Page 119 of Branded Betrayal

“You don’t mean that,” Nash says, his voice rising in alarm.

“I do. I’ll call Kent tomorrow and tell him to put the ranch up for auction. I don’t want any reminders of this family’s tainted legacy.”

I walk into my bedroom, vision blurred as I lay my suitcase out on the floor. I open drawers, pull out clothes, and toss them in before swiping a hand across my eyes. A framed photo in one of the drawers catches my eye. I’d kept it hidden away since before I left for Denver, and I found it almost a week ago.

Me and Blaze at seventeen. Smiling, happy, hopeful.

I pick it up, and with a loud yell, I hurl it against a wall. The glass shatters against the drywall, splintered pieces scattering on the floor. I stare at the jagged shards.

Just like my wounded soul.

I grab my bags and leave the mess behind. It almost seems apropos. Cleaning it up would mean that things really can be fixed, reassembled.

But I know the truth.

I’ve known it for a long time, just didn’t want to admit it.

I lug my bags down to the front door. Nash stands there, shifting in his boots.

“You’re just gonna leave without talking to him?”

“Yes.” I pull open the door.

“What if he comes by? What should I tell him?”

“Tell him I need space. That I understand he was trapped.” Hoisting one bag over my shoulder, I say, “Tell him I’m giving up the ranch and moving back to Denver.”

The roar of an engine outside jars me. My head whips toward the drive, toward Blaze’s truck. I tighten my grip on the door handle and slant a glare at my brother.

“Telling him my plan won’t change anything, Nash. I’m still leaving.” I storm past him and head for my car.

“Savvie, wait,” Blaze says, not even bothering to shut off the ignition as he jumps out of his truck. He runs over and positions himself between me and my car.

Shit, I can’t do this. I need to get away. Now.

He’s still wearing his bloody flannel shirt, the bandage on the side of his torso showing through the thin fabric of his T-shirt. The skin under his tired eyes is streaked purple, his face pinched with concern.

“Where are you going?”

I pop my trunk. “Back to Denver.”

He shakes his head. “Please don’t go. Let me explain—”

I push past him and throw my bags into the trunk. “I heard everything I needed to know, Blaze. There’s nothing more to say.”

Taking a deep breath, using all the strength I have left, I finally look into his eyes and see anguish flickering in the depths. “I understand why you did what you did. Why you left. But you still lied to me for years and then again when I came back here. Every time you looked me in the eyes, you knew you were deceiving me. Destroying me. You didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth. We could have figured it out together. But instead, you just did what you were told to cover your ass.”

“No,” he says. “That’s not true. I know what Wilkerson is capable of. I did what he wanted to keep you and my brothers safe. I swear, I never wanted to hurt you. I know I fucked up. I lost control and made so many mistakes. I wish to God I’d done everything differently. I am so sorry.” He reaches for me, his fingers gently grazing my bandaged wrists. “Please. Don’t leave me. Just stay, and I swear I will fix this. I’ll fix us.”

I drop my gaze to his hands. My chest aches like a bruise that’s pressed too hard. “How? How can you possibly make this right, after everything you’ve done?” Then I look up at him, and with a shake of my head, I say, “I need space. Time to figure out how I feel without you standing in front of me, making me want to forgive you before I’m ready. If I’ll ever be ready.”

“How long?” His voice cracks.

“I don’t know. Weeks, months.” I shrug. “I can’t put a timeline around it. I just know I need to go.” I will my voice to stay strong and steady, but I know if I spend any more time here, my body will betray me, and I’ll fall right back into his arms.

It’s too dangerous to stay.

“What about the ranch?” he asks, his voice desperate, pleading.