Best Friend's Ex Box Set

“Enemies? For rescuing abused animals?”

“Yes, enemies,” Robert said steadily. “Do you have any idea who could’ve done this other than Bill Coates?”

“It was him,” I spit out through clenched teeth. “He barged in here two days ago about his horse, mad because I refused to give it back.”

“Where is this horse at?”

To my horror, hot tears flooded my eyes again. Strong and calloused fingers touched my shoulder, and I looked up at Colt, whose gaze was fixated pointedly on Robert.

“The stallion perished in the fire,” Colt said. “We couldn’t get him out of the stall. He was too afraid to move.”

Robert frowned.

“I know Mr. Coates, personally. He wouldn’t have started a fire with the intent to kill his own horse. Who would do that?” I opened my mouth to reply, but Robert held his hand up. “Rest assured, there is an investigation underway. We’ll get to the bottom of this. I just wanted to make sure that you both were okay.”

Colt’s fingers tightened on my shoulder. It took all my strength to not lean into his strong and tall body, to absorb some of his strength instead of using my own for once.

“We’re fine,” Colt said. “Just do an investigation, Robert. You and I both know who is a

t the top of the list.”

The edges of Robert’s lips twitched as he adjusted his hat. He nodded once at me before opening the front door, pausing to look at us both.

“I’ll be in touch,” he said. “Call me if you hear anything that needs to be looked into.”

Colt let go of my shoulder the second the front door closed. He peered out the window before turning to look at me.

“Bastard,” he said flatly, adjusting his hat and running a hand through his hair. “The guy is a piece of shit. I hate dealing with him, yet he always manages to get voted back in somehow.”

Light-headed, I sat down on the edge of the couch and ran a hand through the damp strands of my hair. “I don’t know what I’m going to do,” I mumbled, relishing the soft silkiness of my hair. “What am I going to do?”

“Don’t worry about it,” Colt said. He was in front of me then, crouching lithely on the heels of his feet as he gently held my hands in his own. A jolt went through me at the simple but assuring touch of his strong fingers around mine. “Green Point takes care of everyone, and I’ll help you with whatever I can.”

My eyes slipped closed because I didn’t want Colt to read any of the emotions there. I was just grateful he was there—even if we were complete strangers. He had risked his life last night and was still here vowing to help me.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

Chapter Six

Colt

Bill Coates’s ranch was clean and organized. When I stepped into the barn, I saw that all the tools were where they needed to be. The horses were well fed, and everything was in order, but it didn’t fool me. With an animal cruelty investigation going on, I wasn’t surprised to see all the animals in sight appearing healthy and well cared for.

I pulled the bell out of my pocket that I had found tied to the front of the barn door, used to alert him if anyone was coming into the barn. The element of surprise was on my side, but I knew Bill well enough to know that he’d have me arrested for trespassing if I didn’t indicate my presence in his barn. I shook it hard before tossing it to the ground.

“Coming!” Bill yelled out from the small room he kept bags of feed stored in. “Just give me one second. I thought you weren’t coming back until—”

He stopped talking the second he saw me standing there. His eyes immediately narrowed in suspicion, while one of his hands automatically went to his right backside where I knew his .9mm was sure to be holstered.

“What do you want?” Bill asked coldly. “I don’t have supplies to volunteer to Cheyenne like you if that’s what you’re here for.”

“You don’t look pleased to see me,” I commented, crossing my arms. “Before you shoot me, you should know that my staff knows I was coming by here to talk to you.”

Bill immediately pulled his hand away from his back, sneering. “Lucky you. I’d put a bullet right between your eyes for coming in here the way you did, but you’re better than those damn PETA people your girlfriend got on my ass.”

“Is that why you burned down her barn?” I spat out. “Because you were upset that she actually took care of your damn animals, unlike yourself?”

“Look at my horses right now,” he said, pointing a finger at the stalls. “They look perfectly fine to me. That’s what PETA said, too.”