Page 71 of Honey Bee Hearts

“I need you to come with me,” he says. “Right now.”

“I’m in the middle of my stretches?—”

“Now,” Gunnar growls. At my expression, he adds more calmly, “I’m sorry. Look. I need you to come, no questions asked. I can’t explain anything, but you have to come with me right now.”

“I’m gonna ask questions, Gunnar,” I growl. “What the fuck is going on?”

Rhett and Colt appear from the big house, and I frown over at them.

“I’m sorry,” Gunnar winces before he grabs me around the waist and throws me over his shoulder. I screech in surprise. “I don’t have time to argue.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snarl, thumping at his back. “Put me down!”

Jethro barks at his feet, annoyed at my treatment, but following as Gunnar rushes with me over to the four-by-four. He tosses me in the back of it rather than the seat and before I can even get my bearings, he’s already in the driver seat and taking off. I screech again, clawing at the sides of the little bed to keep from falling out of it. Jethro barks behind us, angry at being left behind as Gunnar speeds into the pastures.

“Where the fuck are we going?” I scream. “Gunnar!”

He doesn’t stop for at least five minutes, until we can no longer see the big house and we’re out in the honeybee fields. He doesn’t take me anywhere near them. It seems like he literally just stops us in the middle of nothing, purposely away from all roads and all structures.

“What the fuck?” I growl, sitting up. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t tell you,” he answers as he leaps out of the seat. “I’m sorry. I had to?—”

“Bullshit!” I snarl as he reaches to help me out of the back.

“You weren’t moving, and I didn’t have much time,” Gunnar explains. For once, his expression is hard. “It’s for your safety.”

“Does this have something to do with the black cars always coming out here?” I ask, pissed off.

“I can’t tell you why,” he answers, his eyes on mine. “Just know that this is for the best.”

I stab him in the chest with my finger as I get to my feet. “Fuck that! What are y’all hiding?”

“Nothing,” he lies, and it’s such a bold-faced lie, it only pisses me off more.

“How dare you!” I snarl. “How dare you throw me into the back of this thing like I’m worth nothing and kidnap me out here! I am not a member of this ranch! You can’t just manhandle me like that!”

“I apologized,” he growls.

“That doesn’t matter when you won’t explain,” I hiss. “Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”

His expression goes cold. “No offense, Fable, but we don’t owe you an explanation.”

My heart sinks. “You’re right,” I say before turning away.

I’d intended to storm away, to walk back to the big house or something. I don’t care how long it takes me. I just don’t want to be out here with him, with their secrets. I can’t stand it. They’re all such assholes.

His hand wraps around my wrist and jerks me back. “Don’t do that,” he snarls.

“Do what?” I yell back.

“You can’t go back yet,” he spits back.

“Fuck you,” I shout. “I can do whatever I want.”

He jerks me against him, his hands holding me in place. I struggle, pissed off, annoyed that he’s stronger than me.

“Stop it,” he growls.

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