Brutal Heir (Billionaire Heirs #2)

Chapter 2

Ezequiel

I roar up to the scene of the fucking disaster and throw the gearshift to park. These goddamn oilfield workers think they can run around like they own the place.

I shut the engine off and get out of my truck, slamming the door behind me. I stalk past the work truck, boots crunching on the gravel. Another truck comes barreling down the road toward us as I check the area.

The animal’s lying there on the grass, lowing in agony, thrashing and causing itself more pain. She’s suffering, her leg crushed from going under the tire.

Ending a life is never easy. I take solace in the fact I’ll be putting an end to her misery. With a heavy heart, I draw the gun from the holster, take aim, and squeeze the trigger. The sound of the shot fills the air just as the animal goes still.

I fucking hate having to put an animal down.

The security woman climbs out of the vehicle, letting the door close slowly. Her gaze is focused at my feet; her pretty face has lost all color. What the hell is she doing out here if she knew it was a cattle strike and she can’t handle what has to be done?

Meanwhile, the guys have lined up along the side of the work truck. They range from looking uneasy to downright guilty. And they should be—my blood’s boiling and these motherfuckers are about to feel my wrath.

“Which one of you sorry sons of bitches was driving?”

From the other side of the truck, a man rises to his feet. He wipes the back of a shaking hand across his mouth. “It was me,” he rasps. His gaze slides to the ground behind me, and he retches. The kid can’t be more than twenty, probably the newest one on the crew. The guys likely made him drive so they could grab another hour’s sleep on the way to the site.

“I’m sorry,” he stammers, looking like he’s about to puke again. “Figured out I was on the wrong road and turned around.” He swallows hard. “The cows, they were everywhere.”

I nod once, my gaze locked to his face. My anger simmers just below the surface. There’s fear in his eyes along with regret.

“They were everywhere, huh?” I sneer. “Well, that’s a hell of an excuse.”

“Ezequiel,” the security interrupts. “I’m sure—”

“You got any idea the damage you’ve caused, boy?” I go on, ignoring her.

“It was an accident,” she finishes.

The other guys are shuffling nervously. They don’t want any part of this.

“I’m sorry, sir. I was going really slow.” He hunches his shoulders. “I thought they all cleared out. I couldn’t see it over the hood of the truck.”

“It? It?” I glare at him.

His eyes go wide. “She,” he switches quickly, realizing how pissed off I am.

Sage, the security lead, steps in front of me, back straight and head held high. Even then, she barely reaches my chin. Still, now I have little choice but to acknowledge her.

“Ezequiel,” she says, her voice steady. “I understand you’re upset, but we need to handle this properly.” She looks up, her eyes meeting mine.

“Upset.” I scowl down at her. To her credit, she stands her ground despite the fact her face is still pale as hell.

“Bill said—”

I lean toward her. “Nothing Bill said is going to bring back that animal.” She clearly saw me put the animal out of her misery. “And nothing’s going to take away the suffering she endured at the end.”

“I realize that,” she says carefully. “Kelly Oil & Gas will take responsibility for this.” She waves a hand toward the grass. “Let me just get a report down—”

“What the hell good is a report going to do?” I challenge, my stance aggressive.

“It’s standard procedure,” she explains, overly calm.

“And then what?” I spit. “This fucker gets off scot-free?”

“No.” She shakes her head. “But we need to follow proper procedure and make sure everything is documented. Then we can see about getting the ranch compensated for the loss,” she says firmly, her gaze unwavering. “Let me just take some pictures and we’ll get these guys out of here. I’ll work on getting an incident report together.”

“Fine.” I glance over at the crew, my chest heaving with barely contained rage. But as much as I hate to admit it, I know there are rules to follow. I just don’t like that they’re not my rules.

“Thank you.” She nods, quickly turning away and reaching down to stick her hand in her back pocket. She brings out her phone, turns it on its side, and aims at the front of the truck. After several pictures, including some of the crew, she moves into the grass—without even checking the surroundings.

What in the hell ? While I was there a few minutes ago, an animal could have slithered out of a hiding place while we were looking away. Doing my own sweep, I make sure she’s relatively safe as she continues to take pictures without looking down around her feet.

I glance at her hip. There’s no side arm, only a damn radio. Like that’s gonna help when she’s out in the middle of nowhere on her own. She heads back to the road. Well, at least she has sense enough to be wearing steel-toe boots.

Turning back to the truck, I check the bumper and headlight. There’s no damage. With no sign of an accident, he has to have been going slow, like he said. And yeah, he wouldn’t have seen her over the hood of that truck.

My anger dissipates as I stare at the kid again. By the look of him, he’s torn up inside with fear and guilt. Okay, I believe him. He isn’t doing well with being the reason for a life ending.

Still, he shouldn’t have been in this area.

“How did you get in here?” I ask.

The kid swallows. “The guard said it was the first left. The gate was open, so I thought it was here.”

That’s not right. “The gate was open?”

“Yes, sir.”

Sage lowers her phone. “It was open when I turned in here.”

“Damn it.” I run my hand over my forehead. It was probably one of the other idiots coming in for the rig move. I bet they came in and realized they were in the wrong place. When they left, they didn’t bother to close the gate behind them.

“We can put locks on the gates,” Sage suggests.

That annoys me even more. “So I have to lock the gates inside the ranch because one of your people can’t leave shit like they found it?”

She inhales deeply. “We’ll notify the vendors that they have to close the gates behind them, if they have to open one.” Her tongue comes out to wet her bottom lip. “We can also set up some cones in front of the gates when we have these many vendors on the move.”

“Hell of a lotta good that’ll do me now.”

“I’ll get these guys going and make sure the driver’s escorted off the ranch.” She looks over at the kid. His shoulders slump when he hears her.

“Son of a…” I drag in a breath. It almost hurts to have to admit it, but it’s not the kid’s fault. And I won’t take a man’s livelihood away from him. “No.”

“Ah…” Sage cocks her head.

“This is what’s gonna happen.” I turn to the kid, whose back straightens as he listens. “You’re going to get your ass in the truck, but you’re not driving.”

The kid nods, his face pale. “Yes, sir,” he replies.

“And if I ever catch you behind the wheel, I’ll make sure you never set foot on this ranch again. Am I clear?”

He looks from me to Sage then back again. “Yes, sir,” he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Good,” I growl. “Now get the hell outta my sight.”

He hauls ass back to the safety of the truck, while the others are quick to follow.

“Guys, head to the gate and wait there for me so we can get details for the report.”

The new driver nods as they climb into the truck. “Yes, ma’am.”

Sage reaches to her side, unclipping the two-way radio and bringing it to her lips. Her hand trembles as she clears her throat before speaking. “Gate five, come in.” She releases the button, keeping her gaze unfocused as the crew pulls away.

Seconds tick by with no answer. She sucks in the corner of her lips, wetting them then swallowing nervously. Her gaze goes to the tailgate on the work truck. I bet a month’s pay she wishes she’d cut out along with the crew.

It’s clear she’s not happy to be here. I bet Bill sent her over, since he’s at the office on the other side of the ranch. He’s a wily old buzzard, always trying to keep a step ahead of whatever’s going on.

“Gate five?” she says with concern.

Her pulse is stampeding at her throat. Those few seconds must have felt like a lifetime. Her gaze flashes toward me, one eyebrow twitching in annoyance.

There’s a crackle of static. “Gate five,” a man’s voice comes through the speaker.

She turns her attention to the truck in that way women have when they’re done with you.

Hmm. I fold my arms across my chest. She has no idea who she’s dealing with.

“I have Bagley Services heading your way,” she says. “Park them. I’ll be there to take a report.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She brings the radio down.

“The gate.”

She cocks her head, that eyebrow showing how she really feels. “Excuse me?”

“Tell him about the gate that was left open,” I instruct, as if she needs to hear it said slowly.

“I’d rather have the conversation face-to-face,” she replies, dismissing me.

“I’d rather you do it now.”

Her lips go flat. “Do you think I don’t know how to do my job?” Her temper’s starting to show.

“What I think is that you don’t belong out here.” I drop it like a hot coal. She sucks in a breath making her chest rise enough to tempt me to look, but that would ruin my fun. “Not without a weapon. Not with you not watching where you’re going.” She squares her shoulders, the color shooting back into her cheeks. “There’s shit out here that’ll kill you if you’re not careful.”

Her expression sours, then she runs the tip of her tongue along her bottom lip.

Fuck. It’s enough to break my concentration.

“Bill will be by to talk to you.” With that, she all but stomps past me, heading to her truck.

The sight of that plump ass stirs my cock. As much as it annoys her, I want her to stay safe. “The way you’re going, you’re gonna end up on one of your reports.”

She keeps going, ignoring my statement, then climbs in the truck and slams the door.

If I’d known she’d get so damn worked up over this, I would have done it a long time ago.