help it, Jas. I like to think of myself as a nice person, but around her I become violent.”
“It’s not just you, Luce,” I said, and she smiled in relief.
“I can’t prove it, but she’s up to something,” Spencer said. “I know she’s been bold with business since she took over from her old man, but she’s gone from level five to ten the past couple of years. She seems to want every yard in Britain.” He shook his head in annoyance. “Like an English Rockefeller.”
I cast my eyes around us and made sure no one was listening in. Turning back to Spencer and Lucy, I said, “Our state-of-the-art electric stabling system was hacked recently.” Spencer and Lucy stilled. “Dahlia got out and got stuck in a fence. I didn’t think she would make it out alive. Luckily, she did. But someone knew Dahlia was there. I can only surmise that they wanted to cause maximum damage.”
“Genny . . .” Lucy said, gripping my arm. “Is she okay? She never told me last time we talked.” Lucy and Genny were close friends. I knew Genny hadn’t told anyone. We hadn’t wanted it leaving the yard so agreed to keep it to ourselves. The NDAs of our staff forbade them from talking outside our walls too.
“More foul play,” Spencer said, then looked to Alexis again. “I bloody hope I’m wrong, but I’m starting to think all these refused sales of stud farms and then the sudden attacks may not be a coincidence.”