Page 63 of Love in the Wild

She got that right. Gage might have a warped sense of loyalty, but he’d been honest with Hadley.

Brett reached out a hand like a lion tamer approaching a dangerous animal. “Thea isn’t going anywhere. This is her home, and she’s found a new family here. The people at Wolf Creek have pretty much adopted her just like they did with Hadley last year. There’s a lot of bad hanging around here, but there’s even more good. She deserves a family who cares about her.”

“I care about her,” Gage said. “I’m her real family.”

“But look what else she has hanging around,” Brett said. “A family who tried to hurt her. Now she’s my family, and I’ll treat her right. I’ll give her everything I have and then some.”

“I hope you’re planning to skip off to the other side of the world to do that. She shouldn’t be here. Neither should Hadley,” he said, pointing at her. “She probably has a target on her back right now because she’s been hanging out with me. People like us don’t get to keep the things we want, Brett. The best thing to do is stay away from everything that’s good. We’re poison.”

Brett shook his head. “No can do. I’m not the quitting type. Thea wants to live here, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen. Are you with me or against me?”

“What kind of question is that? I think it’s a terrible idea, so why would I help you stay here when I know she’s in danger?”

“Because we have to be the change,” Brett said. “We’re the next generation, and we have to do things better than our parents did. It has to start now.”

Gage propped his fists on his hips and paced. This guy had a death wish if he thought they could mend fences. The grudge was too old and too deep. “You’re talking about fairy tales. We can’t just snap our fingers and change people.”

“You changed,” Brett said. “You changed a lot since I broke your jaw.”

“You didn’t break it, nimwit. And so what if I’m better than I was? It doesn’t get me out of the hot water.”

“But you want out, right?” Brett asked.

“Of course I do. You think I like working my butt off for someone else and having nothing to show for it? You think I like looking at my uncles every day knowing what they did to Thea? You think I don’t want a normal life?”

Brett crossed his arms over his chest and straightened. “Good. I guess that means you’ll help me.”

“I’m not helping you. It’s your grave. Not mine.”

Brett clicked his tongue behind his teeth. “I’m going to visit your uncle tomorrow. I was hoping you’d have my back in case things go south.”

Stupid. Stupid. So stupid. “What? You can’t just walk in there.”

Hadley raised her hand. “True story. Been there, done that.”

Brett turned to her with wide eyes. “You did what?”

“She showed up at Bruce’s one day,” Gage said.

“Have you lost your mind?” Brett asked.

Gage laughed. “Have you? You’re talking about doing the same thing.”

“I come in peace.”

“Yeah, and you’ll leave in pieces,” Gage said. “That’s a terrible idea.”

“How else am I supposed to talk to him? Man-to-man isn’t how we do things these days?”

“Bruce won’t want to hear anything you have to say. He’ll shoot first and ask questions later.”

“I’ve gotta do something. Thea wants to stay here.”

“Yeah, pack your bags and live out the rest of your years on the beaches of Mexico.”

“No can do, sir. My woman gets what she wants.”

“She at least needs to stay away from Hadley. Far away,” Gage said.

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