Linc jumped out then adjusted the front seat for some reason. “Time to do the ‘is Mari too short to drive Daddy’s truck’ test. Although I still don’t think I’m going to let you drive it anyway.”
“Daddy,” she sighed. It was all too easy to call him that now. In fact, she couldn’t imagine calling him anything else. She might have to watch out in public that she didn’t slip.
“Don’t Daddy me.” He waggled a finger at her. “It’s too big for you.”
He helped her out of the truck and led her around to his side, lifting her in.
Crap. She shifted forward in the seat, reaching for the pedals. There! She turned and gave Linc a triumphant look.
“See, Daddy? I can totally drive this.”
“Sure, if you don’t need to see where you’re going,” a deep voice said, startling her.
She gave a gasp, twisting to see a big man standing behind Linc. He was several inches taller than Linc and broader. Thick with muscle, he had blond hair and a fair complexion. His beard was blond interspersed with red. Blue eyes watched her coldly.
Linc turned. Obviously, he hadn’t heard the other man approach either. “Zander!”
Zander? That name sounded vaguely familiar. He didn’t look like a ranch hand. Could this guy even ride a horse without it collapsing beneath him? Although he’d probably just terrify the cattle into doing what he wanted anyway.
“You’re not serious about her driving your truck, right?” Zander asked without greeting Linc.
“It’s good to see you, man. It’s been a while,” Linc said. “And no, I think it’s clear she can’t safely drive it.”
Zander grunted.
Linc turned and lifted her down, giving her a wink. She slipped her hand into his, feeling uncertain.
“Zander, this is Marisol. Mari-girl, Zander. He works for JSI.”
Another noise came from Zander. She couldn’t work out if he was agreeing with Linc or not. She held out her hand and Zander just stared at it.
“Um, Zander doesn’t shake hands, teeny,” Linc told her gently.
Okay.
Linc squeezed the hand he held in comfort.
“What’s up? Do you need something?” Linc asked him.
“Heard you got trouble with the Devil’s Sinners,” Zander said.
“Ah, yeah. Kent spoke to you?”
Zander just crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Linc.
“How did you get here so quickly?” Linc asked.
“I’m superman,” Zander said.
Wait. Was that a joke? She looked up at Linc, unsure. He appeared just as confused.
“I was also in the area when Kent called. Need to talk to him about increasing the security for the ranch. I snuck in without setting off any alarms.”
“I’m sure he’ll enjoy that conversation,” Linc said dryly.
“Yes.”
Was he serious? Did he not understand that Linc was being sarcastic? She just couldn’t tell.
“And you have no security on your cabin. The door was unlocked.”
She moved closer to Linc as Zander gave him a disapproving look.
Linc wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Zander tilted his head slightly as he studied her. “Are you scared of me?”
Okay. She hadn’t expected him to ask her that outright. “You’re a bit intimidating.”
He just nodded. He didn’t offer any reassurances. He was an odd guy.
Zander turned to Linc. “Are you inviting me in or are we having this conversation out here?”
“Conversation?” Linc asked.
“About what to do about the Devil’s Sinners.”
“Oh right. Yep. Come in. Ahh, Mari needs her lunch soon, though.”
“Would you like to stay for lunch?” Marisol asked, thinking they should be polite since it sounded like he was here to help them.
Zander watched her as though confused by the offer. “No. Thank you. I like to prepare my own food. Less likelihood of being poisoned.”
“Poisoned? You mean food poisoning?”
“That too.”
That too? Who was this guy?
“This won’t take long,” Zander said.
“Sure. Come in, we’ll talk in my office.” Linc took her hand again, leading her into the house.
“Your doors should be locked,” Zander lectured. “And you need an alarm system. Do you have a weapon?”
“I’ve got a rifle.”
Zander shook his head, looking incredulous. “You need a weapon in every room. Loaded and hidden.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Linc said. “And it would be dangerous with Mari around.”
Zander glanced down at her. “Do you know how to use a gun?”
She shook her head as Linc stripped off her jacket, scarf and hat, putting them away. The foyer was already pretty small, with Zander in here, it felt tiny.
Marisol really didn’t want to learn how to fire a gun.
“She should know how to use one. Everyone on the ranch should,” Zander countered.
“The ranch is a safe place to live.”
“Doesn’t mean trouble won’t come here. Always be prepared for the worst. I told Clint to build a safe room into each cabin. Didn’t listen to me. I have one in each of my houses.”
A safe room? Guns? Self-defense? One in each of his houses?
She looked at Linc in alarm. He smoothed back her hair. “Why don’t you go rest for a while, teeny. Read Caley’s book. I’ll put some leftovers in the oven to heat. We’ll eat in about forty-five minutes, okay?”
“Don’t you need me for this meeting?”
“I’ve got it.”
Zander gave her a nod. Linc led him into his office and she raced off gratefully. Even if she did feel a bit guilty about leaving Zander to Linc.
Linc led Zander into his small office. “Take a seat.”
“I don’t like to sit,” Zander replied, leaning against the back wall and staring out the window. Linc sat with a sigh. He hadn’t had much to do with Zander, even though the other man had worked for JSI for years.
Blunt and eccentric, Zander didn’t live here on the ranch. Nobody knew exactly where he lived most of the time. Doc had to go and help him a few months back when he was shot, but he said he’d been blindfolded before being driven to him.
Paranoid.
Rumors were he had his own small group of mercenaries that he led. Linc wasn’t sure why he even continued to work for Kent.
Anyway, none of that mattered right now.
“Kent told me everything he knows. Can you go over it in case he missed anything,” Zander said jumping straight into business. He didn’t really do small talk.
Linc told him everything that had happened with Tiger and Marisol.
“You want him taken out?” Zander asked bluntly.
Yes. Fuck. He didn’t want this asshole breathing the same air as his girl. But could he order his murder and live with that on his conscience? “I’d like to know where he is. Maybe deliver a message.”
Zander just raised an eyebrow. “Guys like that, they don’t usually take messages like that well.”
“If we kill him then Saber will have all of his men gunning for us.”