Ride the Sky (Runaway Ranch, #4)

by Ava Hunter

I bristle, hackles rising as Pappy Starr slips into my periphery. Everyone in the room tenses. “How’s our girl?” he drawls. This fucker’s dead. My hands pull to fists, but before I can hit him in the fat fucking face, Dakota rushes him. “This is your fault,” she hisses. Her palm connects with his cheek, a sharp slap that echoes around the waiting room. “Oh no,” Ruby whispers. Another slap. Another. Pappy tries to step back, lifting his hands to shield his face, but Dakota has him cornered against the wall. “You bastard. You promised you’d keep her safe. You promised—” Dakota breaks off, fists falling to her side as she chokes on her sobs. Finally, Davis pulls his wife away. She wilts against him, sobbing uncontrollably. “Go,” Davis orders over the top of his wife’s dark head. “Now.” Face lined with shock, Pappy lowers his hands, adjusts his cuffs. I move toward him. “Get the fuck out of here.” Pappy bristles. “She’s my client. I—” Charlie rises. Then Ford. At that, Pappy swallows. “She’s hurt because of you,” I snarl, shoving his chest. “Save your bullshit apologies before I break your fucking face.”