Page 136
A sigh pushes off her lips, making them pout. “I don’t want to put your family in danger. Or be a burden.”
As I stare at her, the sadness on her face wrenches my fucking soul. This girl’s so fucking brave and strong to go through this. But she’s not alone. Not anymore.
She’s never been a priority to anyone, but I’m about to make her mine. She’ll want for nothing. She’ll always be safe. Because she has me.
“You’re not a burden. But you don’t have a choice. As long as you’re on my ranch, you stay here.”
Her eyes flash with fight, with fire. She shoves at the sheets. “Then I’ll go.”
I snatch her wrist before she can leave the bed. I yank her up on her knees on the mattress, her body hot and soft and trembling against me. “I think you misunderstood me, darlin’. There is no way you’re leaving this ranch. Not when you’re in danger. Not when you’re mine.”
She gasps, slamming a palm to my chest. I crush my lips to hers. She goes soft, pliant in my grasp. It takes all I have not to fuck her again, to force myself back to the important matter at hand.
“Where’s the USB?”
She sighs and relents. “It’s in my sparkly fringed cowboy boot. The right one.”
Of course it is. I rub my temple, and the sudden headache brewing. Hidden but in plain sight. My girl’s smart. Even if she is a pretty little liar.
I chuckle. “We gotta get better at your hiding spots.”
“What’re you going to do with it? Give it to the cops?”
No fucking way. Giving the USB over to the law isn’t something I’m prepared to do. Neither is putting Delilah’s life in someone else’s hands. I don’t trust what could happen to her. They could try to blame her, or worse, take her. We get answers first.
“I’m going to take it to someone who can see what’s on it.”
Her breath catches. “I want to come.”
“No.”
She deserves to know what’s on it, but not today. Not after what she’s been through.
I slide a hand into her hair, grasp her neck. “I promise I’ll tell you everything when we know it. We’ll find your friend.”
Before she can argue, I kiss her. “I want you to stay here today. You need something to do, feed the animals.” She bats her eyelashes, and I shake my head, warding off her charms. “Don’t text or call anyone.”
“Not even you?” She looks at me sweetly, biting that pouty lower lip of hers.
“You only text me.”
She makes a face. “Cowboy.”
I give her the same exasperated look right back. “Darlin’.”
Her lips turn up, ravenous as she yanks me into her and slips her hands up my shirt, lighting my blood on fire. My cock flexes. “Delilah,” I growl, my palms going to the side of her face to still her, even though denying her is the last thing I want to do. “I have to handle this.”
One last kiss, then I’m grabbing my hat and setting out across the ranch.
I head to the Creek House, where I feed Ratson and grab the boot. Then I make my way to the homestead.
“We’re going dancing?” River lifts his cup of coffee to me when I enter. I ignore the dirty look Ezra gives me.
I turn the boot over, and the USB clatters onto the countertop.
“We’re going to get someone who can open this.” I nudge up my hat, looking at my brothers, minus Wells. Thank Christ the kid’s on the rodeo circuit for the next two weeks. “Syd’s brother.”
“He still a tech wiz guru?” Warren shoots a curious look at River.
