Page 29 of Lawbreaker

He walked out with them. After Donalson put the old man in the car, Tony halted him at the hood. “Just so you know,” he said pleasantly, but in a voice that chilled, “Miss Everett will have twenty-four-hour protection at her apartment in the city from now on. And anyone who even attempts to harass her...” He let his voice trail off. He cocked his head. “I may be the boss, but I haven’t lost any skills. You remember Bud Davies?” he added very quietly.

Donaldson lost two shades of color. He swallowed. Hard. “Oh, yeah.”

“I never make threats. You get me?” he added in a voice that dripped ice.

Donalson felt his blood freezing. “Yeah, Tony, I get you, I get you.”

“Good.” He stepped back.

Donalson took off like a bullet, eased his friend into the car and spun gravel getting out of the driveway. Tony didn’t move until the car was out of sight.

The horses were beautiful. Odalie chose a spirited black mare, laughing as the animal pranced. Stasia had insisted that she go. Stasia, meanwhile, was going to keep the Mannings company.

“That’s Lady,” Tony told her as he moved up beside her on a big bay horse. “She’s a little jumpy.”

“I don’t mind. I’m usually a little jumpy myself,” she said, her face flushed with pleasure, her blond hair in a long braid. She was wearing a blue sweater with jeans and boots. She looked good enough to eat.

“I imagine you grew up on a horse,” Tony commented.

“I did. Dad put me on a pony when I was three and taught me to ride. I used to do barrel racing. I love to ride.”

“So do I,” he said.

“But with you, it was draft horses, I’ll bet.”

His eyebrows went up.

“You said you used to visit your grandfather on a farm in upstate New York,” she reminded him. “And that he had draft horses.”

He chuckled. “I’d forgotten that I told you that. Yes.”

“I love big horses. John’s built like you, big and husky, so it takes a big mount. He likes that Belgian Dad keeps in the stable.”

“It’s a pretty mare,” he recalled.

“She has a little age on her now, but she’s still John’s favorite.” She glanced at him while two other couples and the single man, Rudy, got on their own mounts just outside the stable. “Thanks.”

“What for?”

“Sending that Donalson man off,” she said.

“His boss was ready to leave,” he said easily. “Since he drives him, he had to go along. He won’t be missed,” he added coldly. “He was after one of the maids late last night, too,” he told her. “She was in tears.”

“If I’d had access to an iron skillet, and you didn’t need his boss to sell you those paintings, he’d have been in tears,” she said with some heat, her pale blue eyes sparking.

He glanced at her and chuckled.

She made a face. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. If he ever comes back—and don’t hold your breath—I’ll buy you an iron skillet.”

She grinned. “Thanks.”

“Are we ready to go? If you need any pointers,” Rudy told Odalie with a grin, “I’ll be glad to provide them. I go riding down in Jersey on a friend’s farm.”

Odalie gave him an amused look.

Before she could answer, Tony rode closer. “Her parents own one of the biggest ranches in Texas and she used to do rodeo,” he informed the other man.