Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141556 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 708(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
I don’t confirm or deny the indirect question. I don’t need to explain how deeply my feelings for Saint go in order to have their support. “What’s it going to be? Are you in or not?”
Silence falls around us, and my brothers exchange glances with each other.
Levi shrugs and smiles. “I’m in. Sounds like it might be fun.”
“Fun to die? Your life is hanging in the balance.” Kade snaps.
“Our lives are always hanging in the balance. All this means is that we’d better make sure Dad believes exactly what we want him to believe,” Levi interrupts, serious now. “That Calder got obsessed with the preacher’s daughter. Couldn’t eliminate her, so he claimed her instead. Bishops take what they want. He’ll be pissed, but he’ll respect the impulse.”
“We need a public debut,” Sawyer continues. “Something that establishes the relationship in everyone’s minds at once.”
“Oh, the rodeo,” Levi suggests. “Saturday. Everyone will be there, including Dad.”
“That’s in a few days,” I point out.
“Good. Less time for whispers. We do a hard launch—you and Saint can’t keep your hands off each other. By the time Dad processes it, it’s an established fact, and nothing can be done to change it.”
It sounds like Sawyer and Levi are on board, but Kade doesn’t seem as convinced.
“What about you, Kade?” I ask. “Are you in or out?”
Kade meets my gaze, his dark green eyes cold. “I’m in. But I want your word on something. If this goes bad—if Dad sees through it, if she doesn’t play along—you end it. Permanently. I’ll help with this crazy scheme, but I won’t let it destroy the family. The Bishop name comes first. Always.”
“Agreed,” I say, the lie bitter on my tongue. “Family first.”
“Look at us working together as a team!” Levi snickers.
Sawyer, being the planner he is, takes initiative immediately and starts delegating jobs to each of us. “Calder, you talk to Saint and make her understand that there is no other option. Prepare her. Meanwhile, Levi, you drop hints around town.”
“I can run interference with Dad,” Kade says. “Keep him distracted until the rodeo.”
“Thank you,” I say. “All of you.”
“Don’t thank us yet,” Kade warns. “This could still blow up in our faces.”
“If it does,” Sawyer adds quietly, “we were never here, and never had this conversation.”
“Agreed.” I nod.
“Alright, I have shit to do. I’m out.” Kade gives a half-wave and heads to his truck to leave.
“Same. Dad’s got me working on a bunch of new shit.” Sawyer gives me a slap on the back. “You’ve got this, brother.”
I don’t tell him it doesn’t feel like it, that I’m terrified of the what-if.
It’s just Levi and me left, and we start toward our vehicles, and he falls into step beside me. “Not to make this any more difficult for you, since I know the pressure is already on, but you’ll need to be convincing. Real convincing. Dad will be watching, and any missteps may give you away. This whole marriage thing needs to be concrete as hell.”
“You act like I don’t know any of this. It won’t be a problem. I’ll do whatever I need to do to make sure Saint gets through this in one piece.”
Levi’s lips curve into a smile. “Holy shit. I think Sawyer is right. I never thought I’d see the day you’d defy Dad for a girl. She must be important to you.” I don’t answer, and that only encourages him to continue. He bumps his shoulder into mine. “The iceman has a heart after all. No worries, brother. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Don’t push it, Levi.”
“Oh, I’m going to do so much more than push it.” He winks before climbing into his Jeep. I don’t even care what kind of shit he stirs up. Hopefully, it’s good enough to convince our father. I climb into my truck and start it up, turning out of the parking lot to head back to the cabin.
As I drive, his words echo in my mind.
Your secret’s safe with me.
I tighten my grip on the steering wheel. This has to work. It will work. I’ve committed my brothers to this path, risking their lives.
All for a woman who might still refuse me.
The truth is, even knowing what I know now, the danger, the circumstances. I’d do it all again. I’d risk everything for the chance to keep her safe. The truth of that thought should terrify me. It doesn’t. Instead, it feels like the first truthful thing I’ve done in years.
Saint
The cabin feels different in the evening light. Warmer somehow, though that might be because of the fire Calder built earlier. I’m still on the bed where he placed me after our confrontation yesterday, still wrapped in the quilt my mother made, still trying to process everything that’s happened since that terrible night he kidnapped me. At least I’m not still chained up like a dog.