Ace helps Jett to his feet and limps him toward my truck parked a few spaces over.
“Hunter,” Ace says.
“You’ve got another ride,” I tell him. “You’re not missing it.”
Ace glances toward the arena where the announcer is already hyping the next riders. “You sure?”
“Yeah.”
Jett leans heavily against the side of my truck, still gripping his ribs. “Motherfucker shot me,” he mutters again.
Ace snorts. “You’ll live.”
Together, we haul the shooter to the back of the horse trailer. He’s barely able to stand now, blood smeared across his mouth, but his eyes still carry that same smug glint.
I grab the trailer door and yank it open. Ace shoves the bastard forward, and he stumbles inside.
I slam the door shut and slide the metal latch into place with a heavy clang. Now he’s locked inside with nowhere to go.
Ace wipes his hands on his jeans. “Problem for later,” he mutters.
I nod once. “You deal with him after your ride.”
Ace’s eyes darken slightly. “Oh, I will.”
Jett groans as he slides into the passenger seat of my truck.
“Tell Colten I’ve had to handle this,” I tell him. “And that he needs to take the girls home.”
Ace smirks. “Your wife ain’t gonna like that.”
“No. Neither do I. But she knows the score.”
Lola gets it. And I’ll make it up to her tenfold later. With my tongue.
He types out the message quickly. “Done.”
I glance back toward the horse trailer where the shooter sits locked inside. Then I climb into the driver’s seat and start the engine.
Ace leans against the door for a second. “What’s the message for him?”
My gaze drifts back toward the trailer. “Slice him up,” I say calmly. “And carve something into his chest. Something that makes it obvious.”
A slow grin spreads across his face.
“What message are you sending?” Ace asks.
I meet his eyes.
“NO. That’ll do it. Then let the asshole make his way back to the Greeks with barefeet.”
I pull the truck into gear and drive out of the lot, Jett grumbling beside me as he presses a hand against his side.
“How bad does it hurt?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the road.
“Like a motherfucker, Hunter.”
I chuckle. “The vet will get you fixed up in no time, buddy. Colten has a ton on call at the Ranch for his sanctuary.”