Rebecca fumedas she used the stool to mount Satan. The fury she felt got derailed with the new intel and her emotions felt all jumbled. Julio led them from the barn and then climbed on, directing the horse toward the path.
He moved his arm awkwardly as he avoided touching her. The adrenaline from the day refused to tap down and her body hummed with pent up anger.
“Stop the horse,” she ordered.
Confused, Julio pulled on the reins and said, “We’re not there yet.”
Rebecca didn’t answer as she awkwardly got off the horse. Julio held his arm out, ready to catch her if she fell, infuriating her even more. She stalked along the path as he followed her onSatan. He didn’t say anything for a long while until she stumbled on an old tree root, almost taking her down.
He maneuvered the horse above the path and halted it. Julio climbed down as she approached.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded.
His eyes grew wide as Rebecca shoved him in the chest. It didn’t move him, making her madder.
“I didn’t know about the trackers until we got there,” he stuttered.
“I’m not talking about the damn trackers,” she shouted. “Why didn’t you tell me you planned to leave?” Tears glistened in her eyes as she swiftly blinked them away.
Julio rubbed his forehead, looking lost. “I told you, it came up fast. You haven’t wanted to talk to me. You said you didn’t feel comfortable with leaving the ranch before and I assumed you’d say you wanted to stay with Kara.”
“What if something happened to you? You’re a good-looking guy. If they captured you, I don’t know if I’d ever find you. What if they killed you?” she asked as her fists beat against his chest.
He let her batter him.
“You left me here alone,” she sobbed.
Julio gently took her hands as she struggled with the words.
“I left to bring back the survivors,” he told her softly. “I’m sorry it scared you.”
“They came after us again,” she cried. “What about the people who returned home already? Did they send someone to capture them again?”
“Matthew and Bear have already contacted the families. We found the app on Hassan’s phone. Matthew sent a virus to destroy the damn thing. No one will have access to hurt anyone. In the meantime, one of Kassie’s nurses and a doctor will visit the homes and remove them. She’s also offered to fly themto Seattle and get it done if they didn’t feel like waiting,” he patiently explained.
Her shoulders deflated a bit with his news.
“Matthew and I discussed the ranch in some detail on the way home. It’s time I get my shit handled and we’re hiring more men. Leo already vetted a few, but if we plan to take all these assholes down, we need a ton of staff,’ he informed her. “But you’re my priority. It’s important you feel safe and secure.”
“You left me,” she whispered.
“I didn’t know you’d feel this way. I’ll be sure to tell you next time,” he assured her.
“What do you mean by that? Do you think I’ve lost my edge?” she spat angrily, punching him in the arm. Julio winced, catching her attention. “What’s wrong?”
“I got grazed by a bullet. Patch has already stitched me up,” Julio admitted. “It’s a bit tender.”
Rebecca pulled off his coat and carefully rolled up his sleeve to see the wound, which was covered. Right beneath the piece of gaze, her fingers traced a mark she knew all too well.
“How did you get this?” she asked, horrified. They spent enough nights together, she knew he didn’t have the burn scar before her kidnapping.
“It doesn’t matter,” Julio brushed it off as he rolled down his shirt and shrugged his arm into his coat.
“You got hurt,” she said, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Not as bad as you,” he assured her.
“We’re not talking about me,” she said, shaking her head.
