Free Carter, Beth D. - Lawless Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Unknown Page B

it open, staring at Cassidy with every ounce of fury she felt.
    “You’ve already hurt me, Cassidy!” she yelled, poking her finger into his chest. “You made me believe in you, made me believe that I could depend on you. That somehow I managed to find not one man but two who could look past this scar on my face and see the woman under it. See the person I really am and love her. But instead you’ve ruined the one thing I had left. My brother.”
    She went to slam the door in his face, but his left hand stopped it. With his right hand, he grabbed her upper arm and forced her back so that they could enter, Garrett right behind Cassidy. He closed the door, and suddenly she found herself alone in the house with them.
    “Get out,” she ordered, trying to sound firm. But the demand came out breathless and just a tad desperate.
    “No,” he said. “We gave you space last night to calm down, but Breaux Cox is here, Scharlie . And we’re out of time. We need to leave.”
    Scharlie stared into his eyes, trying to see the truth, before turning to look at Garrett. All she saw was resolution.
    “I’m not running away from my home,” she vowed.
    Cassidy swore under his breath and turned away, running his hands through his hair. Garrett stepped past him and took Scharlie by the arms. “Nothing is more important than your safety, Scharlie . No matter what you think of us, no matter what you think of this situation, you got to understand it’s not worth your life. We’re too vulnerable here. If you’re safe, then Cassidy and I can hunt Cox and his men down.”
    “You mean you can kill them.”
    He nodded.
    She sighed and pulled out of his hands. She turned her back and wrapped her arms around her as her mind quickly raced through the past twenty-four hours. Did she have a choice but to trust Cassidy and Garrett now? Breaux Cox had invaded her sanctuary, had broken the illusion of safety and privacy. And if she was really honest with herself, she would admit that Cassidy and Garrett had made her feel secure.
    She sighed and turned to face them. “I’m not agreeing yet, but what’s your plan?”
    She saw their shoulders relax.
    “ Willow City ,” Cassidy said without missing a beat.
    “Why Willow City ?”
    “Because it’s the nearest city with a train depot, and it’s large enough to make sure Cox doesn’t do anything stupid, like go after you,” Garrett said.
    “Plus it has a payroll shipment coming in on tomorrow’s train,” Cassidy added. “Cox won’t want to miss it.”
    “He and his men will be cornered, and we’ll take care of him, once and for all.”
    Scharlie didn’t ask how they knew about the payroll shipment. She didn’t like the chill that coursed over her skin at the satisfied gleam shining in Cassidy’s eyes. She had a sudden feeling that no matter how much they might want to help her, she was just the catalyst bringing forth a plan they had devised from the start.

Chapter Twelve

    They left later in the day, once Scharlie had packed and locked the house up. Willow City lay forty miles northwest of Rock Ridge, and the only way to get there was by horse. Scharlie didn’t complain, even though she was cramped behind Cassidy’s hard body, clinging to him tightly. It brought back memories of when he held her, possessed her, and a thrill shot through her to her core. She had missed her men in her bed last night, missed their warmth.
    Damn them for being outlaws.
    They stopped twice, and each time Scharlie switched riding behind Cassidy and Garrett, allowing the horses rest from carrying an extra person. The second time they came to a grove of tall oak trees, Scharlie excused herself, seeking privacy. She walked a ways away, finding an area to relieve herself and grabbing a moment to breathe without the scent of male invading her nostrils.
    She was honest enough to admit that she was turned on. Being behind the men, having the rhythmic motion of the horse rocking against her, had almost