Page 51 of Love in the Wild

“I heard from Thea today.”

“And?” he prompted.

“I think she misses Brett.”

“That’s okay, as long as she isn’t with him.”

Hadley sat up straighter. “What? How can you say that? I’m almost positive those two are in love. She’s just scared.”

“If she’s smart, she’ll forget about him.”

Hadley let out a huff. “Don’t you care about her happiness?”

Gage sat up straighter. “I care. I care so much that I want her to stay alive. I know what my family does. They don’t just jump to revenge. They’re cunning. They’ll wait for the right moment. And if they know that Thea is the way to hurt Brett, they won’t let the opportunity pass.”

Hadley swallowed a lump that was clogging her throat. “That’s awful,” she whispered. After hearing so much about the things the Howards and Pattons had done, she still had trouble understanding how people could be so evil.

“The Howards like to play with their food before they destroy it. They know that sometimes the way to hurt someone the most isn’t by beating them to a pulp or breaking bones. It’s by hurting the things they love most. And they’ll want nothing more than to watch Brett have to suffer that loss. I care, and that’s why I want her far away.” He brushed his thumb over the back of her hand. “You shouldn’t be here with me either. It’s not safe.”

“I trust you,” she whispered into the darkness.

It was true. If anyone could find a way to break away from the madness that he’d been raised in, it was Gage. He was careful and smart. He was trying to help his sister, and now, he was trying to keep Hadley out of trouble too.

Gage turned to face her and leaned closer. They were mere inches apart, but the darkness hid the little nuances in his expression. If he was feeling half of what was in her heart right now, they were both in trouble.

“I’d do anything for Thea, and she’s stuck in this because of blood. You’re free to go. The smart thing to do is drive away tonight and never look back.”

“I… I don’t think I can do that.”

Could she? Could she walk away and act like the moments she’d spent with Gage didn’t mean anything? Could she leave him to protect his sister on his own, care for an ailing mom, and try to navigate the politics of his family alone? She wasn’t helping, but did it mean anything to him that she was on his side? That she believed he could be the change that could break his family curse?

“You should. I don’t have anything to give you except my protection. I know what it’s like to fight for the things I want, and I’ll fight for you.” He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear and let his fingers trail down her jaw, then up again to cup her cheek. His skin was cold like the Wyoming night, but the chill reminded her that this moment was real. “But you’re better off walking away.”

She placed her hand over his where it rested on her cheek. “You’re a good man, Gage. I believe in you.”

He scoffed. “No one has ever mistaken me for the hero, sunshine. My family knows how to raise heartless legacies. You hate, and you hate, and you hate until you die. Life sucks.”

“But you’re trying. You’re making a big effort to be different. That counts for something.”

“No. No one gets awards for trying and failing.”

She squeezed his hand and scooted closer. “When I first met you, I was afraid you were awful like them.”

“I am,” he said quickly, breathing heavily as he held his ground.

“No, you’re not. I see you, and I see good.”

Gage shook his head but kept his gaze locked on her. “There’s something wrong with your vision.”

“There isn’t. One day, you’ll see it too.”

“I’m not in the running for man of the year, Hadley. What you see is what you get, and it doesn’t get better than this. I’m not digging out of a hole. I’m stuck in it.”

“Stop talking about yourself like you’re a monster.”

His fingers slid into her hair and his powerful hand flexed, holding her tight. “Stop talking like I’m someone who can be saved. It just makes it harder to walk away.”

Hadley gripped his arm. “Don’t. We can figure this out together.”

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