Page 84 of Cruel Expectations

“It must be a bad one.”

“Bad enough. What the hell are you doing in Montana?”

He shrugged. “Figured two of my closest friends were here so I’d come for a visit.”

“A visit or to stay?” Hunter eyed him.

He rolled his shoulders in what passed as a shrug in Wolfman’s book. “Haven’t decided yet.” Then he glanced past Hunter. “Who’s in the truck with you?”

“Forest’s little sister.” Hunter glanced back to make sure Ivy hadn’t gotten out too.

“Seriously? Shit. I didn’t think I’d be meeting one of his sisters so soon.”

Colton cleared his throat. “There’s a lot to tell you. Come up to the house with us and we’ll find you a place to stay.”

Hunter moved in to take Wolfe’s hand and pulled him in for a bro hug. They thumped each other on the back. “Damn, it’s good to see you, man.”

“Only you guys know what I’ve been through.” True to form, Wolfe didn’t mince words.

With three of them fighting, they had an even better chance of winning this battle.

Hunter opened the truck door and set eyes on his beautiful woman.

He’d already won.

Chapter Twenty

The house rang with that dreaded silence that had driven Ivy away from the ranch. Meadow had gotten their father safely delivered home. She could only guess that he was tucked in bed, resting, and her sister had fled to her training pen and her horses.

With the friend of Forest’s showing up out of the blue, Hunter and Colton were outside with him, probably filling him in on everything.

Hunter had been reluctant to leave her side, but she’d assured him that she would go to her room and lie down.

Now she felt the pulse of worry inside her. When she faced her father, she did not want to do it bruised and sporting a new cast on her arm.

But she was strong. She would do what she had to in order to survive.

Later.

Tiptoeing down the hall, she passed the master bedroom where he must be settled. When she reached the open door of the office, she automatically swung her head to glance at the familiar space…and froze in her tracks.

Her father sat at his desk, hunched forward, looking more frail than she’d ever seen him.

He met her stare. Shock flitted across his wan face, and he winced as if in physical pain.

“I didn’t want you to see me this way,” she croaked.

He said nothing, just let his gaze roam over her face another full minute.

Suddenly, Hunter stepped into the hallway and moved to stand behind her. Her father searched his face. Did he recognize him from any of the photos Forest shared with him?

Hunter’s fingers brushed down her elbow, over her cast, to brush over her fingers. “Let’s get you to bed.”

Boldly, she looked into her father’s eyes. Then she turned and allowed Hunter to lead her to her room.

Her father said nothing about Ivy taking a man to her private space. Judging by that expression he wore, he knew he no longer held any clout with her. That she knew exactly what he’d gotten their family into.

As soon as she felt stronger, she would sit down with him, Meadow, Colton and Hunter—and maybe the newcomer, Wolfe too—and throw everything out on the table. A spotlight had to be cast on what he’d done so they could find a solution for the situation.

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