Home.The word lands strange in my chest, but before I have time to start overthinking everything, tall iron gates appear, wrought with a design that’s elegant without being decorative. IRON STALLION is forged into the metal in bold, unashamed letters. The gates open smoothly, like they’ve been waiting for us.
Beyond them, the ranch unfolds like a small city. Multiple buildings dot the landscape—barns, stables, long, low structures that look industrial and immaculate all at once. Horses graze in the distance, sleek and powerful, their movement fluid and purposeful. I catch glimpses of fencing that stretches farther than my eyes can follow, of dirt roads branching off into places I can’t see yet.
My stomach tightens. This isn’t just a ranch—this is legacy, riches beyond measure, and I’m smack in the middle of it.
The long driveway leads up to a large main house that looks more like an estate than a home. Beck pulls up the drive with practiced ease. The house is magnificent; stone, wood, and glass come together in a way that feels intentional, grounded, and quietly expensive.
“Welcome to Iron Stallion,” Beck invites lightly as he cuts the engine. “Try not to be intimidated. It bites newcomers sometimes.”
I let out a breath that’s half a laugh, half disbelief. “You’re… the youngest brother, right?”
He grins wider. “Unfortunately. It means I get all the shit and none of the authority.”
“That’s not what it sounds like,” I murmur.
He shrugs. “Depends who you ask.”
The front door opens before I can say anything else. A woman steps out first, about my age or a bit younger, looking very confident—all soft curves and boundless energy. Her dark brown hair is pulled back, eyes sharp but warm, scanning the scene like she’s already assessing what needs to be done.
Ella.I don’t know how I know, but I do.
Behind her is a handsome, tall, older gentleman with graying hair and a posture that radiates quiet command. His gaze lands on Ryder first, then shifts to Julian, and something changes in his eyes.
Ryder exhales slowly beside me, like he’s been holding his breath since we crossed the gates. “That’s my dad, Hank, and sister, Ella,” he rasps.
That’s his dad?!Wow.Now I see where Ryder and Beck get their dashing looks from.
I move to take Julian from him, and he protests a bit before letting go, his eyes staying locked on us even as I exit the truck. Ella is upon us the moment we step out, her eyes softening the moment they land on Julian.
“Oh, he’s adorable,” she gushes, and my throat tightens unexpectedly. “Welcome. You must be Kate.”
She looks at me then, and there’s no shock or judgment there, just warmth and something like recognition.
I nod, suddenly unsure what more to say. “I am, and this is Julian.”
“Hi Julian,” she coos excitedly, the sincerity catching me off guard. “It’s nice to meet you both. I’m Ella, the youngest and only sister,” she introduces, then turns to her big brother.
“Ryder James Morgan! Oh boy, are you in trouble,” she glares at him through the open car door.
Ryder looks scared for a moment, and it’s the first time I’ve seen him afraid of anyone—not even when he had to fight against eight heavily armed men. He’s a foot taller than her and twice her size, and he’s scared of her? Should I be scared of her, too?What is going on?
“Hi, El.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “Don’t El me.”
He tries to move but winces due to his injuries, and that’s when her face softens. “Let’s get you inside first, get you all better, then I’ll happily kill you myself.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he smiles back.
She rushes to his side, her hand light but firm at his elbow, with Beck on the other side. Hank stays back half a step, watching everything with an intensity that makes my skin prickle.
Ryder sways the moment his feet hit the ground, and I instinctively reach out.
“I’ve got him,” Beck assures me, already adjusting his grip.
I hover uselessly, torn between Julian and Ryder, between staying out of the way and needing to be close. Hank steps closer then, but doesn’t speak right away. He looks at Ryder, really looks at him, and then his gaze drops to Julian. His eyes linger on Julian’s hair, the way it curls slightly at the edges, and the unmistakable color of his dark eyes.
When the recognition hits, all he does is exhale. “Well, that explains a few things.”
