Page 49 of Branded Betrayal

I watch his gaze travel to the white-capped peaks in the distance. Pink-and-orange streaks paint the horizon, early-morning sunlight casting a glow on his features.

“Liam was my best friend on my squad. He died on our last tour.” His voice tears a little at that, but I don’t dare ask for details. I already learned that very harsh lesson. I’m actually a little surprised he said anything at all and that his words were actually civil.

Progress. Definitely didn’t see that coming.

I move my hand to his arm and give it a gentle squeeze. “I’m so sorry.”

He nods. “Thanks.”

The cattle move away from the water troughs, and I let out a breath. At least they’re not dying of thirst anymore, but as soon as the sun blazes down on the fields, they’ll be back for more to drink. “Okay, so what happens next?” I ask. “How do we get this done fast?”

His lips lift into a crooked smile, the same one that used to undo me completely. “Oh, you’re gonna help with this?”

“Hell, yeah,” I say, chuckling. “You can’t get rid of me that easy. Not this time. Besides, I need to learn.”

The smile fades quickly, like it was an illusion. My heart plummets when his expression hardens. “It wasn’t easy the first time,” he mutters under his breath as he turns away from the fence. But my eyebrows fly up because I heard every word.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I say, grabbing his arm and forcing him back around.

He looks everywhere but at me for a minute that stretches into what feels like a damn hour.

“Blaze?”

“I shouldn’t have said that. Forget it.”

“Well, it sure seemed easy for you. You think you can say that to me, and it’s supposed to make everything better? Especially after last night?”

His lips pull into a tight line. “Things won’t ever be better.”

I slap my hands against my legs. “Can you ever give a little more explanation? You and your freaking cryptic, zero-information-given one-liners. Don’t you think I deserve more than that? After everything?”

He inches toward me, the familiar scent of his cologne floating in the air under my nose, making me remember things long buried in the dark recesses of my mind. The silence stretches between us, the air so thick with tension that I could choke on it.

“Every minute we waste talking, your cattle are getting more stressed.”

Cue the record-scratch sound effect.

My eyes pop open wide, and I give my head a shake. “What?”

He turns on his heel. “I’ll get the parts. I know a guy who owes me a favor.”

“You’re just going to go?” I throw my hands into the air. “And shut me out again?”

Blaze stops short, his boots landing hard in the dirt. He slants me a look over his shoulder. “Trust me, Savvie. I’m doing you a favor, just like I told you last night. Because if I let you in, you might not find your way back out.”

Chapter Sixteen

Blaze

She probably thinks my warning was a threat. But really, it was a confession. I’m already so far gone that if she gets any closer, I’ll drag her down with me.

Kissing her was fucking stupid, and I beat myself up over that asinine move all night long.

It’s gotten to the point where I can barely eat, sleep, or breathe without thinking about Savannah. So last night when I saw her with Tyler, it broke me. And I kissed her. I didn’t think about consequences, and there’s no shortage of those.

But for as much as I detest Wilkerson for putting me in this impossible position, at the very least, it gives me access to her.

Because she needs me, even though she told me to stay away from her. She still called me this morning.