Something in my chest squeezed.
Because I believed him.
Completely.
And that scared me almost as much as Gerald did.
Then one of the boys came running from the barn.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Sadie!"
I stood immediately.
The kid looked pale.
Out of breath.
"What happened?"
He held up something in his hands.
A photograph.
My stomach dropped.
Because I recognized it instantly.
It was an old picture.
One Gerald had taken years ago.
Back when we were together.
Across the front someone had written three words in black marker.
YOU BELONG TO ME
The ranch suddenly felt a whole lot less safe.
15
BEAST
Ididn't sleep much.
Not because I was worried.
Army Rangers didn't worry.
We planned.
There was a difference.
At least that's what I told myself while I sat on Sadie's porch at four in the morning drinking coffee and watching the darkness.
