Page 45 of Caffeine & Chaos

Daniel held up his hand again, “Justin, I don’t want to hear it. Your brother is going home to the ranch.”

Nadia swallowed hard, knowing all hell was going to break loose between Justin and Ryan without their father there.

Ryan shook his head, “Dad, I’ve already booked us at a hotel, we-”

Daniel cut in with a sneer, “of course you have. I’m sure it’s the finest hotel in the area. Just forget it, Ryan. I thought you would want… Just forget it,” he shook his head disappointingly and turned to Justin, “see if the Baker’s can spare a few ranch hands and -”

Ryan puffed out his chest and cut in, “Never mind the Baker’s, dad. I’ll be there. I’ll cancel the hotel and we’ll stay at the ranch. You’re right, I should be there to help.” Ryan’s tone was final, and while Justin didn’t verbally object, he swore under his breath and stormed out of the room.

Daniel simply nodded at Ryan, sealing the deal. Nadia’s stomach churned with nervous anticipation. They were going to be alone at Ryan’s family home, with his blood-thirsty brother. She found Ryan’s eyes; they were apologetic but determined. He knew what he had just signed them up for, and it didn’t look like there was any dissuading him now.

As they exited the hospital, Nadia struggled to contain her rising anger. The choice to stay at the ranch had been made hastily, without her input, solely because of the disapproving look Ryan’s father had given him. Nadia was accustomed to her own mother’s disapproval, but she never allowed it to dictate her decisions. In fact, it typically only fueled her determination further.

Mind you, she might have made a similar choice if her stepfather were the one laid up in a hospital bed, barely clinging to life after a massive stroke. When Robert came into her life at the tender age of six, it was like stepping into a whole new world. Sure, he was wealthy and could provide for her beyond her wildest dreams, but it was his genuine parental warmth that left the most profound impact. Nadia had never experienced a parent who would play with her, indulge her wild imagination, read her bedtime stories, or give her piggyback rides. Valentina didn’t have that in her. Or didn’t care to, at least.

Nadia remembered the warmth in Clara McKellen’s face during their brief exchange and realized that Ryan could do nothing else in the face of this situation. They would have to endure Justin’s animosity so that Ryan could do what he felt was right for his mom.

13

The Watcher.

He stood before his shrine, his hands trembling with barely contained fury as he gazed upon the photographs that adorned the walls. After seeing her pictures in the papers with that other man, the images that once brought him solace now filled him with a seething anger that threatened to consume him whole.

With a primal roar, he lashed out, his fists raining down upon the shrine with a ferocity born of betrayal. Photographs fluttered to the ground like autumn leaves, their glossy surfaces marred by the marks of his rage. The glass vials that once held cherished mementos shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering fragments of his obsession across the floor.

As he tore through the shrine, each act of destruction fueled by the agony of his wounded pride, he felt a primal satisfaction wash over him. She had betrayed him, cast aside his love like so much refuse, and now she would pay the price for her treachery.

But as the last remnants of his shrine lay in ruins before him, a wave of despair crashed over him like a tidal wave. What had he done? How could he have destroyed something so precious, something that had once been the very essence of his existence?

With shaking hands, he knelt amidst the wreckage, gathering up the shattered pieces of his obsession in a futile attempt to put them back together again. His breath came in ragged gasps, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions as he whispered reassurances to himself in a voice that cracked with sorrow.

“It’s okay,” he murmured, his voice barely audible above the din of his own despair. “She didn’t mean to hurt me. She couldn’t have known how much I loved her.”

Her.

They drove in silence for what felt like ages after leaving the hospital. With each mile separating them from the medical center, Nadia noticed a shift in Ryan’s demeanor. The vulnerability she had witnessed seemed to dissipate, replaced by his familiar air of strength and confidence. His hand on the gear shifter, effortlessly navigating the car through the gears, sent a thrill through her. The car’s engine, just like Nadia, purred beneath his touch.

The sleek black Lexus he had rented exuded understated elegance, much like Ryan himself. She admired his taste, appreciating his lack of flamboyance when it came to his wealth. It was a quality she found undeniably attractive. In contrast to her previous experiences with men who flaunted their money, Ryan’s modesty was refreshing. And sexy.

Feeling a pang of guilt for the growing heat between her legs, Nadia tore her gaze away from Ryan and focused on the scenery whizzing by her window. She had travelled extensively under her mother’s thumb, but Montana certainly wasn’t on Valentina’s must-see list. Nadia was surprised at the haunting beauty of the landscape unfolding before her.

As they journeyed towards Ryan’s family ranch in South-Eastern Montana, a stunning variety of landforms had unfolded before her eyes. The mountains gradually gave way to the rugged badlands, their ancient sandstone cliffs illuminated by the late afternoon sun. Transitioning from desert-like terrain to vast grasslands, Nadia appreciated the simple beauty of the sea of grasses and wildflowers swaying and undulating in the wind.

Interwoven with this diverse landscape were lakes and rivers, adding to the richness of the scenery. Beneath the expansive sky, she felt a sense of freedom and calm envelop her. Valentina didn’t know a damn thing about must-see places.

Feeling the tension creeping back into the car, Nadia stole a glance at Ryan, noticing how tightly he gripped the steering wheel. His jaw was clenched, and his gaze was fixed ahead with unwavering intensity. It was clear he was preparing himself for the inevitable confrontation with Justin once they reached the ranch.

“I should’ve rented a truck. Wasn’t expecting gravel roads,” Ryan grumbled as he turned left off the highway onto a winding dirt road marked only by a towering ponderosa pine. About a mile down, it became evident that it was actually just a very long driveway leading to the ranch.

The house emerged in the distance, a modest yet well-kept A-frame with a blue tin roof and large rake head windows facing the front yard. At the back, on the Eastern side, stood a long beige barn with a horse corral nearby. Further back, Nadia could discern another barn and several outbuildings, all surrounded by endless fields. Barbed-wire fencing bordered the property, interspersed with gnarled wooden posts worn by years of sun exposure.

“What kind of ranch is this?” Nadia asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and uncertainty.

“Cattle. Dad raises beef cattle. Herefords were the breed we had when I was growing up, but I’m not sure what he’s into now,” Ryan replied, his expression briefly clouded with what Nadia interpreted as guilt for not keeping up with his family’s affairs.

As Ryan turned off the car engine and sat in silence for a moment, staring out the front window, Nadia took the opportunity to collect herself. Stepping out of the car, Ryan came around to open her door, giving her a chance to steady her nerves. She felt completely out of place in this rural setting and dreaded the prospect of staying under the same roof as Justin.

“Can you ride?” Ryan asked as he opened her door and gestured towards the horse corral.

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