Swallowing thickly, I cross my arms. “I have no other choice. We need this to end.”
“Wedon’tneedanything, Elena.Youdo. Is this not good enough?”
“It’s more than that, Knox,” I try.
“It isn’t!” He throws his hands up. “It isn’t Elena. You’re going to risk your life for something that would chew you up and spit you out without a second thought. Have any of thoseseventy-fivepercent even come looking for you? They’re not loyal to him, but they don’t care enough about you either.”
His words hit me in the chest.
“You’re going to get yourself fucking killed!” He continues, “And what? I’m supposed to watch?”
He spins on his heel and storms toward the barns, his steps sure and heavy, his shoulders so tight they may as well be touching his ears. Both of the horses remain with me, watching him like I am.
“Knox,” I call after him, but he just shakes his head and heads into one of the barns, the whole building seeming to rattle with how hard he rips the door open. A moment later, I hear the loud rumble of the ATV.
I’m no longer even doing this for me or my family name.
I’m doing this for him.
CHAPTER 41
The sun rises, igniting the mountains and sky in a fiery blaze of orange, casting a warm glow over the ranch and the forests that surround it. My skin feels too tight for my body, and while it took me all damn night to recognize it for what it is, I know now it’s fear.
Fear of what’s coming.
Fear of what will happen to Elena.
I could lose her. The only thing I have that brings metruehappiness and it could all be gone in a few hours. I left her in my anger, in my fear, and I haven’t returned since. Instead, I spent the night up the mountain, back in that clearing we stayed in after the drive. I didn’t sleep. I didn’t eat.
I open the front door quietly in case she’s sleeping. It’s barely six in the morning, and I know my girl likes to sleep in, but when I step through to the kitchen, she’s sitting at the table, a cup of coffee cradled in her hands.
She’s dressed in a light blue dress with thin straps, a ray of sunlight streaming through the window adding a blue hue to her incredibly dark hair. Her stormy eyes lift to mine, shadows beneath them. She hasn’t slept either.
For a few long seconds we stand staring at each other, the tension sizzling in the air, electrifying it. Slowly, she places her mug down, her throat working on a tight swallow.
“Knox,” Her voice is raspy, and it snaps the tension, forcing my feet to move, closing the gap between us.
I’m in front of her in a blink, my knees hitting the floor on the next and then I grab her chair, spinning it until she’s facing me and my forehead meets her abdomen, arms curling around her as if I could just hold her tight enough, strong enough she won’t fucking do this. She won’t fucking leave me.
That we can stay in this bubble we have created.
Her fingers thread into the hair at the back of my head, and she pulls, forcing my neck to bend until I’m looking up at her.
“You left.” She whispers.
“I’m sorry.” My hands squeeze into the soft flesh at her hips. “I’m so fucking sorry, Hellion.”
“I’m scared too,” She breathes, her voice barely audible, but it’s so silent around us, you could hear a pin drop.
“I’m scared of losing you, darlin’, when I’ve waited my whole damn life for you.”
Her face softens. “I’ll be okay.”
But the lie is right there on her tongue. She won’t be okay; none of us will be o-fucking-kay. “You’re going, aren’t you?” Her hand drops from my hair, allowing me to press my forehead back to her abdomen, rolling it side to side.
“Yes, I’m going.”
“Fuck,” I grumble.
