Page 22 of Sapphire

We all turn to look at our stable manager, who’s now glaring at our trespasser friend.

Dustin is a sturdy guy and not to be messed with, but he’s a real sweetheart to the women of the club and those who know him well. He’s a cowboy at heart and a good soul.

Jade fills him in, “He’s trespassing, Dusty.” She’s always called him by that nickname. Some of us have noticed the glances they’ve shared. Even though nothing has transpired between them, personally, I think they’d make a cute couple.

“You all okay?” he asks, sliding off Mustang. He’s in his usual work gear, including chaps and a cowboy hat, and while his focus is on Jade, that sentiment alone is why we keep him around. He keeps an eye on things, works hard, and he’s loyal.

“We’re fine,” I answer for everyone. “We caught this asshole trespassing. He’s just leaving.”

Dustin folds his arms over his chest, his glare ice cold. “What are you doin’ here, and who sent you?”

“The company! Zoro Holdings,” he blurts. “I-I don’t know much about who they are. They paid me to come and survey the land…” He thrusts a bunch of papers at us. “It was a routine job.”

From his trembling hands, I’d say he’s been set up, or he really is fucking clueless. Plus, he’s probably doing this off the books, hence why he’s so nervous.

“I don’t suppose this Zoro Holdings has something to do with Lanzetti, does it?” Ruby asks, sarcastic as all shit.

He looks like he’s going to piss his pants when he says, “I-I think there’s a possibility, I have heard that name before⁠—”

Still holding him by the scruff of the neck, I shake him again. “Spit it out, you either have, or you haven’t!”

“Y-yes, Lanzetti, it rings a bell.” By now this man’s face is as white as a sheet, and he looks like he might pass out. Honestly, what a clown.

“Yeah, I’ll bet it does,” Dustin mutters. “So, why are you here on private property?”

“To survey the boundaries of the land. I’m recording the official land titles,” he says, eyes darting to all of us in turn like he doesn’t know where to look.

“What else?” I put in.

He clears his throat. “S-subdivision planning. There are legal compliances that must adhere to local planning laws, zoning rules, and infrastructure requirements.”

“And you had no idea you were trespassing?” Dustin sounds skeptical. “Find that a little hard to believe.”

“I’m with you there,” Jade agrees wholeheartedly.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean any harm.”

We all stare at him, and finally I let him go. He stumbles backward as get in his face. “You tell Lanzetti from the Stiletto Riders that Rustic Grove isn’t for sale. None of this will ever be his, not for any price, got that, Greg!”

Greg nods, then turns and skedaddles back the way he came. He gets snagged on the fence and rips his pants. Dustin sighs as he strolls over to free him. Red-faced and now bleeding from the barbed wire, he makes a run for it.

“Slimy fuck,” I mumble. “Talk about a snake in the grass.”

“Diamond is gonna be pissed,” Jade says.

“Tell me about it,” I retort. An uneasy feeling washes over me.

“We need this sit-down.” Ruby, looking just as angry as I feel, points in Greg’s direction. His retreating figure heads toward his truck, parked on the other side of the ravine. “And fast, this shit can’t keep going on. What’s gonna be next?”

“An electric fence for one,” Dustin says. “That’ll keep the assholes out.”

He hasn’t got a bad point, all things considered.

My phone pings, and I pull it out of my back pocket. My eyes widen when I see Sin’s name on my screen.

Sin

You free?