Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101758 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 509(@200wpm)___ 407(@250wpm)___ 339(@300wpm)
“You don’t have to say that,” Indie says, shaking her head. “Like I said, I’m not trying to be part of your family or ask you for anything. I needed to make sure that you know because I can’t keep this secret. It’s too big. And I see you all the time in town. I enjoy seeing you, and I don’t want this huge, weird thing to be hanging over my head.”
“I think being honest is the right thing to do,” Tucker says. “And we’ll navigate this. Because you are our sister, Indie.”
My chest aches. My head is pounding.
I’m quiet as the others get up and hug each other and exchange numbers with Indie. I hang back with my hands in my pockets, watching as Tucker smiles gently at the young woman and they share a laugh.
And finally, she turns to me.
“You intimidate the shit out of me, Xander.”
I lift an eyebrow. I wasn’t expecting that.
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re bigger than life. And you’re just . . . intimidating.”
Ava snorts and Harper winks at me. Easton and Tucker are both grinning.
Okay, I might not love this situation, and I’m having feelings, but I can’t let any woman feel weird in my presence, so I cross to her and hug her to me.
“You don’t have to feel any sort of way,” I tell her. “It’s all going to be okay. Also, if anyone gives you shit, you now have three big brothers to kick their ass. Easton is the one to be afraid of. Have you seen that guy?”
She steps out of my hold, and to my horror, she starts to cry.
“That’s a good thing,” I insist, and she laughs with the crying, which I didn’t know was possible, and wipes her tears away. “Okay, I get it. Easton makes me cry too.”
“You’re an idiot,” Easton says, flipping me off.
“I think I’m overwhelmed and relieved because I was sure you guys were gonna kick me out of here.”
“Nah, we only do that to people we don’t like,” Tucker says with a wink.
An hour later, after Indie left and the five of us talked some more, I’m emotionally exhausted when I climb in my SUV and drive away from the ranch.
I know I’m not alone in my . . . hurt? Whatever this is. I saw it in my brothers’ and sisters’ eyes. But they’re trying to be optimistic and upbeat and not show Indie that this freaks us all out.
But she has to know. She’s a smart girl.
The thought of going home to my big house by myself is not appealing, and all I can think about is seeing Ivy.
I need her.
I want to talk to her and have her near me, and I need to make sure that she’s okay, so instead of driving home, I let my car take me to her little house in town. I love her place. Sure, it’s small, but it’s cute, and she’s made it a nice home.
After parking at the curb, I walk up to the front door but pause when I hear yelling. The house is old and not insulated well, and there’s a window open, because I can hear every word.
“I’ve told you over and over again that you can’t smoke in here, Mom. This is my house.”
“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want,” Brenda snaps back in that horrible, nasty tone that she’s mastered, and I see red. “You need to go out and get me better clothes than this. And I want Ciao for dinner, so drive your fat ass over to Bitterroot Valley and get it for me this afternoon.”
“No.”
“You’re a fucking bitch.”
I hear the cat scream, and I have my hand on the handle.
“Cally!”
I barge in and find Ivy scooping her cat into her arms and Brenda smirking. I can smell the cigarettes. Brenda’s dressed in the vintage Flurry T-shirt I made Ivy change out of the other night and a pair of sweats.
When I turn my gaze to Ivy, my blood runs fucking cold.
Because my little wildcat has been crying, and she has a red handprint on her cheek.
“You’re with me,” I say, holding my hand out to Ivy. She immediately moves into my side, holding Cally to her.
“I can’t leave my cat here. She’ll hurt her.”
“Cally’s coming too,” I assure her, doing my best to keep my voice calm. I turn to Brenda, who’s eyes are narrowed on me. “You have seventy-two hours to get out of here. You will not smoke in here. You will not destroy her property.”
“Or what?”
I let the sinister smile that only my opponents see spread across my face, and Brenda swallows hard.
“One, my brother is the police here. Two, I have more money and more fame than you’ve ever dreamed of, and I can make your life a living hell. Or, you can leave. Find somewhere else to be an absolute nightmare, but you won’t do it here. Never again.”