Page 28 of Branded Betrayal

Either way, she’s screwed . . . and there’s nothing I can do to fix that.

But if I can drive her away, she’ll be safe in Denver. It’s better for her to lose the ranch than her life.

I ain’t her white knight. Never was, as much as I wanted to be. She thinks she saw through the darkness in me, but all the light was sucked out after Mom died. Savvie only saw emptiness, a hole that kept getting filled up higher and higher with anger, regret, and hatred for what I had become.

I pull up to my family’s house and slump back against the seat.

Fucking fabulous. Dad and Colt are here.

I really need to find a new place to live.

Walking toward the front door feels like impending death by firing squad.

Maybe they’ll be in his office and I can just—

“The prodigal son returns.” Colt’s smug voice grates against my ears as I walk inside. “You ever gonna do some work around here? Earn your keep? Or are you just here to bleed us dry before you go look for greener pastures?”

My spine stiffens, and I slowly turn to look at my brother.

“No words, huh? Well, that’s okay, brother. I’ve got plenty of ’em for you.” Colt narrows his hazel eyes, his jaw clenched so tight, his teeth might crack.

“Look, Colt, I don’t wanna get into this with you.” I try to push past him, but he blocks my path, then pulls me back so I have no choice but to look at him.

“Why not? ’Cause you can’t stand hearing how you couldn’t hack it as Dad’s number one?” he says. “Meanwhile, I fixed everything you broke and made us better. Stronger. Now I’m the guy. You’re just the pussy who’s comin’ back to suck at the teat.”

With a flick of my wrist, I grab his hand and shove him backward so he slams against the wall. Framed photos on either side of him shudder at the force. I fist his shirt in my fingers, leaning in so I can see the fear flickering in the middle of all that cocky, self-righteous arrogance.

“You ever call me a pussy again, and I’ll tear out your tongue and choke you with it.”

Colt’s eyes widen, his breaths short and sharp. But he doesn’t open his mouth again.

Smart. Very fucking smart.

“That’s right. You’re behaving yourself now, aren’t ya?” I flash a humorless smirk at him. “Who’s the pussy now?”

Voices drift into the foyer, and my jaw tightens. I nod toward the back of the house. “Who the hell is here?”

Colt yanks himself out of my grip . . . but only ’cause I let him. “Dad’s in a meeting.”

Blood ices in my veins. “What kind of meeting?”

“The kind you don’t get to hear about anymore, since you ran away with your dick between your legs.”

He’s lucky he managed to get out of my reach, or else I’d’a—

“Colton will learn everything he needs to. He can handle himself just fine. He’s the guy I need by my side. He knows just how much pressure to apply to keep everyone in their place.” Dad’s voice drifts down the hallway.

“That’s good to hear, Harlon.”

My gut clenches as the voices get closer to the foyer.

“Colt is loyal as the day is long, and he knows exactly what to do to make sure nobody gets in our way. He’s ready. Blaze was always too headstrong for his own good,” Dad says.

His words are like acid melting my skin. He thinks I’m worthless, useless to him, after everything I did to save our business and our livelihood. After he sold me out again and again to that motherfucker Wilkerson after running up debts. After he gave Wilkerson my contact information overseas and let him drag me back into this hell I thought I’d escaped.

Colt was right about one thing. I did walk away. But not ’cause I was a scared little pussy bitch.

Every day in Whiskey Creek was a reminder of what I helped to destroy. Guilt ate at me, over Savannah’s parents dying, over getting the Carlsons involved with Wilkerson, over watching Savannah grieve, knowing I was partly responsible for her pain.