I don’t agree with that.Granddaddy loved Della more than anything.It would’ve broken his heart to know someone violated his girl.Just like it’s breaking mine.
“It does matter, Della.Youmatter, and I’m sorry if I made you think otherwise.I’m sorry for my part in making you think you needed to go through that alone, but you’re not alone.And I need you to know you’re safe here.”
She stares at me blankly.“I thought you wanted me gone.”
Yeah, I thought I did too.Now all I want to do is make things right.
Blowing out a breath, I scratch the side of my face.
“Look, Della.The last couple of years have been hard on both of us.I didn’t know you were going through all that you did.I just assumed you wanted nothing to do with this place.Then, I find out Granddaddy left you half of the ranch, and I got fucking mad.I resented you.But this changes things.I can’t fault you for something you couldn’t control, and I certainly can’t be mad about how you chose to handle things afterward.”I comb my fingers through my hair.“I don’t have all the answers.I don’t know how to fix all that’s broken between us, but I do know that you belong here.This is your home, and I’ll do whatever you need to feel safe here.”
There’s no way I want her to go back to Copper Run.I get that she’s a grown woman and all that, but she shouldn’t be alone.She can build a life for herself here.
“You want to tell me about what happened with your job?”
She diverts her gaze away from me.“When you called to tell me about Granddaddy, I snapped after we got off the phone.I sent over what I had been working on to my boss, Luka, followed by my immediate resignation.The time I thought I would have with our granddaddy was gone.Realizing that broke my heart and made me aware of just how miserable I was.”
“Why do I feel like there is more to it than that?”
She sighs.“So, I was also having an affair with Luka.”
“Your boss.”
Her cheeks flush, and she nods.“After what happened to me, I didn’t allow myself to get close to anyone, but Luka and I were working long hours and it just happened.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say, holding up my hand.“I don’t need to know about your sex life.”
“Fair,” she says.We’re both silent for a moment, then she continues.“Maddox, I really don’t want to sell my half of the ranch.I can help.I have some savings.It’s not much, but it’s around forty-five thousand.We can use it.”
“There’s more to it than just buying you out.Not too long ago, the CEO of an oil company approached me.They want the land, and they’ll do anything in their power to get it.A partnership with the Fallen Demons doesn’t just provide the working capital needed to turn this place around; it also grants us protection.”
I can’t back out of the deal, but I can’t sell my sister’s share either.
“The morning you got bit by the snake, Shadow was here to present me an offer from the club.We hadn’t finished going over the details when Tyler alerted me that you were hurt.Things kind of fell by the wayside, but I’m due to meet with them soon to accept the deal.I’m not going to force you to sell your share, but this changes everything.I can’t imagine they’ll take the deal completely off the table.My guess is they’ll have a counteroffer for us.”
“So we’re doing this together?”She asks, hope radiating from her.
After my talk with Amelia, I was already questioning things, but now, after knowing everything Della’s been through, I can’t go through with the original deal.If she wants to make this work, and truly has a desire to make this place her home, then I’m not going to stand in her way.We’ll figure it out.
Together.
My gaze slides back to her, and I toss her a wink.
“It’s what Granddaddy wanted.”
ChapterFifteen
Amelia
“Hey, Dyl?”I call out, pressing my ear against his door.When he doesn’t respond, I knock again, this time a little firmer.Again, he doesn’t answer, so I open the door.
“You’re such dogshit, bro.Kids on me!Kids on me!”He shouts, his thumbs working the controller of his video game.An explosion of color flashes on the screen in front of him, and he groans, tossing the controller onto his desk.“We lost because of you.”
I step around him, and he jerks back when he finally notices me, pulling the headphones from his ears.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Hey, yourself.I knocked, but I guess you couldn’t hear,” I say, motioning to his headset.
