Ryker pulls it open, and there’s a man standing on the other side.
“Gideon James?”
“That’s me.” I step forward. Fuck. Has something happened to Lena?
They wouldn’t come here to tell if me if it had.
“You’re not an easy man to reach,” he says with a half smile. “I’m Dustin Harding, the warden at the Montana State Prison. I’ve been trying to call you but couldn’t reach you.”
I haven’t turned my phone on since she left.
Willow steps up next to me and slides her hand into mine. It’s sweet. Meant to comfort me.
She’s not who I want.
“I’m sorry to inform you that your father passed away last month.”
“My father died five years ago,” I reply with a hard voice.
Dustin nods and then shrugs. “Well then, Nicholas Peterson died last month, and I wanted to let you know.”
“I’m sorry you came all this way, because Nicholas Peterson doesn’t mean shit to me. He killed my mother and my unborn sister. You know that, right?”
He nods again. “Understood. It’s policy to notify next of kin. I’ll let you get back to your day.”
He walks out the door, shutting it behind him, and I’m suddenly in a group hug with my two best friends.
“Ryker’s right. You’re not going anywhere,” Willow says against my chest. “You’re right where you’re supposed to be, and you’re going to stop hiding. Because we’re your family.We are your family, Gideon. This is your home, and that hasn’t changed.”
“She’s right,” Ryker says.
“What are you feeling?” Willow runs her hand up and down my arm.
I blink down at her and then exhale. “Actually, I feel lighter. That asshole is gone for good, and he can’t hurt anyone I care about ever again. Even me. He should have died a long time ago.”
“He wasn’t your family,” Willow says. “And you were right, we lost our dad a long time ago. Gid, Ray and Debbie would be so fucking sad for you right now. Not because that murderous piece of shit died, but because of everything that happened with Lena. And they would be livid that you’re thinking about leaving.”
I pull away from them. “Don’t give me parent guilt.”
“I’m not. I’m telling you the truth. They worked so hard to leave this ranch to us. To all of us. But if it’s not whole for you without your girl, thengo fight for her. Bring her home with you. Ryker’s right, you don’t work for the president anymore, and everyone has had time to calm down, to take a breath. The fear is over. Those responsible are either dead or in jail. Maybe now is the time to have a conversation with people, to see Lena.”
My heart stutters.
I’d give just about anything to see my girl right now. To hold her, kiss her.
To sink inside her.
I dream about her every night and then wake up in this nightmare.
I nibble on my lip, thinking it over.
“The worst she can say is no,” Ryker says.
“No, the worst she can say isget the fuck away from me, I never loved you, you need to go to hell.” I shrug. “Same thing, I guess.”
“His sense of humor is back,” Willow says. “That’s a good sign.”
“I know that I can’t go on like this,” I admit. “I’ve never disobeyed an order, but fuck. Ican’tkeep living without her. If she says no, I’ll respect that.”
