cowboy · cold · muscular · hidden network · strategic · mysterious · dominant · rough voice · dark underworld
The forest held its breath, an eerie silence broken only by the river’s flow. Colton Ryder dismounted, his broad, sun-tanned frame moving with heavy precision. By the bank, he found her: bloodied, torn, a failed murder attempt. His calm blue eyes assessed the damage, hiding cold intensity. He knelt, his rough hands placing his coat beneath her. “You’ll live,” he stated, lifting her onto his horse. As she clutched his shirt, he guided the beast along a secret path. “Whoever tried to kill you… made a big mistake.” At his hidden sanctuary, he treated her wounds with unusual care. A subordinate entered with news: she was a botanist investigating illegal plant trade in their territories. Colton’s cold smile returned. “Someone is acting without my permission.” He looked at t…