SWAT Ed: Fox & Bull (Nothing Special 8)

“Someone should’ve taught you better manners when you come onto another man’s property,” Bull snarled, never breaking stride.

Oh fuck! A panic like none other tore through Fox’s chest. He’d never seen Bull fight before, but he sure as fuck knew what God was capable of. Hart and Syn were already moving with him because there was no way he was letting this fight happen.

Before God and Bull could get close enough to collide, the sounds of hooves pounding the earth and causing the ground to tremble brought them up short. Garvin, Rid, and six more of Bull’s well-built ranch hands rode up behind God’s team and pushed them back against the truck with their large, imposing animals.

“There’s no fighting on this ranch,” Garvin rumbled. “Especially with the boss.”

Bull’s men were merely a distraction because not even Fox saw Dale fly from around the back of the house on Brandy’s back until he was already on them, leaving no time for them to react before it was too late. Dale kicked out wildly as he charged straight at the man about to go toe-to-toe with his best friend.

God’s green eyes flew open, and his husband leapt into action, but not even Day’s remarkable speed was a match for Brandy. Dale was coming in so damn hot and fast that Fox tried to prepare his mind for the devastation of the crash, but it never happened. At the last second, Dale reared back, digging his heels into the stirrups as he pulled tight on the reins. He masterfully spun Brandy’s wide flank and slammed her into God’s entire right side, her back legs skidding to a dramatic halt, stopping on the spot. The force not only knocked God off his feet, she sent him airborne a couple of yards before his big body crashed into the grill of the SUV.

“Cash!” Day hollered, running to his partner.

“Oh fuck!”

“Fuck!”

“Shit!”

“Da fuck?”

Curses rang out as the situation quickly went from uncomfortable to hostile. Chaos erupted around them as God’s enforcers bolted into action. Fox couldn’t handle it if one of Bull’s men was hurt because of him, and he wasn’t trying to take any manhood points away from Rid and Garvin, but he knew they were no match for Tech and Steele.

Ruxs and Green turned on Bull, but Fox was already standing in front of him. “Enough!” Fox yelled. “I’m coming, I’m fucking coming with you! Stop!”

“Dale,” Fox barked, watching as the foreman pulled his new rope from behind him and readied it in his hand. “Stop.”

“With all due respect, Fox, not until this big bastard apologizes,” Dale said, watching God get back to his feet.

“Oh yeah.” Day leveled his hazel eyes on Dale. “And I say this with all due respect—by which I mean I have none—that I will blow your ass off that fuckin’ horse if you try that shit again.”

Dale inched Brandy forward, a hard scowl creasing his rugged face. His eyes were on God when he spoke. “I bet a big motherfucker like you ain’t used to having to look up to meet the eyes of another man.”

God squinted up at Dale as if he would’ve murdered him by now if it wasn’t for the badge around his neck that said to serve and protect.

Dale’s expression was smug as he sat taller on his horse’s strong back and sneered down at God. “How’s it feel?”

“Back. The fuck. Up,” Day warned.

When Dale didn’t move fast enough Day banged his palm on the hood of the truck and the sunroof to the second Escalade flew open, and Michaels—God’s sniper—rose over the shield and aimed his rock salt shotgun at Dale’s chest.

“No! Don’t!” Fox threw his hands up, trying to contain the situation. But it seemed the harder he, Hart, and Syn tried to cool the enraged tempers, the more they flared.

Fox was pushing against Bull’s chest, his panicked eyes on the large weapon aimed at Dale. But Michaels didn’t get a chance to pull the trigger before Rid whipped his lasso over his head twice, then shot it towards Michaels at lightning speed. Fox thought he was going for the officer’s shoulders, about to drag him out of the SUV through the damn sunroof. But Rid’s loop hooked around the long barrel of the shotgun, and with a quick jerk of his arm, he sent the gun sailing in the other direction.

“What the hell?” Michaels bit out as he disappeared back inside. It wouldn’t be long before he reappeared with something else.

“Stand down! Everyone, stand the fuck down, now!” Hart bellowed, manhandling God by his vest straps when he tried to get to Dale.

Day made a frightening signal to Ruxs and Green, his most dangerous enforcers. “Fox, you better call off the fuckin’ magnificent seven, or else I’m gonna have my guys introduce us properly.”