by Donna Grant
Danny blew out a long breath. “Is there anyone new he’s been hanging around with?”
“No,” she assured him. “Not that I’ve seen.”
After the last incident when Brice was about to enter a house that his friends had broken into, he’d sworn he wouldn’t get into any more trouble. Abby truly believed that the brush with the law had set him straight.
Her heart sank as she realized that her brother could very well go to jail. She knew she was a poor substitute for their mother, but she’d done the best she could.
“What happens now?” she asked, racking her brain to come up with memories of past shows she’d seen to indicate what would happen next. “Is there a bail hearing or something?”
“That depends on Clayton.”
Just what she needed.
But Abby was willing to do anything for her brothers. She sat up straight and looked Clayton in the eye. “My brother is young and stupid. I’m not making excuses for him, but he’s had a hard time since our mother left. I’m doing everything I can to—”
“You’re raising him?”
She halted at his interruption before nodding. “Both Brice and Caleb.”
He stared at her for a long, silent minute.
Abby wasn’t too proud to beg. And she’d even get on her knees if that was what it took. “Please don’t press charges. I’ll pay back whatever it is you’ve lost with the theft.”
“Abby,” Danny said in a harsh whisper.
“Is that so?” Clayton asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re really going to repay my family?”
Abby looked between Clayton and Danny before returning her gaze to Clayton and nodding. Her throat clogged because she knew the amount would be enormous, but if it meant her brother wouldn’t go to jail, she’d gladly pay it.
“There were a hundred cows stolen. Thirty of them were recovered when your brother was arrested, which leaves seventy unaccounted for. Let’s round it to $2000 each. That’s $140,000. Not to mention that each of them is about to calf. Each calf will go for a minimum of $500 each. That’s an additional $35,000.”
Oh, God. She would be paying for the rest of her life. And she was fairly certain Clayton wanted the payment now. How in the world was she ever going to come up with that kind of money?
But Clayton East wasn’t finished. He had yet to deliver the killing blow.
“Then there’s Cochise, one of our prized bulls. He’s worth $100,000.”
She put a hand over her mouth as her stomach rebelled. She really was going to be sick, and at the moment, the idea of vomiting on Clayton East sounded tempting.
There was no way she could come up with $275, much less $275,000. Worse, Clayton knew it. It was written all over his face.
Danny rose to his feet and stood at the end of the table. “Abby, you need to get Brice to tell you where the rest of the cattle are.”
The words barely penetrated her mind. She stared at the metal table, her mind blank. Usually, she was able to think up some way to get her brothers out of whatever mess they’d gotten into—and there had been some real doozies.
She’d toiled through various jobs until she landed a position at the CPA company where she was currently employed. Despite the fact that she worked sixty hours a week, they wouldn’t put her on salary because that would mean they’d have to give her health insurance.
Even with those hours and every cent she scraped together, it still didn’t cover their monthly bills. But the one thing she’d promised her brothers was that she would take care of them.
And she had.
Up until today.
She scooped up her purse and stood before facing Danny. “I’d like to see my brother now.”
It took everything within her to walk out of the room without giving the high and mighty Clayton East a piece of her mind.
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ALSO BY DONNA GRANT
(CLICK TO PURCHASE)
Contemporary Paranormal
REAPER SERIES
Book 1: Dark Alpha’s Claim
Book 2: Dark Alpha’s Embrace
Book 3: Dark Alpha’s Demand
Book 1-3: Tall Dark Deadly Alpha (Bundle)
Book 4: Dark Alpha’s Lover
Book 5: Dark Alpha’s Night (December 2017)
Book 6: Dark Alpha’s Hunger (March 2018)
* * *
DARK KINGS
Book 0.1: Dark Craving
Book 0.2: Night’s Awakening
Book 0.3: Dawn’s Desire
Book 0.1-0.3: Dark Heat
Book 1: Darkest Flame
Book 2: Fire Rising
Book 3: Burning Desire
Book 4: Hot Blooded
Book 5: Night’s Blaze
Book 6: Soul Scorched
Book 6.5: Dragon King
Book 7: Passion Ignites
Book 8: Smoldering Hunger
Book 9: Smoke and Fire
Book 9.5: Dragon Fever
The Dragon King Coloring Book
Book 10: Firestorm
Book 11: Blaze
Book 11.5: Dragon Burn
Book 11.6: Constantine: A History, a short story
Book 12: Heat (January 30, 2018)
Book 13: Torched (June 2018)
* * *
DARK WARRIORS
Book 1: Midnight’s Master
Book 2: Midnight’s Lover
Book 3: Midnight’s Seduction
Book 4: Midnight’s Warrior
Book 5: Midnight’s Kiss
Book 6: Midnight’s Captive
Book 7: Midnight’s Temptation
Book 8: Midnight’s Promise
Book 8.5: Midnight’s Surrender
Book 1-8.5: The Dark Warrior Series, The Complete Collection
* * *
THE KINDRED
Book 0.5: Everkin
Book 1: Eversong (November 20, 2017)
Book 2: Coming April 2018
Book 3: Coming December 2018
* * *
CHIASSON SERIES
Book 1: Wild Fever
Book 2: Wild Dream
Book 3: Wild Need
Book 4: Wild Flame
Book 5: Wild Rapture
* * *
LARUE SERIES
Book 1: Moon Kissed
Book 2: Moon Thrall
Book 3: Moon Struck
Book 4: Moon Bound (January 2018)
* * *
WICKED TREASURES
Book 1: Seized By Passion
Book 2: Enticed By Ecstasy
Book 3: Captured By Desire
Wicked Treasures Box Set
* * *
Historical Paranormal
DARK SWORD
Book 1: Dangerous Highlander
Book 2: Forbidden Highlander
Book 3: Wicked Highlander
Book 4: Untamed Highlander
Book 5: Shadow Highlander
Book 6: Darkest Highlander
Book 1-6: The Dark Sword Series, The Complete Collection
* * *
ROGUES OF SCOTLAND
Book 1: The Craving
Book 2: The Hunger
Book 3: The Tempted
Book 4: The Seduced
Book 1-4: Rogues of Scotland Box Set
* * *
THE SHIELDS
Dragonfyre (connected)
Book 1: A Dark Guardian
Book 2: A Kind of Magic
Book 3: A Dark Seduction
Book 4: A Forbidden Temptation
Book 5: A Warrior’s Heart
* * *
DRUIDS GLEN
Dragonfyre (connected)
Book 1: Highland Mist
Book 2: Highland Nights
Book 3: Hig
hland Dawn
Book 4: Highland Fires
Book 5: Highland Magic
* * *
SISTERS OF MAGIC
Book 1: Shadow Magic
Book 2: Echoes of Magic
Book 3: Dangerous Magic
Sisters of Magic Boxed Set
* * *
THE ROYAL CHRONICLES NOVELLA SERIES
Dragonfyre (connected)
Book 1: Prince of Desire
Book 2: Prince of Seduction
Book 3: Prince of Love
Book 4: Prince of Passion
Royal Chronicles Box Set
* * *
Military Romance / Romantic Suspense
SONS OF TEXAS
Book 1: The Hero
Book 2: The Protector
Book 3: The Legend
* * *
Contemporary / Western / Cowboy Romance
HEART OF TEXAS SERIES
Book 1: The Christmas Cowboy Hero (October 31, 2017)
* * *
Stand Alone Books
Mutual Desire
Forever Mine
Savage Moon
* * *
Anthologies
The Pleasure of His Bed (including Ties That Bind)
The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (including Forever Mine)
Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them
1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Six (including Dragon King)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s written more than seventy novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories. Her acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with two children, a dog, and three cats in Texas.
Connect with Donna online:
www.DonnaGrant.com
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Pronunciations & Glossary
Acknowledgments
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Epilogue
Thank You!
Excerpt: The Christmas Cowboy Hero
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Also by Donna Grant
About the Author