Page 108 of On the Wild Side

“Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’m your voice of reason here, honey. I don’t need the money. I want you to remember all the hard work you’ve put in, all the beatings you’ve taken, and how much you love getting on that bull, andthentell me that you want to quit.”

She’s right. I don’t everwantto quit, but seeing how torn up Abbi was broke my fucking heart.

I can’t love her as much as I do and continue to put her through this much worry. But I don’t want to quit.

Ican’tquit.

“Okay,” I say at last. “I’ll finish it. The doctor said I need three weeks for the head and the shoulder to be okay enough to ride again.”

“Then you take those three weeks. I’ll put you on the injured list, and we’ll reevaluate you before you get back into the arena to make sure you’re healthy enough. Don’t rush it, Brady. I want you healthy for the rest of the season.”

“Thanks, Sandy. I’ll be in touch.”

“See that you are.”

She hangs up, and I toss the phone onto the bed before walking into the bathroom for that shower.

For the first time in my life, I hate my job.

My head is pounding againby the time we get to the townhouse. Millie was a stubborn ass who didn’t have one of the brothers go with her, and she got an earful when she arrived.

Not that she cared.

My sister is so fucking stubborn, she drives me nuts.

But I’m home, and that’s all that matters.

“I’ve got your bag,” Millie says as we climb out of her truck. “You go on inside.”

“This is one time that I’ll take you up on that.”

I open the front door and already feel better. Abbi’s head pops up from the kitchen, and then she’s sprinting toward me, but comes to an abrupt stop about two feet away.

“Why’d you stop?”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Get over here.” My voice is deep, and my good arm is open wide as she steps gingerly into my embrace and lays her ear against my chest, listening to my heart as I hug her close. “I promise, I’m okay. Nothing that a couple of weeks of rest won’t heal.”

“Scared the shit out of me,” she whispers before pressing a kiss over my heart and then stares up at me with wet blue eyes. “Don’t youdaredo that to me again, Brady Wild.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I grin and kiss the top of her head. “Where’s Daisy?”

“I’m here.” We turn to the stairs where Daisy’s grinning, but my eyes narrow in on the brace on her right wrist.

“What the fuck happened?”

“Swear jar,” Daisy announces, but I ignore her and hurry over to where she stands on the fourth step from the bottom, my heart in my goddamn throat.

“What happened?” I repeat, frowning into her sweet face.

“I fell off of Good Girl yesterday.” She shows me her brace.

I whirl to Abbi, and it makes me dizzy for half of a second. Millie’s coming in with my bags.

“Why didn’t you tell me that she got hurt?”

“Becauseyougot hurt, too.” Abbi props her hands on her hips. “And I didn’t want to tell you before you rode because you would be distracted. It’s not broken. If ithadbeen broken, or if something worse had happened, I definitely would have told you.”

---