“Well?” Bryson demanded.

Buck up. But no half measures, no compromises in this situation. Black and white. Right and wrong.

Hank threw back his shoulders and drew himself up to his full height. He stalked closer to the balding fat boy. “I’m here about Ace Newharth.”

“What about him?”

“I saw his name on the roster for this weekend. He’s still on the tour?”

Those flat black reptilian eyes turned appraising. “Yes, he is. He’s a top-twenty-five-ranked bull rider and he deserves to be there. Why?”

“After what he did to Lainie Capshaw last week? You’re not reprimanding him?”

“What I choose to do or not to do with my bull riders is none of your concern. I handled it in the best way I saw fit.”

“Meaning you’re ignoring it,” Hank spat.

Bryson shrugged. “It’s her word against his. I’ve known Ace a long time. He’s a devout Christian man, with a loving family supporting him and a large fan base. I know nothing of this Lainie woman beyond that she expects the Capshaw name will grant her special privileges.”

He stared at Bryson, wondering when the man had gotten kicked in the head by a bull. Attempted sexual assault was a special privilege?

“This is typical reactive behavior for a female in a male-dominated sport. They get their little feelings hurt, or they send off mixed signals, or their advances are rebuffed and the next thing you know, they’re crying foul.” He pointed a fat finger at Hank. “This is also why I told Doc not to send me female medical technicians. Did he listen to me? No. I’ve never once had to deal with sexual harassment shit like this when the staff and the riders were all men.”

Hank slapped his hands on the desk with enough force that his palms stung. “You ignorant son of a bitch. This is not about Lainie getting her feelings hurt. This is about that bastard putting the hurt on her. Ace left f**king bruises on her neck. Bruises. If Tanna Barker hadn’t come in . . .” Jesus. A red haze of fury consumed him when he considered what might’ve happened.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you can’t speak to me like that—”

“We’re not talkin’ sexual harassment, Bryson. We’re talkin’ attempted sexual assault. Big f**king difference.”

“Says you. Might I remind you that Miz Capshaw didn’t file charges against Mr. Newharth?”

“She didn’t file at your request! She didn’t want the bad publicity any more than the EBS did. You promised her you’d handle it discreetly. Nothin’s been done. Except Lainie’s been penalized. She’s been pulled from the EBS circuit permanently.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know.”

“The f**k you didn’t. I’ll bet this is your doin’. Ace hasn’t been penalized at all. This isn’t fair and you goddamn well know it.”

“Fairness is relative, and as far as I can tell the matter is over.”

“It’s far from f**king over,” Hank snarled. “You either drop him from this event—”

“Or you’ll what?” Bryson supplied sarcastically. “Hover over me and snarl idle threats?”

“No, I’ll let the bull he’s on stomp him into the dirt like the piece of shit he is. In fact, I’ll encourage it. I sure as hell won’t rush in and risk my life to save his.”

Bryson’s face turned beet red, but the fat folds in his jowls remained milky white lines. “Get out of my office. You’re done here. For good. I’ll be pulling your name off the roster, not Ace’s.”

“Do it. And fair warning: You have no idea the shit storm that’s gonna rain down on you and the EBS when the media gets wind of this. The almighty EBS. The premier organization dedicated to the art of riding bulls turns its back on the only daughter of the most beloved bull rider of all time.”

Another piggy-eyed glare.

“Because of Jason Capshaw’s death, bull riders now wear safety equipment. Lainie Capshaw has centered her career around helping injured cowboys. In memory of her fallen father. Yet this organization failed to protect her—not from the bulls, but from the bull riders themselves. The very men she was hired to help.”

“Miz Capshaw didn’t want the media attention before—”

“It’s different now. She gave you her faith the EBS would do the right thing . . . and you gave her the finger. Her only recourse is to try this in the court of public opinion, and in the legal system.” He angled forward across the desk, invading his personal space. Bryson, the dickless wonder, flinched, causing Hank to grin. “We both know she can still file charges against Ace. She can file charges against you and your organization for everything from conspiracy to discrimination to endangerment.”

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.” Bryson seethed. “Your bullfighting days are over.”

“With the EBS? Good riddance. I’m damn happy to stay in the CRA, where honor and family and respect mean something.”

“The beloved CRA, where a man is considered a real John Wayne for standing up for his little woman?”

“No, in the CRA a man doesn’t have to stand up for his woman, because the organization is already standing behind her. This assault never would’ve happened within the CRA.”

“Well, this ain’t the CRA.”

“Of that, there’s no doubt in my mind. Pretty soon it’ll be crystal clear in everyone else’s mind too.”