Turner's gaze shifts to Luke, and his smile widens. "Luke Bennett. I hear you’re an explosives expert. A man who gets things done. I could use someone like you."
Luke doesn't respond, but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hand stays near his weapon.
Turner turns his attention back to Jake. "Look, I'm not here to make threats. I'm here to offer an opportunity. You have a good thing going at Blackthorn. I respect that. But like I’ve said before, there's room for collaboration. For mutual benefit."
"What kind of collaboration?" Jake asks, his tone carefully neutral.
"Land, for starters." Turner's expression shifts—still friendly but sharper now. His eyes flick past the men to where Emma and I stand on the porch. “Emma, you're looking well. Pregnancy agrees with you. But it must be a lot of work, running a ranch onyour own in the face of motherhood. All those responsibilities. All that pressure."
Emma's hand tightens on my back, but her voice is steady. "I manage just fine."
"I'm sure you do." Turner's smile is sympathetic, understanding. "But it doesn't have to be so hard. I could take that burden off your hands. Make it worth your while. You could focus on what’s important to you, like your family and your photography. Building a life that doesn't require quite so much sacrifice."
Is that a threat? It sounds like a threat.
I don't even realize I'm moving until I'm at the edge of the porch, my entire body coiled to launch at him. Every instinct I have is screaming to protect Emma, to shut this predator down, to make him pay for what he did to my father and what he's trying to do to everyone in Iron Ridge.
Somehow, Luke catches me, wrapping his arms around my waist. Lifting me off my feet, his body angles between me and the steps. "Easy, sunshine," he murmurs for my ears only.
I struggle to pull free, but he doesn't let go. His eyes meet mine, steady and grounding.I can practically hear him saying,Hold it together.
Turner is watching, his smile knowing. "Deputy Garrett. Such a pleasure to see you here."
"She's not on duty," Luke says, his voice flat.
"I can see that." Turner's eyes flicker between us but there’s no surprise in what he sees, like he knew we’re together. Could my dad have told him?
"Circle H isn't for sale," Jake says, drawing Turner's attention back. "And we’re not interested in acollaboration. So if that's all you came to say, you can leave."
Turner doesn't look offended. If anything, he looks pleased, like he got exactly what he came for. "Fair enough. But the offerstands." He sets the campaign pins on the porch railing. "Think about it. You know where to find me. Appreciate your time, gentlemen. Ladies."
He tips his head in a mock salute and walks back to his truck, unhurried and confident like he owns the place. Like he owns all of us.
I watch him go, my heart pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat. Luke's still holding me back, keeping me from doing something reckless, which is just as well because I’m on a hair trigger.
The truck's engine starts. Cole pulls away, gravel crunching under his tires.
The moment he's out of sight, Luke releases me.
I spin toward him, my voice shaking with barely controlled fury. "He just walked up here and?—"
"It’s not the first time," Luke says.
"He threatened Emma. He threatened all of you. And he did it with asmile." My hands are shaking. "That's the man who destroyed my father, who's been killing people and stealing their land for five years, and he just stood there like he's running for student council."
"I know." Luke's hands come up to frame my face, forcing me to look at him. "I know, Harper."
I'm breathing too fast, my chest tight. The lack of sleep, the confrontation with my father, and now this—it's all crashing down on me at once.
"Usually it's me someone needs to pull back from the edge," Luke says. There's a hint of dark humor in his voice. "Gotta say, sunshine, I'm not used to being the calm one."
I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "This isn't funny."
He rubs his thumb along my lip. "No, it's not."
Jake moves closer, his expression grim. "He's not afraid of us."
"He thinks he’s protected," Mason says. "That's why he walked up here like he owns the place."