Chapter 1 - The Warning Written in Charcoal“Your check, Mr. Moretti.”
Dominic’s eyes lifted.
For one terrible second, Chloe wondered whether she had made the greatest mistake of her life.
His expression did not change. His hand remained beside the whiskey tumbler. Nothing about him suggested alarm.
Then his gaze dropped to the scrap of parchment.
GUNMAN BEHIND YOU.
Dominic read the words once.
That was all.
No widened eyes. No sudden movement. No instinctive glance over his shoulder.
Instead, he reached into his coat and removed two silver dollars.
“Seems high,” he said.
Chloe’s heart hammered.
“Kitchen raised the price.”
“Did they?”
“Yes, sir.”
Behind her, a chair creaked.
Dominic placed the coins on the tray.
“Chloe.”
“Yes?”
“When I tell you to move, get beneath the table.”
Her blood went cold.
Dominic lifted his whiskey.
“Now.”
Chloe dropped.
The first gunshot exploded through The Rusty Horseshoe.
Glass shattered above her.
Someone screamed.
Dominic overturned the table in the same motion, sending whiskey, coins, and lantern light scattering across the floorboards.
The assassin fired again.
Dominic already had his revolver drawn.
His first shot struck the hanging lantern above the stranger.
Darkness swallowed half the saloon.
His second hit the gunman’s shoulder.
The assassin stumbled backward, knocking chairs aside.
“LEO!”
Leo Marchetti crossed the room like an avalanche.
Customers threw themselves beneath tables.
Old Callahan disappeared behind the bar.
The wounded assassin fired blindly.
A bullet tore through Dominic’s overturned table inches from Chloe’s face.
Dominic grabbed her arm.
“Stay down.”
Then he rose.
Chloe would remember the next three seconds for the rest of her life.
Dominic Moretti did not shoot like a drunken cowboy or a frightened ranch hand.
He shot like a man who had spent years learning exactly where death lived.
One measured breath.
One squeeze of the trigger.
The assassin’s revolver flew from his hand.
Leo slammed into him before he could reach for another weapon.
The two men crashed through a table.
Leo’s fist connected with the stranger’s jaw.
Once.
Twice.
The stranger sagged.
Leo dragged him upright.
“Alive,” Dominic said.
Leo stopped mid-punch.
The saloon fell silent except for the storm beating against the roof.
Dominic lowered his revolver.
Then he looked at Chloe.
She was still crouched behind the overturned table.
Her hands were shaking.
Dominic crossed the ruined room and offered her his hand.
She stared at it.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Certain?”
“I think so.”
“Then stand.”
Chloe took his hand.
His grip was warm and unexpectedly careful.
He pulled her upright.
People were staring.
Every person inside The Rusty Horseshoe had seen what she had done.
Chloe realized immediately what that meant.
The assassin had seen her too.
And if he belonged to anyone powerful, then whoever had sent him would know exactly who had ruined their plan.
Dominic seemed to reach the same conclusion.
His jaw tightened.
“Leo.”
“Yeah?”
“Back room.”
Leo dragged the assassin toward the rear hallway.
Dominic turned to Callahan.
“Nobody leaves.”
A rancher near the door protested.
“I ain’t got anything to do with—”
Dominic looked at him.
The rancher sat back down.
Dominic then faced Chloe.
“Come with me.”
“I have tables.”
For the first time that night, Dominic looked genuinely surprised.
“What?”
“I’m working.”
“There was just an attempt on my life.”
“I noticed.”
“And you’re concerned about serving drinks?”
“If I leave before closing, Callahan docks my wages.”
Across the room, Old Callahan suddenly found the floor fascinating.
Dominic slowly turned toward him.
“Does he?”
Callahan swallowed.
“Now, Mr. Moretti, I reckon under these particular circumstances—”
“How much does she make tonight?”
“Dollar seventy-five.”
Dominic pulled a five-dollar gold piece from his pocket and tossed it onto the bar.
“She’s finished.”
Callahan nodded enthusiastically.
“Absolutely.”
Chloe frowned.
“I don’t need charity.”
Dominic turned back.
“That wasn’t charity.”
“Then what was it?”
“Compensation for saving my life.”
“I didn’t do it for money.”
“I know.”
Something about the way he said it unsettled her more than the gunfire.
Dominic gestured toward the hallway.
“Come.”
This time Chloe followed.
The back room smelled of tobacco, wet wool, and spilled rye.
The assassin sat tied to a chair.
Blood soaked his shoulder.
Leo stood behind him.
Dominic closed the door.
“What’s your name?” Dominic asked.
The man spat blood onto the floor.
Dominic pulled out another chair and sat.
“You have two choices. You can answer Leo, or you can answer me.”
The assassin laughed weakly.
“Supposed to frighten me?”
“No.”
Dominic leaned back.
“I’m explaining the order of events.”
The man’s eyes shifted toward Chloe.
Recognition appeared.
Dominic noticed.
His expression hardened.
“You look at her again,” he said quietly, “and I remove one of your eyes.”
The assassin smiled.
“Too late.”
Chloe’s stomach tightened.
“For what?”
The man looked directly at her.
“They know who you are now.”
Dominic stood.
“Who?”
Silence.
Dominic stepped closer.
“Who sent you?”
The assassin grinned.
“Ask Silas Creed.”
Leo went still.
Chloe did not know the name.
Dominic clearly did.
His face became unreadable.
“Creed’s dead.”
“Maybe.”
Dominic grabbed the man’s collar.
“Where is he?”
The assassin began laughing.
Then Chloe noticed something.
His jaw moved strangely.
“Dominic—”
Foam appeared at the corner of the assassin’s mouth.
Leo seized his face.
“Damn it!”
The man convulsed.
Something small fell from between his teeth.
A glass capsule.
Poison.
Within seconds, he was dead.
Nobody spoke.
Dominic stared down at the body.
Then he turned toward Chloe.
“Get your coat.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“You’re leaving.”
“With you?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Leo looked at her as if nobody had used that word around Dominic Moretti in years.
Dominic remained calm.
“You’ve been identified by people willing to send assassins into crowded saloons.”
“My home is three streets away.”
“That is precisely where they’ll look.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Can you?”
The question angered her.
“I managed tonight.”
Dominic’s expression changed slightly.
Not amusement.
Respect.
“You did.”
“Then I’m going home.”
He studied her.
“Do you own a firearm?”
“No.”
“Anyone staying with you?”
“No.”
“Family?”
“My mother died.”
Something softened behind his eyes.
Only briefly.
“Then you’re coming with me.”
“You cannot order me around.”
“No,” Dominic said. “But I can tell you something you haven’t understood yet.”
He stepped closer.
“The man who tried to kill me belonged to a network that has murdered judges, sheriffs, witnesses, and entire families. You humiliated them tonight. They will not forgive you.”
Chloe swallowed.
Dominic lowered his voice.
“You saved my life. That makes yours my responsibility.”
“I never asked for that.”
“Responsibility rarely waits to be invited.”
Thirty minutes later, Chloe found herself sitting inside a black carriage guarded by four armed riders.
Dominic sat opposite her.
The rain streaked across the windows.
She watched familiar streets disappear.
“Where are we going?”
“My ranch.”
“How long?”
“Until I know who ordered the killing.”
“And afterward?”
“You go home.”
Chloe stared at him.
“You promise?”
Dominic hesitated.
“Yes.”
She did not know then how complicated that promise would become.
Moretti Ranch stood twelve miles outside town behind iron gates and miles of fenced grazing land.
The main house was enormous.
Stone foundations.
Dark timber.
Wide verandas.
Armed men everywhere.
Chloe stepped from the carriage.
“This isn’t a ranch.”
Dominic glanced at her.
“What is it?”
“A fortress pretending to own cattle.”
Leo laughed.
Dominic did not.
Inside, Chloe was shown to a guest room larger than her entire cabin.
A fireplace burned.
Fresh clothing had already been placed on the bed.
A maid brought hot water.
Chloe stood motionless.
“This is ridiculous.”
The maid smiled nervously.
“Mr. Moretti said anything you need.”
“I need to go home.”
The smile disappeared.
Later, unable to sleep, Chloe wandered downstairs.
Voices came from Dominic’s study.
Leo was speaking.
“Creed hasn’t been seen in seven years.”
“He was seen tonight.”
“You believe that dying bastard?”
“I believe someone wanted me thinking about Creed.”
“And the girl?”
Silence.
Then Dominic answered.
“She knows nothing.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“I know.”
“They’ll use her.”
“I know.”
“You planning to keep her here?”
“For now.”
“And if she refuses?”
Dominic’s answer came quietly.
“She will.”
Chloe pushed open the door.
Both men turned.
“You seem remarkably certain.”
Leo muttered something and left.
Dominic remained behind his desk.
Chloe stepped inside.
“I am not your prisoner.”
“No.”
“Then unlock the gates.”
“No.”
“That sounds remarkably like imprisonment.”
Dominic stood.
“You want honesty?”
“Yes.”
“Someone will probably try to kill you before tomorrow evening.”
Chloe’s anger faltered.
Dominic walked around the desk.
“You saved me because you thought it was right. That was brave.”
His voice became quieter.
“It was also expensive.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means courage always sends someone a bill.”
He stopped in front of her.
“And tonight, Chloe Bennett, yours came due.”
Before she could answer, a rider thundered into the courtyard.
Someone shouted.
Leo burst through the study door.
“We got trouble.”
Dominic reached for his revolver.
“What?”
Leo looked at Chloe.
Then back at Dominic.
“Her cabin’s burning.”
Chloe stopped breathing.
Dominic went rigid.
Leo continued.
“Men rode past ten minutes ago and threw oil lanterns through the windows.”
“My home…”
Chloe whispered.
“Everything I have is there.”
Dominic caught her as she moved toward the door.
“Let me go!”
“You cannot go back.”
“My mother’s things are there!”
“Chloe.”
“LET ME GO!”
She struck his chest.
Once.
Again.
Dominic did not restrain her.
He simply stood there while grief and rage poured out.
Finally her fists stopped.
Her forehead rested against his coat.
“My mother’s letters…”
Dominic looked over her head at Leo.
Something deadly entered his eyes.
“Find who did it.”
Leo nodded.
Dominic’s hand hovered over Chloe’s back before settling gently against her shoulder.
“Find every man involved.”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“And bring me one alive.”
Outside, beyond the windows, a red glow stained the distant horizon.
May you like
Chloe watched the last piece of her old life burn.
And without realizing it, she had just stepped into Dominic Moretti’s war.
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