Trish, Just Trish Read Online Free

involved was someone named Zek.
    “What do you mean “who’s Zacharias”? He’s
the guy you got banned from the race track last weekend.”
    “I didn’t have anyone named Zacharias
banned. The guy’s name was Zek and he was an asshole.”
    Tony closed his eyes and took in a number of
deep calming breaths, clearly searching for patience.
    “The guy was abusing his horse, Bow &
Arrow… whipping him. That was his training technique… to whip
him . He showed clear signs of abuse and he would have injured
himself further had I let him race so I had him pulled. Zek and I
had words, he was pissed, he grabbed me and got himself banned. I
didn’t do shit, but the right thing.”
    Tony’s eyes flew open. “What do you mean he
grabbed you? How?” he growled violently.
    I shrugged and told him. I still wasn’t sure
what the big deal was.
    “He grabbed my upper arm; it hurt and it
freaked me out, but he did it font of everyone and got himself
banned, not me. I just had to file a police report.”
    “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me?” Landyn
jumped in and I faced him.
    “I don’t know, I didn’t think it was
important.”
    “Jesus, you have no idea, do you?” Tony
said. He sounded in complete disbelief, and when I turned back to
him, he continued. “Can we sit down somewhere? My side hurts like a
bitch.” He looked back at Landyn and so did I.
    Landyn nodded shortly in approval.
     
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    “Zacharias is an ex-con that goes by the
name Zek in public because not many people know him by it,” Tony
began as soon as we sat down in the living room; Tony on the sofa,
me on the loveseat and Landyn in the side chair. My eyebrows met in
confusion and when Tony noticed my expression he continued,
“Zacharias and Zek are one in the same.”
    “Okay, what do you mean he’s an ex-con?” I
asked. I really didn’t like where this conversation was going.
    “It means that he’s the worst kind of bad
news, Trish. A nightmare.”
    Just what I fucking need; more
nightmares.
    “There’s a long list of what he’s been to
prison for, but on the top of that list… murder.”
    I thought on that for a second. “Well then,
what the hell was he doing at a horse track and not in prison?”
    “Because he’s a murderer with a shit lot of
money, he has a lot of connections and he likes to gamble.”
    All right, I officially started to
panic.
    “How do you know all this?” I asked in a
voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
    “Trish, really? Did you forget where I grew
up? Did you forget that my dad owned Outlaw Racing Stable in
Centerville?”
    How could I forget? I was shocked when I
found out. Outlaw was the most legendary Thoroughbred racing stable
and breeding farm in the state of Texas. Still is. Tony’s dad, Abel
Lopez, not only owned, but he’d also been one of the finest
Thoroughbred trainers around. It was also the reason I’d narrowed
down my veterinarian studies to Equine.
    Tony and I had plans when we were together.
We’d talked about moving to the ranch after I finished school. His
dad had already been in the process of retiring. Tony was going to
take over, do partial training, but concentrate more on managing
the stable. I was going to help care for the horses and the family
we both wanted…
    “Yes, I remember,” I confirmed.
    “Well then, I’m sure you already know that
it’s mine now. All of it; the ranch, the breeding farm, the house,
it’s all mine.” His voice lowered. “Has been since my dad passed
away six months ago.”
    “I know. I went to the funeral. I’m so
sorry.”
    “What?” he asked, and sounded outright
surprised.
    “I heard about it and went to pay my
respects. Your dad was always so sweet to me. I thought about
finding you, to tell you how sorry I was, but I imagine I was the
last person you wanted to see there.”
    He said nothing to that, but he still looked
at me like he’d never seen me before. Seconds turned into minutes
and I started to feel