What’s wrong with me?
“You don’t know shit about me and V.” His voice is so monotone, he could be talking about the weather.
“Does Valentina even know? Does she know about you and Faith?” I no sooner get Faith’s name out of my mouth before McCrae’s forearm bars against my throat, slamming me against the railing. His eyes flash anew, but instead of guarded anger, full-blown fury explodes from him.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been afraid of McCrae.
“You keep her name out of your mouth.” He punctuates each word with a trust of his arm against my throat.
I stare at him, slightly dumbfounded by the outburst.
“You didn’t care about seeing your precious Valentina suck my dick, but you care about me saying Fa—” He slams me again, and I bite my tongue, resorting to simply saying the rest with my eyes.
He looks rabid, chest heaving, eyes wide as he scours my face. For what, I don’t know. I blink back at him, both eager to challenge him and aware that if I do, I risk blowing my cover.
“I’ll say it only one more time: keep her name out of your fucking mouth.” He flashes his teeth, pressing his arm a final time before stepping back. He runs a tattooed hand over the zipper of his leather jacket before stepping back a handful more steps. “You want to stay here? Do your job and leave V alone. I don’t trust you, and she doesn’t need false hope that you’re interested in more than just her body—she’s had enough of assholes like that in her life.”
I open my mouth to ask him what he’s doing that’s any different, but I stop at the sight of fiery red curls. Valentina walks toward us, her hands stuffed deep in the pockets of her black jacket, dark-wash jeans all but painted on her impossibly long, lean legs. Her face is tipped toward the ground, and before today, I might have thought it’s because she’s so confident in her surroundings, she’s doesn’t care to see them—now, I see the act for what it really is:insecurity.
I run my tongue over my bottom lip, the memory of kissing her second only to the branded feel of her soft, hot mouth wrapped around my cock.
Men like me don’t get chances with women like her, not unless we steal, lie, or cheat for them.
“What’s going on here?” she asks me, her gaze looking anywhere but at McCrae.
He doesn’t look at her either, his eyes trained on the distant horizon where the horses have become specks racing across the plains.
Biting my lip, I shrug. “I just let the horses out for the week. I’m going to Milton on Friday to get a load of hay. I won’t be back until Sunday most likely. Just seemed like the best option.”
I’m not even sure she knows how to take care of the horses—this way, she doesn’t have to.
Her eyes reluctantly find mine, and there’s anger there like she heard my thoughts. Guilt hits me for the briefest moment.
“Fine. Less work for me while you’re gone,” McCrae grumbles.
Valentina only stiffens, clearly growing more upset by the implication she couldn’t take care of them.Or is it hurt?With her, I no longer know.
After what feels like an eternity of awkward moments, Valentina shakes her head, turning on her heel. She walks back up the hill and toward the giant house, her hands still stuffed in her pockets, only now, instead of just her face tipped down, her entire body seems folded in on itself—not just self-consciousness, but bone-deep sadness.
I’ve always imagined Valentina as the strongest, meanest, bravest woman I’d ever meet—a force with no weakness.
I was wrong.
TWENTY-SIX
VALENTINA
November 22nd, 2025
FAITH: I’m coming over.
I stare at the text.Can I ignore her? Do I want to?
FAITH: I won’t take no for an answer.
Even with the knowledge that something happened between her and McCrae on Halloween still rattling in my subconscious like a dark storm cloud, I don’t want to push her away. Not really.
I miss her friendship—I miss her challenging me and demanding more.
