Page 77 of Shephard

Honestly? I wanted to see that in action.

“Someone who will stick your ass in a sealed oil drum and shove you on a plane back to Charlotte without any issue.”

I should have figured a man like Shephard would find out everything he could about me. Just like I’d done with him. Touché. And I was thankful he was here, still shaking from being confronted and from the rage I felt that he’d managed to hurt Pepper again.

“You’re threatening me?” Jameson retorted.

“I don’t threaten. I promise.” I could barely keep Pepper from lunging at him. She was foaming at the mouth and if I let her go, she would try to rip him apart. I couldn’t allow her to get hurt. She was all I had.

I took a deep breath, backing away and guiding Pepper to the front door. Running wasn’t my style, but I had no chance of winning this twisted game out in the open. Without my weapon.

“I didn’t say you could leave, bitch. We’re still going to have a long discussion.”

The noise was pleasant to my ears, the sharp and strangled cry coming from Jameson’s throat perfect.

Shephard.

He’d come after me.

Jameson had no clue who he was facing, but he soon found out when Shephard backhanded him with the weapon still in his hand for the second time. This time, there was no doubt he’d drawn blood. My ex went down with a hard thud.

Jameson tried to turn over, but was coughing and wheezing, even clawing at the ground.

“It’s not nice to talk about a lady that way. You won’t do it again.” Shephard oozed confidence, stepping over the asshole and walking toward me. “You okay? Pepper okay?”

“We’re fine, but he’s not supposed to be here,” I said, although there was no restraining order. He’d threatened me to stay out of his life and I’d been happy to comply.

“And he won’t be. Trust me. He will be leaving. Go inside.”

The coughing continued, but Jameson made it to his feet.

“I’ll leave when I’m ready, buddy. I’m going to talk to my girlfriend. She belongs to me.” His voice was still strangled.

Pepper howled and tried to get out of my grasp once again. I struggled but finally managed to get her inside the house. I was now shaking like a leaf. Had he been the one to follow me? Was he responsible for the murders? I couldn’t put it past him.

“You’re going to leave, fucker. Now,” Shephard repeated and I could tell he’d already lost his patience.

“No, asshole. I don’t know who you are, but as I said, she belongs to me until I’m ready to get rid of her. Trashy little thing. Isn’t she?”

I lunged toward him, the sound coming from the depths of my being not human.

“Whoa, girl. I’ll handle the asshole,” Shephard said as he caught me.

“Fucker.”

Jameson was stupid enough to laugh.

Pepper refused to stop barking, the growls she issued displaying her fury.

I don’t know how anything out of Jameson’s mouth could surprise me any longer. He believed he could own people by just snapping his fingers. It was too bad he’d hidden his rich and obnoxious actions for as long as he had. He’d sucked me in with his sweet gestures, gifts, and sensual texts over months. I’d bought it, the buzzard luring me in with fresh bait every time my instincts told me we weren’t getting along.

Jameson was surprisingly agile for a man who’d been decked by a massive boulder. He advanced toward Shephard, stupid as always and I watched in a combination of amusement and continued anger as the mountain man turned hero gave three brutal punches to Jameson’s face and stomach.

When he stood over Jameson, I was certain there would be additional bloodshed. Instead, Shephard hunkered down, using the weight of his body to crush Jameson’s chest.

He wheezed and coughed, struggling to free himself all over again.

Shephard took his time, glancing up at me then toward the moon. “You know. It occurred to me that you still are under the belief that Denise ever gave a damn about you. She doesn’t. Even if she did, it’s over. That’s because she belongs to me. Now, I’m going to offer you one last opportunity to get the fuck out of this city and this state and never return. And before you ask what will happen if you don’t, I’ll be happy to tell you.”