So she relays the information, minute by minute.
Chase did what I asked him to do.
When I said it, I thought nothing would happen, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d change it. Even if I never told him to look after her, he would have anyway, because that was the man he was.
But Judge is a surprise.
I’ve always known that the dog was loyal, but he’s never beenviolent. Never.
But he protected her, just like Chase did.
I make a note to stop at the pet store when I go to town tomorrow to pay my debts and pick him up one of those stag horns he likes to chew onwhenever I get the spare cash to treat him to them. What’s a few dollars when the dog saved the woman who’s creeping into the organ in my chest I believed wasn’t capable of being penetrated?
But at the end of it all, I still lost. And that shit will never be easy.
Throwing back the whiskey, the ice clinks against the glass before I take the towel off and throw it toward the door, climbing beneath the sheets.
Elena remains on the floor for a little longer while I lie with my arms raised, head resting in my hands, eyes on the ceiling.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see her prepare for bed, brushing her teeth — with my toothbrush even though hers is in the spare bathroom across the hall — and combing through her long, raven hair with her fingers. She leans closer to the mirror, gingerly touching the fresh, mottled bruising on her throat.
I’ll make him pay for those.
The only marks allowed on her skin are those left behind by me. And they’re not etched in violence.
She switches out the lights as she makes her way to me, a limp in her step I’m not sure will ever go away thanks to the still-healing wound in her thigh. Time will tell.
Elena climbs in beside me, pressing her body upagainst the side of mine, her hand falling to my chest, above my heart as she rests her head in the soft spot between my neck and my shoulder.
“Kill him.” She says, “You once said you wouldn’t take the revenge from me, but I give it to you. Do whatever you want with him. He’s yours.”
“I plan to, darlin’.”
CHAPTER 33
Early birds chirp in the trees, the dusky sky attempting to lighten the land, but it fails, leaving deep, fathomless shadows stretching across the ranch, the steep craggy edges of the mountains appearing even sharper than they already are.
My steps are loud as I cross over to the barn where Rio is still restrained, the burning anger like molten lava in my veins. I didn’t sleep. I laid beside Elena, her body tucked up against mine, staring at the ceiling as my fingers trailed soft paths down her spine. Her presence was enough to keep the rage at bay for a few hours, but eventually I became too restless, toovengeful.
He doesn’t get to keep breathing air when he stole Chase’s and tried to take Elena’s, not once,but twice.
I’ve thought about it, about how I’m going to do it, and I’ve sent a message to the workers left here that they can take the day off.
I don’t need any witnesses to this.
The door to the barn squeaks open, and beyond the gag shoved into his mouth, Rio cries out. Didn’t bleed out then, that’s good.
My steps are purposely slow as I make my way over to him, crouching beside him as I let my eyes roll over his prone body. Wide bloodshot eyes plead with me, but if it’s mercy he wants, he’s asking the wrong guy.
“I’m not going to remove the gag,” I tell him, cocking my head. “I don’t care for anything you have to say, any pleas for mercy. I’m only here for one thing.”
The whites of his eyes grow bigger, fear widening them. He’s a man realizing his time has come to an end.
Perhaps he thought himself indestructible. But then he stepped foot onto my ranch.
Rising to stand, I head to one of the ATVs we keep parked here overnight, the keys in my hand, and I turn over the engine, the rattle and growl of it echoing through the barn and into the early morning darkness. He thrashes in his bonds, his groans and cries incoherent behind the gag.
I bring the ATV toward him, pulling to a stopclose so I can lift him into the small trailer usually used for feed and hay that needs to be transferred to the many paddocks and stables. He groans in pain as I toss him in, and I ignore it as I climb back onto the quad, revving the engine to cut off the sound. I hear his body bouncing against the unforgiving metal of the trailer as the ATV hits all the bumps and holes in the ground, and it only takes five minutes to get to where I need to be.
