All the MacLaines nod.
“And we’re just lowly ranchers,” Evander says.
“You called the company.”Perkins points a finger at Finn.“You got me fired, you piece of shit, entitled, trust-fund baby asswipe!You got me fucking fired!”
Finn grins at him.It’s a self-satisfied grin.
It hits me that Perkins is right.Finn got him fired.In fact, that’s not all that’s going on here.
Finn must feel me staring at the back of his head.He glances my way and we lock eyes.I’ve never had a protector before.I’ve certainly never had an avenger.
And he’s doing it for me not because he thinks I’m a pitiful victim, but because he loves me.Because I’m worth the effort.
I feel myself smiling at my hero in his cowboy boots and worn jeans, all that black hair, shaggy and thick and sexy as hell.
He’s clean shaven, a thoughtful gesture so he doesn’t cut up my face when we kiss.His shirtsleeves are rolled to his elbows.His forearms are dusty from working with the horses, and his hands… his big, strong, calloused hands are clenched into tight fists by his sides.
So he’s not as calm and victorious as he’s letting on, I see.He’s still ready for a fight.That means this fight—whatever is going on—isn’t over.
“That’s not all!”Perkins is still shouting, still irate and red in the face.“You bad-mouthed me to every fucking person I know.To the state, for fuck’s sake!I’m ruined.My wife’s lost her job as a foster mother.”
“That’s a damn shame,” Jamie says.“Now get off my property.”
“Get off your property?Where am I going to go?You ruined me!I’m going to sue you for slander!I’m going to sue you for libel!I’m going to ruin you!”He extends his arms and spins around once.“This’ll all be mine!You fuckers and that little bitch messed with the wrong man!”
“Stop!”
All the MacLaines do as I say, and they let me squeeze past them.I feel Finn right behind me.I think I feel flames shooting out of Special K’s chest.But I hold up my hand so that they give me a moment.
I take a breath.I hate conflict.I hate fights.I’ve been avoiding both of those things my entire life, and with little success.But it hasn’t stopped me from trying.So standing here, watching J.R.Perkins melt down and threaten everything I’ve grown to love, I wish I could be anywhere but here.But if I were, I wouldn’t have heard the one thing I’ve waited so many years to hear.
“What did you just say?”I ask.
“I said I’m going to take you people for every penny you have and every penny you ever hoped to have.”
“No.What did you say before that?About your wife?”
“She was fired!We’re no longer allowed to be a foster home.They’re talking about putting me on some kind of fucking list!”
My hand flies to my chest.A weight rises off me, and for the first moment since this horrible man invaded my room and abused me, I can breathe.All the way.My chest fully expands with each intake of air.
The Perkins family can no longer foster children.The demon from my past is on a list.I feel my mouth turn up in a wide smile, and I glance over my shoulder to Finn.
Thisis victory.This is freedom.
And when I turn around again, that’s when I notice.The monster is squinting at me, trying to place me.Oh, holy shit.
He doesn’t even know who I am.
“You do remember me, right?You know my name?”
His eyes dart to the men behind me, and he takes a step back.I hear Summer whisper, “Fucking fuckballs—theyknoweach other?”
The monster grunts.“Emily something, not that it matters.You were one of our girls.Half of you were named Emily and you were pretty much all the same.That’s all I can tell you.”
I can’t help it.I laugh out loud.All this time… all these years I’ve tortured myself over that night.What I did to him.The ordeal I went through before they decided not to charge me.And he doesn’t evenrecognizeme or remember myname!
It’s almost too ridiculous to believe.
