“Kinda.” I blow out a breath of air not ready to make this man aware of how alone I am. For all he knows my brother could be returning any day now. If only.
“Alright then.” He presses between his brows. “I’ll help you one more time, but after this you’re on your own. I have my own shit to tend to and this is the second time you’ve gotten in the way today.”
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
“Too bad sorry won’t keep your animals on your property. Come on. Let’s go catch some pigs.” His attention shifts to my feet. “You might want to put on some shoes first.” Tilting his head, he bites back a smirk. “Maybe even change your socks.”
Lifting one of my feet off the ground, I take in the shit smashed on the bottom and my nose curls. “Yeah, probably a good call.”
I rush inside to not only change my socks, but also to put on shoes before returning to where he is. The man already has the same pig from before in his arms and this time he’s talking to it the way someone would a cute little baby. Did someone else come out here and invade his body while I was gone?
Walking closer, I clear my throat. He straightens up where he stands, pressing his lips in a thin line and suddenly the hard-faced asshole from before is back. I’m starting to wonder whether I bring it out of him and if I need to walk back into the house to give him some more time alone with the pig so he’s in a better mood again.
“This one came right back to me. How about you put him away and meet me at my house when you’re done. I’m willing to bet the rest are still over there tormenting my cat.”
Reaching for the pig, my eyes widen in surprise. “Wait. You have a cat?” I pull the pig into my arms and he’s more restless than before.
“Yes. Why is that hard to believe? You’re the one who can’t handle owning animals, not me.”
“Did you used to have pigs and sheep before or something?”
“Or something.” He grins my way before heading back toward his yard. “See you in a few minutes. Don’t take too long and keep a better grip on that pig this time,” he shouts over his shoulder.
Walking toward the barn, I place the pig back with his momma and head toward my neighbor’s house. At least I now know he’s capable of doing more than scowling and gritting his teeth at me. It wasn’t a full smile I got, but a grin was close enough. Maybe by the end of the day I can have those full lips of his turning all the way up and pressed to mine.
A guy can dream.
Two
Nicolas
The door slams shut behind me as I walk back into my house. Locking the door, I grab the clean knife from the end table and trudge down to the basement steps. The man tied to the chair is mumbling against the tape and trying to break the zip ties with his hands as he rattles the chair. His face is dripping with sweat, and his shoulder is bleeding from where I shot him. If I wanted to kill him, I would have, but I have other plans.
Shaking my head, I click my tongue. “I’m having to deal with way too many problems today.” At least the wannabe sheep herder was kinda cute, in an awkward and oddly annoying way. He was also, without a doubt, in over his head. Maybe I should gift him the book,Farming for Dummies.
The man rocks the chair back and forth, his screams muted against the makeshift gag. “You’ve been snooping around the wrong house,pendejo. I’ll give you one more chance to tell me why.”
Using the knife, I slip it under the gag and rip it free from his mouth. His lip bleeds and he whines from the cut I left behind. “I won’t tell you shit.”
Wiping my knife on the front of his shirt, I click my tongue. “Wrong answer.”
“What are you going to do? Cut me again?”
Sliding my knife back into my pocket, I shake my head. “No. I’d rather do something you don’t expect. Besides, you’re looking a little thirsty.” I press my foot on the center of the chair and push until he falls to his back. He yelps, wiggling against the restraints again. “Fuck. My head. I think it’s bleeding.”
“Don’t worry. Not only will I give you something to drink, I’ll also help you rinse off.”
“Fuck you,” he shouts as I run back up the stairs. I grab a towel, a tie, and a bucket before returning back to where my intruder is. The floorboards creak as I run down the steps and they shake beneath my feet.
Loud tortured moans have me picking up my pace with the need to make them louder. He’s not where I want him to be yet—overcome and choked with fear. “How about we have that drink now.”
Tossing everything to the floor, I grab the tie and wrap it around his eyes as he shakes his head. I fill the bucket with water at the sink attached to the back wall and toss the towel over his face.
“I don’t know anything. I promise. I was only fucking with you before.”
I inhale a sharp breath between my teeth and rest my foot on his chest, earning me a groan.
“I don’t believe you.”