“They said—” I swallow. “They said Knox owed them money.”
Trouble’s jaw clenches, but he just nods.
I sag against the post. “You knew?”
Trouble is quiet for a long beat. “Put it all together. Just didn’t wanna believe it. Knox must’ve been helpin’ them steal our shit, and they were payin’ him for it. I’m guessin’ he stopped and they didn’t take too kindly to it.”
A wave of guilt slams into me. I want to collapse. “I’m so sorry,” I say, “I’m so?—”
He cuts me off, puts a hand to my cheek. “Don’t worry about any of that right now. We need to get you outta here.”
I nod, or try to.
He looks at me, really looks, and his eyes aren’t guarded for once. “I need you to listen to me.”
“Okay.”
“From the moment you rolled into town, you wrecked every plan I thought I had. I used to think I was happy living fast and reckless. Burning bridges. I told myself I didn’t need anything, didn’t need anyone.” He swallows hard, voice rough. “Until you.”
“Me?”
“You made me want things I never thought I deserved. A future. A reason to come home. Someone to fight for. And when I heard you’d been taken—” He rubs his jaw. “I lost my damn mind. I’ve never been so scared in my life. All I could think about was getting to you—finding you before it was too late. I was about to burn this whole damn town to the ground until I saw you here, alive. Unharmed.”
He shakes his head, pushing through. “I’ve spent my whole life running from who I could become… terrified I’d turn into the man who broke me. But you? You’re the first person who’s made me want to try. To be better. To be good. Not for the world. Not for redemption. Just… for you.”
His voice breaks then, just a crack—but it guts me as he continues.
“I don’t know what love’s supposed to feel like. I was never shown the good kind. But if it’s this constant ache in my chest when I’m not near you… if it’s the way I feel like I can just be me when you’re around… if it’s the way everything slows down when you smile—then yeah. I think this is it.”
I feel like I’m going to break in half.
“Tristan,” I whisper. “Why are you saying all this?”
“Because we’re on their land, and they’re guarding the perimeter. There’s a good chance that if they catch us, they’re not going to ask questions. They’re just going to shoot.”
My stomach flips. “What? How many of them are there?”
“At least five. Maybe six. Knox created a diversion to buy us time, but it won’t last.”
I blink at him. “Knox did?”
“Yeah, so we need to hurry and get you out of here first.”
I look down at my hands. “I’m not leaving without you. Or Knox.”
“You don’t have a choice, darlin’.”
He grabs my hand and we move about four feet before everything goes to hell.
The main door of the barn bangs open, and two men step in, rifles in their hands. Trouble shoves me behind him, gun already pointed in their direction.
“Well, shit,” says the bearded guy. “Should’ve known she was your girl, Trouble.”
“Should’ve known you had a death wish, thinkin’ you could take what’s mine,” Trouble fires back.
The big one just laughs, but there’s nothing funny in it. He grabs something behind him and hauls it into the light—Knox, blood on his face, hands tied. They push him down onto the ground.
I make a noise, something between a scream and a sob. Trouble tightens his grip on my hand.
